Pfeiffer House, Charters Towers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pfeiffer House |
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Pfeiffer House, 2001
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| Location | 2-6 Paull Street, Charters Towers, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1881 |
| Official name: Pfeiffer House (former), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Day Dawn House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600410 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) 1880s-1900s (historical) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house |
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Pfeiffer House is a special old house in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. It was built around 1881. This historic building is also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Day Dawn House. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history and heritage.
A Home for a Gold Miner
This building, now used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was once a private home. It was built around 1881 for a very rich gold miner named Frederick Pfeiffer. He built it close to his gold mine in Charters Towers.
The Charters Towers Gold Rush
Gold was found in Charters Towers in late 1871. Soon, it became the richest gold mining area in North Queensland. In 1877, Charters Towers became a town. A railway was built, making it easy to send gold to the port at Townsville.
The gold in Charters Towers was found deep underground. This meant big machines and a lot of money were needed to get it out. Many people from other countries invested in the mines. Charters Towers grew into a busy and wealthy town. By the late 1880s, grand public buildings were built, replacing the simpler ones from earlier times.
Frederick Pfeiffer's Journey
Frederick Pfeiffer was a German immigrant. He first came to Australia in 1851 as a young apprentice on a ship. In 1856, he decided to stop sailing and try his luck at the gold fields in Victoria.
After 18 years of mining in Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand, Pfeiffer moved to Charters Towers in 1874. In 1878, he and his mining group, the Day Dawn syndicate, found a very rich vein of gold. This mine became the first to produce a lot of gold consistently in Charters Towers.
By 1903, when Pfeiffer passed away, the Day Dawn mine had produced gold worth about £1,200,000. In 1887, the mine became a company and was sold to English investors. This made Frederick Pfeiffer a very wealthy man. He continued to have major interests in other mines too.
Building a Home on Day Dawn Ridge
When Pfeiffer first arrived in Charters Towers, he set up a tent on a spot known as Day Dawn Ridge. This was very close to the entrance of his mine. He built his house on this same spot. It was likely finished in time for his wedding to Mary Donovan on February 1, 1882.
A manager's house for his company was built in October 1881. Pfeiffer's house also appears on a survey map from December 12, 1882. This suggests his house was built around that time. J Longden, a mining engineer and architect, worked in Charters Towers from 1879 to 1882. He designed the first St Columba's Church. It's possible he also designed Pfeiffer's house.
The house was built using a special technique where the timber frame is visible on the outside. It is thought to be the oldest house of this type in Charters Towers. It might even be one of the oldest in North Queensland. The house has been changed over time, with some parts removed and others added.
Even though it was a simple design, it was the grandest private home in Charters Towers when it was built. Later, during the boom years of the 1890s, many more showy houses were built. By the time Pfeiffer died, his house was considered "unpretending" for someone of his wealth. Building it so close to the mine showed that being near his work was more important to him than avoiding noise or dust.
A Respected Community Leader
Like other big mine owners, Frederick Pfeiffer became an important person in Charters Towers. He was the chairman of the hospital board for 15 years. He also helped start and support the Lutheran church. He was an honorary Major in the Kennedy Regiment and was known for being very generous to community groups and people in need.
When he died in 1903, flags in the town were lowered to half-mast. The Stock Exchange even stopped its midday trading as a sign of respect on the day of his funeral. Many important mining and business leaders attended his funeral.
Changes Over the Years
After Pfeiffer's death, his house and land were valued at £8,000. This included the large house, a store room, stables, a coach house, men's quarters, and an office.
The gold mining in Charters Towers reached its peak in 1899. However, it soon became clear that the gold veins didn't continue deep underground. By 1920, only one mine was still working. People, businesses, and even some buildings moved away from the town.
In 1923, Pfeiffer House was sold at auction for only £950. This shows how much property values had dropped after the gold field declined. Over the years, the house was sold many times and also rented out. In 1937, a lease agreement described the house as having four bedrooms, a sitting room, dining room, breakfast room, kitchen, front and back verandahs, and a wash house.
A New Purpose
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints bought the house in 1981. By this time, it was in poor condition. There were plans to knock it down to build a new church. However, many people in the community showed strong support for saving the house. Newspaper articles shared its history, and the Church decided to keep and repair the building. They adapted it for church use.
Many local people helped with this project. The restoration won an award from the National Trust of Australia. The building was officially dedicated as a church on April 24, 1983. In 1994, the Church received a new land title for the property.
What Pfeiffer House Looks Like
The former Pfeiffer House stands on Day Dawn Ridge, on land that slopes gently. It is a single-storey timber building shaped like an "L". Its timber frame is visible on the outside. Verandahs surround the house, and it sits on low stumps, raised slightly on the northern side.
The roof has an interesting shape, with three parallel gables. A curved, barrel-vaulted hall sits between them. All the roofs are made of corrugated iron. The verandahs have a curved corrugated iron awning supported by timber posts. These posts have decorative timber brackets and square timber balustrades. One verandah on the south-west side has been enclosed and has a brick chimney.
You enter the house by concrete steps. A cedar door with glass panels on the sides leads into a hallway. This hallway has a barrel-vaulted ceiling with colored glass panels at each end. The building's new use as a church has not changed the room layout much.
The former dining room, to the right of the hall, is now a classroom area and a kitchen with a chimney. To the left of the entrance hall are two large connected rooms. These were once a drawing room and are now used as a chapel. Towards the back of the house is a meeting room. At the very back, the verandah and a toilet block create a courtyard area. This courtyard contains a baptismal font.
Why Pfeiffer House is Important
Pfeiffer House is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria.
A Glimpse into Queensland's Past
Charters Towers was an incredibly rich goldfield. It played a huge part in Queensland's economy and the development of North Queensland in the late 1800s. Pfeiffer House, a large home built for a wealthy mine owner, shows how successful the town was. It also shows how rich Charters Towers became that this house was considered quite modest by 1903. The house also marks the site of the Day Dawn mine, which was very important in the city's history.
Unique Building Style
Pfeiffer House has an unusual design. It is a rare and early example of exposed stud construction in North Queensland. This means the timber frame of the house is visible on the outside.
Beautiful and Appreciated Design
The house has a pleasing design and details that the community generally likes. This was clear when people showed great concern for its preservation when it was almost demolished in the 1980s.
Connected to a Key Figure
The house is closely linked to the life and work of Frederick Pfeiffer. He was a major figure in the mining industry in Charters Towers. He was also a public-spirited man who was highly respected in the community. The house was built near the entrance to his mine, showing Pfeiffer's practical approach to his life as both a working miner and a mine owner.
