Queens Building, Townsville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queens Building |
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Queens Building, 2000
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| Location | 175 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1887 |
| Architect | Tunbridge & Tunbridge |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Queens Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600896 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) c. 1887-ongoing (historical use) |
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The Queens Building is a special historic building located at 175 Flinders Street in the heart of Townsville CBD, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the famous architects Tunbridge & Tunbridge and built around 1887. This building is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, which means it's protected because of its history and beauty.
Contents
A Look Back: Queens Building History
The Queens Building was designed in 1887 by the architectural firm Tunbridge and Tunbridge. It was built for a chemist named Pio Armati. The building was named in honor of Queen Victoria's Jubilee year, a big celebration for the Queen.
How Townsville Grew
Townsville started in 1864, founded by John Melton Black and Robert Towns. It quickly became an important port city. By 1873, ships from all over the world were coming to Townsville. The port facilities were improved to handle even larger ships. By 1880, Townsville was a key port for several goldfields. It also had the first part of the Great Northern railway line opening, which went west through Charters Towers. This made Townsville even more important as a trading and business center.
Pio Armati: An Early Settler
Pio Armati was one of the first Italian people to settle in North Queensland. He was born near Rome and moved to Australia in 1874. He became an Australian citizen in 1876. In the 1870s, he partnered with Chiafredo Venerando Fraire. Both men, especially Fraire, helped many other Italian immigrants come to North Queensland.
Their company, Armati Fraire and Company, sold many things like clothes, hardware, wine, and general goods. In 1878, Armati bought the land where the Queens Building now stands. They were very successful. In 1881, Fraire even bought the retail clothing part of a big company called Burns Philp. When the Queens Building was finished, they ran a clothing business there.
However, their partnership ended in 1889. Armati then ran an insurance agency from this building. By 1892, Armati had a chemist shop at a different address on Flinders Street. He continued as a chemist for many years and became a leading pharmacist in Townsville. He was also well-known in society. Pio Armati passed away in 1923. Both Armati and Fraire have streets named after them in Townsville today.
The Architects: Tunbridge and Tunbridge
The Queens Building was designed by the new local architectural firm, Tunbridge and Tunbridge. Walter Howard Tunbridge was an architect who trained in England. He moved to Australia in 1884 and worked in Townsville. In 1886, he started his own architecture business. He then invited his younger brother, Oliver, to join him in 1887. Their partnership became a very important architectural and engineering firm in North Queensland. Their design for the Queens Building looked similar to the Atkinson & Powell Building next door, which was built in 1886.
What the Building Has Been Used For
The Queens Building has been used for many different shops and offices over the years. Some of the businesses that have been there include:
- An accountant
- An architect and surveyor
- A watchmaker
- A jeweler
- A tailor
The North Queensland Mortgage and Investment Company rented space there from 1906 to 1931. In 1940, Peter Phillips bought the property. It was divided into smaller parts in 1957. The current owner bought it in 1973, and since then, it has been used as a hairdresser's and a gift store.
The ground floor of the building has been changed over time. It now has modern aluminum-framed windows and doors. On the upper level, some of the window glass has been replaced with louvres, which are angled slats that let in air and light.
Queens Building: What It Looks Like
The Queens Building is on the main shopping street in Townsville. It's a two-story building made of brick. Its style is very similar to the old Atkinson and Powell Building right next to it, though the decorations are different.
Outside Features
The front of the Queens Building, facing the street, is covered in a smooth finish with classic-style decorations. The top floor has four windows with rounded tops. These windows have noticeable voussoirs, which are wedge-shaped stones that form the arch. These windows are separated by pilasters, which are flat, decorative columns attached to the wall.
Above the windows, there is an entablature, which is a fancy horizontal section, and a balustraded parapet, which is a low wall with a railing. The middle part of the building is taller and has a decorative tablet with swags (like draped garlands). On top of this is a decorated urn. This raised section hides the hipped roof, which is covered with corrugated iron. The lower parts of the windows have glass louvres installed. You can still see some old signs on the entablature.
Shopfront and Awning
Below a cornice (a decorative molding), there is a curved corrugated iron awning that provides shade for the shopfronts. This awning is held up by cast iron columns. However, the decorative cast iron frieze (a band of sculpture or decoration) that was originally on the awning is no longer there. The shop fronts have been updated with modern aluminum-framed windows and doors. Above these, there are panels of glass louvres.
There is a separate entrance to the upper level on the western side. This entrance is located between the shopfronts of the Queens Building and the old Atkinson and Powell building next to it.
Why Queens Building is Important
The Queens Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it meets certain important standards.
Showing History's Story
The style and quality of the Queens Building show how much Townsville grew and prospered in the 1880s. During this time, Flinders Street was being rebuilt with many grand buildings. This growth reflects how North Queensland developed by creating important ports that became centers for business and government.
A Great Example of Its Kind
The Queens Building is a good example of a well-built, small-scale commercial office building from its time in North Queensland. It shows what these types of buildings looked like back then.
Beautiful to Look At
This building is on Townsville's main business street. Its design, shape, and materials make it a significant and beautiful part of the city's appearance.
Connected to Important People
The building is linked to the life and work of Pio Vico Armati. He was one of the first Italian settlers in North Queensland and a very well-known person in Townsville. It is also an example of the commercial work done by the important North Queensland architectural firm of Tunbridge and Tunbridge.
