422:
224:
252:
362:
liberal, laissez-faire, non-interventionist philosophy which dominated
British social, economic and political ideologies in the 19th century. In this environment, Mechanics' Institutes flourished as a means by which working men might improve their lot, either through self-education (the provision of reading rooms was an important facility provided by the Institutes), or by participating in instructional classes organised and funded by Institute members.
31:
259:
231:
499:
mid-1970s, the library was the sole function of the School of Arts, which was struggling to provide an appropriate library service to a city the size of Cairns. On 30 June 1977 the School of Arts building and its library was transferred to the Cairns City
Council, which moved the library into a new structure in Lake Street in 1979.
369:, Mechanics' Institutes were called Schools of Arts, and they were more likely to be run by the middle-classes. The provision of reading rooms, museums, lectures and classes were still important, but the Australian schools were also more likely to include a social programme in their calendar of events.
372:
A School of Arts was established in Cairns in
October 1885, by which time funds already were being raised for the erection of suitable meeting premises. The School's first building, a single-storeyed timber structure, was erected in 1886 in Shields Street to the west of the present building. Prior to
361:
Mechanics' Institutes were part of a wider 19th century movement promoting popular education in
Britain, at which time co-operative societies, working men's colleges and the university extension movement were established. The call for popular education in turn can be contextualised within the broader
598:
The School of Arts is important in demonstrating the pattern and evolution of
Queensland's history, being an important component of the cultural life of the Cairns community from the beginning of the 19th century, as a school of arts, public library, and museum. It is important also as an early use
433:
in
Queensland, although not employed through the whole of the structure. The concrete walls of the ground floor were reinforced with 0.5-inch (13 mm) round steel rods, fused where they intersected at 12-inch (300 mm) intervals. The floors at ground level were poured without reinforcement,
531:
The building was built in 3 stages, with the first being the corner section. The third stage of construction, the northern end on Lake Street, was designed as a separate unit. This is still evident in the treatment of the parapet, although the verandah was extended along this elevation in the 1983
441:
The building has been subject to a number of alterations and extensions since 1907. A verandah and bathroom had been constructed upstairs at the rear by 1925, and in 1929 the
Shields Street verandah was enclosed with windows. The enclosing of part of the Lake Street verandah probably dates to this
468:
A second major extension to the building was carried out in 1939-40. Architects Hill & Taylor were again commissioned to extend the building along Lake Street to the boundary of the property. This time, the architects felt that an extension of the verandah was unnecessary and suggested that a
445:
The first major extension was carried out in 1932. As early as 1925, the
Committee was considering an extension of the building to accommodate more revenue-producing shops and offices. Plans were drawn by Committee member and architect SS Oxenham, but Cairns already had a glut of vacant shops for
498:
For seventy years, the first floor of the School of Arts building housed the only public library in Cairns, a subscription library with up to 1,000 members. It was run by the School of Arts
Committee, and financed from the rents obtained from the shops and offices on the ground floor. By the
616:
The place has a special association with the Cairns School of Arts and its contribution to adult education in Cairns for nearly 70 years, and with influential
Melbourne and North Queensland architectural firm Tunbridge, Tunbridge & Lynch, as evidence of their commercial work.
607:
The place is important in demonstrating a range of aesthetic characteristics valued by the Cairns community, in particular the contribution of the building through scale, form and material, to the streetscapes of Lake and Shields streets and to the Cairns townscape.
376:
During the second half of the 1880s the Cairns School of Arts flourished and a museum was established. The economic depression of the early 1890s, however, forced the School to close temporarily at the end of 1895, re-opening in 1897. In the early 1900s,
389:
2500, for the purpose of erected a new building. A design competition was conducted for a new building, two-storeyed with upstairs accommodation for the School of Arts and the ground floor to be revenue-producing, the cost of which was not to exceed
384:
By the early 1900s the School was in need of larger premises. On 8 December 1906, the Cairns School of Arts Bill was passed through the Queensland Parliament, empowering the Trustees to mortgage the School of Arts Reserve at Cairns to the value of
357:
in 1823. The purpose of forming such an institute was to improve the education of working men, and to instruct them in various trades. By the late 19th century, Mechanics' Institutes had become popular agencies of adult education in general.
