St Paul's Young Men's Club, Ipswich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Young Men's Club, Ipswich |
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Building in 2016
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| Location | 48 d'Arcy Doyle Place (formerly Nicholas Street), Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | George Brockwell Gill |
| Official name: St Paul's Young Men's Club – Art Gallery, Ipswich Regional Art Gallery, St Paul's Young Men's Society Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600584 |
| Significant period | 1911 (fabric) 1911–1939, 1939–1975 (historical) |
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The St Paul's Young Men's Club is an important old building in Ipswich, Australia. It was first built in 1911 as a clubhouse for young men. Today, this historic building is known as the Ipswich Regional Art Gallery.
A well-known architect named George Brockwell Gill designed the building. Because of its history and unique design, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It is also sometimes called the St Paul's Young Men's Society Hall.
Contents
A Look Back: The Building's Story
The St Paul's Young Men's Club is a two-story building made of brick. It was finished in 1911. It was created to be a meeting place for the St Paul's Young Men's Society. George Brockwell Gill was the architect who designed it.
How the Club Got Started
People first suggested building a club for the Society in 1907. To raise money, Lady Chelmsford, whose husband was the Governor of Queensland, visited Ipswich. She opened a special event called a bazaar to help with fundraising.
Architect George Brockwell Gill drew up the plans in late 1908. They asked for building offers, but the lowest price was too high for the Society. So, they worked harder to raise more money. Finally, the foundation stone was laid on March 11, 1911, by Justice Charles E. Chubb. The building officially opened in December 1911.
What the Club Offered
The Society wanted to help young men grow in mind, body, and spirit. The building had many useful rooms. These included a reading room, a gym, a bathroom, and a billiard room. There was also a piano for entertainment. The goal was to provide "wholesome exercises for body and mind." Members could play sports, give speeches, and even hold pretend government debates.
Helping During World War I
During World War I, people wanted to create a special "Soldiers' Rest Room" in Ipswich. The St Paul's Young Men's Society offered their hall for this purpose. A group of local women helped by getting more furniture for the hall. They also managed the rest room, providing a place for soldiers to relax.
New Owners: The Ipswich City Council
In 1938, the Ipswich City Council decided to buy the building. The city needed a new Town Hall and more office space. Buying the club hall was part of a plan to solve this problem. Even though some people disagreed, the Council bought the building in 1939. They used it for their engineering staff.
From Library to Art Gallery
In 1975, the city's library moved into the building. Around the same time, the outside brick walls were painted cream. This was done to match the new Civic Hall across the street. In the 1980s, the library moved again. The building was then updated to become the Ipswich Regional Art Gallery. Some changes were made inside, like covering windows to create more space for hanging art.
Building Features: What It Looks Like
The St Paul's Young Men's Hall is a simple, two-story building made of brick. The outside is painted. It has a basic rectangular shape with an extra section on the western side. Originally, the outside walls were made of facebrick. You can see a sandstone foundation stone on the western wall at street level. The building is on a steep hill, so you enter the upper floor from the northern side.
The roof is made of corrugated galvanised iron. It has special vents on the top and narrow eaves (the parts that hang over the walls). The ends of the roof (called gables) have slatted timber. These details, along with the timber windows, give the building a simple but classic "Federation" style.
The windows on the south side (facing the street) are rectangular. On the western side, some windows are arched. One has a rounded top with a stone that sticks out, called a keystone. Most of the windows on this side are now filled with glass bricks.
Inside, the upper floor has a beautiful ceiling. You can see the wooden supports, called queen-post trusses. The ceiling itself is lined with wooden boards that fit together like a puzzle.
Why This Building Is Important
The St Paul's Young Men's Club - Art Gallery was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is a very special place for several reasons:
- A Unique Community Building: It is a great example of a building made specifically for a church-based club. It shows how these clubs helped young people in the past.
- Beautiful Design: The brick building has a simple but attractive "Federation" style. People in the community value its look, especially because it's part of a group of important buildings in the area.
- Helping During Wartime: During World War I, it was used as a rest room for soldiers. This shows its connection to important historical events and patriotic groups.
- Serving the Community: The building has been used by the Ipswich City Council for important community services. It was once a library and is now an art gallery, showing its long history of helping people.
- Architectural Skill: It is a good example of the work of George Brockwell Gill, a famous Ipswich architect. It shows how he could design a useful community building even with a small budget.
