Monier Ventilation Shaft 3 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monier Ventilation Shaft 3 |
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Monier Ventilation Shaft 3, 1998
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| Location | Florence Street, Teneriffe, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | c. 1904 |
| Architect | Joseph Monier |
| Official name: Monier Ventilation Shaft 3 (Teneriffe) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 4 August 1998 |
| Reference no. | 602068 |
| Significant period | c. 1904 (fabric) 1890s-1900s (historical) |
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The Monier Ventilation Shaft 3 is a historic structure located on Florence Street in Teneriffe, Brisbane. It was designed by Joseph Monier and built around 1904. This shaft is an important part of Brisbane's early public health efforts. It helped to ventilate the city's stormwater drains. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance.
Contents
History of the Ventilation Shafts
These Monier Ventilation Shafts were likely built around 1904. They were part of a system of shafts used to air out stormwater drains in inner Brisbane. Three concrete shafts still exist today. They might be the very first structures in Queensland made from pre-cast reinforced concrete.
Two other similar shafts are in Spring Hill. One is on Wickham Terrace, and another is on St Paul's Terrace. These two were probably connected to the first Spring Hill drainage system from the 1880s. The third shaft, the one in Teneriffe, is a bit smaller. It's located near an old wool store on Florence Street. Stormwater drains were put in Florence Street around mid-1904. So, this ventilation shaft was probably built soon after.
Drains and Health in Early Brisbane
In the 1800s, people didn't always separate drains from sewers. Drains often carried both rainwater and household waste. They relied on rain to wash everything away into nearby rivers. This caused a lot of pollution and bad smells.
When Brisbane became a city in 1859, there was no proper drainage system. People often dumped waste into creeks. By the late 1860s, the city decided to have separate systems. One system would carry stormwater to the river. Another would handle waste using earth closets.
The Brisbane Drainage Act of 1875 helped fund these new drainage systems. Engineers designed large drains to carry stormwater. These drains became the property of the Brisbane Municipal Council once finished.
By 1878, inner Brisbane had three main drainage systems. Over the next few decades, more drains were built in suburbs like Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley, and New Farm. By 1890, the city core had a complete drainage system.
The Need for Ventilation
Even with new drains, people still put household waste into the stormwater system. This made local creeks very polluted. Bad smells came from the drains. At the time, many people thought these bad smells could cause diseases.
Then, in 1900, bubonic plague arrived in Australia. It was carried by rats on ships. The first case in Brisbane was in April 1900. The plague made the government realize how important public health and clean conditions were.
To fight the bad smells and potential diseases, the Commissioner of Public Health took action. They used new laws to make the Brisbane Municipal Council put up ventilators in city streets. These vents were meant to remove unhealthy smells from the drainage systems. In 1900, the Council started looking for companies to build these shafts.
The Monier System
The design for these ventilation shafts used the "Monier system" of reinforced concrete. This system was invented by a Frenchman named Joseph Monier in 1867. It was the first true reinforced concrete. This means it used steel bars inside the concrete to make it much stronger. The steel helped the concrete handle pulling and twisting forces.
The Monier system came to Australia in the early 1890s. Companies started building structures using this new method. They made things like small arches for stormwater and sewer pipes. In 1897, Monier pipes began to be made in Sydney.
Around 1903-1904, the Brisbane Municipal Council spent money on building sewer (drain) ventilating shafts. It is believed that the surviving concrete shafts, like the one in Teneriffe, were built during this time.
Description
The three surviving concrete ventilation shafts are found in Brisbane's inner suburbs. Two are in Spring Hill, and one is in Teneriffe. The Spring Hill shafts are on high ground. The Teneriffe shaft is on lower ground, closer to the Brisbane River. All of them ventilate stormwater drains, not sewage pipes.
These ventilators are made of reinforced concrete. They have a six-sided shape. They also have simple decorations in the middle and at the top. The Spring Hill ventilators are about 9 meters (30 feet) tall. They are about 53 centimeters (21 inches) wide at the bottom. Their walls are about 11.5 centimeters (4.5 inches) thick at the base, getting thinner towards the top. The Teneriffe ventilator is a bit smaller.
All three shafts were likely built using the special Monier system. They were probably made in a hexagonal mold, with the top left open.
Heritage Listing
Monier Ventilation Shaft 3 was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 August 1998. It is important for several reasons:
It shows how Queensland's history developed. The Monier Ventilation Shafts were built around 1904. They show how people thought about public health and cleanliness in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They are also proof of Brisbane's early and large stormwater drainage system. These three concrete shafts are thought to be the first pre-cast reinforced concrete structures in Queensland. They are also early examples of the Monier system being used here.
It shows rare or special parts of Queensland's history. These shafts are rare examples of early reinforced concrete use. They show how advanced municipal engineering was in Brisbane around 1900.
It can help us learn more about Queensland's history. These shafts can help us understand:
- How people viewed public health in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- Brisbane's early stormwater drainage system.
- Early ways of using pre-cast reinforced concrete in Queensland.
It shows the main features of its type of place. These shafts are still very complete examples of their kind. They show good engineering skill in creating structures that were both useful and nice to look at.
It is important for its beauty and design. They are well-preserved examples of their type. They show how engineers could create structures that were both practical and visually appealing.
It shows a high level of technical achievement for its time. They are rare examples of early reinforced concrete use. They show how advanced municipal engineering was in Brisbane at the start of the 20th century.