550:
The first stage has the words SCHOOL OF ARTS to both street frontages, with the date 1907 at the corner. The second stage has a raised gabled parapet which also has the building's name, but in different lettering. The third stage's original
484:
Hill & Taylor designed new male and female bathrooms in 1941 in what is believed to have been an enclosed first floor verandah. The original bathroom, beside the meeting room, was probably converted to a kitchen at that time.
577:
The 1983 renovation works include a concrete verandah, with steel posts and balustrade, constructed at the rear linking a 2-storeyed toilet and storage building. The rear of the site contains car parking and service areas.
410:-based but had a branch office in Cairns by 1907, to design a building to cost no more than the approved figure. Their work in Cairns around this time included the Harbour Board Offices (1907), the
845:
516:
In March 2016, the building closed for an $ 8.69M refurbishment with the historical society and museum temporarily relocated until the refurbishment is complete (scheduled early 2017).
850:
524:
The former Cairns School of Arts, located on the south-western corner of Lake and Shields streets, is a two-storeyed building with verandahs to both street frontages and a
547:, with a timber valance to the ground floor and cast metal balustrade to the first floor. The northern and western sections of the first floor verandah have been glazed.
562:
from the Lake Street frontage through to the rear of the building. The street facade has ceramic tiling, and some early shopfront elements including timber framing and
223:
860:
802:
574:
opening onto the verandah. It is entered from Shields Street via a stair with a turned timber balustrade, and most internal walls have been removed.
70:
835:
469:
cantilever awning would be suitable and that the elevation be treated as a separate unit. Cairns builder Albert Andrew Ferrari constructed the
784:
612:
The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.
830:
284:
251:
421:
414:(1908), and the rebuilding of the Court House Hotel (1908). Hanson & Sons won the subsequent School of Arts contract with a price of
766:
458:
2500. The extension provided more shop space at ground level and increased library accommodation upstairs. At this time, a decorative
555:
and lettering has been altered. A terrazzo slab with the words SCHOOL OF ARTS is laid in the footpath at the corner of the building.
513:
was removed and replaced with cast aluminium, and the earlier bathrooms were removed. The ground floor retains shops and offices.
865:
840:
481:
slab bearing the name School of Arts was placed in the concrete of the footpath at the corner of Lake and Shields Streets.
398:
was accepted, but rejected when tenders far exceeded the amount specified. The School of Arts Committee then commissioned
694:
587:
495:, to connect the School of Arts to the Penny Savings Bank. Both the bank and the 1950s extensions have been demolished.
312:
143:
718:
308:
121:
381:
classes were commenced at the School of Arts; these were taken over by the Department of Public Instruction in 1911.
855:
319:
528:
roof concealed behind a parapet wall. The building is of concrete, with only the ground floor being reinforced.
378:
451:
447:
373:
its opening in May that year, the School of Arts Committee had established a reading room in rented premises.
154:
School of Arts, Cairns (former), Cairns Museum, Cairns School of Arts (former), Former School of Arts Building
338:
292:
45:
788:
544:
131:
689:
559:
411:
395:
740:
794:
776:
770:
430:
366:
446:
rent, and the concept was postponed until 1932, when the Committee commissioned Cairns architects
502:
In 1980 the Cairns Historical Society opened a museum in the vacated first floor premises, and
567:
558:
Internally, the ground floor contains retail outlets and has been extensively altered with an
454:
to prepare fresh plans, and the verandahed facade was extended along Lake Street at a cost of
474:
455:
415:
403:
391:
386:
525:
346:
594:
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
342:
824:
465:
The ground floor shop fronts were modernised in 1934-35, R Hill preparing the plans.
300:
53:
341:, established in Britain early in the 19th century, and transplanted throughout the
798:
780:
330:
This two-storeyed concrete building was erected in 1907 as new premises for the
765:
510:
407:
304:
57:
85:
72:
563:
399:
350:
726:
353:, Scotland, around 1799 and later formed the first Mechanics' Institute in
30:
787:
on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the
462:
was superimposed on the 1907 building to match that of the 1932 building.
334:
School of Arts, replacing an earlier adjacent building in Shields Street.
571:
478:
470:
435:
540:
459:
311:
and built from 1907 to 1941 by Hanson & Sons. It was added to the
552:
533:
418:
2170, and the new building was opened officially on 5 December 1907.
