Landsborough Shire Council Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Landsborough Shire Council Chambers |
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Landsborough Shire Museum, formerly Landsborough Shire Council Chambers, 2008
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| Location | 4-6 Maleny Street, Landsborough, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Walter Carey Voller |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Landsborough Shire Council Chambers (former), Landsborough Shire Historical Museum | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 24 June 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601915 |
| Significant period | 1920s-1970s (historical) 1924-ongoing (social) 1920s (fabric) |
| Significant components | views to, council chamber/meeting room, office/s |
| Builders | Alfred Ernest Round |
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The Landsborough Shire Council Chambers is an important old building in Landsborough, Queensland, Australia. It was once the main office for the local government, known as the Landsborough Shire Council. Today, it is home to the Landsborough Shire Museum.
This building was designed by an architect named Walter Carey Voller. It was built in 1924 by Alfred Ernest Round. The building is special because it shows how local government worked in the past. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 24, 1999, which means it is protected for its historical value.
Contents
History of Landsborough and Its Council
Early Settlement and Growth
The first European settlers arrived in the Landsborough area around 1871. This place was first called Mellum Creek. A man named Isaac Burgess built a simple hut there. This hut became a stop for the Cobb & Co. coaches. These coaches carried people and mail to the gold fields in Gympie.
More people moved to the area when the North Coast railway line opened in 1890. The railway connected Mellum Creek to Caboolture. The town grew around the new Landsborough railway station. Because of the railway, Mellum Creek was renamed Landsborough. It was named after the explorer William Landsborough.
Forming the Landsborough Shire
At first, the local area was managed by the Caboolture Divisional Board, starting in 1880. Later, in 1903, the Caboolture Shire was created. This larger area included many towns, like Landsborough.
In February 1912, a new local government area was formed. It was called the Landsborough Shire. This new shire was created from part of the Caboolture Shire. The very first meeting for the new Landsborough Shire Council happened on April 20, 1912.
For a while, the council met in a small office that was part of a council house. But soon, they needed a bigger, special building.
Building the Council Chambers
The first building made just for the council was opened in 1924. This is the building we know today as the former Landsborough Shire Council Chambers. It was designed by architect Walter Carey Voller. Alfred Ernest Round was the builder.
The new building had a main council chamber where meetings were held. It also had two offices and a counter for public services. There was even a strong room to keep important documents safe.
Walter Carey Voller was a well-known architect in Brisbane. He designed many important buildings, including churches. He also had a beach house nearby in Caloundra.
Changes Over Time
In 1967, the areas of Landsborough, Maroochy, and Noosa became known as the Sunshine Coast. This name is still used today.
On December 19, 1987, the Landsborough Shire became a city. It was renamed the City of Caloundra. This change happened because many people were moving to the coastal areas. The council offices later moved to a new building in Caloundra in 1995.
The original Landsborough Shire Council Chambers closed its doors as a council office in 1974. The next year, in 1975, the Landsborough Historical Society took over the building. They opened it as the Landsborough Shire Historical Museum.
Over the years, the building has been changed and updated. In the 1950s, the front porch, called a verandah, was made bigger. More offices were added to the side. In 1977, the old wooden fence was removed. A bullock wagon and two large palm trees were placed in the front garden. In 1988, more changes were made when a large new museum section was built next to it. The front verandah was put back to look more like it did originally.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Landsborough Shire Council Chambers is a simple, wooden building. It was built in 1924. It has a calm and important look on Maleny Street in Landsborough.
The building is low to the ground and has a hip roof. It is shaped like a rectangle. There is an open front porch, or verandah. A smaller, skillion-roofed part was added to the west side. A large museum building and courtyard were built to the east.
The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called chamferboards. The front verandah has a small fence underneath it, also made of chamferboards. The main entrance has a special roof shape called a pedimented gable. You walk up wooden stairs to reach it.
The verandah has a simple, curved archway with a special stone, called a keystone, at the top. Wooden panels divide the verandah into sections. The verandah ceiling is made of vertical wooden boards. The verandah also has a simple wooden railing.
The main front doors are French doors. They have clear glass at the top and five panels of colored glass below.
Inside, some parts of the building have been changed. But the main council chamber room is still there. Many original features remain, like the vertical wooden wall panels. The ceiling has wooden sheets and strips. There are also picture rails in the chamber. The original doors and casement windows are still in place. There is even an old cupboard between the former office and the chamber.
Why This Building is Special
The former Landsborough Shire Council Chambers was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 24, 1999. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
Showing Queensland's History
This building is important because it shows how Queensland's history developed. It was the first building made specifically for the Landsborough Shire Council. It opened in 1924. Even though it has been changed, you can still see its original shape.
An Example of Design
The building is also important because it shows the work of architect Walter Carey Voller. His designs helped shape many buildings in Queensland.
Its Beautiful Look
The building has a calm and respectful look. It adds a sense of importance to the street where it stands.
Important to the Community
This building was the center of local government from 1924 to 1974. It is very important to the people of Landsborough. It shows how local government grew in the area. It has a strong connection to the community's past.
