Kyogle. Street mural showing what Kyogle looked like in 1903.
Kyogle. Pop 2,700. It is on the Richmond River & the last NSW town before QLD. Rugged terrain prevented early links to QLD. The word Kyogle is believed to be a Bundjalong word kaiougal meaning "the place of the bush turkey”. To the north of the town are several national parks and work started in 1926 on a railway line to Brisbane employing up to 1,500 men. The line had to include a spiral loop to get up and over the McPherson Ranges. The government refused to fund a road across the ranges to QLD so in 1969 the Kyogle Lions Club decided to do it themselves. A Lions Club in Queensland joined the project and work began using a Lion member’s caterpillar tractor and over 200,000 volunteer hours of work. The first section of the road opened in December 1970 and with some help from the government and Kyogle Shire Council it was completed in several years. The road was sealed in 1995. It is still known as the Lions Road. Pastoralists arrived here around 1840 and red cedar cutters from 1860. The saw mills and logging continued for thirty years until around 1900. The town’s name was adopted in 1899 with the town land survey in 1903. Dairy farmers rushed to the area because of the rich fertile volcanic soils and the high rainfall. A butter factory opened in 1905 mainly for export to England. A railway from Casino reached here in 1910 but it was 1930 before the line went to Brisbane. At that time Art Deco was the rage and Kyogle has many examples of this style.
Town drive. As we turn right on the left is the Memorial Institute. The first School of Arts was erected here in 1910. This burnt down in 1931 and was replaced with this two storey red brick and timber balcony building. Plaques by the door are a memorial to pioneer women. Designed by Lismore architect F. Broad.
On the other left corner is the former Bank of NSW now NPWS. It opened in 1940 with good height, flat rendered pilasters and an Art Deco grill above the front door. Note red brick, painted cement and quarry stone on the façade.
On the right hand corner is the former Queensland National Bank built in the 1920s in Arts and Crafts style. It has balconies, arches, roughcast render, exposed wooden beams, struts and red brick work.
Next on left is the wooden 1905 built Masonic Lodge. One of the oldest buildings in Kyogle. Simple design with six pilasters painted in contrasting colour. Three round windows with Masonic emblems and two classical entrances.
Next door is the Presbyterian Church. The first wooden church opened in 1903 as the town began. It is now the behind the larger Church Hall and still in use. The austere style red brick church was built in 1939.
Next on left is the Official Residence for govt. officials and magistrates. Built 1926 with terracotta tiled roof in bungalow style. Next to it is the Police Station also built in 1926 and on the corner the Courthouse built 1927 in neo Georgian style with Palladian style identical wings each side. Matching sets of pillars beside entrance etc.
Next corner right is the National Australasian Bank. Opened 1925. The façade is too modernised, new windows etc.
On left is the Commercial Bank built in 1928. Stripped classical style- flat pilasters, block shape, good symmetry.
Across the street on right is the Exchange Hotel- red brick and rendered parapet. Rebuilt in 1928 after the 1927 fire.
Next on left is the Roxy Theatre. Opened in 1936 as a cinema. Note stepped ziggurat faced parapet. Very Art Deco.
Next on right modern the Methodist/Uniting Church and Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Opposite are the Council offices. Built 1938 in American Cape Cod style so very unusual in rural Australia.
Find your own Art Deco buildings in the Main Street. Some of the best are now cafes and coffee shops.
Kyogle. Street mural showing what Kyogle looked like in 1903.
Kyogle. Pop 2,700. It is on the Richmond River & the last NSW town before QLD. Rugged terrain prevented early links to QLD. The word Kyogle is believed to be a Bundjalong word kaiougal meaning "the place of the bush turkey”. To the north of the town are several national parks and work started in 1926 on a railway line to Brisbane employing up to 1,500 men. The line had to include a spiral loop to get up and over the McPherson Ranges. The government refused to fund a road across the ranges to QLD so in 1969 the Kyogle Lions Club decided to do it themselves. A Lions Club in Queensland joined the project and work began using a Lion member’s caterpillar tractor and over 200,000 volunteer hours of work. The first section of the road opened in December 1970 and with some help from the government and Kyogle Shire Council it was completed in several years. The road was sealed in 1995. It is still known as the Lions Road. Pastoralists arrived here around 1840 and red cedar cutters from 1860. The saw mills and logging continued for thirty years until around 1900. The town’s name was adopted in 1899 with the town land survey in 1903. Dairy farmers rushed to the area because of the rich fertile volcanic soils and the high rainfall. A butter factory opened in 1905 mainly for export to England. A railway from Casino reached here in 1910 but it was 1930 before the line went to Brisbane. At that time Art Deco was the rage and Kyogle has many examples of this style.
Town drive. As we turn right on the left is the Memorial Institute. The first School of Arts was erected here in 1910. This burnt down in 1931 and was replaced with this two storey red brick and timber balcony building. Plaques by the door are a memorial to pioneer women. Designed by Lismore architect F. Broad.
On the other left corner is the former Bank of NSW now NPWS. It opened in 1940 with good height, flat rendered pilasters and an Art Deco grill above the front door. Note red brick, painted cement and quarry stone on the façade.
On the right hand corner is the former Queensland National Bank built in the 1920s in Arts and Crafts style. It has balconies, arches, roughcast render, exposed wooden beams, struts and red brick work.
Next on left is the wooden 1905 built Masonic Lodge. One of the oldest buildings in Kyogle. Simple design with six pilasters painted in contrasting colour. Three round windows with Masonic emblems and two classical entrances.
Next door is the Presbyterian Church. The first wooden church opened in 1903 as the town began. It is now the behind the larger Church Hall and still in use. The austere style red brick church was built in 1939.
Next on left is the Official Residence for govt. officials and magistrates. Built 1926 with terracotta tiled roof in bungalow style. Next to it is the Police Station also built in 1926 and on the corner the Courthouse built 1927 in neo Georgian style with Palladian style identical wings each side. Matching sets of pillars beside entrance etc.
Next corner right is the National Australasian Bank. Opened 1925. The façade is too modernised, new windows etc.
On left is the Commercial Bank built in 1928. Stripped classical style- flat pilasters, block shape, good symmetry.
Across the street on right is the Exchange Hotel- red brick and rendered parapet. Rebuilt in 1928 after the 1927 fire.
Next on left is the Roxy Theatre. Opened in 1936 as a cinema. Note stepped ziggurat faced parapet. Very Art Deco.
Next on right modern the Methodist/Uniting Church and Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Opposite are the Council offices. Built 1938 in American Cape Cod style so very unusual in rural Australia.
Find your own Art Deco buildings in the Main Street. Some of the best are now cafes and coffee shops.