The restoration of the Qantas Hangar at Longreach and the conservation work on Boulia’s Stonehouse are two western Queensland treasures that have been honoured in this year’s National Trust of Australia (Queensland) heritage awards.
The gold award was presented to the Qantas Founders Museum at a gala evening event last Thursday night, at Brisbane’s Old Museum at Bowen Hills, itself one of Queensland’s most beautiful heritage-listed buildings.
The 95th birthday of the iconic hangar was celebrated in 2017.
Other regional successes included Cairns, Rockhampton and Southern Downs Regional Councils, the first receiving a high commendation for its work on the Cairns School of Arts, the second for its restoration work on the Archer Park railway station, and the latter a silver award for its conservation work on the William Mitchner Shelter at the Warwick General Cemetery.
The hangar restoration project implemented the recommendations of its conservation management plan, including repainting the building, replacing and installing guttering and repairing the hangar doors.
The conservation work, which was completed in 2017, was the largest carried out on the national heritage-listed building since 1995.
Qantas Founders Museum CEO, Tony Martin, said the hangar was incredibly significant not only to the Longreach community but to all Australians.
“As custodians of the heritage of Qantas, the restoration of this iconic building is vital to telling the history of Qantas, especially as we approach the Qantas Airways centenary in 2020,” he said.
The project was funded by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Community Sustainability Action Grant Program.
Environment Minister, Leeanne Enoch said the occasion honoured government agencies, councils, organisations, companies and individuals who help protect, preserve and value the state’s heritage.
“By conserving our heritage buildings and spaces, we not only protect physical objects and places, we protect our history, our achievements, our knowledge of where we’ve been and how far we’ve come, and our sense of place," she said.
“But government can only do so much and we value the excellent work of others, often volunteers, in keeping alive the history of our valuable assets.
“We rely on organisations like the National Trust of Australia (Queensland), and the volunteers and community groups that are represented in the 2018 nominations and awards.”
Ms Enoch said two Gold Awards were presented at this year’s ceremony; along with six Silver Awards; eight High Commendation certificates; and five Achievement Awards.
Award winners:
Conservation Works
- Gold Award – Qantas Founders Museum for its restoration of the National Heritage listed Qantas Hangar at Longreach, the most significant conservation works to this unique heritage place since 1995.
- Silver Award – Queensland Heritage Restorations for work on the Garth House Remnant Fence on Wickham Terrace, one of the last remnants of 19th century Wickham Terrace residences.
- Silver Award – Department of Housing and Public Works for the conservation and adaptive reuse of the Moira Hansen Maryborough Government offices. This project has returned the vacant building to its original use as government offices while also upgrading to meet modern office requirements.
- High Commendation – Rockhampton Regional Council and their team of consultants for restoration works on the state heritage-listed Archer Park railway station.
- High Commendation – Boulia Shire Council for its conservation works on the Boulia Stonehouse, the town’s oldest building.
- High Commendation – Cairns Regional Council and their team of consultants for its work on the Cairns School of Arts, the oldest public building in the city, restoring the building’s prominent façade and enhancing the historic streetscape.
Conservation Planning
- Silver Award – Southern Downs Regional Council staff and Conrad Gargett for developing a conservation management plan and scope of works to repair the William Mitchner Shelter at the Warwick General Cemetery, a fine regional example of funerary architecture.
- High commendation – Arts Queensland for the Queensland Cultural Centre Conservation Management Plan, which balances conservation of the Queensland Cultural Centre with the necessary adaptation of the buildings that make up this centre.
Agency Conservation Programs
- Gold Award – Queensland Rail for its Queensland Rail Heritage Program 2017, a program that manages more than 600 heritage assets across the state. The program encompasses conservation works; conservation planning, assessment and recording; and heritage interpretation and promotion.
- Queensland Rail was also presented with the 2018 John Herbert Memorial Award, a prestigious achievement award thatrecognises the most outstanding nomination across all categories.
- High Commendation – City of Gold Coast Heritage Unit for its Heritage Management Program that conserves and promotes heritage within the City of Gold Coast while fostering appreciation of heritage places and stories within the region.
- High Commendation – Sunshine Coast Council for its “Our Heritage Our Stories: Interpreting and Promoting Sunshine Coast Heritage” program which, among other things, comprised an exhibition, an inaugural Sunshine Coast Open House and digital local stories.
Interpretation and promotion
- Silver Award – Conrad Gargett for its publication Conrad Gargett 1890-2015 that detailed the firm’s significant contribution to “the making of Brisbane” over a period of 125 years.
- Silver Award– Noosa Shire Council - Heritage Library for its book Noosa Remembers: A history of World War I Memorials in Noosa Shire commemorating the many war memorials in “nearly every town” in the Noosa Shire.
- Silver Award– National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Gympie Branch and the Gympie Times for their publication Heritage Wonders of the Gympie Region that has given a heritage focus to Gympie's 150th Anniversary celebrations and has left a lasting legacy.
- High Commendation– West Village and their consultants for their work in retaining and promoting public access to the Peters Ice Cream Factory, conducting festivals, tours, open days and public art and making the factory, for decades closed to the public, an accessible part of the community.
- High Commendation– Army Museum South Queensland for the Victoria Barracks Tour and Exhibition that were developed to showcase the built military heritage of early Queensland, and tell the story of Queensland’s military history.
Achievement Awards
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Mrs Berenice Wright, founding member of Mackay Regional Council's Character and Heritage Advisory Committee, who has dedicated much of her life to local history research, contributing to publications, assisting the Council with heritage issues and conducting tours and walks.
- Volunteer / Volunteer Group Achievement Award – the Army Museum South Queensland Volunteer Group, which has grown from six to 29 volunteers in the space of three years, promoting the Victoria Barracks and the historic Petrie Terrace military precinct.
- NTAQ Heritage Volunteer of the Year – Ms Ann Gibbon, a tireless National Trust of Australia (Queensland) volunteer who leads a dedicated group of volunteers at the Zara Clark Museum, in Charters Towers, keeping this important collection of artefacts and memorabilia open to the public.
- Young Achievement Award – Mr Lloyd Jones, who is at the beginning of his career and is passionate about working in heritage. With excellent research, recording and writing skills he is extremely committed to heritage conservation.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
