Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall |
|
|---|---|
Picture of the hall from 2012
|
|
| Location | Short Street, Pittsworth, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1913 - 1914 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall (former), Pittsworth Kindergarten | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 May 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601916 |
| Significant period | 1913-1956 (historical) 1913-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | council chamber/meeting room, views to, lead light/s, office/s, strong room |
| Builders | John Fortune |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall is a special old building in Pittsworth, Queensland, Australia. It used to be the main office and meeting place for the local council, like a town hall. It was built between 1913 and 1914 by a builder named John Fortune. Today, this historic building is also known as the Pittsworth Kindergarten. Because of its importance, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 May 1999.
Contents
A Look Back at Pittsworth's History
The former Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall is located on Short Street. It was built in 1914. The building was designed by WP Copp and constructed by John Fortune.
Most of the land that became the Shire of Pittsworth was once part of a large sheep or cattle farm called the Beauaraba Pastoral Run. Charles Mallard started this farm in 1847. The town of Pittsworth was first called "Beauaraba" after this farm.
How Pittsworth Grew
In the late 1800s, new laws made it easier for farmers to buy land. This brought many grain growers and mixed farmers to the area. In 1876, a hotel called the Beauaraba Hotel was built. This helped the town start to grow.
When the railway arrived from Toowoomba in 1887, Pittsworth grew even faster. Within three years, the town had more hotels, shops, butchers, a bank, churches, and blacksmiths. Coaches would stop in Pittsworth on their way to other towns. Wool from farms in the south-western Downs was also brought to Pittsworth to be sent by train.
In 1886, the town's name was changed to Pittsworth. This name was suggested by Thomas Macdonald-Paterson, who was in charge of the post office at the time. He named it after his father-in-law, WC Pitts.
The Start of Local Government
On 16 August 1890, a special area was set aside in Beauaraba (Pittsworth) for offices for the local government. This area was officially given to the Pittsworth Shire Council on 7 March 1918.
Before 1913, the Pittsworth area was part of a larger local government area called the Shire of Jondaryan. However, people in Pittsworth wanted their own local council. After a vote, the Pittsworth Shire Council was officially created in 1913. The first meeting of the new Council was held on 9 July 1913. Mr WP Copp was the first Chairman.
Building the Shire Hall
At a Council meeting on 3 December 1913, a councillor suggested that they should think about building a Shire Hall. By 18 February 1914, they decided to get plans for both a wooden and a brick building.
On 25 March 1914, WP Copp, who was also the Chairman, presented his design for the new Shire Hall.
William Perham Copp was born in Queensland in 1868. He moved to the Pittsworth area in 1887. Copp worked as a builder and contractor from 1892. Later, he also became a cabinet-maker. From 1915, he worked as an architect in Pittsworth. Copp was a member of the local Shire Councils from about 1898 until he passed away in 1919. He was known as "one of Pittsworth's best known residents."
The Council received five offers from builders to construct the Shire Hall. John Fortune, who was listed as a "Contractor," won the job. He offered to build the brick building for £766 and 5 shillings. The Council decided to save money from renting out their land to help pay for the new building.
A Community Hub
For many years, the Shire Hall was not just for council meetings. It was also a popular place for community events like dances, lectures, and other gatherings. For a long time, it was one of only a few brick buildings in Pittsworth.
In 1923, a big fire destroyed many wooden buildings on the main street of Pittsworth. After this, the Council made new rules. Any new buildings planned for Yandilla Street had to be approved by the Council. This led to many more brick buildings being built in Pittsworth after the fire.
Changes Over Time
In the 1950s, the building was used less for social events. It was mainly used for the monthly shire council meetings. One of the last big events held there was a Naturalisation Ceremony on 26 September 1955.
A new civic center, with new council offices and a new town hall, was built in Yandilla Street. It opened in August 1956. This new center was built on land given by the local Returned Services League.
The old Shire Hall building has not changed much on the outside over the past 85 years. Some small changes include closing off the open south side of the verandah. Also, timber railings were added to the verandah. The Kindergarten Association added an extension to the western part of the building for toilets.
The building served the Pittsworth Shire Council for over 40 years. In 1956, the building was leased to the Pittsworth Kindergarten Association. The Association still uses the building today.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Pittsworth Shire Hall and Shire Offices is a single-story brick building with a corrugated iron roof. It is shaped like the letter "L".
Outside the Building
The main entrance is in the middle, under a covered porch area called a portico. This portico has a gabled roof made of corrugated iron and decorative timber posts. High up on the front (eastern) side of the building, there are pretty leadlight windows. The concrete wall above the entrance has the words "Pittsworth Shire Hall" and "1913" written on it.
A staircase is on the southern side of the entrance. There is also a verandah (a covered porch) with timber posts on the eastern side of the building. The timber railings on this verandah were added later.
The building is mostly made of orange bricks. However, there are two lines of decorative blue bricks in different parts of the walls. On the back (western) side, there are several more lines of these blue bricks at the top of the wall.
Inside the Building
Inside, the building has a large open room with a high timber ceiling. There is a decorative metal design in the middle of the ceiling called a pressed metal ceiling rose.
In the north-western corner, there is an original strong room. This room is made of concrete and goes all the way to the ceiling. A timber door above the strong room opens to a storage space.
There are two smaller rooms on the southern side of the building. One room has a small kitchen, and the other is used for office equipment. A timber extension, covered with corrugated iron, has been built along part of the western side of the building.
The Surrounding Area
Outside, to the north of the building, there is play equipment and seating areas for the kindergarten. A small timber shed is in the north-western corner of the property. There is also a small toilet building with a corrugated iron roof near the north-west corner of the main building. Many trees and plants are around the property.
Why This Building is Special
The former Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's an important part of Queensland's history and culture. It was added to the list on 28 May 1999 for several reasons:
A Piece of History
Built in 1914, this building is one of the most important in Pittsworth. It shows how the Pittsworth Shire Council was formed in 1913. Building such a strong brick building showed that the Council believed in a bright future for their new Shire.
A Rare Find
This building is special because it's one of the few brick buildings built in Pittsworth before the big fire of 1923. That fire destroyed many wooden buildings, leading to many new brick buildings being built afterwards. So, this building stands out as an older brick structure.
Beautiful to Look At
The former Pittsworth Shire Council Chambers and Shire Hall adds a lot to the look of Short Street. It still looks very much like it did when it was built, with only small changes over the last 85 years.
Connected to Important People
This building is also important because of its connection to WP Copp. He was the Chairman of the first Shire Council and a well-known person in the area. Copp worked as an architect in Pittsworth from 1915 to 1919 and designed this building for the Shire Council.
