Sitting on the corners of Lake & Shields Streets is the city’s oldest public building – the Cairns School of Arts. From it’s earliest beginnings in 1907 as a centre for Adult Education (similar to a modern day TAFE) the historic building has seen a number of extensions and different uses over the years, including as a public library, and most recently housing the Cairns Museum.
I was privileged to do the architectural photography for Total Project Group Architects, who through their innovative design, have ensured a beautiful building refurbishment. Original elements of the building have been preserved and protected, including the original timber flooring and verandah, whilst the facades of the different era buildings (which make up the SOA property) have been restored to their original roots – from early 20th-century design to Art Deco style.
A new extension on the Shields Street side, provides two full floors plus a mezzanine level to be utilized by the Cairns Historical Society, as the new Cairns Museum. The facade of the new extension is unashamedly contemporary, inside, this extension interfaces wonderfully with the original structure.
The new School of Arts extension set into the original 1907 building
The new extension and the heritage School of Arts building on Shields St
Visitors view up the new architectural staircases
Twilight view of the refurbished 1907 School of Arts building
Century old timber flooring in the original heritage building
View from mezzanine level down to new & old structure interface
The restored Art Deco style facade next to earlier 20th century architecture on Lake St
The old and new areas of the building, with a cross-section of the old walls
The new Cairns Museum, part of the renovated SOA property
The blending of new and old interiors in the renovated building
Second floor extension through to the original building
Through the windows of the old verandah to the new extension
Looking out over Lake St from the building’s timber verandah
Contemporary staircase inside the new extension
Contemporary architecture of the new addition, blended with the original heritage building
The 1907 heritage building and 1930’s Art Deco style extension
Staircases of the new section against the awnings of the original building
Inside a renovated section of the original architecture
The new Cairns Museum, part of the renovated SOA property
The restored Art Deco style facade on Lake St
