Queensland Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queensland Building |
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Queensland Building, 2000
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| Location | 104-106 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1890 - c. 1971 |
| Architect | Mark Cooper Day |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Queensland Building, North Queensland Insurance Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600909 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) 1892-c. 1972 (historical use, Insurance Company) |
| Significant components | loggia/s |
| Builders | John Petrie & Son |
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The Queensland Building is a historic office building located at 104-106 Flinders Street in Townsville's city center, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architect Mark Cooper Day and built between 1890 and 1971 by John Petrie & Son. This building is also known as the North Queensland Insurance Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, recognizing its important history and design.
A Look Back: The Building's Story
The Queensland Building was constructed between 1890 and 1892. It was built by a major North Queensland company called Burns, Philp Co. Ltd. The building served as the main office for their insurance company for over 80 years.
How Townsville Grew
Townsville was founded in 1864 by John Melton Black and Robert Towns. It quickly became an important port, meaning a place where ships could load and unload goods. By 1873, ships from all over the world, not just Australia, were coming to Townsville.
The port facilities were improved to allow bigger ships to dock. By 1880, Townsville was a key port for several large gold mining areas. It also had the first part of the Great Northern railway line heading west. This made Townsville even more important as a trading and shipping hub.
The Story of Burns Philp
James Burns arrived in Brisbane in 1862. He started a store in Gympie in 1867, working closely with mining towns. In 1872, he moved to Townsville and started his own business there.
In 1874, Robert Philp joined him. Philp had experience with shipping companies. Burns later moved to Sydney in 1877 to focus on importing and shipping. In 1883, they officially formed Burns Philp and Company Limited.
Burns Philp grew very fast in the 1880s. Townsville became very important because it was the main office for this huge company. Within ten years, the company controlled most of the trade in North Queensland. They sold many different goods and opened branches in places like Charters Towers. They also became a big player in trading with the Pacific Islands and New Guinea.
Why the Building Was Built
By the time the Queensland Building was constructed, Burns Philp was a very large company. The North Queensland Insurance Company was first started in 1886. Its main purpose was to provide insurance for Burns Philp's own ships and sea trade.
The land where the Queensland Building stands was bought by Robert Towns and John Melton Black in 1867. It was close to the Burns Philp wharves on Ross Creek. In 1890, Burns Philp bought this land for their insurance company's new office.
Mark Cooper Day, an architect from Sydney, designed the building. The construction was done by John Petrie and Son from Brisbane. Local architects Eyre and Munro oversaw the work. When it was finished, people highly praised the building's quality. The building's design likely matched the existing Burns Philp office across the street. Together, these two buildings created an impressive entrance to the Burns Philp wharves.
Changes Over Time
The North Queensland Insurance building originally had offices on the ground floor. These included spaces for the company secretary, manager, public offices, and a strong room. The two upper floors each had two office suites and strong rooms.
The insurance company was very successful. It expanded into other types of insurance. In 1907, the company dropped "North" from its name to show its wider business interests.
In 1971, Cyclone Althea caused significant damage to the building. The roof was blown off, and the fancy parapet (the low wall at the edge of the roof) was damaged. The original sloped roof was not replaced. Instead, a new, lower ceiling was put in during repairs. The plain parapet you see today was likely added at this time.
In 1972, the Townsville Harbour Board bought the offices. They then rented out the office spaces. In the 1970s and early 1980s, a doctor used the lower two floors as his consulting rooms. He added windows to fill in the arches on the ground floor. The top floor was used as offices and living space by an architect.
In 1987, Barrier Reef Resources bought the building. They used part of it as a home. For many years, it has been the main office for a group of companies. The inside has offices and living areas on the top floor. The outside of the building looks mostly the same. However, some of the fancy decorations made from molded plaster, seen in old photos, have been removed. The Museum of Tropical Queensland has been built on the land next to it.
What the Building Looks Like
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The Queensland Building is located at the corner of Wickham and Flinders Streets in Townsville. It was designed to make the most of its location, with entrances facing both streets and a corner entrance. It is directly across the street from the old Burns Philp and Company headquarters, and both buildings share similar styles.
Design Features
The Queensland Building is a three-story structure made of brick covered in a smooth plaster finish. It has a classical style with arcades (a series of arches) on each level. There are clear decorative moldings called cornices that separate each floor.
The main entrance has a few low steps leading up to it. Above the entrance is a triangular broken pediment (a decorative element, often found above doors or windows). On each side of the entrance, there are three arches. These arches are round at the top and are separated by pilasters (flat, decorative columns) with Doric capitals (the top part of the column). The arches on the ground floor have been filled with glass to create windows. They also have round canvas window covers.
The arcade on the first floor looks similar but has Ionic capitals (a different style of column top). A balustrade (a row of small columns topped by a rail) connects the arches. You can see sash windows behind the arches, which form a covered walkway called a loggia. The top floor also has a similar design. However, its arches are separated by consoles (decorative brackets). The area above these was once decorated with many molded plaster swags (decorative garlands), but it is now plain. A simple parapet of plastered brick hides the roof.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Queensland Building was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
The building's style and quality show how wealthy Townsville was in the 1880s. It also shows how North Queensland developed with important ports becoming centers for business and government. Since it was the office for an insurance company that served Burns, Philp and Company, the building is closely linked to this growth.
A Great Example of Its Kind
The Queensland Building is a good example of a large 19th-century office building in North Queensland. It has special design features that help it suit a tropical climate.
Its Beauty and Location
The building is located at a major intersection of Wickham and Flinders Streets. Its design, shape, and materials make it a very important and beautiful part of the city's look.
Connected to Important People and Groups
The Queensland Building is strongly connected to Burns Philp and Company Limited. This company was very important in Queensland's development. The building was specially built as an office for their insurance company.