354:
331:
296:
49:
814:
434:
and for the upper level walls, concrete was poured between timber
420:
566:
panels. The first floor contains museum and display space, with
603:
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
509:
the whole building was renovated. At this time the cast-iron
590:
on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.
318:
The Cairns Museum is a local history museum operated by the
488:
The ground floor of the Shields Street facade was extended
35:
Former Cairns School of Arts, converted into a museum, 2007
345:
during the colonial era. The movement was instituted by
570:
and air conditioning throughout, and French doors with
769:
This Knowledge (XXG) article was originally based on
719:"George Birkbeck and the London Mechanics Institute"
406:
architects Tunbridge, Tunbridge and Lynch, who were
586:The former Cairns School of Arts was listed on the
200:
192:
182:
174:
166:
158:
150:
141:
127:
117:
109:
101:
64:
40:
23:
846:Buildings and structures in Far North Queensland
690:"School of Arts, Cairns (former) (entry 600380)"
238:Location of Cairns School of Arts in Queensland
473:styled extensions at a cost of approximately
258:
230:
8:
539:The verandahs have corrugated iron skillion
851:Tourist attractions in Far North Queensland
429:The building incorporated an early used of
532:renovation works replacing a cantilevered
29:
20:
790:"Queensland heritage register boundaries"
801:licence (accessed on 5 September 2014,
723:The encyclopaedia of informal education
626:
684:
682:
680:
678:
676:
674:
672:
670:
668:
666:
664:
662:
660:
658:
656:
654:
652:
650:
599:of reinforced concrete in Queensland.
349:, who started giving free lectures in
18:Historic site in Queensland, Australia
648:
646:
644:
642:
640:
638:
636:
634:
632:
630:
337:Schools of Arts were synonymous with
199:
191:
181:
173:
165:
157:
149:
140:
7:
783:licence (accessed on 7 July 2014,
772:"The Queensland heritage register"
14:
741:"School of Arts building renewal"
266:Cairns School of Arts (Australia)
861:1907 establishments in Australia
764:
309:Tunbridge, Tunbridge & Lynch
307:, Australia. It was designed by
257:
250:
229:
222:
122:Tunbridge, Tunbridge & Lynch
105:1900–1914 (early 20th century)
1:
836:Schools of Arts in Queensland
698:. Queensland Heritage Council
503:
489:
188:1907 – mid-1970s (historical)
831:Queensland Heritage Register
695:Queensland Heritage Register
588:Queensland Heritage Register
394:2000. A design submitted by
313:Queensland Heritage Register
283:is a heritage-listed former
144:Queensland Heritage Register
425:Cairns School of Arts, 1936
882:
477:4,000. At the same time a
743:. Cairns Regional Council
438:, without reinforcement.
320:Cairns Historical Society
216:
212:
208:
137:
28:
452:Arthur John Henry Taylor
379:Cairns Technical College
866:Cairns City, Queensland
717:Smith, Mark K. (1997).
291:at 93–105 Lake Street,
426:
241:Show map of Queensland
193:Significant components
162:state heritage (built)
128:Architectural style(s)
841:Museums in Queensland
805:on 15 October 2014).
543:and timber posts and
424:
396:Arthur Beckford Polin
339:Mechanics' Institutes
281:Cairns School of Arts
269:Show map of Australia
24:Cairns School of Arts
315:on 21 October 1992.
44:93–105 Lake Street,
795:State of Queensland
777:State of Queensland
431:reinforced concrete
367:Australian colonies
86:16.922°S 145.7753°E
82: /
729:on 17 August 2010.
568:suspended ceilings
427:
186:1907–1940 (fabric)
183:Significant period
175:Reference no.
856:Schools in Cairns
793:published by the
775:published by the
278:
277:
204:Hanson & Sons
91:-16.922; 145.7753
873:
768:
753:
752:
750:
748:
737:
731:
730:
725:. Archived from
714:
708:
707:
705:
703:
686:
582:Heritage listing
508:
505:
494:
491:
442:period as well.
