Monday 28 January 2013

Eymard House, Toowoomba

Eymard House. Annand Street, Toowoomba.
Eymard House in Annand Street, Toowoomba. I can't find much information on the building, but I like the simple but clever use of bricks as decoration on the facade.

Saturday 26 January 2013

Santa Barbara Apartments, Toowoomba

The Santa Barbara Apartments in Toowoomba, a good example of the Califonian Bungalow Style
The Santa Barbara Apartments in Station Street, Toowoomba are a great example of the Californian Bungalow Style. The apartments were built around 1935 (the building has the date on it) across from the train station.

Thursday 24 January 2013

37 Russell Street Toowoomba

37 Russell St, previously known as H.G Wyeth's Hardware Store. Designed by James Marks and sons. Completed 1907
37 Russell Street, previously known as H.G. Wyeth’s Hardware Store, was designed by Henry Marks (of James Marks and Sons) and finished in 1907. I didn't get any photos, but an interesting feature to note is the cast-iron columns on the verandah that also act as downpipes (You can just see the downpipes that come from the gutter into the capitals in the photo above).

Tuesday 22 January 2013

South Brisbane Train Station, Brisbane

The South Brisbane Railway station was built in 1891. It was heritage listed in 1992, and was noted as being a "substantially intact masonry railway station with early platform furniture" (see the John Oxley Library blog for more information).  


An interesting design feature to note on the building - as can be seen below, the cast-iron columns on the varandah double as down-pipes.

The South Brisbane Train Station - Cast-iron columns that double as downpipes.


Tuesday 15 January 2013

St David's Church, Toowoomba

St David's Church Toowoomba. A beautiful example of mid-20th Century Tudor Revival Architecture.
St David's Church which has long been a favourite of mine, was built in the picturesque Tudor Revival style in the mid-20th century. Its foundation stone was laid on 12 November 1949, and after a long building period the church was completed in 1952. There are quite a few good examples of Tudor Revival style (or Mock-Tudor) buildings in Toowoomba including the Tudor Lodge Motel and some beautiful houses. More information on the history of the St David's church, as well as other churches in Toowoomba can be found here.




Some beautiful detailing on a side door of the church. 
The church, though small, has a wonderful presence on the street.

Sunday 13 January 2013

71 Russell Street

71 Russell Street, Maie's Book exchange building by architects James Marks and sons
71 Russell street, originally constructed on the site of  Neden Bros. Flour Mill, was built in 1907. It was designed by Henry Marks of James Marks and sons, a prominent Toowoomba practice of the period. This ornate building adds its own flare to the character of the historic street and has doubtless been capturing people's imagination since its completion more than a hundred years ago.

Information on the Building was found in the "A walk Though History - Toowoomba's Russell Street" Brochure. The brochure can be viewed in full here.

Monday 7 January 2013

Matilda House

Matilda House, previously known as 'The Coffee Palace', and "Schaffer's Boarding House"
Originally built between 1885 and 1890, the building was made to look more 'modern' at some point in the mid-1900's with the addition of a new façade. This flat brick shopfront closes in what used to be an open verandah on the upper storey (the original outside skin of the building can be seen through the upper windows). The building was originally built as a boarding house and the establishment's name, "Schaffer's Boarding House", appeared on the arc across the roof which can still be seen today. It was later turned into a coffee house and was known as "The Central Coffee Palace".

Sunday 6 January 2013

Rainbow Beach Surf Lifesaving Club Tower


The Rainbow Beach Surf Lifesaving Club Patrol Tower. A simple piece of architecture built to serve a purpose.
A simple little building; built for a practical purpose to do a practical job... but Beautiful.
The patrol tower reminds me of Vetruvius's famous statement that architecture must embody the three qualities "utilitas, firmitas, venustas" - That is that a building must be useful, solid and beautiful.

Saturday 5 January 2013

The Hotel Norville, Toowoomba

The Hotel Norville, designed by James Marks and Sons
The Hotel Norville, originally known as the Grand Hotel, was completed in 1903. It was designed by architects James Marks and Sons. An image of the building in 1906 can be found here. (Note: to see larger image click on "online")


Friday 4 January 2013

Nobby's Corner, Nanango

Nobby's corner, Nanango Federation Filigree style building with Art Nouveau references.
A traditional corner store in the town of Nanango, "Nobby's Corner", was built in 1914 in the popular Federation Filigree style. Some Art Nouveau references are visible. More information on the building can be found here.

Thursday 3 January 2013

The Grand Hotel, Goomeri




The Grand Hotel in Goomeri. Art Deco style brick building
The Art Deco style Grand Hotel in Goomeri was built in 1943 after a fire destroyed the original timber building in 1939. An image of the original building can be seen here.

 
 

Goomeri Post Office

Post Office, Goomeri
The original Goomeri Post Office was destroyed in a fire along with the Grand Hotel across the Lane Way in 1939. The current building was later built on the same site.
A photo of the original timber building can be seen here.