Gimuy Walubara Yidinji
Queensland
Far North Queensland
The original Cairns Shire Office is one of the few early public buildings, 1912. In 1940, it became the Shire Office and Chambers for the new local government area of Mulgrave.
Restoration of Mulgrave Shire Office is the last restorations within the Cairns Gallery Precinct and connects the three heritage-listed buildings. Cairns Art Gallery, Courthouse Gallery, and now the Mulgrave Gallery.
The Gallery is the only tangible reminder of the significant rural shire that surrounded Cairns City.
It is is an early example of 鈥淨ueenslander鈥� style public architecture with its original timber wrap-around verandah, now reconstructed.
鈥淲e had to remove elements of little heritage significance in order to reveal the original verandah structure. Removing one of the larger 1960 annexes allowed us to create a public plaza connecting to the Courthouse Gallery鈥� said Roger Mainwood of TPG Architects.
鈥淲e adopted the original room names for gallery i.e the Engineers Gallery.鈥�
The Mulgrave Gallery in Cairns showcases the enduring value of adapting heritage buildings for contemporary use by celebrating Cairns鈥� colonial history while fostering contemporary cultural engagement. The transformation of the Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers into a dynamic contemporary art space, managed by Cairns Regional Council, highlights the significance of integrating heritage structures into Cairns鈥� evolving urban fabric.
TPG Architects鈥� skill is evident throughout the project, sensitively revealing and replacing heritage elements while making necessary adaptations to meet contemporary gallery standards. Extensive research and investigations have led to the restoration and revealing of the building鈥檚 history and stories of the past for visitors to experience and enjoy.
Of note is the gallery鈥檚 integration into the Cairns Gallery Precinct, enhancing public accessibility by linking three historic sites to create a cohesive and engaging precinct that provides new public amenity and event spaces.
The Mulgrave Gallery project clearly demonstrates the benefits of preserving and adaptively reusing heritage buildings, providing an enduring legacy for the city and the Cairns community.
The Mulgrave Gallery is an important addition to Cairns鈥� cultural landscape.
Mulgrave Gallery stands as a symbol of Cairns鈥� dedication to preserving its past while boldly embracing the future.
This dynamic fusion of heritage and modernity will not only elevate the local art scene but also position Cairns as a premier destination for cultural tourism in northern Australia.
With the arts sector employing around 1,000 people, the new gallery will provide further economic benefits to the city.
Not only will this endeavour support creatives and the arts community, but it strengthens our city鈥檚 economy.
Roger Mainwood, Project Director/Architect
Edi Piagno, Director
Aimee Bellette, Project Architect
Margarita Zorrilla, Graduate of Architecture
Liam Oastler, Building Designer
Tom Sefton, Graduate of Architecture
Richard Bonney, Building Designer
CMG Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
Sequal Consulting, Electrical Consultant
Sequal Consulting, Mechanical Consultant
h2O Consulting, Hydraulic Consultant
Australian Heritage Specialists, Heritage Consultant
DotDash, Wayfinding
Access and Architecture, Access Consultant
All Construction Approvals, Building Certification