Ravenswood Court House and Police Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ravenswood Court House and Police Station |
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Ravenswood Court House, 1993
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| Location | Raven Street, Ravenswood, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1882 |
| Architect | Queensland Department of Public Works |
| Official name: Ravenswood Court House Group (former), Court House and Police Station, Ravenswood | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 27 January 1994 |
| Reference no. | 601204 |
| Significant period | 1880s (historical) 1880s (fabric) 1880s–1920s (social) |
| Significant components | cell block, barracks – police, court house, police station |
| Builders | A Donald (court house) and FA Sparre (police station) |
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The Ravenswood Court House and Police Station are important old buildings in Ravenswood, Australia. They used to be a courthouse where legal cases were heard and a police station where police officers worked. Today, the old courthouse is a museum! These buildings were designed by the Queensland Department of Public Works and were built in 1882. They are special because they show us what life was like during the gold rush days in Queensland.
History of the Buildings
The Ravenswood Court House and Police Station actually include three buildings. These are the Court House, the Police Station, and the Cells (which were once part of the Police Station). All three were built in 1882. Interestingly, they were moved away from this spot in 1965 and then brought back during the 1980s.
Early Days of the Gold Rush
These buildings replaced older ones from the 1870s. The Queensland government built them to help manage the early gold rush in Ravenswood. Gold mining was very important in Queensland from the 1850s until World War I. Big gold discoveries happened in places like Gympie (1867) and Ravenswood (1868). These discoveries made Queensland one of Australia's top gold producers.
At first, miners found gold by "panning" in rivers. Later, they dug deep into the ground to find gold in rocks, which is called "reef mining." By 1871, Ravenswood's gold mining became harder. The gold was mixed with other minerals, making it difficult to get out. This meant miners needed more money and special machines. Many miners left for other gold fields, like the one in Charters Towers, which soon became more important than Ravenswood.
Ravenswood's Growth and Decline
Even with fewer miners, Ravenswood continued to exist. The town's economy was supported by some mining and by silver mines nearby. The government also helped by building more important structures. These included the Great Northern railway from Townsville in 1884, a new Post and Telegraph Office in 1885, and a Hospital in 1887. The new Court House and Police Station were also built in 1882.
The Court House was built by A Donald for £1,200, and the Police Station by FA Sparre for £885. The Queensland Department of Public Works designed them. These designs were common types used by the Department. They allowed good quality public buildings to be built across the large colony, even by local builders.
What the Buildings Looked Like
The Court House was a timber building shaped like a "T." It had a large courtroom at the front and offices at the back. The Police Station was a "U"-shaped timber building. It had an office, living areas for the local policeman and his family, and three cells for prisoners. There was also a sergeant's house on the site, which was sold in 1929. By 1899, a stable for police horses was also on the property. Later, around 1912, a brick wall and a white picket fence were added along Raven Street.
Changes Over Time
Around 1912, gold mining in Ravenswood started to slow down. A big strike in 1912-1913 caused problems in the community. Then, World War I (1914-1918) made things worse with higher costs and fewer workers. After the war, mining across Australia declined.
Mining continued in Ravenswood, but the big boom was over. Many people moved away, and some buildings were taken down. In 1930, Ravenswood became the first town in Queensland to lose its railway. Even though mining was quiet, there were hopes it might pick up again. There was a small increase in mining in the 1930s and early 1940s. Later, new technology allowed for more mining, but Ravenswood never became as busy as it was in the early 1900s.
In 1965, both the Court House and Police Station were moved from Ravenswood. The Police Station was even used in pieces as housing for farm workers at Mt Ravenswood Station.
Return and New Life
In the 1970s, people started studying the Ravenswood area more. In the 1980s, the whole town was listed as important heritage by the Australian Heritage Commission and the National Trust of Queensland. During this time, because of the Burdekin Dam flooding, the Police Station, Cells, and Court House were moved back to their original spot. This period also saw new open-cut gold mining start and more tourists visiting the town.
Today, the old Court House is the Ravenswood Court House Museum.
What the Buildings Look Like Now
The Court House Group is on the northern corner of Macrossan and Raven Streets. It sits on a raised area overlooking Elphinstone Creek. Ravenswood is a mining town, so you can see disturbed ground, old ruins, and piles of mining waste around. The group has three buildings: the court house, the barracks, and the cell block.
The Court House
The court house is a single-story timber building with a wavy metal roof that has a pointed shape (called a gable roof). It stands on concrete stumps. The building is shaped like a "T." The main courtroom is at the front, with verandahs (covered porches) on three sides. Offices are at the back, with a verandah on one side.
The outside walls are made of timber boards (called weatherboard). The verandahs have timber railings and posts. French doors open onto the verandah, and the front part has sliding windows and a central entrance with a small pointed roof. Inside, you can still see old courtroom furniture like wooden seating, the witness stand, and the judge's bench. The walls are made of horizontal timber boards.
The Barracks
The barracks building is north of the court house. It's a single-story timber building with a wavy metal gable roof and concrete stumps. It has a verandah on one side with two French doors and a sliding window. The outside walls are timber weatherboards. Inside, there are three rooms.
The Cell Block
The cell block is northeast of the court house. It's also a single-story timber building with a wavy metal roof that slopes on all sides (called a hipped roof). It stands on concrete stumps. It has a verandah on one side with four doors and a window. The outside walls are timber weatherboards.
Inside, the building has four rooms. Some of the original timber cell doors are still on the site, even though they have been removed from their frames.
Why These Buildings Are Special
The Ravenswood Court House and Police Station were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 January 1994. This means they are considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
Ravenswood was one of the first places in North Queensland to have a major gold rush. This gold rush greatly helped the area grow. The government built these public buildings to support this growth. The Court House and Police buildings were built in the 1880s. They show how the government tried to help the town during a time when its economy was slowing down.
Good Examples of Building Styles
The Court House and Police buildings were built using special designs. These designs were created by the Public Works Department at that time. They are good examples of the types of buildings the department created.
Beautiful and Important Location
These buildings are on a noticeable hill in the middle of town. Like many government buildings, they were built together on the same piece of land. The Court House is especially well-preserved and still has its original furniture and fittings inside.
Important to the Community
Ravenswood was one of the first places in North Queensland to have a major gold rush. This event greatly helped the area grow. Because of this, the buildings have a strong connection to the local community and its history.
Connected to Important Work
The Court House and Police buildings were built using designs from the Public Works Department. This department was very important in improving the quality of buildings across Queensland.
