Toowoomba Police Station Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toowoomba Police Station Complex |
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Toowoomba Police Station Complex, 2014
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| Location | 50-52 Neil Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Raymond Clare Nowland |
| Official name: Toowoomba Police Station Complex | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 October 1998 |
| Reference no. | 601710 |
| Significant period | 1930s (historical) 1930s (fabric) |
| Significant components | watch house, cell block, garden/grounds, residential accommodation - police sergeant's house/quarters, stables, police station, garage |
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The Toowoomba Police Station Complex is a special group of buildings in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It is located on Neil Street and is important because of its history and design. The complex was designed by Raymond Clare Nowland and built in 1935. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it is protected for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Police Station
The Toowoomba Police Station Complex sits on a large piece of land between Neil and Hume Streets. It includes four brick buildings built in 1935: the main police station, a garage, a watch house, and a home for the watch house keeper.
Toowoomba's Early Days
Toowoomba is the main town in the Darling Downs area. This region was first explored in 1827. By the 1840s, many sheep and cattle farms were set up. Toowoomba became a key town because it was easy to get to from the mountains. It grew quickly and became important for farming in the 1860s.
Police in Toowoomba
Police have been in Toowoomba since the town started. In the 1880s, Queensland was growing fast. Many big public buildings were constructed. A large brick police station was built in 1881. It had rooms for police officers and a lock-up. Later, stables and more homes for police were added.
In 1915, a small wooden house was built for the Senior Sergeant. This house was typical for police officers in country towns. It showed how important the Senior Sergeant was. This building was removed in 1997.
Building the New Complex in 1935
In 1935, most of the old police buildings were taken down. Only the 1915 Senior Sergeant's house stayed. It was used as the police station while the new buildings were constructed. This project was part of a big building program in Toowoomba. Many public and private buildings were being built or updated.
The new police complex was designed by Raymond Clare Nowland. He was a Senior Architect for the Queensland Department of Public Works. Nowland designed many police buildings. For Toowoomba, he worked closely with local police officers. He listened to their ideas for the garage, watch house, and recreation areas.
What the New Buildings Included
The main police station was a two-story brick building. It had offices for police work on the ground floor. The upper floor had rooms for police officers to live. The design allowed for different police groups, like the criminal investigation team and the traffic branch. There was also a public counter for people to get help.
The watch house and the watch house keeper's home were separate buildings. They matched the main police station's style. The watch house had cells, charge rooms, and an exercise yard. In 1988, these two buildings were connected. The watch house was made bigger to hold more people. The keeper's home became office space.
A garage and stables building was also constructed. It replaced the old stables. It had space for cars, horse stalls, and storage for food and equipment. In 1934, the police force started using more cars. This building was an early example of police using both horses and cars. It showed how police transport was changing.
Living and Working Together
For a long time, police officers lived and worked at the police station. The Toowoomba Police Station Complex showed this setup. Having officers living on site meant there was always a police presence. This made it easy for the public to get help day and night. The living quarters were often for single officers.
The police station is also very close to the Toowoomba Court House. This shows how closely police and courts work together. It also made it easier to move people between the two buildings.
Exploring the Toowoomba Police Station Complex
The Toowoomba Police Station is a group of buildings on a large block. It is located between Neil and Hume Streets. Nearby are the Toowoomba Post Office and the Toowoomba Court House. To the south are the Wesley Uniting Church and the Empire Theatre.
The complex has four main buildings:
- A large two-story brick Police Station facing Neil Street.
- A one-story brick Radio Maintenance building.
- A watch house, which includes an older home and a purpose-built watch house.
- A Court House from around 1980 at the back, facing Hume Street.
There are also trees and parts of old gardens around the buildings.
The Main Police Station Building
The main Police Station is in the middle of the Neil Street side. It has a two-story front section and a one-story wing at the back. The roof is made of terracotta-colored tiles. There are four brick chimneys on the roof. The building is made of brick with concrete details.
The front of the building has large round arched openings. Many of these openings were once open porches but are now filled with glass. The main entrance has a large arched opening leading to a small porch. This entrance has special concrete details around the arch.
The sides and back of the building also have many arched openings. Concrete bands run across the building's walls.
Inside the Police Station
The main entrance leads to a small waiting area with a public counter. Beyond this is a hallway that runs through the building. The stairs are in the center.
Inside, the walls are painted plaster. The floors are concrete, covered with carpet, linoleum, or terrazzo. The ceilings have exposed timber frames. Many offices on the ground floor still have their original brick fireplaces. The upper floor, which used to have larger rooms, has been changed with new walls and ceilings. The former open porches are now part of the office space.
Other Buildings in the Complex
To the west of the Police Station is a simple brick building. It was first built as stables but is now used for radio maintenance. It has a hip and pyramid-shaped roof. The front has three metal roller doors.
To the east is the watch house. It includes an older home connected to a purpose-built watch house. Both are made of brick and surrounded by a high brick fence with barbed wire. The watch house has small, high windows.
A concrete area shows where an old garage used to be. Parts of a garden show where another home once stood. In the center of the site is an old steel-framed awning that protected petrol pumps. The Court House at the back of the site is made of concrete and glass. It is separated from the police complex by a fence and a car park.
Why This Place is Special
The Toowoomba Police Station Complex is important for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: The complex shows how police services developed in a big regional town like Toowoomba. Its impressive size shows how important Toowoomba was in Queensland.
- It shows how police stations work: The complex has different parts for living, working, holding people, and transport. It shows how police stations provided many services. It is also part of an important area with the old Post Office and Court House.
- It looks great: The complex is well-designed and looks good. The main Police Station is a strong, well-built building. The other buildings have a friendly, home-like feel, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.
- It's linked to important people and groups: The complex is a great example of Raymond Clare Nowland's work as an architect in the 1930s. It also shows how police work and life changed for officers in a major regional center.