404:North Queensland
270:
261:
260:
254:
242:
233:
232:
226:
97:
96:
94:
93:
92:
87:
83:
80:
79:
78:
75:
33:
21:
881:
880:
876:
875:
874:
872:
871:
870:
821:
820:
817:- official site
811:
762:
757:
756:
746:
744:
739:
738:
734:
716:
715:
711:
701:
699:
688:
687:
628:
623:
584:
526:corrugated iron
522:
506:
492:
365:In some of the
347:George Birkbeck
328:
274:
273:
272:
271:
268:
267:
264:
263:
262:
245:
244:
243:
240:
239:
236:
235:
234:
187:
170:21 October 1992
146:
90:
88:
84:
81:
76:
73:
71:
69:
68:
36:
19:
12:
11:
5:
879:
877:
869:
868:
863:
858:
853:
848:
843:
838:
833:
823:
822:
819:
818:
810:
809:External links
807:
761:
758:
755:
754:
732:
709:
625:
624:
622:
619:
583:
580:
521:
518:
343:British Empire
327:
324:
285:school of arts
276:
275:
265:
256:
255:
249:
248:
247:
246:
237:
228:
227:
221:
220:
219:
218:
217:
214:
213:
210:
209:
206:
205:
202:
198:
197:
196:school of arts
194:
190:
189:
184:
180:
179:
176:
172:
171:
168:
164:
163:
160:
156:
155:
152:
148:
147:
142:
139:
138:
135:
134:
129:
125:
124:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
66:
62:
61:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
878:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
828:
826:
816:
815:Cairns Museum
813:
812:
808:
806:
804:
800:
796:
792:
791:
786:
782:
778:
774:
773:
767:
759:
742:
736:
733:
728:
724:
720:
713:
710:
697:
696:
691:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
671:
669:
667:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
639:
637:
635:
633:
631:
627:
620:
618:
614:
613:
609:
605:
604:
600:
596:
595:
591:
589:
581:
579:
575:
573:
569:
565:
561:
556:
554:
548:
546:
542:
537:
535:
529:
527:
519:
517:
514:
512:
500:
496:
486:
482:
480:
476:
472:
466:
463:
461:
457:
453:
449:
443:
439:
437:
432:
423:
419:
417:
413:
412:Central Hotel
409:
405:
401:
397:
393:
388:
382:
380:
374:
370:
368:
363:
359:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
335:
333:
325:
323:
321:
316:
314:
310:
306:
302:
301:Cairns Region
298:
294:
290:
289:Cairns Museum
286:
282:
253:
225:
215:
211:
207:
203:
195:
185:
177:
169:
161:
153:
151:Official name
145:
136:
133:
130:
126:
123:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
102:Design period
100:
95:
67:
63:
59:
55:
54:Cairns Region
51:
47:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
799:CC-BY 3.0 AU
789:
781:CC-BY 3.0 AU
771:
763:
745:. Retrieved
735:
727:the original
722:
712:
700:. Retrieved
693:
615:
611:
610:
606:
602:
601:
597:
593:
592:
585:
576:
557:
549:
538:
530:
523:
515:
501:
497:
487:
483:
467:
464:
448:Richard Hill
444:
440:
428:
383:
375:
371:
364:
360:
336:
329:
317:
288:
287:and now the
280:
279:
15:
760:Attribution
520:Description
507: 1983
493: 1956
293:Cairns City
89: /
77:145°46′31″E
65:Coordinates
60:, Australia
46:Cairns City
825:Categories
621:References
511:balustrade
408:Townsville
305:Queensland
167:Designated
132:Classicism
74:16°55′19″S
58:Queensland
572:fanlights
564:leadlight
400:Melbourne
351:Edinburgh
118:Architect
113:1907–1941
803:archived
785:archived
747:15 April
702:1 August
545:brackets
479:terrazzo
471:Art Deco
436:formwork
201:Builders
41:Location
541:awnings
460:parapet
326:History
797:under
779:under
560:arcade
553:facade
534:awning
450:&
355:London
332:Cairns
297:Cairns
178:600380
50:Cairns
110:Built
749:2016
704:2014
402:and
159:Type
827::
721:.
692:.
629:^
536:.
504:c.
490:c.
322:.
303:,
299:,
295:,
56:,
52:,
48:,
751:.
706:.
475:£
456:£
416:£
392:£
387:£
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
