WH Paxton & Co. Buildings facts for kids

WH Paxton & Co. Buildings
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Location	10 River Street, Mackay, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia
Architect	Arthur Rigby (architect), Montague Talbot Stanley
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: WH Paxton & Co. Offices and Warehouse (former)
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	14 August 2008
Reference no.	602554
Significant period	1890s, 1910s (fabric) 1890s-1980s (historical use)
Builders	Charles Porter, Joseph Vidulich

The WH Paxton & Co. Buildings are a group of old offices and warehouses in Mackay, Australia. They are considered important because of their history. The first parts of the buildings were built in 1899. A local architect named Arthur Rigby designed them. Charles Porter built the office part, and Joseph Vidulich built the warehouse. Later, in 1912, a new part was added to the warehouse. This was designed by Brisbane architect Montague Talbot Stanley. These buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2008. This means they are protected because they are a special part of Queensland's history.

A Look Back: The History of WH Paxton & Co.

These buildings, including the offices and warehouses, were built for a company called WH Paxton & Co. This company was a big business that sold many different goods and helped with shipping. They started building in 1899, and more parts were added around 1912.

Mackay's Early Port Days

In 1863, Mackay became an official port where ships could enter and leave. This happened after the Pioneer River area was settled in 1862. At first, most of the port activity was along River Street. Stores were built to receive wool and copper from inland areas.

The sugar industry grew in the late 1860s. People in Mackay wanted better port facilities. So, a government wharf was built on River Street. It opened in 1868.

River Street: A Busy Hub

For many years, River Street was the main place for port activities in Mackay. Even though people talked about needing deeper water for ships, River Street stayed busy. There were wharves, warehouses, offices, and shops that sold supplies for ships. Hotels and boarding houses also lined the street.

In 1885, a railway line was built from Mackay inland. A special branch line was added along River Street to serve the port. In 1901, a new brick Mackay Customs House was built in the middle of this busy area. It replaced an older wooden building.

WH Paxton & Co. and Other Businesses

WH Paxton & Co. was one of several large trading companies on River Street. These companies helped with the shipping trade in Mackay. Other important businesses included Shepherd's Anvil Stores, James Croker & Sons, and J Michelmore & Co. The Adelaide Steamship Company also had offices there.

William Henry Paxton came to Mackay in 1874. He started WH Paxton & Co. in 1876. His company handled shipping, insurance, and sold many goods. They sold things like rice, flour, tea, and even rum.

Paxton was also involved in mining. He was a director of a copper mining company and owned shares in a gold mining company. He was even the mayor of Mackay in 1880. He passed away in 1887.

Growth and Changes for Paxton & Co.

Even after William Henry Paxton died, his company kept growing. By 1888, WH Paxton & Co. was also an agent for the British India and Queensland Agency. This agency was part of a very large shipping company.

In 1889, a company called McIlwraith McEacharn & Co. bought WH Paxton & Co. However, they kept the name WH Paxton & Co. in Mackay. McIlwraith McEacharn & Co. was a big player in shipping. They helped develop the trade of frozen meat between Australia and Britain.

New Buildings on River Street

Before 1899, WH Paxton & Co. had offices and a warehouse nearby. But in 1899, they built new, larger buildings at 10 River Street. These new buildings were designed by local architect Arthur Rigby.

The new buildings were made of timber, with walls of corrugated iron or timber boards. Charles Porter built the two-storey office part, which was finished in August 1899. Joseph Vidulich built the single-storey warehouse, which was completed a bit later.

The office building had storage on the ground floor. The first floor had offices and a room to show samples of goods. It was designed to have lots of light and air.

In 1912, more additions were made to the warehouse. This was likely when the large, double-gabled warehouse extension was built. This shows how much the company was growing.

The Decline of River Street Port

In the 1920s and 1930s, new railway lines meant Mackay relied less on sea transport. Also, a new deep-water harbour opened in Mackay in 1939. This moved the main port activity away from River Street. Many of the riverside stores and buildings slowly became less important.

By the 1960s, coastal shipping in Australia was declining. WH Paxton & Co. started losing money in its wholesale business. This was due to changes in how people shopped and the shift to rail and road transport. By 1975, the company closed down. The building at 10 River Street was sold in 1980.

