Department of Public Works (Queensland)

Department of Public Works

Statutory Authority overview
Jurisdiction	Queensland
Headquarters	Brisbane
Minister responsible	Tim Mander, Minister for Housing & Public Works

The Department of Public Works is the department of the Queensland Government responsible for the construction of public works. It has existed under many different names since the establishment of government in Queensland. It contains the office of the Queensland Government Architect.^[1] In 2014, it is the Department of Housing and Public Works under the direction of Tim Mander, the Minister for Housing and Public Works.^[2]

History

Europeans settled in Queensland in 1825 when Brisbane was selected as a penal settlement for British convicts. The penal settlement closed in 1842 and free settlement was established.^[3]

1859

The state was originally part of the British-administered colony of New South Wales. On 10 December 1859 Queensland separated from New South Wales and the Colony of Queensland was established.^[3]

After separation, New South Wales administrators withdrew and the new colony was left to develop its own public service. This, together with an increasing number of immigrants moving to the state, brought about a program of building works which was to give Queensland some of its best examples of 19th century architecture.^[3]

One of the first buildings to be commissioned was the Old Ipswich Courthouse. Designed by Queensland Colonial Architect, Charles Tiffin, the building was completed on 19 July 1859.^[3]

The stone and brick neo-classical structure became the archetype for many of the courthouses built in the colony for the rest of the century. The building continued to serve as Ipswich’s courthouse until the early 1980s, when a new court complex was built. In turn, it was replaced by the Ipswich Courthouse which was built 2009-2010. The original courthouse is now heritage-listed and serves as an important reminder of the beginnings of Queensland. Charles Tiffin would go on to design and construct more than 300 public buildings for Queensland.^[3]

1862

The Lands and Works Department was created in 1862.^[4]

In the same year, construction of the Governor's residence in Brisbane, the first major public building in Queensland, is completed. Queensland Colonial Architect, Charles Tiffin, designed the building as both a private residence and official state office for George Bowen, the first Queensland Governor. In 2014, the heritage-listed building is known as Old Government House and stands in the grounds of the Queensland University of Technology. It is considered one of the state's most significant historical buildings.^[4]

1866

In 1866, the Lands and Works Department was divided into the Lands Department and the Public Works Department.^[4]

1867

The new Brisbane Hospital opened its doors, the first of two to be built at Herston, replacing the original hospital in George Street. The Women's Hospital followed in 1938.^[4]

Designer and Colonial Architect, Charles Tiffin, reported that the site of the hospital at Bowen Bridge Road had been well chosen, despite initial fears the location would be too far from the town centre. The new site was in an elevated position overlooking parkland and its light and well-ventilated design is much more suited to patient recovery than the previously located hospital in George Street.^[4]

In 2014, the amalgamated Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, is the largest and busiest hospital in Queensland, caring for over one million patients each year.^[4]

1868

Queensland’s first Parliament first met in an old convict barracks in Queen Street, Brisbane. This was not considered suitable accommodation for Parliament and so in 1864 an Australia-wide competition was held for the design of the new Parliament House. Charles Tiffin, Queensland Colonial Architect, won first prize for his French Renaissance style design.^[5]

Although Tiffin hoped the building would be ready in just three years, numerous delays meant the project took much longer to complete and proved costly. In fact, when Parliament met for the first time the ground floor was still occupied by workmen, the staircase had only a temporary railing and the plaster was wet.^[5]

Despite criticism centred around Tiffin’s apparent lack of cost management skills, the government’s first architect went on to oversee the construction of over 300 buildings in Queensland including Customs House in Brisbane and the Sandy Cape Lighthouse on Fraser Island. Sandy Cape Lighthouse was completed in 1870. In most cases the lighthouses were constructed of a hardwood frame on a concrete base sheeted with galvanised iron. Most were designed in the Office of the Colonial Architect and built under the supervision of that office to specifications provided by the Department of Harbours and Rivers.^[5]

In 2014, Parliament House continues to be used for its original purpose and is one of Brisbane’s best known landmarks. The public can do tours of the house and school excursions on sitting days allow students to see first-hand how the Parliamentary process works.^[5]

1886

In 1886, construction commenced on the Queensland Government Treasury Building in Brisbane. The Public Works Department was one of a number of departments whose offices are moved to this new public administration building. The Queensland Government Cabinet met in the building until 1905.^[4]

In 2014, the Treasury Building accommodates a casino.^[4]

1887

The Public Works Department merges with the Mines Department.^[4]

1889

Brisbane landmark Customs House opens. The building serves as a collection centre for customs duty on imported products, a particularly important function during a time when the manufacturing sector is only slowly developing.^[4]

With work commencing in 1886 and completing in 1889, this building by the Office of the Colonial Architect takes three years and costs £38,346 ($72,692) to build.^[4]

