Second Innisfail Court House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Second Innisfail Court House |
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Second Innisfail Court House relocated to Yorkeys Knob, 2008
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| Location | 40 Buckley Street, Yorkeys Knob, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1920 - 1930s |
| Architect | Department of Public Works (Queensland) |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Innisfail Court House (former), Innisfail Police Station (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 6 December 2004 |
| Reference no. | 602500 |
| Significant components | roof/ridge ventilator/s / fleche/s, court house, ventilation system |
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The Second Innisfail Court House is a special old building in Queensland, Australia. It was first built in Innisfail to be a court house and later a police station. Today, it has been moved and is a private home in Yorkeys Knob.
This building was designed by the Department of Public Works (Queensland). It was built between 1920 and the 1930s. On December 6, 2004, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is an important historical place.
Contents
A Building's Journey: From Court House to Home
The Second Innisfail Court House is a tall timber building. It was first built in 1920-1921 in Innisfail. It served as a court house and government offices. In 1938, the building was moved a short distance.
A new, bigger court house opened in 1940. So, this timber building became the Innisfail Police Station in 1942. In 1988, private owners bought the building. They moved it to Yorkeys Knob. It was then changed into a private home.
Innisfail's Early Days
The area around the Johnstone River was first settled by people cutting cedar trees. In 1880, the first large sugar cane farm was planted. A sugar mill was built in 1881. A town was planned where the North and South Johnstone Rivers meet.
The town was named Geraldton in 1883. But in 1910, its name was changed to Innisfail. This was to avoid confusion with another town called Geraldton in Western Australia.
The First Court Houses
Innisfail's first official building was put up around 1881. It was a long, low iron structure. This building held the Police Station, court house, and other government offices. In 1887, a second timber court house was built. It stood on the corner of Edith and Rankine Streets.
By the early 1900s, Innisfail was growing fast. Many people were interested in farming sugar. The Queensland Government also planned to improve Mourilyan Harbour. This helped the area grow even more as a sugar producer.
Surviving the Cyclone
In the past, many court houses in the country were made of timber. They often had corrugated iron roofs. These buildings were usually simple, with a few rooms and verandahs. Examples from this time include the Port Douglas Court House (1879).
Innisfail was hit by a terrible cyclone in 1918. About 75% of the town's buildings were destroyed. The 1888 timber court house was badly damaged. So, a new timber building was built in 1920-1921. It was built high off the ground on stumps. It had an iron roof and wide verandahs.
Many buildings in Innisfail built after the 1918 cyclone were made stronger. Some were rebuilt with concrete or brick. But the 1920-1921 timber court house was still made of wood. This might have been because timber was easy to get.
This court house had special features to help it survive cyclones. Steel bolts were used to hold the roof to the walls. The walls were bolted to the floor beams. These beams were then bolted to the stumps. Strong timber crossbeams were used to brace the walls. These were early ways to make buildings safer in cyclones.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the building was changed. By 1932, some verandah space was used for new rooms. In 1933, the front part of the building was made longer. This added offices for the Lands Department. The back of the courtroom was also extended. Electricity, water, and toilets were installed in 1933.
A Cool Design: The Ventilation System
Most timber buildings in North Queensland used high floors and verandahs to stay cool. They also had windows for air to flow through. This court house had even more advanced cooling features.
Plans from 1933 show a clever ventilation system. It helped the building stay cool in Innisfail's hot and humid weather. There were latticed openings in the ceiling. Hot air went through these into pipes in the ceiling. Then, it went out through a special cupola-shaped vent on the roof. This vent is called a fleche and looks like a decorative spire.
Even though the system is not used today, its parts are still there. It is rare to find such an intact ceiling ventilation system. Also, the lowest wallboards in the courtroom could be opened. This let in more cool air. Windows and fanlights also helped with airflow.
This type of ventilation system was used in other public buildings. But the system in this Innisfail court house is rare because it is still complete. It has seven ceiling ventilation openings. These are connected to the roof vent by metal hoods. This whole system is still there in the ceiling.
Moving Again: Becoming a Home
Between 1920 and 1930, the population of the Johnstone Shire grew a lot. More people meant more official and legal work. So, a new, bigger brick court house was built in 1939.
