Land Administration Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Land Administration Building |
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Land Administration Building, Queens Gardens facade, 2016
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| Location | 142 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1899 - 1905 |
| Built for | Queensland Government |
| Architect | Thomas Pye |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Land Administration Building, Former Executive Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600123 |
| Significant period | 1900s early (fabric) 1900s-1970s (historical) |
| Significant components | memorial - honour board/ roll of honour |
| Builders | Arthur Midson |
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The Land Administration Building is a very old and important government building in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 142 George Street. This grand building was designed by Thomas Pye and built between 1899 and 1905 by Arthur Midson.
It was first used for government offices, including the Lands and Survey Departments. It also housed the offices of the Premier of Queensland (the state's leader) and the Executive Council, where important government decisions were made. For a while, it even had the Queensland National Art Gallery inside!
Today, the building is part of the Treasury Casino complex and is used as a hotel. It is a "heritage-listed" site, which means it is protected because of its historical and architectural importance. Inside, you can find a special World War I Honour board that remembers people who served in the war.
Contents
History of the Land Administration Building
This large, four-storey building was constructed between 1901 and 1905. It was originally planned for the Lands and Survey Departments. These departments managed Queensland's land, including mapping and selling it.
When it was finished in 1905, it became known as the Executive Building. It held the Lands and Survey Departments, plus the offices for the Premier and the Executive Council. This building showed how Queensland was growing and recovering after a tough economic time in the late 1800s. It also marked the time when Australia became a federation of states.
Planning and Construction Details
Plans for the building were drawn up in 1898-1899 by the Queensland Government Architect's office, led by Thomas Pye. The design included special areas for the Lands Department, like drafting rooms for drawing maps and rooms for photography. There was also a Land Court where land disputes were settled.
Because the building would also house the Premier and Executive Council, a separate entrance was added on George Street. This entrance was just for government ministers.
Building work started in 1899 with the foundations. The main construction contract was given to Arthur Midson, a builder from Brisbane, in 1901.
New Building Techniques and Materials
The Land Administration Building was one of the first in Australia to use a new building method. It used expanded metal lathing to strengthen its concrete floors and ceilings. This was a very modern technique for the time.
The building was also designed to show off Queensland's own materials.
- The base and lower parts were made from Granite found in Enoggera and Mount Crosby.
- The outer walls were covered with brown freestone from Helidon.
- Freestone from Yangan, near Warwick, was used on the walls of the colonnade (a row of columns).
Detailed carvings were added to the outside walls between 1903 and 1904. On one side, a sculpture shows symbols of Queensland's mining and farming. This was carved by William Priestly MacIntosh, a sculptor from New South Wales, based on Thomas Pye's design.
Inside, the mantelpieces (fireplace surrounds) were made from different Queensland timbers. These included maple, cedar, black bean, and silky oak, showing off the state's rich timber resources. Beautiful stained glass windows also showed scenes related to Queensland's farming economy.
Changes Over Time
From 1901, the Queensland National Art Gallery had a special room on the third floor. But in 1930, the art gallery moved to a different building.
The Executive Council and Cabinet (the Premier's main group of advisors) met in this building from 1905 until 1971. After 1971, new government offices were built, and this building became known as the Land Administration Building.
The old gas lamps outside the William Street and George Street entrances were put up around 1911. They still work today, using natural gas.
What the Building Looks Like
The Land Administration Building is a four-storey office building. It stands between George Street, Stephens Lane, William Street, and Queens Gardens. Its size and design fit well with the nearby Treasury Building and the Old State Library. It is part of an important group of government buildings around Queens Gardens.
Outside Appearance
The building is made of stone, steel, and concrete. It is covered with sandstone from Helidon and Warwick. The base is made of granite. The lower two floors have a special rough stone finish called "rustication." Above this, there is a colonnade (a row of columns) in the Ionic style.
The building's design is in the style of Edwardian Baroque. This means it has a grand, formal, and decorative look. At each corner and in the middle of the main side facing Queens Gardens, parts of the building stick out. These sections have decorated columns and pilasters (flat columns attached to the wall). The central part facing Queens Gardens has a curved pediment (a triangular or curved shape above an entrance). This pediment holds a sculpture that represents farming and mining.
There are entrances on both the George Street and William Street sides. Each entrance has a decorative pediment above it. Along the upper colonnades, there is a long balcony. The building also features beautiful wrought iron details on its railings and gates.
Inside the Building
The stained glass windows inside the building are just as beautiful as the sculptures outside. In the William Street entrance, the stained glass shows a farmer planting seeds, a reaper (someone harvesting crops), a pioneer, and a squatter (someone who settles on land). In the George Street entrance, the glass shows a farmer working the land and a herdsman looking after animals.
In the George Street entrance, there is also a marble plaque. It has a message from King George V sent on April 25, 1916. This message helped start the Anzac Day tradition in Australia. On the first floor, there is an honour board that lists the names of Lands Department staff who served in the First World War.
The building's layout is similar to the Treasury Building. It is a block of rooms built around a central courtyard. A wide hallway runs around most of the building. Rooms open off this hallway, with windows facing either the courtyard or the street. There are also cast-iron balconies around the courtyard. Stairs and lifts near the two street entrances help people move between floors.
The building used early reinforced concrete floors, which was very advanced for its time. Steel frames were used in some parts of the roof, especially over areas designed to be fireproof. Metal roller shutters were also installed in these fireproof sections.
Some of the most important rooms include the former Executive Council Chamber, the Land Court, and the offices of the Premier and the Minister of Lands. These rooms have fancy plaster ceilings and wooden panels on the lower parts of the walls. The old Executive Council Chamber has three stained glass windows that can be seen from the hallway.
The building is still very much in its original condition, both inside and out.
Why the Building is Important
The Land Administration Building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it is very important to Queensland's history and culture.
- Showing Queensland's History: It was the most important building built by the Queensland government during a time of economic growth in the early 1900s. It shows how Queensland developed.
- A Great Example of Architecture: This building is a fantastic example of Edwardian Baroque public architecture. It is considered the best of its kind built in Queensland.
- Beautiful Design: People value the building for its beautiful design, detailed work, and the quality of its materials. It also looks great with the other old government buildings nearby. The stained glass and sculptures add to its beauty.
- Symbol of Government: It has a strong connection to the role and importance of government in Queensland. It is a key part of the most important group of government buildings in the state.
- Connected to Important People: The building was home to Queensland's Executive government for almost 70 years. It is also a major work by the important Queensland architect, Thomas Pye.
Gallery
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Land Administration Building, Queens Gardens facade, showing a statue of Queen Victoria
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Land Administration Building, Queens Gardens facade
Images for kids
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Land Administration Building, William Street façade, Brisbane, 2021
