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 special old building in Kings Beach, Australia. It's like a big changing room and public facility. It was designed by Clifford Ernest Plant and built in 1937 by Ralph Alexander Lind.
This building is important because it shows how popular Kings Beach became. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 23, 1999. This means it's protected for future generations to enjoy.
Building History
How the Pavilion Was Built
The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion was built in 1937. The local council, called the Landsborough Shire Council, wanted to create a great place for people to swim and relax. They hired Clifford Ernest Plant as the architect. Ralph Alexander Lind was the builder.
The building cost about £3,030, which was a lot of money back then! It was made of strong brick and concrete.
Making Kings Beach a Holiday Hotspot
In the 1930s, many towns in Queensland wanted to attract tourists. Councils on the Gold Coast and at Redcliffe were improving their beaches. The Landsborough Shire Council had a big plan to make Kings Beach a top holiday spot.
The government helped by providing money. This was part of a plan to create jobs during a tough economic time. Kings Beach was the main beach in Caloundra, and the council wanted it to shine.
Queensland's Beach Holiday Tradition
People in Queensland have loved beach holidays for a long time. Places like Sandgate and Cleveland were popular in the 1860s. Later, areas like Southport became famous.
By the 1920s, swimming in the ocean became very popular. Councils started competing to attract holidaymakers. Caloundra and Redcliffe grew as holiday destinations during this time.
The Story of Kings Beach
Caloundra was first opened for settlement in 1860. A politician named Robert Bulcock bought a lot of land there in 1875. His family owned this land for many years. This slowed down development in some parts of Caloundra, including what is now Kings Beach.
In 1917, some land was divided up for building. But it wasn't until 1926 that the land next to Kings Beach became available. This allowed more homes and businesses to open.
How Kings Beach Got Its Name
Caloundra was already a known holiday spot by the 1930s. Guest houses were open as early as 1888. The railway line reached Landsborough, near Caloundra, in 1889. But bad roads made it hard to get to Caloundra for many years.
In 1899, a local resident named Allan King built a guest house. It was near Bulcock's land. Guests from his house often swam at the nearby beach. This is how the popular beach got its name: Kings Beach!
Big Plans for Kings Beach
As roads improved, Caloundra became even more popular. The Landsborough Shire Council decided to make Kings Beach even better. In 1928, they improved the natural rock pools, which families loved.
The Metropolitan Surf Life Saving Club started patrolling the beach in 1933. By 1937, a huge plan was put into action. It cost £12,290 to build the dressing sheds (the pavilion), add car parks, and improve the Kings Beach area. Other nearby beaches also got smaller upgrades. The Queensland Government helped pay for these improvements.
The Pavilion's Design and Use
Clifford E. Plant was chosen as the architect for the pavilion. He also designed similar pavilions for the Redcliffe City Council around the same time. These buildings often had a Mediterranean style.
The Kings Beach Pavilion was meant to be beautiful. It was built with brick and plaster and had a bright red roof. It was first planned to be L-shaped, but this changed due to costs. The building had a small shop (kiosk), a spare room, an entrance with a ticket box, and open-air toilet areas.
When it opened, a Mr. T. Fiege leased the pavilion. He ran the kiosk and looked after the toilets. Over the years, some changes were made. The Surf Life Saving Club used parts of the building for a while. The Surf Life Saving Nippers were also housed there. In 1977, a public pool opened next to the pavilion. The public toilets and change rooms have been used continuously since 1937.
Pavilion Features
What the Building Looks Like
The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion is a single-story building. It's made of brick and concrete. The roof has large, wavy fibrous cement tiles. Retaining walls and a simple timber fence surround parts of the building. The beach area nearby still has natural rock pools.
Outside the Pavilion
The main part of the building has a large room and smaller rooms. The front, facing east, has a fancy decorative gable. This is like a triangular part of the wall that sticks out. It has a beautiful entrance with round arches and glazed brick columns.
Another entrance leads to a hallway. From here, you can get to the toilet areas. These toilet wings have open-air walkways. They have sloped roofs (skillion awnings) over the toilets and changing rooms. The outside walls are covered in a rough plaster called stucco.
The south side of the building also has a decorative gable, similar to the east side. It has two arched windows. Many windows in the pavilion have special glazed brick sills and tops.
Inside the Pavilion
Inside, the pavilion has a concrete floor throughout. It slopes gently in the toilet areas. The main rooms have ceilings made of fibrous cement sheets with timber supports. In the toilet areas, you can see the roof structure.
In the entrance hallway, you can still see where the old ticket booths were on the floor. There are also old signs near the toilet entrances. The toilet, shower, and changing cubicles are built on a raised concrete platform. They are on either side of the open-air walkway.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for a few reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed. The pavilion is proof of how Caloundra grew into a popular holiday spot. It was one of the first times the local council built public facilities to help the area grow. It also has strong ties to the Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club.
- It's a rare and special part of Queensland's history. This building is one of the few remaining examples of 1930s architecture in Caloundra.
- It shows what a 1930s changing room looked like. The pavilion's design gives us a clear idea of how changing rooms and open-air toilets were set up back then. It's also a great example of architect Clifford E. Plant's work and the Spanish Mission style of building.
