Bolands Centre, Cairns

The Bolands Centre, also known as Boland's Building and Boland's Departmental Store, stands as a distinguished heritage-listed department store in Cairns. Designed by the acclaimed architect Edward Gregory Waters and constructed in 1912-1913, the Centre is a significant architectural landmark with a rich history.

The department store was commissioned by Michael Boland, an Irish immigrant who arrived in Australia in 1881 and later became a prominent merchant in Cairns. The Bolands Centre holds historical importance as it is the last surviving example of a large, early 20th-century department store in Cairns, representing a bygone era of retail and commerce in the region.

The building's design reflects the architectural trends of the time. It is a large reinforced concrete structure with a rectangular plan, measuring 27.6 by 19.8 meters (91 by 65 feet), and the long axis oriented along Spence Street. Notably, the new building was internally connected to the 1902 store, which had a wooden structure, and the old section had been demolished before the construction of the Bolands Centre.

The ground level facade along Lake and Spence Street featured large, rectangular shop windows made of clear plate-glass imported from England. These expansive windows provided an enticing display for passersby, inviting them into the department store to explore its offerings.

On the first and second floor levels, the facade of the Bolands Centre exhibited an imposing and ornate style, drawing inspiration from Classical and Romanesque elements. This intricate architectural design added a touch of grandeur to the building, making it a significant and eye-catching structure in Cairns.

An interesting architectural innovation of the Bolands Centre was its flat roof, constructed using poured concrete. This was one of the earliest known examples of such a roof type in Queensland and marked a notable advancement in construction techniques for the time.