Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion |
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Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion, 2006
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| Location | Ormonde Terrace, Kings Beach, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Clifford Ernest Plant |
| Architectural style(s) | Spanish Mission |
| Official name: Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601513 |
| Significant period | 1937 (fabric) 1937-1992 (historical) |
| Builders | Ralph Alexander Lind |
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The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion is a historic building at Kings Beach in Australia. It was designed by Clifford Ernest Plant and built in 1937. This building was created to offer changing rooms and a small shop for people visiting the beach. It is now a protected heritage site, added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999.
Contents
Why Was the Pavilion Built?
Making Kings Beach a Holiday Spot
The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion was built in 1937. The local council, called the Landsborough Shire Council, wanted to make Kings Beach a top holiday destination. They spent £3,030 to build this special place.
During the 1930s, many councils in Queensland were trying to attract tourists. They wanted more people to visit their beaches. This would help local businesses and increase land value. The Queensland Government even helped by providing money. This money was part of programs to help people find jobs during tough economic times.
Caloundra's Growing Popularity
People in Queensland have enjoyed seaside resorts for a long time. Places like Sandgate were popular in the 1860s. By the 1920s, swimming in the ocean became very popular. Councils started competing to attract holidaymakers. Caloundra and other northern areas became popular during this time.
Caloundra was first opened for settlement in 1860. A politician named Robert Bulcock bought a lot of land there. For many years, his family owned land near what is now Kings Beach. This stopped new buildings from being built there. In 1926, more land near Kings Beach became available. This allowed shops and businesses to open.
How Kings Beach Got Its Name
Caloundra was already known as a holiday spot by the 1930s. Guest houses were open as early as 1888. Even the Governor of Queensland stayed there. A local resident, Allan King, built a guest house in 1899. Guests from his house would swim at the nearby beach. This beach soon became known as Kings Beach, named after him.
Roads to Caloundra improved over time. This made the area even more popular. The Landsborough Shire Council decided to improve Kings Beach. In 1928, they made the natural rock pools better for families. The Metropolitan Surf Life Saving Club started watching over the beach in 1933.
The Big Development Plan
By 1937, a large plan was put into action. The council spent £12,290 on the Kings Beach area. This included the new dressing sheds and kiosk. They also added car parking and improved the look of the area. Other beaches like Golden Beach and Dicky Beach also got some improvements. The Queensland Government helped pay for this big project.
The council hired Clifford E. Plant as the architect for the pavilion. Ralph Alexander Lind was chosen as the builder in February 1937. Another council, the Redcliffe City Council, also built similar pavilions around the same time. These were also designed by Clifford E. Plant.
What the Pavilion Looked Like
The local newspapers at the time said the dressing sheds would make the beach look even better. They were built with brick and plaster. The roof was red, adding a bright splash of color to the beautiful scenery.
The building was first planned to be L-shaped. But because of money limits, it was built differently. The toilet areas were placed next to each other, extending north from the main part of the building. The pavilion had a small kiosk (shop), a small extra room, an entrance hall with a ticket booth, and open-air toilet areas.
How the Pavilion Was Used Over Time
When it first opened, a person named Mr. T. Fiege rented the pavilion. He ran the kiosk and looked after the toilets. Over the years, some changes were made to the building. Wooden doors replaced the original grille doors. A small wooden room was also added at the back.
During the 1950s, the Surf Life Saving Club used the pavilion. This was while their new clubhouse was being built next door. From 1971 to 1980, the Surf Life Saving Nippers (young surf lifesavers) used the building. The kiosk then reopened in 1980.
In 1977, a public swimming pool was built on the beach side of the pavilion. By 1992, the kiosk closed again. The surf life saving club then used that space as a gym. The public toilets and change rooms have been used continuously since 1937. In 1966, the toilets and showers were updated.
What the Pavilion Looks Like Today
The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion is a one-story building made of brick and concrete. It has a roof made of large corrugated tiles. Retaining walls surround two sides of the building. A simple wooden fence goes around parts of the pavilion and its grounds. The beach area nearby still has natural rock pools.
The main part of the pavilion has a large room with smaller rooms next to it. The front of the building, facing east, has a decorative wall that sticks out. This wall has arches and columns, forming the entrance. Another entrance leads to a hall that connects to the toilet areas.
The toilet areas have open-air walkways in the middle. There are toilets and changing rooms on both sides of these walkways. The outside walls are made of brick and covered with a rough plaster. The inside walls are painted brick.
The front of the building (east side) is quite fancy. It has a decorative wall with rounded arches. These arches are supported by shiny brick columns. There's also a decorative shape in the middle of this wall. The windows throughout the building have special brick sills and tops.
Inside, the floor is concrete and slopes gently in the toilet areas. The ceiling in the main rooms is made of timber and fibrous cement sheets. In the toilet areas, you can see the roof structure. The entrance hall still shows where the old ticket booths were on the floor. The toilet, shower, and changing cubicles are raised on a concrete base. They are on either side of the open-air walkway.
Why the Pavilion is Important
The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is a special place that needs to be protected. It was added to the list on April 23, 1999.
Showing Queensland's History
This pavilion shows how Caloundra grew into a popular holiday spot. It is one of the first examples of the local council building public facilities. These facilities helped the area become a major tourist destination. It also has a strong connection to the Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club.
A Unique Building
The building is a rare example of the kind of buildings built in Caloundra in the 1930s.
An Example of Its Kind
The pavilion shows what a changing room and open-air toilet facility looked like in the 1930s. It is also an example of the work of Brisbane architect Clifford E. Plant. Its design shows the influence of the Spanish Mission style of architecture.
