Redcliffe Town Council Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redcliffe Town Council Chambers |
|
|---|---|
Building in 2016
|
|
| Location | 185 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1940 - 1941 |
| Architect | Sidney William Prior |
| Architectural style(s) | Functionalism |
| Official name: Redcliffe Town Council Chambers (former), Redcliffe Community Health Centre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 13 January 1995 |
| Reference no. | 601567 |
| Significant period | 1940-1972 (historical) 1940 - ongoing (social) 1940s (fabric) |
| Significant components | views to, council chamber/meeting room, office/s, stained glass window/s |
| Builders | Carl Gustav Thiedeke |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Redcliffe Town Council Chambers is an old, important building in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia. It used to be the main office for the local government. It was designed by Sidney William Prior and built between 1940 and 1941. This building is also known as the Redcliffe Shire Hall and later became the Redcliffe Community Health Centre. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1995 because of its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back at the Redcliffe Council Chambers
The Redcliffe Town Council Chambers was first built as the Redcliffe Shire Hall between 1940 and 1941. Sidney William Prior designed the building. Carl Gustav Thiedeke built it for about £5200.
This building was constructed during an important time for Redcliffe. The area grew a lot after the Hornibrook Highway opened. This highway connected the Redcliffe Peninsula to Brisbane.
Early Days of Redcliffe
People first settled permanently on the Redcliffe peninsula after land was sold in 1862. By the 1870s, Redcliffe, then often called Humpybong, started to become a popular seaside resort. However, it was hard to get there, which slowed its growth.
In the 1880s, more land was divided into smaller blocks for building. This led to more people moving to the area. The first local government group, called the Redcliffe Division, was created in April 1887. By this time, the official name Redcliffe was used more often.
The Divisional Board planned to build an office in 1892. A design was even made by an architect named CW Brooke. But they didn't have enough money. So, the Board moved to different places, like the North Pine School of Arts and a Masonic Hall. In 1902, an official Board Office was finally built.
By April 1903, the Divisional Board became the Redcliffe Shire Council. Then, in May 1921, it became the Redcliffe Town Council.
Redcliffe's Growth in the 1930s
During the 1930s, the Town Council made many improvements in Redcliffe. They wanted to make it an even better seaside resort. The opening of the Hornibrook Highway on 4 October 1935 was a huge boost.
The Council then started big projects to improve the seaside areas. They built public facilities and worked on making the town better.
Building the New Chambers
In February 1939, the Council talked about how old and worn out their current building was. In July 1939, they decided to build a new one. The old council building was moved and turned into apartments.
Sidney William Prior designed the new chambers. He came to Australia from England in 1911. He studied drawing and construction in Brisbane. After serving in the First World War, he started his own architecture business in Brisbane in 1923. He designed many homes and other buildings.
The new chambers cost £5200, which included the furniture. The Council got this money by selling their electricity business. CG Thiedeke was the builder, and his offer was accepted in August 1940. The building was used for council meetings and also had dental and medical clinics.
The new building officially opened on 3 December 1941. The Minister for Home Affairs, Edward Michael Hanlon, opened it. On the same day, he also turned on Redcliffe's new water supply.
Redcliffe became a city on 11 June 1959. The Shire Hall became too small for the growing city council. So, in 1972, the building was given to the State Government Health Department. It then became a community health centre, and the Council moved to new offices.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Redcliffe Town Council Chambers is a white building made of stone. It has one main floor, but the entrance part is two stories tall. The front of the building is curved. It has stepped walls at the top that hide the flat roofs.
The building also has cool decorations like shields, glass bricks, and stained glass windows. The outside of the building still looks very much like it did when it was built. The inside has been changed to work as a health centre. A new section has also been added to the back of the building.
Why This Building is Important
The former Redcliffe Town Council Chambers was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected.
A Piece of History
This building was built when Redcliffe was growing quickly. It shows us how the town developed over time.
A Special Design
The Redcliffe Town Council Chambers, built in 1940-1941, is a great example of a modern civic building. Its design shows the influence of European architecture from the late 1930s. It also shows the work of its architect, Sidney William Prior.
Important to the Community
This building has been important to the local community for a long time. It served as the main civic centre where local government decisions were made. Later, it became a health care facility, continuing to serve the people of Redcliffe.
