Towers Drug Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Towers Drug Company Building |
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| Location | 45 Mitchell Street, Bourke, Bourke Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1889–1890 |
| Official name: Towers Drug Company Building (former); Towers Drug Company Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 383 |
| Type | historic site |
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The Towers Drug Company Building is a special old building in Bourke, Australia. It used to be a medical center and a home. This building is located at 45 Mitchell Street. It was built a long time ago, between 1889 and 1890. Today, it is recognized as a heritage site in New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
A Look at the Building's Past
How the Building Started
The land where the Towers Drug Company Building stands was first owned by T. A. Matthews. He was one of the first people to settle in the area. The building itself was built in 1889 and 1890. It was made for a doctor named Dr. Sides. He used it as his medical center and also lived there. The building got its name from Mr. Towers, a chemist who worked with Dr. Sides.
Surviving Tough Times
This building is very strong! It survived a big flood in 1890. It also made it through a serious fire. After the 1890 flood, there were many cases of typhoid illness. This led to all private water wells being closed. It's likely that extra rooms were quickly added to the back of the building around this time. These additions helped them deal with the many sick people.
In 1908, the local Council building burned down. This fire destroyed many old records and early photos of Bourke. Doctors continued to use the Towers Drug Company Building until 1920.
Changes Over the Years
After World War II, Bourke experienced a time of growth. The main shopping area moved from Mitchell Street to Oxley Street. In the 1960s and 1970s, the building became a home again. The first-floor balcony on the side was enclosed to create more bedrooms. It was also around this time that the back parts of the building were finished. These changes made it into a separate house. More toilets were also added upstairs.
Between 1970 and 1975, the first floor was a coffee house for teenagers. People would go there to dance. Some parts of the building got damaged during this time. The local Council then put a notice on the building. This notice stopped people from using the first floor. Later, it was found that some of the plumbing work done was not very good.
In 1976, a hairdresser rented the front shop. More plumbing work was done then. Leaks in the pipes were also fixed. After 1976, the building started to show signs of stress. Big cracks appeared. This was probably because the ground under the building dried out. This caused the foundation to shrink.
A Museum and Its Future
The Bourke and District Historical Society used the building from 1976 to 1996. They ran a museum and a craft shop there. The building was protected by a special order for a while. In 1985, the Heritage Council made a permanent order to protect it. The building was repaired and made new again in 1985. This was possible with money from the Heritage Council of NSW.
In 2018, the building was being used for new purposes. It became the Bourke Apartments, offering places to stay. It also had office spaces for businesses.
What the Building Looks Like
The Towers Drug Company Building has two main parts. The front part is two stories tall. The back part is a single story extension. The front section is mostly made of bricks. There's a lighter, newer part on the first floor in the North West Corner. The back section is partly brick. It also has a larger extension made of fibro material at the very back.
The brick parts of the building show that it was built in different stages. The building was first built only to the back of the shops. Then, it was extended further back. Later, more sections were added to the rear. Both the first and second floors are made of timber. Some of the walls on the first floor are also made of lighter materials. The building's foundation is made of concrete.
Why This Building is Special
The Towers Drug Company Building is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. It was added on April 2, 1999.
Its Beautiful Appearance
This building is very important because of how it looks. It adds a lot to the beauty of the street in Bourke. It shows great design and skill from the past in New South Wales.
