Mackay Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mackay Town Hall |
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Mackay Town Hall, 2008
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| Location | 63 Sydney Street, Mackay, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Built for | Mackay Town Council |
| Architect | Arthur Rigby |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Mackay Town Hall (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 29 May 1998 |
| Reference no. | 601107 |
| Significant period | 1910s (historical) 1910s, 1930s (fabric) 1912 - ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | views from, tower - clock, verandahs - arcaded, views to, council chamber/meeting room |
| Builders | Charles Porter |
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The Mackay Town Hall is a special old building in Mackay, Australia. It used to be the main office for the local government. This building is the second town hall built on the same spot. It was designed by architect Arthur Rigby and built in 1912 by Charles Porter. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of the Town Hall
Building the First Town Hall
The land for the town hall was bought in 1872 by the Mackay Borough Council. The first town hall was made of timber and built that same year. It was located on Sydney Street.
By 1884, Mackay was growing fast because of the sugar industry. The timber town hall was becoming too small. People started talking about building a new, bigger town hall.
Planning the New Town Hall
It took a long time to decide on a new building. In 1909, the Town Council finally agreed to build a new brick town hall. They decided it should be on the same spot as the old one.
They asked architects to submit their designs. In 1911, the design by Arthur Rigby, a local architect and engineer, was chosen. Charles Porter, a builder, won the contract to build it for £2327. Porter had built many important buildings in Mackay, like Paxton's Shipping Office and St Patrick's Presbytery.
Construction and Opening
The old timber town hall was moved to the back of the property to make space. The new Town Hall was built using bricks made right there in Mackay. It was designed with a tall, square tower meant to hold a clock. However, the clock was never bought, so the tower still has round glass windows where the clock face would have been.
The new Town Hall opened on October 2, 1912. The first official Council meeting in the new building was held on October 10, 1912.
Town Hall During World War I
In 1915, the Mackay Harbour Board asked for a special "Roll of Honour Board" to be placed in the Town Hall. This board would list the names of people from Mackay who joined the army in World War I. It would also show photos of those who died. The marble board was put up in 1917 and is still there today.
Surviving the 1918 Cyclone
In 1918, a terrible cyclone hit Mackay. The Town Hall was one of the few buildings that was not badly damaged. Because it was so strong, it was used as a safe place for people who had to leave their homes. One child born during this time was even given "Hall" as a middle name!
Changes and Saving the Building
Over the years, the Town Hall was made bigger with extra rooms added in 1939-1940, 1949, and 1959. This was to make space for more council workers.
In 1974, the council moved to a new building called the Civic Administration Building. They planned to knock down the old Town Hall to sell the land. But the people of Mackay loved their old Town Hall! About 500 people protested, and over 8500 people signed a petition to save it. After 18 months of discussion, the council agreed to keep the building. However, the additions from 1949 and 1959 were removed.
In the early 1980s, the council spent a lot of money to fix up the building. They repaired it, painted it, and made it look beautiful again. In 1983, the building was rented out to the Department of Community Health.
In 1996, people in Mackay met again to talk about what to do with the empty building. Everyone agreed it should be used by the community. Today, the Regional Social Development Centre uses the former Town Hall.
What the Town Hall Looks Like
The former Mackay Town Hall is a two-story building made of brick covered in plaster. It faces Sydney Street. The front of the building has a two-story porch with arches, which is called an arcaded verandah. It has a tall, square tower in the middle.
The front of the building has five sections with rounded arches. Between these arches are decorative columns. The central tower has a decorative railing at the top and round decorations. Above the main entrance, you can see "Town Hall 1912" written in raised letters.
The porch roof has a decorative molding and round decorations. The top part of the porch has a metal railing, and the bottom part is made of brick. The ceilings of the porches are made of wavy metal sheets.
On the sides of the building, there are timber windows that slide up and down. The windows on the lower porch are square, while those on the upper porch are rounded at the top. There are also several pairs of glass doors on the upper porch. The windows on the sides and back have small roofs made of timber and corrugated steel.
Inside, the main entrance leads to a central hallway with offices on both sides. In this hallway, you'll find the special marble honour boards. These boards list 1592 local servicemen from World War I. The hallway also has a timber staircase with decorative railings.
All the ceilings inside are made of fancy pressed metal with decorative flower designs. The entire upper floor is one large room, which used to be the Council Chambers where important meetings were held. From this room, the glass doors open onto the upper porch.
Why the Town Hall is Special
The former Mackay Town Hall is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's important for many reasons:
- A Look into History: It shows how Mackay's local government grew and changed over more than 60 years.
- A Strong Survivor: It was one of the few buildings in Mackay that survived the big cyclone in 1918 without much damage. This shows how strong and well-built it is.
- A Great Example: It's a perfect example of what a regional town hall should look like, with its two stories, grand front, and tall clock tower.
- Beautiful to See: With its formal front, arched porches, and clock tower, it adds a lot of beauty to the streets of Mackay.
- Loved by the Community: People in Mackay really care about this building. They fought to save it from being knocked down in the 1970s, showing how important it is to their community.
