Rockhampton Museum of Art building complete, tenders open for East Street building demolition

The construction of the $36 million Rockhampton Museum of Art has now been completed and tenders have opened for the demolition of two buildings to link the museum to East Street. See the new plans here first.

While the construction of the new $36 million Rockhampton Museum of Art building has now been completed, a snag has been hit with a new pedestrian walkway to connect East Street with Quay Lane.

Original plans and renders for the project back in 2018 included keeping the facades of 115 and 119 East Street, only demolishing part of the buildings.

Original renders of the plans for the new art gallery included keeping the facade.

New tender documents have revealed the buildings, which date back possibly 100 years, will need to be completely demolished.

Rockhampton Regional Council paid $550,000 for the two buildings in 2017.

The two buildings have been partially demolished as part of the works for the new art gallery building.

A new tender was released on October 20 for the demolition of the remaining parts of the buildings for the East Street to Quay Lane pedestrian link.

The tender document reveal the buildings have been assessed to be “beyond economic repair”.

They are not on the heritage register.

The two-storey double brick building at 115 East Street formerly housed stores such as, Tables and Tots, Dixons Cameras and Brads Bargain Box is believed to have been constructed in the early 1900s.

The single storey double brick building, previously home to Brunches and Creatapotata, was constructed around the 1950s.

Photos of damage to the East Street building.

A report with the tender document that dates back to 2017, states the buildings have suffered structural damage, with the noticeable damage to have only occurred in the past two to three years, believed to be because of changes to ground condition, moisture and bearing capacity.

The 2017 report stated if the facade of 119 East Street was to be kept, additional support would be needed.

Photos in the report show cracks in the facade front, concrete flooring and walls, holes in the awnings, bowing in the roofs, water damage and leaks running down the walls.

The buildings in East Street that will be knocked down to make a pedestrian walkway to lead to the new Rockhampton Museum of Art.

The tender is for the demolition of the existing building and other site structures, slab and existing services and for a decorative concrete slab to be put in place.

Works also include structure steel support and a new masonry wall and other building elements and wall finishes.

The documents also state there is to be minimal impact to the CBD and no work is to be carried out in East Street.

The neighbouring buildings are to be protected and all works will need to control the risk of damage and be aware of the impacts of vibration and site activities.

Many of the documents cite concern with the shared wall with the Chemist Warehouse building, which foreshadowed the building having to close last month due to storm damage.

Price is the main weighting of the successful tenderer, account for 45 per cent.

Project experience and construction program and plans both hold 20 per cent weighting, contractor local content 10 per cent and local preference five per cent.

Tender applications close on November 10 and a successful applicant is due to be appointed in December.

The successful applicant will have 18 weeks from the contract date, including two weeks of Christmas shutdown, to complete the works.

Stage one of the East Street to Quay Lane pedestrian access works.

Renders of what stage two of the pedestrian access to the new Rockhampton Museum of Art will look like.

A swag of politicians toured the main art gallery building on Tuesday (November 2) including Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch, Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke, Keppel MP Brittany Lauga, Capricornia MP Michelle Landry, Rockhampton region Mayor Tony Williams and Councillor Drew Wickerson.

“With the access onto East Street, that will be great for local businesses as well, bringing people back into our city community is just so important,” Mr O’Rourke said.

The VIP group was led by council staff and shown around the facility which features high ceilings, polished floors and modern features.

The building includes a lower gallery exhibition space, upper-level gallery, three education and access spaces, a retail shop, a restaurant/cafe and landscaping.

While there were no artworks on the walls, there were many compliments and praises by the politicians.

“If only the people that built Customs House next door would have known that their masterpiece there perhaps would have another masterpiece sitting right next door to it,” Ms Lauga said.

“Arts is so incredibly important not just for tourism, but for our community, for our young people, to learn, to have, to question, to inspire, to think about doing things differently, how things work.”

The project was supported by $15 million from the Queensland Government and $10 million from the Federal Government.

The project supported 115 jobs during construction with more than 900 tradespeople involved through the whole process and will create another 200 ongoing jobs once operational.

Rockhampton Regional Council's Alicia Cutler, Councillor Drew Wickerson, Rockhampton MP Barry O'Rourke, Mayor Tony Williams, Minister for the Arts Leanne Enoch and Deputy Premier Brittany Lauga in the education space of the new Rockhampton Museum of Art.

“The economic boost and employment opportunities of this key development project goes beyond the construction industry to include the arts sector and broader Rockhampton region and will continue to grow Queensland’s creative future,” Arts Minister Leanne Enoch said.

“I think everyone should be proud to have this incredible infrastructure right here in your own neighbourhood.”

Rockhampton region mayor Tony Williams and Capricornia MP Michelle Landry at the sneak peak of the Rockhampton Museum of Art.

Ms Landry described the building as a “showpiece for Central Queensland”.

“From what we saw with the old buildings that were here, to this spectacular building that has been created,” she said.

“When we look back at former mayor Rex Pilbeam collecting the artwork, it’s going to be a significant part of this gallery, it’s absolutely incredible.”

Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk, Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow and member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke at the beginning of the construction.

DEMOLITION COMMENCES: Capricornia MP Michelle Landry, Rockhampton region mayor Margaret Strelow and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP visited the Quay St building which was demolished to make way for the new art gallery in August 2019.

Tributes were also paid to former mayor Margaret Strelow for her vision in pushing for the new art gallery.

The official opening will be in early 2022 and Mr Williams said it would be a “fantastic event”.

“Our local community, tourists and people from far and wide will be able to come here and have a look, and be blown away by the amount of artwork we have here,” he said.

“It’s been a huge project but walking through the building it’s clear that it has absolutely been worth it.

“There is so much potential here for our community, and at the moment this building offers an incredible blank canvas.

“Over the next few months, we’ll move in one of the most significant regional collections of Australian modern art and prepare to open the doors of this major arts hub to our community early next year.”

Originally published as Rockhampton Museum of Art building complete, tenders open for East Street building demolition