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AMP Building
| Source: |
Go to the Register
of the National Estate for more information. |
| Identifier: |
17504 |
| Location: |
416-418 Flinders St, Townsville |
Local
Government: |
Townsville City (Current) |
| State: |
QLD |
Statement of
Significance: |
The AMP Building is significant as a building
designed in the inter-war Commercial Palazzo style of architecture,
displaying characteristics typical to this idiom such as the simple
exterior with classical elements, Georgian proportions, entrance
with high style treatment and plinth and decorative cornice
(Criterion D.2). The Townsville AMP Insurance Building with its
conservative expression through the use of Classical orders,
symmetry and pediments is a typical example of an insurance building
of the period. Classical imagery, with its largeness of scale
appropriate to public buildings was popular during the 1920s-30s
throughout the country and provided a solid image for insurance
companies (Criteria A.4 and D.2). This building is comparable with
other insurance buildings of this style and quality throughout the
country. Government buildings, banks, other insurance buildings and
professional offices throughout Australia adopted this idiom
(Criterion D.2). The AMP Building is significant as a purpose built
structure, expressing through its strong architectural design, the
objectives of the AMP Society to provide a prominent street address
and a powerful presence in the heart of the commercial district in
Queensland's cities (Criteria A.4 and F.1). The building is
significant as a structure designed by the architectural firm of
Hall and Cook, prominent in North Queensland during the 1930s. The
firm designed other AMP buildings in Queensland such as the old AMP
building in Brisbane (now Macarthur Chambers) (Criterion H.1). The
building, through its prominent location and architectural design,
contributes to the aesthetics of the streetscape of Flinders Street,
the main street in Townsville. The building provides a landmark at
the intersection of Flinders and Stanley Streets and along with the
other two storey buildings, enhances the visual impact of the street
(Criteria E.1 and F.1). |
| Description: |
The AMP Building in Townsville is a three storey
rendered masonry building. The building is designed with restrained
Classical detailing which includes ashlar markings, a central
pedimented window and a decorative cornice and parapet. The statue
group at parapet level, the AMP insignia usually featured on its
buildings, was removed from an earlier AMP Building in Townsville.
The Townsville AMP Insurance Building, with its conservative
expression through the use of Classical orders, symmetry and
pediments, is a typical example of an insurance building of the
period. Classical imagery, with its largeness of scale appropriate
to public buildings, was popular during the 1920s-30s throughout the
country and provided a solid image for insurance companies. This
building is comparable with other insurance buildings of this style
and quality throughout the country. Government buildings, banks,
other insurance buildings and professional offices throughout
Australia adopted this idiom. Hall and Cook was a prominent firm of
architects in the 1930s and designed other buildings for AMP,
including the old AMP Building in 1934 on the corner on Edward and
Queen Streets Brisbane, now MacArthur Chambers. This firm was
recognised in a 1936 article of the Architecture and Building
Journal of Queensland for their industrial, bank and office work.
Flinders Street is the main street in town. It is characterised by
buildings predominantly two storey, punctuated by larger buildings,
some of which have towers. The wide street is divided into two
carriageways by a central median strip planted with tropical shrubs.
The median strip planting contributes to the tropical character of
the settlement, as well as breaking up the large area of bitumen.
Flinders Street and The Strand nearby form the most significant
historic area in Townsville. Flinders Street is notable for the
consistency in style and character of its buildings. These buildings
are mostly two storey with some single and three storey buildings.
Each corner is occupied by a building designed to face both
streets. | |
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