Credit Union Australia Building
- 600080
- 501 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
General
- Also known as
- RACQ Building; Queensland Brewery Co
- Classification
- State Heritage
- Register status
- Entered
- Date entered
- 21 October 1992
- Types
- Transport—air: Office/administration building
- Transport—water: Storage facility
- Themes
- 3.1 Developing secondary and tertiary industries: Feeding Queenslanders
- 3.8 Developing secondary and tertiary industries: Marketing, retailing and service industries
- 8.3 Creating social and cultural institutions: Organisations and societies
- Architect
- McDonald, HS
- Construction period
- 1940–1942, Credit Union Australia Building (1940 - 1942)
- Historical period
- 1939–1945 World War II
- Style
- Functionalism
Location
- Address
- 501 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
- LGA
- Brisbane City Council
- Coordinates
- -27.46166196, 153.03221128
Map
Street view
Photography is provided by Google Street View and may include third-party images. Images show the vicinity of the heritage place which may not be visible.
Significance
Criterion AThe place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.
The Credit Union Australia Building is significant as a relatively rare example of a landmark building with Art Deco embellishments. The building is significant as an example of the work of H S McDonald who played a role in the introduction of Functionalist style to Queensland.
Criterion DThe place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
The Credit Union Australia Building is significant as a relatively rare example of a landmark building with Art Deco embellishments. The building is significant as an example of the work of H S McDonald who played a role in the introduction of Functionalist style to Queensland.
Criterion EThe place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
The Credit Union Australia Building is significant as a relatively rare example of a landmark building with Art Deco embellishments.
History
This building was constructed between 1940 and 1942 for the Queensland Brewery Company. Designed by H S McDonald of Addison and McDonald, it replaced the company's headquarters in Queen Street, Petrie Bight. Half the ground floor and the first floors were used as administrative offices, while the remainder of these floors and the top storey provided cellars, a wine and spirits department, cooperage and goods handling and loading facilities.
The design was a departure from accepted forms for commercial buildings in Queensland at the time. McDonald fused the assertive curves and angles of the Art Deco with the flowing horizontal lines of the Functionalist movement. This latter style was characterised by its simple geometric shapes, its light colours and large glass areas. The building also exemplified the use of new materials like the original glass brick of the circular entry tower and the synthetic stone of the original signage. Both these elements have since been removed.
In February 1966 the property was purchased by the Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACQ). Architects Cook and Kerrison & Partners adapted the building for its new use. The offices on the ground floor were occupied by customer services, the first floor accommodated the RACQ insurance staff, and the second floor provided management offices and two board rooms.
In 1980 the property was sold to the Australia Post and Telecom Credit Union, although RACQ leased the building for three years until their new offices were constructed. Credit Union Australia purchased the property in 1983, and undertook further modifications.
Description
The three storeyed brick building is prominently located on the corner of Ann and Boundary Streets, opposite Centenary Place. It is built with applied Art Deco motifs influenced by the Functionalist movement.
Horizontal strip windows delineate levels on the two street facades and contrast with the vertically expressed elements of the corner tower. This tower forms a prominent entry and also serves as the location for vertical circulation. A chevron motif is regularly spaced around its upper portion.
The Ann Street facade has a cantilevered awning over a ramp providing access to a second entry.
The main entry vestibule is a three storeyed void with a corner entry at the ground floor level and a second inner entry parallel to Ann Street. This makes the lower portion of this space asymmetrical. The original glass blocks of the corner piece have been replaced by curved plate glass. The lower portion of the three storeyed space is of concrete block while plaster is located above marked to simulate blockwork. The ceiling is plaster and has a decorated cornice and a vertical light fitting suspended from its centre. The stairwell is walled with plaster marked in a similar way to the upper portion of the entry vestibule. The stair has polished timber handrails with a metal balustrade and brackets. The passenger elevator is predominantly intact. Only some of the original timber veneer partitioning remains in the general office space.
Despite the loss of some of its integrity the building is still an indicator of the beginning of the stylistic influence of the European Modern Movement in Queensland. It is also prominent for the manner in which it is designed to take advantage of its location on a corner site.
