Rockhampton Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockhampton Club |
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Rockhampton Club, 1996
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| Location | 166 Quay Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1892 - 1893 |
| Architect | James Flint |
| Official name: Rockhampton Club | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600801 |
| Significant period | 1893, 1930s (fabric) 1893-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | cellar, other - social/community: component, furniture/fittings, kitchen/kitchen house, room/unit/suite, billiards room, memorial - honour board/ roll of honour |
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The Rockhampton Club building is a special historic place in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a private club where people could meet and relax. The building was designed by an architect named James Flint and was built between 1892 and 1893. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history and should be protected.
Contents
A Look Back at Rockhampton Club's History
The Rockhampton Club building tells an important story about how social life grew in Rockhampton. The club itself started in 1888, and its members were often important people in the town and even in Queensland's government. They moved into the Quay Street building in 1894.
How Rockhampton Began
The Archer brothers were among the first Europeans to explore the Rockhampton area in 1853. They were the first to map the Fitzroy River. Soon, more European settlers arrived, and the spot where the Archers landed became very important.
After a short gold rush nearby in 1858, Rockhampton was officially made a town. It was also declared a "port of entry" for ships. The first land sales happened in November 1858. William Archer bought a piece of land at 166 Quay Street during these sales.
The Land Before the Club
In 1881, William Archer leased his land to Thomas McLaughlin, who was a brewer. A brewery called Fitzroy Brewery was already on the land. McLaughlin became a partner in the brewery and later took full ownership. The brewery did well, so McLaughlin moved to a new, bigger location in 1884.
The lease agreement for the Quay Street land mentioned a "store warehouse and buildings" with "yards, stables and outbuildings." There was also a small cottage. The upper floor of the main building had a tenant living there.
Starting the Rockhampton Club
The Rockhampton Club was created for people to relax, have fun, and meet others with similar interests. The club first rented rooms in Cook's building on East Street. John Ferguson was the first president of the club in 1888.
John Ferguson was a successful builder in Rockhampton. He arrived in the early 1860s and built many structures, including workers' cottages. He became very wealthy by investing in the Mount Morgan Mine. Ferguson was also a leader in the Central Queensland Territorial Separation League. This group wanted Central Queensland to become its own separate state. He even built a large house called Kenmore House in 1894, hoping it would become the new state's Government House.
Building the New Club House
Around 1890-1891, the Rockhampton Club decided to find a new home. Thomas McLaughlin, who leased the Quay Street land, passed away in 1892. This made the land available for the club.
The design for the new Rockhampton Club building was created by James Flint. Flint was an architect from England who moved to Australia in 1883. He started his own architecture business in Rockhampton in 1887. He designed several important buildings in the area, including the Walter Reid and Co. Stores and the Criterion Hotel. Flint was also a member of the Rockhampton local council and supported the idea of Central Queensland becoming a separate state.
James Flint asked for bids to build the new club house in January 1892. The building was finished by 1893.
Life at the Club Through the Years
The Rockhampton Club bought the building from McLaughlin's family in 1904. To help members from country areas, the club offered rooms upstairs where they could stay. The club also had a paid Secretary. At its busiest, the Rockhampton Club had almost 400 members. Famous members included William Kidston, who was the Premier of Queensland (like a state leader) from 1906 to 1911.
After World War I, the club faced challenges, and membership numbers went down. In 1921, they talked about the "strenuous times" the club had gone through.
In 1930, some changes were made to the building. They added a billiard room downstairs for two tables, updated the social area, and built new restrooms. After the economic depression of the 1930s, the club expanded the building again in 1938. However, World War II caused membership to drop once more.
The Rockhampton Club was known for always opening on time. During the big flood in Rockhampton in 1954, the floodwaters reached the top step of the main entrance. Members had to use the back entrance from Quay Lane.
In the 1970s, the club again saw fewer members. In 1991, a big change happened: the club's 103-year-old rule against female members was removed. Even with women joining, the club still found it hard to keep enough members because of competition from other clubs. By 1995, there were only 150 members.
In 1995, the building was put up for sale. The idea was to sell it to someone who would then lease it back to the club. This way, the club could use the money to improve the building. Two club members eventually bought the building and leased it back to the club.
