History of the building
Gatakers Artspace occupies the middle one of four buildings, bound by Kent and Wharf Streets, which were owned by Gatakers Pty Ltd. These buildings are significant in demonstrating the pattern of Queensland’s history, in particular the development of Maryborough as a shipping port for the Wide Bay district and the development of Wharf Street to service the port.
The building was erected prior to 1873 and the land on which it was built was originally owned by merchant, Robert Travis. In 1884 general merchants, John Graham and Charles Frederick Gataker (Graham and Gataker) moved to the site. In 1906 Graham retired and soon after Gataker took his two sons into the business, Melmoth Leofric and Charles James, to form Gataker and Sons. Gataker retired in 1913. At the height of the Depression in 1933, the firm was forced to assign its estate, but in 1934 Gatakers Pty Ltd was formed and purchased the assets of the old firm and recommenced operations.
After WWII, Gatakers expanded their business to become liquor merchants including the Wide Bay distribution of XXXX and the bottling of Bundaberg Rum.
In 1989 the ground floor and part of the first floor of the warehouse was leased to Australia Post and additions and alterations were made. The remainder of the first floor was occupied by the Maryborough Art Society.
In 2005 the building was purchased by the Maryborough City Council with the assistance of Q150 funding from the Queensland Government. Following extensive renovations, Gatakers Artspace opened to the public in March 2010.
Rooms within the Artspace will be named after Robert Travis, John Graham, Rollo Nicholson (the last owner and member of the Gatakers family) and Noel Gorrie, former CEO of Maryborough City Council, who drove the initial renovation project.