Known for its distinctive copper dome, the building features a depiction on its facade of a shield between an emu and kangaroo. This is despite there being no government in the country with a coat of arms at this time.^[4]

1890

The Public Works Department was established from the former Mines and Works Department.^[4]

1909

The early 20th century marks the Queensland Government's first involvement in housing when it introduces The Workers' Dwellings Act 1909 to provide subsidised housing for workers.^[4]

The Workers' Dwelling Branch is established shortly after and is responsible for lending money and providing house construction expertise to Queenslanders.^[4]

1910

Queensland's first university, the University of Queensland, is established at Old Government House in George Street, Brisbane. The Public Works Department is tasked with transforming the building into a university. A total of 83 students are enrolled on opening.^[4]

The rapid expansion of the university sees it outgrow its inner-city location and move to the suburb of St Lucia. Construction starts in 1937 under the Bureau of Industry. By 1946, responsibility has moved to the Public Works Department.^[4]

In 2014, over 46,000 students are enrolled at the university.^[4]

1911

In Queensland’s early years, the Workers’ Dwelling Act 1909 financed the construction of basic four to six room dwellings. They were closely related to the 'Queenslander' houses whose design had evolved in the second half of the 19th century. After World War I, a local adaptation of the California bungalow became popular.^[6]

On average, houses cost between £200 ($400) and £250 ($500) and a standard size block of land could cost up to £60 ($120).^[6]

People were loaned money and selected a design for their house, had architects make modifications and then had their home built on their own land. The maximum loan available to workers was £300 ($600). By June 1940, more than 19,000 homes were built this way all over Queensland.^[6]

The first worker's cottage is erected under the Queensland Government's Workers' Dwellings Scheme by the Clutterbuck family in Nundah, Brisbane. The cost is £220 ($440) for the house.^[4]

Given that the Harvester equivalent wage for an unskilled labourer with a wife and three children is £2 and 4 shillings ($4.40) per week, many people cannot afford to buy their own home and instead rent through private owners.^[4]

1920

The Workers' Dwellings Branch was transferred to the State Advances Corporation.^[4]

1939

Australia was at war from 1939 to 1945. During this time, Townsville became a major military base for both Australian and overseas Armed Forces. It was therefore deemed necessary for Public Works staff to relocate to the area to assist with defence projects. Substantial quantities of materials were required for these projects and procurement and transportation was rapid. As a result, the department becomes heavily involved in defence projects including the construction of the Garbutt Air Base, large warehouses at depots at Macrossan and Breddan, and a military hospital at Blackwater.^[4] The department was also involved in procuring and sending food supplies.^[7] The Department of Public Works' Townsville office becomes the epicentre for the department's work during World War II.

As the war escalated, Townsville was deemed too dangerous for Works staff due to the imminent risk of bombing and invasion. It was decided therefore that offices were to be moved to Charters Towers. Staff remained there for several months. On the night of their return to Townsville, Japanese bombs were dropped on the city. Thankfully, no lives were lost and structural damage was minimal.^[7]

1945

For Australia, the depression years of the late 1920s and early 1930s and the beginning of the war in 1939 had seen the prosperity of the nation threatened. Economic and building activity slowed dramatically. It was difficult for most working families to buy land or pay for construction, labour or materials to build their own home.^[8]

By 1944, there was a shortage of around 300,000 houses across Australia.^[8]

On 15 August 1945, Australia heralded victory in the Pacific and the end of World War II. Peace saw couples reuniting, while immigration brought many new Australians to the country. Families of five or six were not unusual.^[8]

After the initial excitement of victory subsided, Queenslanders settled into a way of life that, on one hand, saw an increasing population and optimism for the future, and on the other, shortages and restrictions on a range of goods and services.^[8]

Queensland was suffering, along with the rest of the nation, from a desperate shortage of houses. To make matters worse, basic building materials such as nails, roofing iron and bricks were also in short supply.^[8]

Post-war reconstruction including housing provision was a top priority for the State and Commonwealth Governments. In 1945, Queensland Premier Frank Cooper signed the Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement with the five other states. The Commonwealth Government's increased contribution was recognition that housing had become a national problem and heralded the beginning of significant federal-state involvement in Australian housing policy and public rental home construction. A few days later, the Queensland Housing Commission was established.^[8]

1947

In 1947, an alarming 4,218 Queensland families were living in homes made from calico, canvas or hessian. Some even lived in makeshift bark shelters.^[9]

To meet the demand for housing, the Queensland Housing Commission started building the State's first rental homes. Public housing rent was called 'economic rent' and was calculated by a formula which took into account elements such as the cost to the Commission of the house and the loan, maintenance and administration. No Australian family was expected to pay more than a fifth of their weekly income in rent, so rebates were introduced and still exist today.^[9]

