Community & Business
27 August, 2024
Once the most important room in Clifton now sits idle
Once upon a time, not too long ago, the town of Clifton was the seat of power for the District but since 2008 that power has moved to Toowoomba, and the old building that served as the Clifton Shire Council Chambers now sits relatively under utilised.
The Clifton Shire Council offices and Council Chambers, was constructed in 1940-41 with a £3,000 Treasury Loan for the building and a further £200 for architect’s fees and £500 for fittings and furnishings.
The architect engaged to design the building was Mr. M. C. Williamson who also designed the Toowoomba Trades Hall (1934) and the Dalby Fire Station (1935).
Despite the shortage of resources and finances due to the war, construction of the brick building went ahead and was ready by 1941 to begin life as the seat of power for the district.
On Saturday, September 20, 1941 the Chambers were dedicated to the memory of the pioneers of the Darling Downs, and long serving Councillor C. Y. Gillam officiated as a monumental stone was embedded in the front wall of the building.
The stone bears the following inscription:
TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, DISCOVERER OF DARLING
DOWNS, JUNE 1827, PATRICK LESLIE & ASSOCIATES, FOUNDERS OF FIRST SETTLEMENT, JUNE 1840. THIS STONE WAS UNVEILED BY COUNCILLOR JAMES MEARA, CHAIRMAN CLIFTON SHIRE COUNCIL ON 20TH SEPTEMBER 1941.
Another stone on the other side of the main doors to the building pays tribute to Cr Gillam:
THIS STONE WAS LAID BY COUNCILLOR C. Y. GILLAM ON SEPTEMBER 18TH 1940 BEING HIS 81ST BIRTHDAY. SETTLED IN DISTRICT 1863 ENTERED COUNCIL 1901.
The new Council Chambers were opened on 20 October 1941 by then Minister for Health and Home Affairs, the Honourable E. M. Hanlon who later became Premier of Queensland from 1946 to 1952.
Cliftonites were proud of their new Council Chambers with the Treasury Loan for construction of the building paid off over time from their Clifton Shire rates.
The Council Chambers served as the seat of power for the Clifton District for over sixty years until amalgamation of seven Shire Councils and one City Council in 2008 formed the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC ).
Former Councillor of Clifton Shire and Toowoomba Regional Councils, Anne Glasheen has a unique perspective of how the two Councils operated.
“ Clifton Shire Councillors lived in the district and so knew first hand the issues of the town and could talk face to face with people about local issues,” she said.
“This advantage has been lost after amalgamation as TRC Councillors act more as a Board of Directors at arms length from the issues.
“On the other hand, TRC has economic advantages when it comes to big ticket items such as road construction because of its larger size in comparison to a smaller Clifton Council with fewer rate payers,”Cr Glasheen said.
Today the old building houses the TRC Service Centre and provides a useful function for local residents with three TRC staff members available to answer both counter and telephone enquiries.
However, the once most important and impressive part of the building, the Council Meeting Room, sits mostly unused.
The portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II looks down today over a very impressive horseshoe shaped timber table that sits idle.
It was here where once local Councillors made decisions that shaped the economic and cultural future of the District.
Fortunately the Council Meeting Room has been maintained in first class condition by the TRC as it sits year after year waiting for a new purpose in life.
TRC Property Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Trevor Manteufel said Council has abandoned
using the Council Chambers for occasional meetings because it lacks the facilities to live stream the meetings so the horseshoe table remains without purpose.
Anne Glasheen hopes that one day another use will be found for the Clifton Shire Meeting Room as she sees it as too important not to have a useful purpose.
The Clifton Shire Council building is part of the most impressive cluster of buildings in the town with the Library and
Senior Citizens Hall all surrounded by an attractive garden area forming an impressive entrance to the town.
Many locals hope that eventually the Council Meeting Room will fulfil another purpose that is befitting of the quality of its construction so this once important room can again serve the people of Clifton.
Suggestions put forward include an art gallery or museum.
At the present time it seems very unlikely it will ever regain its original purpose as the seat of power for the Clifton District ... or is it?
The Clifton Courier would like to thank staff of the TRC Clifton Service Centre for their friendly assistance and TRC Archives section for their help with the research for this article.
