Palings Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palings Building |
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Upper facade of the former Palings building, 2009
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| Location | 86 Queen Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1885 - 1919 |
| Architect | Richard Gailey |
| Architectural style(s) | Italianate |
| Official name: City International Duty Free, Palings Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600161 |
| Significant period | 1885-1919 (fabric) 1888-1986 (historical- Palings) |
| Significant components | elevator |
| Builders | Patten & Son |
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The Palings Building is a special old building in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It's considered a heritage-listed site, which means it's important to history and protected. The building is located on Queen Street and was designed by an architect named Richard Gailey. It was built a long time ago, between 1885 and 1919. For many years, it was home to a famous music store called Paling & Co.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Palings Building was one of four similar office buildings. They were all built in 1885 near the old Brisbane Town Hall. These buildings cost about £13,000, which was a lot of money back then!
The Paling & Co. Music Store
Paling & Company bought this building in 1886. They opened their music store there in 1888. For almost 100 years, until 1986, Paling's sold sheet music and musical instruments.
The company's owner, William Henry Paling, came to Australia in 1853. He was a piano and violin teacher and a composer. He also started music groups and sold musical items.
Paling's music store became very popular. They were leaders in selling records, sheet music, and pianos in Queensland. Their piano tuners even traveled to different towns. The store also offered music lessons and hosted concerts.
Growing and Changing
In the 1920s, Paling's started selling new things like radios and phonographs. From around 1914 to 1974, the Queen Street store also sold tickets for Brisbane's theatres.
The Palings Building itself changed over time. Before 1911, an extra floor was added. More changes were made in 1918-1919. Today, parts of the building's outside are hard to see. This is because of the shade structures in the Queen Street Mall.
What the Building Looks Like
The Palings Building is in the middle of Queen Street. It was originally one of four connected sections. Only two of these sections remain today. The Palings Building is one of them.
Design and Features
The building has four floors and a basement. The fourth floor was added later, before 1918. The building has an Italianate style. This means it looks like old Italian buildings.
The sections of the original building are narrow. They have tall, thin columns called pilasters between them. The first floor has square windows. The floor above it has arched windows with decorative keystones.
The top floor of the Palings Building has a large archway. Above this, the name "PALINGS" is written in raised letters. The back of the building, facing Burnett Lane, has plain square windows.
Inside the Building
Inside, the building is very well preserved. You can still see the beautiful plaster ceilings. There's also an old timber passenger lift that has survived. These features show how the building looked long ago.
The Palings Building and its neighbor add a lot to Queen Street. Their size and design make the street look interesting.
Why the Palings Building is Special
The Palings Building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's important for several reasons.
A Piece of History
The building shows how Queensland's history has changed. It's one of only two remaining buildings designed by Richard Gailey. These were part of a group of four similar buildings.
Beautiful Design
People value the building for its beauty. The inside is still very much like it was, with detailed plaster ceilings. The old timber lift is also special. The building helps make Queen Street look like it did in the 1880s.
Connection to Music
The building has a strong link to WH Paling & Co. Ltd. This company sold music and instruments for almost a century. They helped Queenslanders enjoy music and other cultural activities for a very long time.