During the late 1940s, the Commission had thousands of workers under contract or on day labour teams working to build brick, timber and fibro houses for Queenslanders to rent.^[9]

At the same time, it converted ex-wartime barracks into temporary accommodation for families in need. The camps provided rustic and sometimes unsuitable accommodation – they were army barracks converted into small flats. Bath and laundry facilities were communal. The communities held boxing and cricket matches, and dances. For kids, camp life meant a constant supply of playmates.^[9]

1950

Queensland is the first Australian state to sign contracts to import European pre-fabricated houses made to Queensland designs. Land is cleared throughout Brisbane and regional Queensland. Roads are constructed and services established. The concept of large housing estates is born.^[4]

By 1950, more than 2,000 families lived in temporary accommodation in Queensland paying rents per week ranging from 12 shillings and 6 pence ($1.25) for a one bedroom house to up to 27 shillings and 6 pence ($2.75) for a four bedroom house. In 1950, the average weekly wage was nearly £10 ($20).^[10]

As well as establishing temporary camps, the Queensland Housing Commission was building new houses to try and meet the growing demand. Because of the limited supply of materials available locally, the Commission resorted to importing them. Cement was ordered from Czechoslovakia, iron sheeting from Belgium, timber from Finland and Sweden, and from England, roofing plus "2,000 baths of excellent quality".^[10]

Despite the efforts of the Queensland Government, the time taken to complete a single house contract, normally six to eight weeks, often exceeded six months because of the shortage of labour and building materials.^[10]

The contract price for one of the first houses built to rent was £840 ($1,680). The quote covered land clearing, construction of a building of fibro-cement, a laundry, clothes line, built-in shelving and cupboards of 'first grade cypress pine', fences, water tank, polished hardwood floors, paint work and connection of water, gas and electricity.^[10]

Because of the world-wide material shortages, builders sought help from the Queensland Government in securing scarce materials such as nails, roofing iron, guttering and galvanised piping.^[10]

By mid-1945, the Commission had built 198 homes for rent. This had increased to 1,241 homes by mid-1948, but it was still not enough to overcome the crisis. The concept of importing houses pre-cut and ready to be erected was proposed and implemented. In 1958 a European termite was discovered in some of the imported timber 'pre-fab' houses. The risk of allowing the bug to spread throughout Queensland and Australia was too great. The Commission relocated thousands of families to fumigate their houses. In total, 2,643 houses were fumigated. Families had to be relocated into temporary accommodation while their homes were wrapped in canvas in preparation for fumigation.^[10] Eradicating the termite problem takes 17 months to complete and costs around £350,000 ($700,000).^[4]

1963

Queensland in its early years was burdened with problems of vast distances, scattered populations and limited resources. The Department of Public Works produced a standardised timber school design that was easy and economical to build, enabling the government to introduce education to developing areas of the state.^[11]

Designs between the 1920s and 1950s allowed future extensions to buildings as student numbers rose. These sectional schools notably incorporated large areas of glazing in the southern walls of classrooms, providing left-hand side lighting for predominantly right-handed students.^[11]

The Department of Public Works turns its attention to improving the design of public schools in the state - a reflection of the changing attitudes towards education. Primary schools move away from barrack-like designs to more varied shaped buildings that include colourful interiors and activity centres. Alterations to standard design plans over the years - such as improvements in roof ventilation, window placement and building orientation - reflect a growing awareness of the needs of teachers and students.^[4] By 1973, the emphasis in schoolroom design had changed to double teaching areas, with light tables and chairs which could be easily moved around to facilitate study and discussion groups in various parts of the classroom.^[11]

In 1981 Cabinet established a committee drawn from the Co-ordinator-General’s Department, the Education Department and the Public Works Department to review the design of primary schools. Emphasis was to be given to designs which would facilitate community use of school buildings and grounds, use of transportable buildings to absorb short-lived peak school enrolments and improved security against vandalism and fire, which had become a major problem.^[11]

The development of secondary school design followed that of primary schools and accommodated changing teaching practices which included greater use of laboratories, libraries and resource centres.^[11]

1970

During the next three decades, the Queensland Housing Commission faced a changing Queensland population.^[4]

With alterations to the Family Law Act introducing no-fault divorce, the 1970s saw movement away from the nuclear family with a growing number of single parent households. An increasing number of households were of people living alone, older people or people with a disability, all with special housing needs which had to be considered.^[4]

To meet changing client demand, the Commission branched out from large estate developments to unit blocks and attached houses.^[4]

1974

The 1974 floods devastated Brisbane. No Queensland Housing Commission-owned houses were lost; however a significant number in the Ipswich area were water-damaged.^[4]

1975

Design begins on the most significant group of public buildings ever completed by the state - the Queensland Cultural Centre.^[4]

