Pine Rivers Shire Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pine Rivers Shire Hall |
|
|---|---|
Building in 2016
|
|
| Location | 238 Gympie Road, Strathpine, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1889 - 1935 |
| Official name: Pine Rivers Shire Hall (former), Pine Divisional Board Hall, Pine Rivers Shire Hall, Pine Shire Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600768 |
| Significant period | 1889-1935 (fabric) 1880s-1950s (historical, social) 1940s (WWII) |
| Significant components | strong room, office/s, memorial - honour board/ roll of honour, hall |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Pine Rivers Shire Hall is a special old building in Strathpine, Queensland, Australia. It's a heritage-listed town hall, which means it's important to history and protected. The first part of the building was finished in 1889. Over the years, it was extended and used for many different things. It's also been known as the Pine Divisional Board Hall or Pine Shire Hall.
The Hall's Journey Through Time
The first part of this timber hall was built in 1889. It was a rectangular building with one storey. Over the years, it had three main additions.
How the Local Government Started
In the 1860s, people started settling in the Pine Rivers area. Villages grew, and a railway reached Strathpine in 1887. Before 1888, the Pine Rivers area was part of a larger local government area. But in 1888, the Pine Divisional Board was created to manage the local area.
Building the First Hall
In early 1889, the Board asked for bids to build a hall. They chose L Macklewright's bid, and the hall was built. It was about 13.7 meters (45 feet) long and 7.6 meters (25 feet) wide.
Changes and New Uses Over Years
The hall was used for local government meetings and as a place for community events. Church groups also used it.
- Early 1890s: The front of the hall was extended.
- 1902: The local government changed its name to the Pine Shire Council.
- 1905: A new office was added at the back of the hall.
- 1921: A special board was made to honor soldiers from the war. It was hung in the hall.
- 1924: The end wall was made better to show the war memorial and photos.
- 1932: Two more additions were made on the south side. These included a new office and a glassed-in verandah.
- Around 1935: A strong room, which is a very secure room, was added to the 1932 additions.
The Hall During World War II
During the Second World War, the hall was used by the US Army. It became a recreation hall where soldiers could relax and have fun.
After the War and New Buildings
After the war, the hall continued to be a popular place for social events. In the early 1950s, it was even rented out as a movie theater.
In 1959, the Pine Shire Council became the Pine Rivers Shire Council. In 1960, they moved into a new brick office building built next to the old hall.
Later Uses and Restoration
In the 1960s, parts of the old hall were used for council departments like building and engineering. The front office was rented as a real estate office. It also had space for a visiting bank officer and a doctor. In the 1970s, this office became the first local library.
By 1978-1979, the council staff moved out, and the hall became very run down. But in the 1980s, it was fixed up and rented to a theater group in 1985. As the area grew, new council buildings were opened in 1974 and 1978. In 1986, the old 1959 shire offices were used again for council staff, and they are now health offices.
What the Hall Looks Like
The Pine Rivers Shire Hall is a single-storey building with walls made of "chamferboard" (a type of timber siding). It has a "gabled roof" (a roof with two sloping sides) made of corrugated iron. It stands on timber stumps with panels underneath.
Outside Features
The roof has four metal "ventilators" (vents for air) and a special vent on the front and back gables. The front of the building has a "verandah" (a covered porch) with a corrugated iron roof and timber railings. The building is painted in a way that shows its two main building stages. The main entrance doors have timber panels and a fanlight above, but they are not used now.
At the back of the L-shaped building, there's a dressing room with a "skillion roof" (a single-sloping roof). Its walls are also made of chamferboard.
Inside the Hall
The main hall has a flat ceiling in the middle that slopes up on the sides. It has round decorative vents. The walls are covered with fibrous cement sheets and timber strips. The windows have multiple panes and pivot open horizontally. The hall has raised seating at one end and a raised stage at the other, with lights and curtains.
Other Rooms and Details
On the south side, there's a child-care room. The original windows of the hall in this area have been covered. There's also a back porch and stairs.
Behind the office on the south side, there's a concrete "strongroom" with a steel door. The office itself has been divided into a kitchen and a storeroom. The walls have a "dado" (a lower part of the wall decorated differently) with vertical timber boards. The upper walls have plywood panels. The windows are "casement windows" (windows that open outwards like a door) and have metal sunhoods.
Why the Hall is Important
The former Pine Rivers Shire Hall was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place.
Showing History and Growth
The hall, along with other council buildings nearby, shows how the Pine Rivers Shire Council grew from 1888 until today. It helps us understand the history of local government in Queensland.
A Good Example of Its Kind
This hall is a great example of a local government building from the late 1880s. It shows how these types of buildings were designed and used back then.
Beautiful and Important to the Area
The hall looks nice and adds to the character of the street. It's an important part of the group of Pine Shire Council buildings.
Important to the Community
The hall has played a big role in the community life of the people living in the Pine Shire. It was a central place for many social and cultural activities.
