Sandgate Billiard Saloon (former)

A history of Sandgate

Sandgate, including the suburb of Shorncliffe, is located 17 kilometres from central Brisbane. The first land sales in the Sandgate area occurred during the 1850s and much of the early development centred on the area now known as Shorncliffe. On 29 April 1880, Sandgate was declared a constituted municipality. During the 1880s, the area around Pier Avenue and Yundah Street became the town’s communal and civic centre. The first Town Hall, constructed in 1882, the Court House, and the first two police stations were located in this area. 

From the 1880s onwards, Sandgate became increasingly popular as a residential and seaside resort town. The opening of the train line to Brisbane in 1882 (extended to Shorncliffe in 1897) and the construction of the Sandgate Pier boosted the development of Sandgate. The train line to Sandgate was the first suburban line built solely for passengers in the Brisbane area. The train line provided a quick and efficient service for the growing number of residents commuting to Brisbane, and holidaymakers and day-trippers. Numerous attractions catering for visitors were also developed around this time. For example, separate bathing areas, dressing sheds, a caretaker’s cottage, office and licensed area were built close to the already established Sandgate Pier. In the 1930s, an enclosed area protected by railway lines, a shark net and stone wall was constructed as a shark-proof swimming enclosure lit at night. Additionally, Flinders Parade (then known as Brighton Esplanade), between First Avenue and Gladstone Street (now Twelfth Avenue), was dotted with cafes, refreshment rooms, flats and boarding houses. Attractions on the foreshores included sand-garden competitions, donkey, goat and gig rides, canoe hire and a miniature railway. 

In 1910, a fire destroyed the original Sandgate Town Hall. Subsequently, a new Town Hall opened on Deagon Street (now Brighton Road) in 1912. This opening of the new Town Hall, alongside the relocation of Sandgate Rail Station to its current site in 1911, marked a shift in the location of Sandgate’s town centre away from the Shorncliffe area to the vicinity of the present-day Rainbow Street, Brighton Road and Bowser Parade. This area proved to be more accessible for neighbouring Deagon and Brighton residents. 

The 1920s saw another period of prosperity for Sandgate. In 1925, Sandgate became a founding ward of the newly created Greater Brisbane City Council. While Shorncliffe continued to be a popular destination, the Sandgate and Brighton foreshores also drew crowds of holidaymakers. However, the building of the Hornibrook Highway Bridge in 1935 brought mixed blessings for Sandgate. This was because while the highway brought more passing trade to the area, it also enabled visitors to travel further north, typically by public transport, to the Redcliffe Peninsula for holidays rather than vacationing in Sandgate as had traditionally been the case. After the Second World War, increased car ownership also led to a further decline in the area's popularity as people were able to travel further beyond Brisbane’s city limits for a holiday. Car ownership also brought the expansion of Brighton, Deagon and Nashville as outer suburbs became more attractive. 

The development of Rainbow Street, Sandgate

The development of Rainbow Street dates to the 1880s, when numerous commercial premises housing tradespeople were established. Trades and services included plumbing, painting, building and blacksmithing, and a tailor, draper, and coffee stall. By 1893, there was a phonograph parlour opposite the Post Office, while by the turn of the 20th Century C. Shepherds had opened an aerated waters factory on Rainbow Street. In 1891, St Margaret’s Anglican Church was opened on Rainbow Street. The church was later converted to a rectory, and a new Spanish Mission style church opened on the same site in 1927. On the site of St Margaret’s, there is a monument to Robert Atkin, a member of the Queensland legislative assembly, which was erected in 1872. In 1874, Sandgate State School was established on its current site on Rainbow Street. Later developments on Rainbow Street included the relocation of Sandgate railway station to its current location in 1911. 

The intersection of Rainbow and Board Streets represents the non-urban character of Sandgate that existed before the Second World War. This wide intersection is bordered by a park, several examples of early houses of varying scale and a rare pre-Second World War petrol station. By 1936, the Hornibrook Highway Bus Service had opened a bus depot and office on the corner of Rainbow Street and Knox Street. This bus service provided a service from Sandgate Central railway station across the Hornibrook Highway bridge to the Redcliffe peninsula.

The construction of the Sandgate Billiard Saloon (former), 73 Rainbow Street

In 1915, William Verney purchased a one rood six perches and three-tenths of a perch plot of land on the corner of Rainbow Street and Kennerley Street (subdivision one and two of resubdivision A of subdivision two of suburban allotment 4 of section 17). Verney had run a billiard saloon in a building on the corner of this site, adjacent to the current building at 73 Rainbow Street. Verney sold a 16 perch portion of his land (resubdivision one of subdivision one and two of resubdivision A of subdivision two of suburban allotment 4 of section 17) to his brother-in-law Henry Boughen in August 1917. This portion of land contained the original billiard saloon that was located on the corner of Rainbow Street and Kennerley Street. However, on 30 May 1918, the building that contained the billiard saloon was destroyed by fire. As The Brisbane Courier reported: 

A fire broke out early this morning in Sandgate, when the premises, situated in Rainbow Street, and owned by Mr W. Verney (sic) were destroyed. The buildings were occupied by Mr H. Bouchen (sic) (billiards saloon, combined with a tobacconist and refreshment business), Mr Munro (tailor), and Mr Verney (dealer). A portion of the stock was saved. 