The Queensland Cabinet initially asks the Public Works Department to investigate the feasibility and construction cost of a new art gallery to replace the state's aging gallery in Bowen Bridge Road. The site nominated for the building is on the South Bank of the Brisbane River.^[4]

By January 1975 the project has expanded to include not only the Art Gallery but also a Performing Arts Centre, Museum and State Library. Together these buildings become known as the Queensland Cultural Centre.^[4]

1981

The first house adapted to meet the needs of people with a disability is let to the Independent Living for Physically Handicapped Association.^[4]

1982

The celebrated Robin Gibson-designed Queensland Art Gallery opens in Brisbane at a cost of $28 million. Robin Gibson and Partners were chosen to design the building after a two-stage competition was staged by the Public Works Department. The building is awarded the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings.^[4]

In 2014, it is joined by the Gallery of Modern Art, which stands just 150 metres away and shares a close visual and physical connection.^[4]

1983

The high concentration of people facing social and economic disadvantage as well as the unfavourable aesthetic design of many unit blocks, resulted in a waning community appeal of public housing.^[4] By 1983, the multiple dwelling approach to public housing attracted criticism. As a result, the Queensland Housing Commission initiated a number of strategies to improve its service.^[12]

The Queensland Government investigates various ways to improve its service and help Queenslanders enter the private rental market.^[4] People who could not afford to pay a full bond to secure accommodation in the private rental market were offered financial assistance, a move which recognised the need to develop innovative solutions to housing situations that alleviated pressure on public housing.^[12]

In 1984, Queensland received Commonwealth Government funding to develop the Community Housing sector. Partnerships were developed with not-for-profit organisations and local governments to provide community-based housing assistance including crisis, transitional and long-term rental housing.^[12]

Community Housing was recognised as an essential component of the social housing system and signalled a turning point in the structure of housing provision in Queensland.^[12]

1984

The Commonwealth Government initiates the Local Government and Community Housing Program to provide locally managed long-term rental housing for low income earners.^[4]

In the same year, the Crisis Accommodation Program is also established.^[4]

1985

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre opens in Brisbane. The complex houses three theatres, large public areas and restaurants. The two main theatres, the Lyric Theatre and the Concert Hall, each accommodate 2000 people and provide world-class venues for opera, theatre, ballet and concerts. The Performing Arts Centre is linked to the Art Gallery and Museum by a bridge and tunnel across Melbourne Street at South Bank.^[4]

1986

The Queensland Museum opens. One of four buildings which form the Queensland Cultural Centre, the museum's construction is managed by a Public Works Department team. The team also supervises construction of the Queensland State Library.^[4]

On 28 April 1986, the then Premier and Treasurer of Queensland the Honourable Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, officially opened the Government Precinct Development incorporating the State Works Centre and the renovated Harris Terrace and The Mansions. The renovation of Harris Terrace and The Mansions is significant as few terrace houses have ever been built in Brisbane and even fewer remain intact.^[13][4]

This was the first stage of an overall Government Precinct Development which was the area bounded by Elizabeth, George and Alice Streets and the Brisbane River.^[13]

The preservation of historical buildings and their integration into a modern urban environment and a coordinated relationship between the Botanic Gardens, Queens Park, the Brisbane River and all the open space within the Precinct, were important aspects of this development.^[13]

The seven level, 269 metres long State Works Centre which approximates Parliament House parapet heights, was deliberately restricted to respond to the historic buildings in the area. It was a total departure from the sheer glass towers that were being constructed all around the city.^[13]

Harris Terrace, one of Brisbane’s rare terraces, was built in 1867 and is the oldest existing structure in George Street. The building was ‘modernised’ in 1922 and during that process lost its original colonnaded frontage. When it came time to renovate the building in 1985, architects from the Public Works Department had to rely on old photographs to reconstruct the original façade, as no plans of the original building were in existence.^[13]

Reconstruction work on the historical Mansions, a row of six terrace houses, commenced in October 1982 with great attention being paid to detail, resulting in the same high standard of finish as the original.^[13]

Although many of the buildings in the area were able to be preserved, the historic Bellevue Hotel, built in the 1880s, was controversially demolished in 1979 to make way for the redevelopment.^[13]

During this same period, construction of the Executive Building at 100 George Street was undertaken. The building is home to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.^[13]

In 2014, Brisbane’s government precinct is embarking on a new era with the construction of an office tower at 1 William Street and the revitalisation of lower George Street.^[13]

1988

Thirteen years after the Queensland Government announces construction of the Queensland Cultural Centre in Brisbane, the final building is completed, the Queensland State Library.^[4] The completion of the Queensland Cultural Centre was a major achievement for the department, creating a significant cultural facility for the state.^[14]

By 2004, the centre was in need of a makeover. Refurbishment commenced under the Millennium Arts Project and also included the design and construction of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). The building received numerous awards including a National Award for Public Architecture.^[14]

