Trustee Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trustee Chambers |
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Trustee Chambers, 2009
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| Location | 170 Quay Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1876 - 1877 |
| Architect | John William Wilson |
| Official name: Trustee Chambers, Residence of Dr William Callaghan, River Chambers | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600802 |
| Significant period | 1870s (fabric) 1870s-1910s (historical) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, service wing |
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Trustee Chambers is a special old building in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It was first built as a large house for a doctor, but later became an office building. It's located on Quay Street, which is a busy street by the Fitzroy River.
This building was designed by a famous architect named John William Wilson. It was built between 1876 and 1877. Today, it's officially listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of Queensland's history. You might also hear it called the Residence of Dr William Callaghan or River Chambers.
Contents
A Doctor's Grand Home
Trustee Chambers is a two-storey building made of brick. It was built in 1877 as the home of Dr William Callaghan. He was a surgeon at the Rockhampton Hospital. The building was designed by John William Wilson, and it was one of his most expensive private projects.
Rockhampton's Early Days
The area around Rockhampton was first explored by the Archer brothers in 1853. They were the first Europeans to map the Fitzroy River. Their farm, Gracemere Station, helped more people move into the area.
Rockhampton became a town in 1858 after a short gold rush nearby. It was also made a "port of entry", which meant ships could officially bring goods in and out. The first land sales in the town happened in November 1858.
The Land and Its Owners
The land where Trustee Chambers stands was bought by William Archer in 1859. Over the years, it was sold to a few different people. In 1866, Heinrich Schmidt, Rockhampton's first baker, bought the land. We don't know if he built a house there. In 1870, Dr William Callaghan bought the land.
Dr. William Callaghan's Story
Dr William Callaghan arrived in Rockhampton in July 1861. He was the second doctor to work in the town. Soon after arriving, he became the Coroner and District Medical Officer for Rockhampton. He also worked as the House Surgeon at the Rockhampton Hospital.
Dr Callaghan was very well known in Rockhampton from the 1860s until he passed away in 1912. He loved horse racing and was a great rider. The racecourse in North Rockhampton, Callaghan Park, is named after him.
Dr Callaghan married Aimee Henrietta Cowper in 1869. Her father was the Dean of Sydney. After they married, they lived in a timber house before deciding to build their grand new home on Quay Street.
Building the Chambers
The building contract for Dr Callaghan's new home was given to John Ferguson on May 16, 1876. John Ferguson was a builder who arrived in Rockhampton in the early 1860s. He became very successful and even invested in the Mount Morgan Mine, which made him very wealthy.
John Ferguson also helped start the Rockhampton Club and was a leader in the group that wanted Rockhampton to become the centre of a new state. He later built a huge house called Kenmore.
The architect for Dr Callaghan's house was John William Wilson. He was a very busy architect in Rockhampton from 1864. Wilson designed many buildings in the area, including the Rockhampton School of Arts. People at the time praised his work, saying he was "the right man in the right place."
The new house cost £5050 to build. It was a two-storey brick residence. After it was finished, it became the home of the Callaghan family.
From Home to Offices
Dr Callaghan passed away in 1912. His wife, Aimee Henrietta, continued to live in the house until 1919. Then, a man named William Joseph Phelps Harris bought the building. His company, Harris Pty. Ltd., also owned a large department store in Rockhampton.
When Harris owned the building, it was renamed River Chambers. From 1920 to 1950, it was used as offices for different professionals. These included dentists, real estate agents, and even a barrister (a type of lawyer). Dr. R. S. Leeds also had his consultation rooms there.
In August 1950, The Union Trustee Company of Australia Ltd bought River Chambers. They renamed it Trustee Chambers. From 1952, the ground floor became their offices, and they rented out the upper floor to other businesses. Some changes were made inside the building at this time, including removing the main staircase.
More recently, in 1991, the original entrance was restored. In 1995, a special stained glass window was added. It shows four scenes that represent the different people and businesses that owned or used the building over the years. One scene shows William Knox D'Arcy, who made a fortune from the Mount Morgan Mine and later helped start what became British Petroleum.
What Does It Look Like?
Trustee Chambers is a two-storey building made of brick, with a smooth, painted finish. It faces the Fitzroy River on Quay Street. The roof is made of corrugated iron.
The Front View
The front of the building, facing Quay Street, has a two-storey verandah (a covered porch). On the ground floor, the roof of the verandah is held up by six strong cast iron columns. These columns have fancy tops, like those from ancient Greek buildings. Between the columns, there's a decorative iron fence. The words "TRUSTEE CHAMBERS" are painted on the board above the ground floor columns.
On the first floor, the verandah has a sloped roof and is supported by timber columns. It also has a cast iron fence. The ceiling of this verandah is made of timber boards. The ground floor has a central arched doorway with windows on either side. The upper floor has French doors that open onto the verandah.
The Back View
The back of the building also has a two-storey verandah, but it's simpler, with timber posts. A timber staircase connects the ground floor verandah to the upper one. The back of the building is made of painted brick.
Inside the Building
The upper floor of the building has a central hallway that runs parallel to Quay Street. This hallway leads to different rooms. The ground floor has been changed a lot. Some walls were removed or moved to create a large reception area.
The building originally had plaster walls and timber ceilings with decorative plaster designs. On the ground floor, a new ceiling has been added below the original one. Air conditioning units have also been added in many rooms.
Where the inside of the building is still original, it has beautiful details. These include fancy plaster cornices (decorative moldings) and timber skirtings (baseboards). There are also fine timber details throughout. Some original chimney places are still there, including two made of white marble on the first floor.
A beautiful timber staircase has been rebuilt in its original spot. A large arched window next to the stairs has a new stained glass panel. This panel has five round sections with images that represent the different owners of the building over time.
At the back of Trustee Chambers, there's a one-storey brick extension with a corrugated iron roof. There's also a small car parking area.
Why It's Important
Trustee Chambers was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed. It's one of the oldest buildings still standing on Quay Street in Rockhampton. It shows how Quay Street grew as a place where people lived.
- It's beautiful to look at. Trustee Chambers is a well-designed 19th-century building with many lovely features. It adds a lot to the look of Quay Street and fits well with the Rockhampton Club next door. It has beautiful details both inside and out, like the cast iron columns on the ground floor and the timber and plaster work inside.
- It's connected to important people and groups. The building is important because of its link to Dr William Callaghan, who lived in Rockhampton from 1861 until he passed away in 1912. It was his family home for many years. It's also a great example of the work of John William Wilson, a very active architect in Rockhampton who designed many buildings in the area.
