Yungaburra Community Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yungaburra Community Centre |
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Community Centre, 2015
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| Location | 19 Cedar Street, Yungaburra, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1910 - c. 1926 |
| Official name: Community Centre, Tivoli picture theatre, Williams Estate Hall, Yungaburra Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600479 |
| Significant period | 1910, c. 1926 (fabric) 1910-1957, 1928-1969 (historical) 1910-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | kitchen/kitchen house, toilet block/earth closet/water closet, stage/sound shell, wall/s |
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The Yungaburra Community Centre is a special old building in Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia. It's known as a heritage-listed community hall, which means it's protected because of its history and importance. It was built a long time ago, starting in 1910 and finished around 1926. Over the years, it has been called different names like the Tivoli Picture Theatre, Williams Estate Hall, and Yungaburra Hall. This building was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992, recognizing its value.
A Look Back: The Hall's Journey
The Yungaburra Community Centre has a long and interesting story. It started as a hall for a hotel and later became a popular place for movies and community events.
Early Days: A Hotel Hall
The very first part of the building was put up in 1910. It was built as a hall for the Lake Eacham Hotel in Yungaburra. Back then, it was right next to the hotel. Around 1926, the hotel got bigger, so the hall was moved to its current spot behind the hotel. Since then, it has been used for many different social gatherings and even as a movie theatre.
How Yungaburra Grew
The Atherton Tablelands area, where Yungaburra is located, first attracted Europeans for timber cutting and mining. But people soon realized the rich soil and cool weather were perfect for farming. In 1885, a plan called the Village Settlement scheme started. It offered settlers farm plots and places to build homes in small villages.
At the same time, a railway line was being built from Cairns to the Tablelands. It took a long time to finish, but it slowly opened up the area. In 1888, a village called Allumbah was planned, and the first farms began in 1891. The railway reached Mareeba in 1895 and Atherton in 1903, making it much easier to get to the area.
The Railway Arrives
After new land laws in the early 1900s, more people settled around Allumbah. A small town center grew to serve them. In 1910, the railway finally reached the settlement. The town was renamed Yungaburra to avoid confusion with another town. The new Yungaburra railway station changed where the town's center was. Buildings were built or moved closer to the railway line.
The Williams Family's Role
The Williams family played a big part in Yungaburra's early growth. Henry S. Williams came to Australia in the 1860s. After trying different jobs, he started farming on the Tablelands. Later, his sons continued the family business. In 1907, they opened a small hotel in Allumbah for railway workers.
The railway connection led to fast development. A sawmill, the hotel, and many shops and houses were built. The hall was added next to the hotel. It was used for dances, church services, and even the first meeting of the Eacham Shire Council in 1911. It was known as the Williams Estate Hall back then. The Williams family kept buying more land and building shops and a car dealership.
Movies and More Changes
In 1926, the Gillies Highway opened, creating the first proper road to the Tablelands. This made it easier for tourists to visit. Because of this, the Lake Eacham Hotel was made much bigger. The hall was then moved to land behind the hotel. Many tourists stayed at the hotel, and the nearby lakes became popular.
In the 1920s, traveling "picture show men" would visit small towns like Yungaburra. They showed silent films in the hall. From 1928, the hall became the Tivoli Picture Theatre, though it was still used for other events too.
Later Years and Renovations
A unique wall made of local volcanic stone stands near the hall. It was once part of a building for hotel staff. It was built as a fire safety measure because it was so close to the hall.
The hall was made much larger after it was moved. You can still see where the old and new parts join. Side sections were added, and the original side walls were removed. The inside walls and ceiling were covered in the 1950s.
In 1957, Alfred and Alice King bought the hall. Alice continued to run it as the Tivoli until 1969. By 1971, when the Eacham Shire Council bought it, the hall needed a lot of repairs. The Yungaburra and District Progress Association worked for many years to fix it up. They replaced the floorboards and added a concrete block extension. In the 1980s, a concrete toilet block was built next to it. The hall now has a new roof, and the kitchen has been updated. The hall is still a busy place for dances, weddings, and other community events.
What the Hall Looks Like
The Yungaburra Community Centre is a single-story building made of timber, sitting on stumps. It's shaped like a rectangle, with its longest side facing away from Cedar Street.
Outside the Hall
The roof is gabled and covered with corrugated iron. There's a raised part of the roof at the back, over the stage area. A small roof (an awning) sticks out towards the street, held up by wooden posts. The main entrance is in the middle, with concrete steps leading up to it. On the western side, there's a newer section made of concrete blocks with a gently sloping roof.
Inside the Hall
Inside, the building has a large main room with narrower sections (called aisles) on each side. To the right of the entrance, there's a modern bar. A kitchen is located on the left. At the back of the hall, there's a stage with small dressing rooms on either side. The stage decorations include modern paintings of trees and a view of Lake Barrine. There are storage lockers along the front of the stage.
Other Features
A separate toilet block made of concrete stands on the western side of the hall. On the southeast side, there's a large, freestanding wall made of volcanic rock. You can tell it was once part of another building that is no longer there.
Why This Place is Special
The Yungaburra Community Centre was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical site for several reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
The Community Centre has hosted many different events, from the first local council meetings to church services and fun public shows. This shows how Yungaburra grew and developed over time. Since it was also linked to a hotel that served tourists, it helps us understand how the early tourism industry started in the region.
Its Beautiful Look
The hall is a public building that fits well with other old buildings of similar size and materials in Yungaburra. Its appearance adds a lot to the unique look of the town.
Important to the Community
Since the town's early days, the hall has been a place for many social events. Because of this, it has a strong connection with the people of Yungaburra and the surrounding areas. It's a place where the community has gathered for generations.
Connected to Key People and Groups
The hall was built as part of the Williams Estate. This means it has an important link to the Williams family, who helped a lot with the business growth of Yungaburra. It's also connected to the early movie projectionists who showed films there and, of course, to the local community who have used and cared for it for so long.