1989

The Administrative Services Department is established which includes the former Public Works Department. In the same year, the Department of Housing and Local Government is formed. This department becomes the face of housing provision in Queensland. While the Commission continues to exist as a legal entity for almost another 15 years, the creation of the department sees the emergence of a whole new philosophy of service provision.^[4]

1991

The Boarding House Program is established to address issues related to poor conditions in boarding houses and gradual erosion of boarding house stock.^[4]

The Community Rent Scheme is established. The scheme funds staff and operating costs as well as rental subsidies to enable the establishment of 32 schemes statewide to manage up to 1200 households in medium term accommodation.^[4]

The historic Thomas Dixon Centre in Brisbane's West End is refurbished as a centre for dance and arts. The building was first built as a shoe factory in 1908 and then purchased by the Queensland Government in 1975 for use as a store. Today, it is home to the Queensland Ballet.^[4]

1992

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning is formed. Responsibility for the Aboriginal Rental Housing program transfers to the Queensland Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning.^[4]

1993

The Australian economy is in recession and unemployment in Queensland peaks at more than 10%. Changes in demographics, the distribution of work and wealth, population growth and lifestyle aspirations put pressure on the supply and demand of housing with adverse impacts on housing affordability. Despite this economic slump, the public housing portfolio expands, and in the 10 years until 1997, the portfolio almost doubles from 25,500 to 49,300 dwellings.^[4]

The 1990s saw Queensland's social and economic landscape change. Between 1945 and 1999, Queensland's population nearly tripled and continued to grow at a faster rate than in any other state in Australia. The number of households in public rental housing increased from 198 to 44,640, as did the average weekly rent from £1, 8 shillings and 6 pence ($2.85) to $56.49.^[15]

During the 1980s to 1990s, deregulation and casualisation of the labour market saw an increasing number of women entering the workforce. Subsequently, the number of dual income households increased, as did the mean household income in line with rising house costs. While public housing rent policy was geared for this change, the private market was not, and many households with fixed or low incomes were increasingly left out of the private market.^[15]

Not only was Queensland's population growing, but it was changing. Average household sizes were decreasing in line with an ageing population and fewer households with children. An increasing number of retirees were making Queensland their home and an increasing number of people were casually employed and without the income security needed to service a housing mortgage.^[15]

The department could no longer provide a one-dimensional service to meet the increasingly complex needs of its clients. Gaining a better understanding of its clients and more sophisticated service provision became a priority for the department. In the early 1990s, decentralisation of the department's single service delivery point in Brisbane to 17 Area Offices located throughout the state was a key step towards realising this aim.^[15]

Overall growth in consumerism and increasing reference to clients' rights in relation to government services saw the department initiate strategies to involve clients in the development and delivery of its services. Tenants were encouraged to interact and participate in defining and shaping the department's services, which resulted in public housing better suited to the people who would live there.^[15]

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a greater range of services available through the Community Housing sector to cater for the needs of older clients, single clients, clients with a disability and those in crisis situations or facing homelessness. Housing that met the specific cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, a group facing significant disadvantages in securing appropriate and affordable housing in the private market, also became a priority.^[15]

The quality of public housing improved dramatically. Building and landscape styles tended towards clean, simple and low maintenance designs which blended in with their surrounds.^[15]

More Queenslanders could afford the "great Australian dream" to own their own home during this decade as mean household incomes increased and home mortgage rates declined, and the department continued to play an important role in providing loans to home buyers.^[15]

Community and Urban Renewal programs to address issues associated with older public housing estates were introduced during the 1990s, and represented a commitment to not only improve the quality of housing in these high density public housing areas, but also to address social and economic issues in these communities.^[15]

Home Assist Secure was established to provide safety related information, referrals and subsidised assistance to Queenslanders 60 years and over, or people with a disability. The service continues in 2014, giving vulnerable Queenslanders the help they need to live independently in their own homes.^[15]

1996

The Public Works and Housing Department is formed.^[4]

1998

The Public Works and Housing Department separates into two portfolios. The Department of Housing is formed as a single entity dedicated to meeting Queensland's housing needs. This reinforces the importance of housing for Queenslanders as the cornerstone for a healthier and more stable life.^[4]

The Smart Housing initiative was introduced.^[4] The Community Renewal program was established.^[4]

1999

The Queensland Government releases plans to create a new parkland for Brisbane. The $72 million transformation of the old Roma Street rail yards is project managed by the Department of Public Works and includes a 15ha subtropical recreational space. The parkland opens to the public in April 2001.^[4]

