Queensland National Bank, Charleville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queensland National Bank, Charleville |
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Queensland National Bank (now museum), Charleville, 2017
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| Location | 87 Alfred Street, Charleville, Shire of Murweh, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Built for | Queensland National Bank |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Official name: Queensland National Bank (former), 'Historic House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600757 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) 1888–1942 (historical use) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation – manager's house/quarters, fireplace |
| Builders | A Anderson |
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The Queensland National Bank building in Charleville used to be a bank. Today, it's a fascinating museum called the Historic House Museum. It is located at 87 Alfred Street in Charleville, Queensland, Australia. This important building was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built in 1888 by A Anderson. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's a special historical place.
Contents
History of the Bank Building
This old bank building was built in Charleville in 1888. It was home to a branch of the Queensland National Bank, which had first opened in the town in 1881.
Charleville's Growth
The town of Charleville was first mapped out in 1867. This happened after many large farms, called pastoral runs, were surveyed in the area in 1863. Charleville is located on the banks of the Warrego River. It was also on a path used by cattle drivers, called a stock route, that went from New South Wales to Western Queensland.
Because of its location, Charleville grew into a main service center for the surrounding farming areas. Large groups of bullock teams passed through the town. The famous stagecoach company, Cobb and Co, even set up stables there. They also built a factory for making mail coaches and buggies, along with a sawmill.
In 1888, Charleville became even more important for transport. It was the end point for the main Western railway line. This railway line later extended south to Cunnamulla in 1898 and west to Quilpie in 1917. The Queensland National Bank was the very first bank to open a branch in Charleville on July 30, 1881.
The Queensland National Bank
The Queensland National Bank was the first and most successful of Queensland's own banks from the 1800s. It was started in March 1872 by a group of important Queenslanders. These included farmers, politicians, lawyers, and business people. They wanted to make sure Queensland could get money for development without needing help from other countries or colonies.
The bank's first office opened in Queen Street, Brisbane in 1872. Many people across Queensland chose to bank with them. By 1879, the bank was handling all the Queensland Government's banking business. By 1880, it held 40% of all the money deposited in the colony. This showed how much it controlled Queensland's economy.
Building the New Bank
In 1888, a bigger bank building was constructed in Charleville. It was designed by F.D.G. Stanley and built by A Anderson. The cost was £2049/14/9.
F.D.G. Stanley was an architect who trained in Scotland. He moved to Queensland in 1861. In 1863, he started working for the Queensland Colonial Architect. He became the Colonial Architect in 1872. He stayed in this job until 1881, when he left to work full-time on his own projects.
Stanley often worked for banks, including the Queensland National Bank. He also designed buildings for the Anglican Church and trading companies. He was one of the most successful architects in Queensland during the 1800s. Some of his famous works include the Supreme Court building in Brisbane (which later burned down) and the General Post Office in Brisbane. He also designed St Paul's Anglican Church in Maryborough and the Queensland Club in Brisbane. Stanley designed timber bank buildings for the Queensland National Bank in places like St George, Normanton, Allora, and Blackall.
The Charleville bank building was special because it had both business areas and living spaces. This was a common design for bank branches back then. At the front of the building, there was a public area where customers could do their banking. There was also a teller's area and a safe. The bank manager had their own office.
The back part of the building was a home for the manager and their family. It even had a room for their maid. The high quality of the building showed how important a bank manager was in a regional town.
From Bank to Museum
In 1942, the Charleville bank branch was sold to Mr. Alex Smith. This probably happened because of a decision during wartime to reduce the number of bank branches in smaller towns. Mr. Smith lived in the building for the rest of his life.
In 1948, the Queensland National Bank joined with another bank, the National Bank of Australasia. This bank later became the National Australia Bank. After Mr. Smith passed away, his daughter, Mrs. Claude Young, turned the building into a boarding house. When she died, the Charleville and District Cultural and Historical Society bought the building. Today, it is a local history museum.
Building Description
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The former Queensland National Bank in Charleville is a single-story building made of timber. You can see the timber frame on the outside. It sits on low stumps and has a hipped roof covered with corrugated iron.
There are verandahs at the front and sides of the building. These verandahs have a corrugated iron roof, called an awning, which is held up by timber posts. A central part of the building sticks out at the front, rising through the verandah awning. This marks the main entrance, which you reach by climbing timber steps.
Inside, the building has tall ceilings and beautiful cedar wood details. There are also four fireplaces made of marble. Several of the rooms are now set up as part of the museum, showing how they might have looked in the past.
Outside, there is a picket fence along the street.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Queensland National Bank in Charleville was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's considered a very important historical place for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: This building helps us understand how Queensland grew. It was built specifically for a bank that was created to help Queensland when it was a self-governing colony. The high quality of its design also shows how important this regional bank branch was when Charleville was a key center for farming in southwest Queensland.
- It's a great example of a bank from its time: This building is a good example of what a regional bank looked like back then. It's a timber building that combined a banking area, an office, and a home for the manager. This type of design was common for banks in rural areas from the 1800s until World War II.
- It's beautiful and adds to the town: The former Queensland National Bank is a well-designed and detailed building. It makes the town of Charleville look better and adds to its charm.
- It's linked to important people and groups: This building has a special connection to the architect F.D.G. Stanley, who designed many banks for the Queensland National Bank. It's also connected to the history of the Queensland National Bank itself, which was one of the first banks started in Queensland.