While no specific cause was ascribed to the fire, as with other fires in Sandgate at around this time, one contributing factor that led to the destruction of the building was that there was no fire brigade in Sandgate at this time. A permanent Fire Brigade was not established in Sandgate until 1923. 

After a number of transactions that reconfigured the land owned by Verney, by 1923, he was left with a 16 perch and nine-tenths of a perch plot (resubdivision two of subdivision three and resubdivision 2 of subdivision two of resubdivision A of subdivision two of suburban allotment 4 of section 17) on which the former Sandgate Billiard Saloon had been constructed. 

Constructed in 1922 by local builder and cabinetmaker C.L. Clark, the decision to build a new billiard saloon reflected the population growth experienced in Sandgate during the 1910s as well as the popularity of billiards as a form of recreation for men. In 1911, the population of Sandgate stood at 3,051 residents while by 1921 it was 6,273. The popularity of billiards is evidenced by the presence of at least one billiard table in most hotels of the period. For example, by 1916, just after a renovation, the Seaview Hotel in Shorncliffe was described as having a 'billiard room.' By 1941, the Post Office Directory recorded the Sandgate Billiard Saloon as the only standalone billiard saloon in Sandgate. 

Verney owned the site until he died in 1965. In 1966, the land and building transferred to Verney's son, Cyril William Verney. In 1979, the land was transferred to the Metropolitan Central Council of Society of St Vincent de Paul. Since 1979, the building has been used commercially. 

The former Sandgate Billiard Saloon is located near the junction of Rainbow and Kennerley streets, Sandgate, within proximity to Sandgate railway station. The single-storey masonry building has a decorative arch shaped parapet façade that conceals a corrugated sheet metal hipped roof. The building, a striking example of interwar Free Classical style architecture, has a suspended canopy and early shopfront arrangement with splayed recessed entry.

General description

The building is constructed from unpainted, expressed brickwork, evident on the side (west) elevation. The corresponding side (east) elevation directly abuts the neighbouring property at 77 Rainbow Street. At the rear (south) of the building, a fibre-cement sheet, skillion-roof addition conceals the rear elevation. On the west elevation, original window openings with concrete lintels are evident.

The Rainbow Street façade of the building is finished in painted rough cast render and topped with overpainted moulded cement capping. The large ogee-shaped parapet rising to an arched pediment has engaged columns topped with cement orbs on either side. The original suspended canopy over the footpath is supported with steel ties rods and has a fascia that extends to form a parapet that mirrors the shape of the parapet of the building façade. The upper level of the façade retains the original fenestration pattern of circular openings with raised cement bands to the perimeter, the three lower openings retaining steel framed glazing and the upper level a metal vent. Above the metal vent, a horizontal timber member is evidence of the original electrical connection of the building. The façade signage spelling ‘SANDGATE BILLIARD SALOON EST 1922’ reinstates the original configuration but uses a modern execution of raised steel lettering and is associated with renovations to the building.

Below the canopy, the façade retains early shopfront elements, including a central recessed entry to the front door with splayed shopfronts either side. Surrounding the window openings, maroon tiles with Art Nouveau decorative details appear to be early features. Alterations to this original arrangement are apparent, including the replacement of former timber framed windows and top lights with multi-pane glazing and black subway tile linings at ground level, concealing the removal of a single leaf door at right of the elevation that once formed part of the original arrangement.

The interior of the building was not inspected. 

The former Sandgate Billiard Saloon is one of the more prominent buildings within the proximity of Sandgate railway station. The legibility of the building as an interwar Free Classical structure is significant.  

There are significant views to the place from Rainbow Street.

Significant features

Features of cultural heritage significance include:

• Original building form and composition, including:
  • Single-storey prominent hipped roof
  • Rough cast render parapet facade with decorative details
  • Unpainted, expressed brick external side walls
  • Original window fenestration, including associated joinery, where this exists on all elevations. 
• Awning and verandah details, including:
  • Suspended awning, including original tie rods, parapet and soffit linings. 
• Exterior design details, including:
  • Stepped parapet, comprising arched pediments, and engaged columns with orbs. 
• Views to the place, including:
  • East and west along Rainbow Street 

Non-significant features

Non-significant features include:

• Non-original metal framed glazing to facade shopfront and side elevations
• Raised metal signage to facade, upper awning level.