2001

The department wins the Royal Australian Institute of Architects' Harry Marks Sustainable Architectural Award for the design of Redcliffe City Council library and gallery. The emphasis on sustainable building design reflects increasing community concern about the environment. The Department of Housing responds to changing public attitudes by working in conjunction with the Central Queensland University to build a Research House in Rockhampton to test sustainable design principles.^[4]

In the same year, construction begins on the Suncorp Stadium redevelopment in Brisbane.^[4] The redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium was the biggest and most ambitious project of its kind ever undertaken by the Department of Public Works. It involved a significant expansion of the stadium and the implementation of extensive built infrastructure and technologically advanced building systems.^[16]

The 52,500-seat world-class venue opened in June 2003 – on budget and on time – and became home to the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team. Today, it also hosts national and international rugby union and soccer games along with State of Origin matches and music concerts.^[16]

2002

QFleet won the Australasian Fleet Managers Association (AFMA) 2002 Fleet Environment Award for its ongoing corporate fleet environment practices. QFleet also became the first organisation to receive all three of AFMA's major industry awards, also winning the Fleet Safety Award and later the Fleet Manager of the Year award.^[4]

In the same year, the Department of Public Works was recognised for its heritage conservation efforts with a gold award, the John Herbert Heritage Award from the National Trust of Queensland for the restoration of the 173-year-old convict-built Commissariat Store in William Street, Brisbane.^[4] It is one of only two surviving buildings from the convict period in Queensland. It is the second oldest building in Queensland, dated to 1829, the oldest building being The Old Windmill in Brisbane’s Spring Hill, dated to 1828.^[17]

The Commissariat Store was originally built by convict labour as a permanent Commissariat Store for the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. The store procured, stored, and distributed goods and rations for the penal colony.^[17]

In 2014, it operates as the headquarters for the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.^[17]

In 2011 a collapsed retaining wall at the Store provided a rare glimpse into Brisbane’s colonial past. Artefacts, including clay pipes, Victorian-era crockery and liquor bottles were discovered amongst the rubble. Stonemasons from the Department of Public Works were called in to salvage original convict-cut blocks from the collapsed wall so that it could be reassembled in keeping with its heritage-listed status.^[17]

2003

William McCormack Place, project managed by the department in Cairns, becomes the first commercial office building in Australia to achieve a five-star energy rating under the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme.^[4]

The Royal Brisbane and Royal Women's Hospitals are amalgamated to become the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The development includes procurement and contract management by the Department of Public Works.^[4]

From the early 2000s, greater inequity in the income and wealth of Australians saw declining levels of home ownership, increasing numbers of long-term private renters and greater numbers of households experiencing housing stress. This placed governments and housing providers under greater pressure.^[18]

All states and territories renewed calls for the Commonwealth Government to take an integrated, national approach to housing policy and address housing and related issues such as health, education and employment. Changes to the Commonwealth Government's funding preferences through the Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement increasingly directed funds away from the construction of new public housing and into programs to assist low-income earners rent accommodation in the private market.^[18]

The demand for housing in Queensland had never been higher. The State's population grew by more than 634,000 persons from 1991 to 2001, mainly due to interstate migration. In 2003, the Queensland population reached 3.7 million.^[18]

Australia's population continued to age and diversify. A growing number of people with specialised housing needs were not being catered for by the private housing market.^[18]

House prices continued to rise and young professionals and retirees in particular flocked to embrace inner-city living. Burgeoning residential developments and gentrification saw older residential and former industrial areas turned into bustling new communities, further reducing the amount of affordable inner-city housing.^[18]

Many people with lower incomes were moving to areas with cheaper housing and often worse access to employment and other services.^[18]

As a result, the Department of Housing took a more sophisticated approach to developing sustainable housing options to meet Queensland's housing needs in the 21st century. Research, client participation and consultation, cross-government collaboration and partnerships with the private sector became standard business practice for the department.^[18]

Housing design became more innovative with economic, social and environmental sustainability high on the agenda.^[18]

With these changes it became apparent that the legislation that provided the legal basis for all of the Commission's activity since its inception, had begun to inhibit rather than embrace the development of innovative housing solutions. Many aspects of the State Housing Act 1945, which was written at a time when the Queensland Government's focus was on assisting families into home ownership immediately after World War II, were no longer relevant to address Queensland's housing needs in the 21st century.^[18]

So in 2003, after many years of development and consultation, new housing legislation was tabled in Parliament to replace the obsolete State Housing Act 1945 and to provide a modern basis for the Department of Housing's activities. In January 2004, the Housing Act 2003 took effect and officially marked the end of 58 years of the Queensland Housing Commission.^[18]

The legislation was a turning point that provided an opportunity to reflect on close to 60 years of hard work, innovation and commitment to meeting housing need in Queensland, through times of hardship and prosperity. It also allowed the department to embrace the changing direction its activities had taken and to pursue new partnerships and solutions.^[18]