The Rockhampton Club officially closed in 2002. Today, the building is used by accountants and financial planners. In 2015, the building was again listed for sale.
What the Rockhampton Club Building Looks Like
The Rockhampton Club is a two-story building made of brick, painted, and stands out on Quay Street. It looks over the Fitzroy River. Next to it is the Trustee Chambers, which is similar in size and style.
The building has a rectangular shape facing Quay Street. At the back, there are two extensions: a two-story service wing and a single-story former billiard room. The main roof is shallow and covered with old corrugated iron. The back extensions have newer corrugated iron roofs. The former billiard room has a special window structure on its roof called a clerestory lantern, which lets in light.
Outside Features
The front of the Rockhampton Club building, facing Quay Street, has a two-story verandah (a covered porch). This verandah has beautiful timber and iron decorations. On the ground floor, seven timber posts stand on short brick bases. Between these posts are fixed timber panels with louvres (slats) that go up about a third of the way. Above these, there's a decorative timber frieze (a band of decoration) with arched panels and unique timber brackets in the corners.
The upper floor of the verandah also wraps around the side of the building. It has a cast iron balustrade (a railing) connecting the timber columns. A narrow cast iron frieze runs along the top. The ceiling of this verandah is made of timber boards.
The main entrance door is on the northern end of the front. Steps lead up from Quay Street to this door. It's a six-panel timber door with glass panels on the sides and above it. The glass above the door is etched with the words "ROCKHAMPTON CLUB." On the rest of the front, there are three other doors and two windows downstairs, and six openings upstairs, including some French doors.
Inside the Club
The ground floor of the Rockhampton Club has been changed a lot over time. The main entrance door was moved from the center to one end. Many of the original rooms on the Quay Street side have been opened up to create one large space.
In the eastern corner, there's a social area that was updated around the 1960s. In the western corner, there's a sitting room. Beyond this, at the back, you can enter the former billiard room, which is now used as a dining room. The ground floor generally has timber board ceilings, original plaster decorations, timber baseboards, and carpeted floors.
Behind the original entrance area, there's a beautiful and detailed staircase. It leads up to a large open area on the first floor with several big plaster archways. From here, you can go into a large reception room above the social area. There are also many smaller rooms, which used to be bedrooms, with simple finishes.
The inside of the club still has many important pieces of furniture and fittings. These include an "honour board" (a list of important members), an original Rockhampton Club sideboard, other old furniture, and an old bell system. Below the social area on the ground floor, there's a brick-lined cellar.
Rear Extensions
The two-story service wing at the back is also made of brick. It has a two-story timber verandah on one side. The upper level of this verandah is enclosed with horizontal timber boards. The lower level is partly enclosed and holds a kitchen extension. The original kitchen is still on the ground floor of this wing. The upper floor, reached by a timber staircase, has several small rooms that were likely used for staff or storage.
The single-story former billiard room connects to the main building through one of the reception rooms. It's a large space with windows on all its outside walls and a central lantern on the roof. This part of the building has plaster walls and a fibrous cement ceiling with timber trim. The central lantern has windows that can be opened for light and fresh air.
At the very back of the building, there's a large car parking area with a brick wall facing Quay Lane.
Why Rockhampton Club is a Heritage Site
The Rockhampton Club was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 because it meets several important criteria:
Showing Queensland's History
The Rockhampton Club building shows how Rockhampton grew in the late 1880s. This growth was thanks to the money made from the Mount Morgan Mine. The club is especially linked to the people who became rich by investing in mining shares during that time.
Its Beautiful Design
The Rockhampton Club is important because it's a well-designed and noticeable building. It's a key part of the historic Quay Street area. The building has many beautiful and well-made features, like its unique staircase, old furniture, and the honour board.
Its Social Importance
The Rockhampton Club is a big part of Rockhampton's history because it shows how a club was created for the social, intellectual, and leisure activities of important professional people. It's significant because it continued as a social institution from the 1800s, keeping its identity for Central Queensland.
Connection to Important People
The Rockhampton Club has a special link to the Rockhampton architect James Flint, who also designed the Criterion Hotel on Quay Street. It's also connected to John Ferguson, the club's first president, who was a main supporter of creating a separate state centered in Rockhampton. It also has a link to Rees Sydney Jones, a club trustee and founder of one of Queensland's oldest legal firms.