Timber buildings are easy to move and change. This was common in North Queensland. In 1938, the timber court house was moved to 8 Edith Street. It was put on concrete stumps. It then became the Innisfail Police Station, opening in 1942.
The front offices became different police rooms. The courtroom was divided into bedrooms for single police officers. The front stairs were changed. Many verandahs were enclosed.
In 1988, the building was bought by private owners. It was moved to its current spot in Yorkeys Knob. To move it, the front part was cut in half. The courtroom was moved in one piece. The two parts were then joined differently on the new block.
The building now mixes grand "Queenslander" features with old court house style. It looks impressive on Buckley Street. You can see its timber structure, pyramid roof, and the special roof vent. It also has sash windows, French doors, and verandahs.
Since becoming a home, the owners have restored some of its original look. They put back the double front steps. They also removed the verandah enclosures. Inside, some changes were made for living. A kitchen and bathroom were added. An arched doorway from an old Burns Philp building was added. The old police bedrooms are now guest rooms. The former courtroom is a recreation room.
What the Building Looks Like
The Second Innisfail Court House sits on a terraced hill in Yorkeys Knob. It is a tall timber building made of two main parts. It has verandahs all around. The front part has a pyramid-shaped corrugated iron roof. The back part has a hipped roof.
A set of symmetrical steps leads up to the front verandah. A gabled entrance porch is in the middle. A white picket fence surrounds the building from the street.
The verandahs have double slat balustrades. These are like railings. The verandah ceilings are made of timber. One verandah room on the western side is enclosed with timber boards and windows. The building has external studs and some weatherboard framing.
Inside the Former Offices
The front part of the building now has an office, a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living/dining area. A line on the hallway floor shows where the building was cut to be moved. The ceilings are timber with four latticed ventilation openings. The floors are polished silky oak wood.
There are three timber archways in the living and kitchen areas. Many French doors with glass fanlights open from the living area to the verandah. The kitchen has sash windows. A bedroom and bathroom are on the western side. The bathroom has tiles and fibro cement boards. Its fittings were saved from the building's move. The bedroom has three French doors.
Inside the Former Courtroom
The back right part of the building was the old courtroom. It now has a recreation room, guest rooms, a bathroom, and a laundry. Its layout is still from when it was a police station. The ceilings are timber, and the floors are original polished silky oak.
You can see two latticed ventilation openings in the ceiling. There are also four fans and painted metal cross bracing. The recreation room has four casement windows with fanlights. It has timber doors opening to the verandah. An arched door, added after the move, opens to the street-facing verandah. The lower wallboards on the western side can be opened for more air. Some original court house items are still there, like a witness box and prisoner's dock.
A timber door leads to a laundry and bathroom. These rooms have tiled floors and timber walls. The bathroom has double hung sash windows. The laundry has glass louvered windows. At the back of the recreation room are five bedrooms. Three are in the enclosed back verandah. Two are at the very back of the old court house. All have timber walls and ceilings.
The floors throughout are silky oak. A small amount of flooring was replaced with timber saved during the move. The back verandah is unpainted and faces the garden.
A large roof ventilation fleche sits on the roof of the former court house. It is inside a fancy decorative casing. This casing has four arched walls and a pyramid roof.
The area under the house is enclosed on three sides. One wall has the old Innisfail Police Station gaol cell door. This area has a concrete floor and is used as a garage. Many items saved from the building's move are stored here.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Second Innisfail Court House is important for showing how buildings were designed in Queensland's history. Most court houses from the 1920s and 1930s were made of brick. But this one is special because it was built of timber. It followed older Queensland building styles.
This building also shows rare parts of Queensland's history. It is a unique example of a naturally ventilated tropical court house made of timber. It was designed for the North Queensland climate. Its clever ventilation system is still mostly complete. It has hinged wall flaps at the bottom to let in cool air. It also has ducted roof vents. This combination of ventilation is not common in other buildings.
Even though it has been moved and is now a home, the Second Innisfail Court House is a rare and complete example of a naturally cooled tropical court house in North Queensland.
