Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers
Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers
Location	51 The Esplanade, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900 - 1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1912 - 1913
Built for	Mulgrave Shire Council
Architect	Charles Dalton Lynch & Walter Hunt
Architectural style(s)	Classicism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers (former), Cairns Shire Offices
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	6 January 1999
Reference no.	601913
Significant period	1910s, 1940s, 1990s (historical) 1912-ongoing (social) 1910s (fabric)
Significant components	strong room, office/s, garden/grounds, fence/wall - perimeter, foyer - entrance, visitor's area, furniture/fittings, views to, council chamber/meeting room
Builders	Wilson & Baillie
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The Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers is a special historic building in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It used to be the main office for the Mulgrave Shire Council. This building was designed by architects Charles Dalton Lynch and Walter Hunt. It was built between 1912 and 1913 by Wilson & Baillie. Today, it is also known as the Cairns Shire Offices. Because of its importance, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on January 6, 1999.

A Look Back: History of the Council Chambers

The former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers was built from 1912 to 1913. It is a single-story building made of stone, located right on The Esplanade. This building was constructed when Cairns was growing very fast. Many new buildings were going up just before the First World War.

How Cairns Grew

Cairns officially started in October 1876. It was a port for the goldfields nearby. At first, Cairns was a small town with mostly temporary buildings. It competed with other towns like Cooktown and Port Douglas.

Cairns really started to grow in the 1880s. This happened when the local sugar industry began. Also, mineral fields opened up on the Atherton Tablelands. In 1885, Cairns was chosen as the end point for the Herberton railway. This made Cairns the most important port in the area.

Many older wooden buildings were replaced with stronger stone or concrete buildings. This happened just before the First World War. Cairns continued to grow between the First and Second World Wars. It became the main port for Far North Queensland.

Local Government in Cairns

Local government in Queensland started with "Divisional Boards." The Cairns Divisional Board was created in 1879. It helped manage roads and other local matters. At first, meetings were held in Port Douglas, which was hard for Cairns residents.

Later, the board's boundaries changed, and meetings moved to Cairns. As Cairns grew, people felt the Divisional Board cared more about country areas. So, in 1885, the Cairns Municipal Council was formed. This new council managed the town area specifically.

The Cairns Divisional Board continued to operate outside the town. It later became the Cairns Shire Council around 1905. In 1940, it was renamed the Mulgrave Shire Council.

The Cairns Municipal Council also changed names over time. It became the Cairns Town Council in 1903. Then, in 1923, it became the Cairns City Council. In 1995, the Cairns City Council and the Mulgrave Shire Council joined together. They became the current Cairns City Council.

Building the Council Chambers

The Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers was first called the Cairns Shire Offices. It was built in 1912-1913. It replaced an older wooden building. The architects were Charles Lynch and Walter Hunt. They had offices in Cairns and Townsville. This building was one of their first big projects together.

Before partnering with Hunt, Charles Lynch worked on other Cairns buildings. These included the Cairns School of Arts and the Central Hotel. Walter Hunt was an architect in Charters Towers before joining Lynch.

The builders for the Council Chambers were Wilson and Baillie. The cost, including the front fence, was £2,348. The building originally had a T-shape. It had verandahs (covered porches) on all sides. There was an entrance porch facing The Esplanade.

Changes Over Time

The building has been changed and expanded over the years.

• 1951-1952: The first major changes happened. Some verandahs were removed. New sections were added to both sides of the building. New toilets were installed, and the front of the building was updated. The inside was also changed.
• 1965-1966: More changes were made. The remaining side verandahs were removed. Additions were built at the back of the side wings. The inside was changed again, and air conditioning was added to some rooms.

After these big changes, more small updates happened inside the building. The building was used as the Cairns & Tropical North Visitor Information Centre. It closed in 2018.

What the Building Looks Like

The former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers is a single-story building. It is made of stone with a smooth finish. It has a hipped roof made of corrugated iron. The building faces The Esplanade. Another three-story building is built right next to it.

The front of the building is very balanced. It has a central entrance with a pointed roof section called a gable. On each side of the entrance, there are two sections with verandahs. The roof has decorative eaves (the part that hangs over the walls). There are also small windows called clerestory windows below the eaves.

The entrance has steps with curved stone railings called balustrades. The original verandah was changed in the 1950s. Now, it has stone columns that support a stone wall called a parapet. This parapet has cool circular designs. The entrance leads into a small entry area called a vestibule. Inside, there are glass doors to the customer service area.

The sides of the building have narrow windows. These windows have decorative frames called mouldings. The back additions have low, flat roofs hidden behind walls.

Inside the Chambers

Inside, some areas have modern ceilings. There are also new walls and fixtures. However, the customer service and main office areas still have some original details. These include wide decorative strips called cornices, the small clerestory windows, and decorative frames around doors and windows called architraves. There are also picture rails and skirtings (baseboards).

In the back corners, there are two old strong rooms. These were used to keep important documents safe. Each strong room has a ladder to a storage area above. The back corridors used to be part of the original verandahs. The newer parts of the building have modern walls and ceilings.

The Front Fence and Garden

The original fence along The Esplanade is still there. It has stone pillars with pointed tops. Between the pillars are sections of cast iron fence on a brick base. There are new gates for people and cars. The front garden has several tall, old palm trees.

Why It's a Heritage-Listed Place

The former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's an important historical site. Here's why:

• It shows how Queensland's history developed.

The building shows how Cairns and the Mulgrave Shire grew before the First World War. It shows that people believed Cairns would become an important regional center. This site has been used for local government since the early 1880s.

• It shows what a council chambers should look like.

Even though the building has been changed, its original design is still clear. It is a great example of a council chambers building from the early 1900s.

• It has great aesthetic significance.

The building, its fence, and the old trees make The Esplanade look beautiful. It adds a lot to the look of Cairns.

• It is important to the community.

The former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers helps give Cairns its unique identity and history. It's a place that connects people to their past.

• It is linked to important people or groups.

The building is strongly connected to the Cairns City Council and the people of Cairns. It shows how local government developed in the area.