Many of the old buildings along River Street were later torn down. This included other large warehouses and hotels. The WH Paxton & Co. Buildings are now one of the few remaining places that show what the busy River Street port used to be like. Other surviving buildings include the Mackay Customs House and the former Adelaide Steamship Company offices.

In 2016, a natural therapies clinic was operating from the premises.

What Do the Buildings Look Like?

The former WH Paxton & Co. buildings are made up of several timber structures. They are located right on the bank of the Pioneer River, facing River Street. The parts of the buildings closest to the river are built on a timber wharf. This wharf sticks out into the river and is supported by concrete and timber poles.

The buildings can be seen from the river and from Forgan Bridge. They help show the historical look of River Street.

The property has three main parts:

• At the western end, there is a two-storey timber building from 1899. This was originally for offices and a sample room upstairs, and a store downstairs.
• Next to it, on the east side, is a single-storey warehouse from around 1899.
• Attached to the eastern end of the 1899 warehouse is a large timber-framed warehouse extension from around 1912.

The Office and Store Building (1899)

This two-storey building has a sloped roof covered with corrugated iron. The outside walls are covered with metal sheeting. Some of this is corrugated iron, but much of it is newer ribbed steel.

On the upper floor, on the west and north sides, there is an open verandah. This verandah looks out over the Pioneer River. It has its own roof and is supported by timber posts. Part of the verandah on the west side still has an old wooden railing. A flagpole is also attached here. The outside wall of the upper floor, under the verandah, has exposed timber framing and timber boards. Several windows and French doors open onto the verandah from the offices.

The main entrance to the office building is on River Street, at the south-west corner. It has a timber arch and a short wooden staircase. Inside, there is a staircase leading upstairs. There is also a strong-room made of concrete with a thick steel door near the entrance.

The ground floor, which used to be a store, has been changed into offices. The first floor still has its original timber floors, room dividers, and skirting boards. Old timber doors and door frames are also still there. The ceiling is made of narrow timber boards.

The First Warehouse (around 1899)

This single-storey timber building is next to the two-storey office building. It has a sloped roof and walls covered with metal sheeting. It has the same type of timber lining under the roof edges as the office building.

Old photos from around 1937 show a loading area with a wide roof over it along the River Street side of this warehouse. However, this loading area and roof no longer exist.

The Warehouse Extension (around 1912)

This large warehouse extension is attached to the earlier warehouse. It is fully enclosed with metal cladding, except for the doorways. It has a timber-framed double-gable roof. This roof is supported by strong timber posts and trusses. The roof and outside walls are covered with newer ribbed metal sheeting. The edges of the roof have widely spaced timber boards to help with air flow.

The inside of this warehouse is not lined. The floors are timber, but some parts have been covered with concrete. Some of the original timber flooring is still under the concrete.

Even with some changes inside and new metal on the outside, the buildings still look much like they did. They clearly show their original purpose as offices, a sample room, a store, and a warehouse. This was for a very important shipping company and general wholesaler in Mackay around the turn of the 20th century.

Why Are These Buildings Important?

The WH Paxton & Co. buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2008. This means they are important for several reasons:

They show how Queensland's history developed. These buildings, built in 1899 with additions around 1912, are important because they show Mackay's role as a major river port. In early Queensland, many ports were built on sheltered rivers. Later, most of these were replaced by deeper ports at the river mouths. These buildings help us understand that historical pattern.

They are a rare and special part of Queensland's history. The WH Paxton & Co. buildings are one of the few remaining structures that show the connection between the Pioneer River, sea trade, and Mackay's importance as a river port. This was especially true from the 1860s to the 1950s. Very few warehouses built on timber wharves still exist in Queensland's old river ports. The wharf structure might even date back to the 1860s. This makes the WH Paxton & Co. buildings a rare example of a type of building that used to be common.

They show what a shipping office and wholesale business looked like. These buildings still show many features of a place designed for shipping offices and a wholesale business. They combined warehousing, offices, and display areas in one location. The warehouse parts still have large open spaces. They clearly show how heavy timber posts and trusses were used to support the roof. The offices and warehouses are built on a timber wharf over the Pioneer River. This shows how closely connected the shipping company was to Mackay's sea trade.

They are linked to an important company in Queensland's history. The buildings have a long and special connection with WH Paxton & Co. This was a long-standing company in Mackay that was very important to Queensland's economy. The company started in 1876. The buildings were purpose-built for WH Paxton & Co. in 1899. The company used them until it closed around 1975.