2004

Construction of the $135 million Brisbane Magistrates Court was completed. The building contains a range of environmentally sustainable design initiatives.^[4]

The construction of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre also reaches completion. It came in on budget and two months ahead of schedule.^[4]

The year saw the commencement of the Community Memorials Restoration Program, led by the Accommodation Office. The Program was designed to help restore and preserve Queensland's unique and historical community markers.^[4] The commencement of the Community Memorials Restoration Program saw the restoration of one of Queensland’s most historically significant sites, the Burke and Wills Camp 119 in Normanton. In 1860-61 Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an ill-fated expedition of 19 men with the intension of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a journey of some 5000 kilometres. Camp 119 on the banks of the Little Bynoe River, about 40 kilometres by road from present-day Normanton, was the most northerly of their expedition.^[19]

While Burke and Wills made it to the Gulf of Carpentaria, they both perished on the return journey. Altogether seven men lost their lives, and only one of the four men who reached the north coast, John King, survived to return to Melbourne.^[19]

The restoration of the heritage-listed Camp 119 was administered by the department in 2012 in conjunction with the Carpentaria Shire Council. It included terminating vehicle access along with rectification and stabilisation works to the roadway to better protect the site. Funding was also given to restore and relocate interpretative signage.^[19]

2005

Queensland State Archives discovered two founding documents of Queensland that had been undetected for over 100 years in the National Archives of the United Kingdom.^[4]

In March 2005, the department reached a project milestone with the handover of over 2,000 lower tier seats as part of the Brisbane Cricket Ground (the Gabba) redevelopment. This came just in time for the first game of the AFL season featuring the Brisbane Lions.^[4]

In 2004-05 the department worked on numerous projects for the state. Work progressed on the Boggo Road Precinct Redevelopment in Brisbane to turn the former gaol site and surrounding area at Dutton Park into a research, business, commercial and residential precinct.^[20]

A $10 million refurbishment of stage one of the Cairns Convention Centre was completed, enabling the centre to maintain a strong position in the highly competitive national and international convention market.^[20]

Completion of the $5 million Palm Island Community Youth Centre gave the community a real boost by providing a safe place where people of all ages could go to have fun and get involved in activities, including the use of the Internet.^[20]

The department assumes a leadership role for the Queensland Government's four-year Responding to Homelessness initiative after earlier leading work aimed at improving cross-agency responses to homelessness.^[4]

2006

Tropical Cyclone Larry struck the Innisfail region on Monday 20 March 2006. Within hours of the devastating event local Public Works staff members, some of whom had damage to their own homes, launched themselves into the tasks of placing tarpaulins on damaged roofs and removing debris. In the days following, the department helped restore vital government infrastructure and services including more than 150 state schools.^[4]

The Millennium Arts Project, led by the Department of Public Works on behalf of Arts Queensland, was a $291.3 million project that saw the construction of the Gallery of Modern Art and the redevelopment of the State Library. It also included the development of associated public spaces and construction of a new entry to the existing Queensland Art Gallery. The construction phase was completed in 2006 and came in on time and within budget, despite a climate of escalating costs and a shortage of labour. This large and complex project called for close collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders. On site, more than 12,000 people worked on the project. There were also engineering challenges which included developing an innovative river water cooling system, the first of its kind in Queensland. The cooling system was constructed on site to assist the air-conditioning system for the Queensland Museum, Queensland Art Gallery, the new Gallery of Modern Art and the redeveloped State Library of Queensland. The initiative saw savings of about 110 megalitres of reticulated water a year and $140,000 in water costs alone.^[21]

2007

The Queensland Government introduces a preparatory year of schooling to replace preschool. To facilitate this change, the Department of Public Works oversees a massive construction effort involving new buildings, refurbishments and extensions to schools.^[4]

By 2008, Public Works has managed the delivery of facilities at more than 500 school sites, making it one of the largest educational building programs the department has ever delivered.^[4]

The Department of Housing embarks on the most significant social housing reform seen in Queensland in 60 years with the phased implementation of a new strategic direction to realise one social housing system.^[4]

2008

The department managed a building Capital Works Program in the order of $8.5 billion. Projects completed include the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane and the Townsville Women's Correctional Centre.^[4]

A major element of one social housing system – a new client intake and assessment process – was implemented. An applicant's assessed level and nature of housing need determines when and how they are assisted, moving away from a wait-turn system.^[4]

The department commences RentConnect, and becomes the Queensland conduit for the National Rental Affordability Scheme, a Federal and State Government initiative to stimulate the supply of 50,000 new affordable rental dwellings across Australia.^[4]

2009

The Australian Government introduces a $42 billion Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan in response to the Global Financial Crisis.^[4]

A series of stimulus packages designed to boost the Australian economy are delivered. In Queensland this means a cash injection of over $300 million for infrastructure projects.^[4]

