Hardware Store, Childers
| Company type | Commercial terrace |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (hardware) |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Founder | F H Faircloth (architect) |
| Headquarters | Childers , Australia |
| Products | Hardware |
The Hardware Store is a heritage-listed commercial terrace located at 74–78 Churchill Street, Childers, within the Bundaberg Region of Queensland, Australia. Designed by architect F H Faircloth and erected in 1902, it has also been identified as Mitre 10, Silly Solly's, Pettigrew's Hardware, and Wyper Brothers Ironmongery. It was officially registered on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
History
Situated among a continuous line of shops between the Palace Hotel and Kerr's Buildings, this hardware store was constructed in 1902 after a major fire devastated much of Churchill Street’s southern frontage. The building was designed by Bundaberg-based architect FH Faircloth, who played a significant role in shaping Childers’ commercial precinct during its post-fire reconstruction.
Childers’ growth began in the late 1800s following the clearing of the Isis Scrub and the opening of the Isis railway line in 1887, initially established to facilitate timber transport. This railway development also encouraged expansion in the sugar industry, with mills emerging from the late 1880s, positioning Childers as an important sugar production hub by the mid-1890s.
The 1902 blaze destroyed many wooden structures along Churchill Street’s south side. In response, Faircloth was engaged to design replacement masonry buildings, marking a deliberate move toward fire-resistant construction methods. His architectural approach included refined single-story retail shops featuring expansive glass display windows, ogee-shaped striped awnings supported by ornamental posts with cast iron detailing, and classical revival motifs such as pediments, urns, and balustrades delineating each individual shop.
Frederic Herbert (Herb) Faircloth (born 1870) was a distinguished architect from Bundaberg responsible for numerous landmark buildings throughout the region. Prior to the fire, this site contained a timber structure likely used for commercial purposes; it is believed Thomas Gaydon operated his initial pharmacy here during the 1890s.
The five-shop terrace was originally split between two proprietors: Albert Gorrie owned two shops—one functioning as a bakery—while Thomas Gaydon held ownership of three shops that were leased collectively to Wyper Brothers ironmongers, who also retailed hardware and furniture. In the 1920s, Pettigrew's Hardware took over from Wyper Brothers, continuing to occupy all three shops owned by Gaydon. Despite several changes in ownership over time, the premises have predominantly been utilized as a hardware store throughout their commercial history, adopting the name Silly Solly's in early 1996.
Description
The former hardware store comprises three bays within a row of five single-level masonry shops positioned on Churchill Street’s southern side next to the Palace Hotel. It is topped with a corrugated iron roof concealed behind a parapet, which features classical revival-style pediments—both curved and triangular forms—linked by a balustraded parapet crowned with decorative urns. The shopfront has undergone modernization and is shaded by an ogee-profile corrugated iron awning supported by street posts; however, the original cast iron valance is no longer present. The interior has been remodeled multiple times to accommodate various tenants.
Heritage listing
On 21 October 1992, the former Hardware Store was officially included in the Queensland Heritage Register due to its importance in demonstrating Queensland's historical evolution, especially reflecting the early 20th-century reconstruction of Childers' central street following the 1902 fire. This building serves as a representative example of early 1900s rural town masonry commercial design, distinguished by features such as its awnings, shopfronts, lanterns, and general architectural style. It plays a significant role in maintaining the unified and well-preserved streetscape along Churchill Street. Additionally, the structure is notably linked to Bundaberg architect FH Faircloth, who was instrumental in defining much of Childers' architectural character throughout the twentieth century.