Youngs Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Youngs Building |
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Youngs Building in June 2015
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| Location | 93–103 Edward Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 – 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1910, repaired 1912 |
| Official name: 93–103 Edward Street, Optical Products, Youngs Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 February 1995 |
| Reference no. | 600102 |
| Significant period | 1910, 1912 (fabric) 1910–1923 (historical) |
| Significant components | tank stand |
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The Youngs Building is a special old warehouse in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 93–103 Edward Street, right on the corner of Mary Street. This building was first built in 1910 and then fixed up in 1912 after a fire. It is also sometimes called Optical Products. Because of its history and unique look, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 February 1995. This means it is protected and important to Queensland's story.
Contents
The Building's Early Days
The Youngs Building was constructed in 1910. Two brothers, Horace Edwin Broughton Young and Charles Ernest Young, bought the land in 1909. They saw that this area was a great place for new businesses. Their family was quite successful, having started the Fairymead Sugar Company in 1879. By 1912, this sugar company had one of the biggest mills in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Young brothers spent a lot of money, about £16,000, to build this large warehouse. It was made of timber and brick. When it was first built, it had three main floors, a basement, and a fourth floor just on the corner part. Soon after it was finished, different companies rented space inside. These included the Queensland Agency Company, Kronheimer Ltd (who sold tobacco), and Gregory and Davidson (who made arrowroot).
A Fire and Repairs
Something unexpected happened on 30 April 1912. A fire broke out in the corner section of the Youngs Building. This part was rented by the Queensland Agency. The fire caused a lot of damage to the building and to the goods stored inside. The fourth floor, which was only on the corner, collapsed because of the fire. When the building was repaired, this fourth floor was never rebuilt. So, after the fire, the entire building became three storeys high.
New Owners Over Time
In 1923, the property was divided into smaller parts. A tobacco company called W.D. & H.O. Wills (Australia) Ltd bought one section. Two warehouse owners, John Simon Goldman and Ernest Victor Goldman, bought another part. After Horace Young passed away in 1925, the rest of the building was sold to other companies. These included Taubmans (Qld) Ltd, a paint company, and Arthur Cocks and Co, who were merchants. The building changed owners again in 1968. Since then, it has been used as office space for many different businesses.
What the Building Looks Like
The Youngs Building is a great example of a warehouse from the Federation era. This was a time in Australia's history around the early 1900s. The building has beautiful details and its bricks are left uncovered, which is called "unrendered brickwork."
Outside Features
If you look at the building from Edward Street, you can see it's divided into four equal sections. The two sections in the middle look exactly alike. The two sections on the outside are different from the middle ones, but they are similar to each other. Each of these four sections is balanced, with two narrow, slightly raised parts on the sides. These raised parts have a slightly taller wall at the top, called a parapet. In between these raised parts is a wider section that is set back a little.
You can see a continuous line of bricks, called a "string course," running around the building. These lines are at different levels:
- At the ceiling level of the ground floor.
- At the bottom of the windows on the first floor.
- At the top of the windows on the second floor.
On the upper line of bricks, there are two places where the line is broken. These are in the middle sections where there are large arches. These arches have special wedge-shaped stones, called voussoirs, that stand out. The outer sections have three tall, rectangular windows on both the upper floors. Above each top window, there is a small arched opening made of brick. The outer sections also have raised, half-circle shapes at the very top of their narrow, raised parts. Many of the original windows have been replaced with modern ones that have aluminium frames. However, one of the central windows on the first floor still has its original leadlight glass.
Corner and Mary Street Side
The corner of the building has a curved brick wall that connects to the Mary Street side. This side also has a raised part near the corner with one window on each floor. The rest of the Mary Street side looks similar to the set-back sections on the front of the building. It has wide arches on the upper floor, but with two windows below them instead of three. Since the ground slopes down at this corner, you can see openings to the basement at the footpath level.
Inside and Roof
The outside of the building still has its original brickwork and decorations. Even though the windows have changed, the building keeps its old charm. Inside, you can still find some original parts and finishes. For example, the first floor of the left section has beautiful pressed metal ceilings. At the back of the building, on the roof, there is a brick tower that supports a water tank.
Why Youngs Building is Important
The Youngs Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1995 for a few important reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
The building helps us understand how the lower Edward Street area grew into a place for businesses and warehouses. It also shows the big increase in building activity that happened in the early 1900s.
- It shows what a Federation era warehouse looked like.
The Youngs Building is a great example of a warehouse from the Federation period. You can see this in its wide arches and its detailed brick front.
- It has a special beauty.
Many people in the community value the building for its look. Its long front adds a lot to the street view of Edward Street.
Images for kids
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Youngs Building in June 2015
