A Whistle-stop Tour of Art Deco in North Queensland

North Queensland is home to dozens of fabulous examples of Art Deco buildings. Innisfail and Mackay both have the largest concentrations of Art Deco, and as a consequence, tend to get the most attention, but other cities have beautiful examples too. Here's a look at a small selection of buildings that I've photographed (and fell in love with!) in the past couple of years. 

Shire Hall, Innisfail, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Barron Valley Hotel - Atherton

Designed by the architectural firm of Hill & Taylor, this two-storey brick hotel was built in 1938. It replaced the timber hotel (of the same name). It is notable for its original Art Deco features and styling.

Fireplace in the dining room of the Barron Valley Hotel, Atherton, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Barron Valley Hotel, Atherton, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Interior, Barron Valley Hotel, Atherton, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Interior - Barron Valley Hotel, Atherton, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Shire Hall - Innisfail

Built in the 1930s, the monumental Shire Hall in Innisfail totally dominates the streetscape. Completed in 1938, it was constructed by the Van Leeuwen brothers. Sadly, one of the brothers, Bill, died in an accident on site during construction the previous year. This three-storey building, built of reinforced concrete, was designed by architects Hill & Taylor. Three shire halls had existed on this site before this one was erected - and all had been destroyed by fire.

Upper level detail, Shire Hall, Innisfail, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Street view, Shire Hall, Innisfail, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Former Blue Bird Cafe - Innisfail

Built in 1936, to replace an earlier timber cafe, this building featured a cafe at street level and a dance hall/function room on the upper level.

Upper level detail, former Blue Bird Cafe, Innisfail, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Former Plaza Theatre - Tully

Built in 1940 and officially opened in December, this building replaced an earlier picture theatre on this site that had been destroyed by fire in June of that year.

Former Plaza Theatre, Tully, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

St. Monica's High School - Cairns

Built in the Moderne style of architecture, this building for St. Monica's High School in Abbott Street, Cairns, opened in 1941. Designed by architect V.M. Brown, the reinforced concrete building has a minimum of decoration, but features the sweeping horizontal lines and curves characteristic of the style. Brown's design allowed for a future third storey to be added, though this never eventuated. The building now serves as the school's administration block.

St. Monica's High School, Cairns, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Town Hall - Ravenshoe

Designed in 1954 by architects Sidney Barnes and Edwin (Eddie) Oribin, this Art Deco gem is a delightful surprise, hidden away in Ravenshoe - Queensland's highest town.

Town Hall, Ravenshoe, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Moduline building - Ingham

I don't actually know what this building was originally, but it's got some lovely Art Deco lines.

Moduline building, Ingham. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Former Pacific Ice Cream building - Townsville

This building facade dates to the late 1930s. I'm yet to find out who designed (or built) this building, but I suspect it may have been architect A.V.H. Needham, as he was active in Townsville at this time. I'd be happy to hear from anyone who knows more! I do know that there was originally a clock on the front of this building, and permission for this had to be obtained from the local council first.

Former Pacific Ice Cream building, Flinders Street, Townsville,  2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Please note, I have not deliberately left out Mackay and it's fabulous Art Deco buildings, it's just that I have not yet been able to visit and photograph any of them myself. If you're interested in checking out what's in Mackay, I recommend you visit this site: https://www.mackayartdeco.org

And one last Honourable mention...

North Gregory Hotel - Winton

Okay, so this is not technically within the geographical (latitudinal) boundaries of what is considered to be "North Queensland", but this is too beautiful a building to leave it out of this post. 

Interior of the North Gregory Hotel, Winton, 2021. Photo: Trisha Fielding.

Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps

The Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps was established in 1892 to train railway employees in first aid. It was considered that railway employees, because of the nature of their employment, were “especially liable to accident, and that the knowledge of the elementary rules of the treatment to be followed to preserve life and prevent undue suffering,” was likely to be of great value to them, as they were often situated far from medical assistance.

Members of the Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (Bowen team) competing for the Commissioner's Shield in the State Final of the annual first aid competition, Brisbane, October 1939. They are seen here constructing a makeshift stretcher.
Photo: Private Collection.

Annual competitions to test the first aid skills of members of the Corps were held from 1914. Teams from all over Queensland proudly represented their region. One north Queensland team – the Bowen team - was extremely successful in the annual first aid competitions in the late 1930s.

In September 1939, the Bowen team defeated Charters Towers, Hughenden and Townsville at Rollingstone, before going on to defeat Cairns, Innisfail, Kuranda and Alma Den at the regional final in Cairns. The team members consisted of Messrs E. Moore (Captain), I.A. Fielding, F.R. Andrews, P. Herlihy and R. Ryan (patient). Team member Ivan Fielding won the individual contest, with 53 points, over W. Ross of Alma Den, and G.A. Bell, of Cairns.

The Bowen team then went on to compete against four other teams for the Commissioner’s Shield, in Brisbane, in October. The competition involved a number of set tasks, including making improvised stretchers from whatever material could be obtained. Each team member was allowed one pocket-knife, and each team was allowed one tomahawk (to be used for splitting saplings). Team members could also use their own items of clothing.

Members of the Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (Bowen team) competing for the Commissioner's Shield in the State Final of the annual first aid competition, Brisbane, October 1939. Second from right is Ivan Fielding, who won the individual award, the St. John's Ambulance Silver Cup.
Photo: Private Collection.

You can see in the photograph above that the patient’s legs are strapped down using belts and neck ties, and that the bandaging has been made from the team members’ shirts. Even shoelaces could be used, provided they complied with the competition’s regulation length. Challenges for competitors also included an oral examination on anatomy, and carrying a “casualty” over obstacles on an improvised stretcher.

Members of the Queensland Railway Ambulance Corps (Bowen team) competing for the Commissioner's Shield in the State Final of the annual first aid competition, Brisbane, October 1939. Watching on with interest, are members of the Australian Army Medical Corps Militia, and the pipers of the 61^st Battalion Queensland Cameron Highlanders, who in time of war were regimental stretcher-bearers.    
Photo: Private Collection.

Rockhampton won the shield that year, with 448 points out of a possible 530. Bowen came second, with 419 points, and Mayne Junction came third, with 410 points. But it was Bowen’s Ivan Fielding who excelled again, winning the St. John’s Ambulance Silver Cup.

Sources:

Bowen Independent, 15 September 1939; 16 October 1939.

Cairns Post, 14 September 1939.

Brisbane Telegraph, 12 October 1939.

Macno, V., Buchanan, R., and Blake, T., 'More than work', Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Culture 5 (1), 2011, pp. 107-120.