It is the same year that the Department of Housing is abolished and the Department of Communities is formed through Machinery-of-Government changes.^[4]

On 4 October 2009 the award winning Kurilpa Bridge, located over the Brisbane River, was officially opened. The Kurilpa Bridge was the first pedestrian bridge in the world to be based on tensegrity construction principles which balance the tension of the cables with the concrete and steel components to produce a light-weight but strong structure. In fact, the unique tensegrity structure of the bridge would not have been possible 10 years before because the computer software required to design this unique structure did not exist.^[22]

It is also the only bridge in the world to supplement its power to the degree that it does. Around 75 per cent of the power required to run the LED lighting in the fully lit mode is provided by solar energy. In most lighting configurations, 100 per cent of the power is provided by solar with any surplus power returned to the main grid.^[22]

The bridge was judged World Transport Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. It was the first Queensland project to win a World Architecture Award.^[22]

2011

The $144.2 million redevelopment of Carrara Stadium at the Gold Coast into Metricon Stadium is completed. The stadium now caters to crowds of 25,000. A unique feature of the stadium is the solar roof edge which is connected to Energex's power grid. The solar panelling generates around 20 per cent of the stadium's total electricity needs, effectively making this stadium not only a sporting facility but also a registered power station.^[4]

The department also assumes a key role in the disaster response and recovery after statewide flooding devastates Queensland between December 2010 and January 2011.^[4]

A month later severe tropical Cyclone Yasi crosses the North Queensland coast, leaving many families homeless.^[4]

2012

The Department of Housing and Public Works wasformed. The period marked the re-opening of Brisbane's heritage-listed Boggo Road Gaol to visitors. First used as a gaol in 1883, the notorious prison is now one of the city's most enduring historical landmarks. The 9.5 hectare site, known as the Boggo Road Urban Village, also includes an Ecosciences Precinct. Project managed by the department, this is Australia's first science centre of excellence.^[4]

The year also sees a continued support by the department of the Commonwealth Games in 2018, playing a key management role in developing sports venues on the Gold Coast.^[4]

2013

Queensland's sustained and rapid population growth, coupled with reduced housing construction since the Global Financial Crisis, leads to an increasing gap between public housing demand and supply. The department introduces the Housing 2020 Strategy to ensure that the most vulnerable Queenslanders have access to safe and affordable housing.^[4]

Ten cyclone shelters are delivered throughout Central and North Queensland under a $60 million jointly funded program between the Queensland Government and the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.^[4] After the devastating effects of Queensland’s largest natural disasters in 2010 and 2011, the Queensland Government implemented a $60 million cyclone shelter program in conjunction with the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.^[23]

Ten sites in central and northern Queensland were chosen for the cyclone shelters. The Department of Housing and Public Works managed the delivery of eight of these shelters in Proserpine, Bowen, Tully, Port Douglas, Townsville, Ingham, Weipa and Yeppoon. A cyclone shelter in Mackay was delivered by the Department of Education, Training and Employment and a shelter at Edmonton was designed and delivered by the Cairns Regional Council.^[23]

The cyclone shelters are designed to withstand a Category Five cyclone and are located in areas deemed to be outside of potential storm tide inundation and not at risk from flood, landslip or other significant hazards.^[23]

2014

The Queensland Heritage Council lists the Cairns Technical College and High School building on the Queensland Heritage Register.^[4]

Designed by architect Nigel Laman Thomas from the Department of Public Works in 1938, the three-storey brick structure reflects the neo-classical style of many public buildings of that period and demonstrates the evolution of state education architecture in Queensland.^[4]

Opened during World War II, the school was also used for wartime operations. A US Army hospital was built on land that in 2014 is the school oval. Air raid slit trenches were dug in the school's playing fields and part of the school site was used as a military prison.^[4]

The Cairns Technical College and High School building (in 2014 called Block A of Cairns State High School) was constructed in 1941, as part of the Queensland Government’s unemployment relief program of the 1930s.^[24]

Designed to accommodate secondary and technical classes, the building demonstrates the approach of the Queensland Government to secondary and technical education at that time, with both streams being co-located.^[24]

The design of high school buildings was the responsibility of the Department of Public Works. Like other Australian colonies, the Queensland Government standardised its plans for school buildings to ensure consistency and economy. Over time, government architects made refinements to these designs to reflect the changing educational priorities. Queensland school buildings were particularly innovative in their approach to climate control, lighting, and ventilation.^[24]

In the early days, the establishment of primary schools was considered paramount to the growth of Queensland communities. However, the government was slow to establish state secondary education. It was not until 1912 that a high school system was implemented and separate high schools established in major towns.^[24]

Notable for its substantially intact exterior, the Cairns Technical College and High School building is important in demonstrating the characteristics of a brick school building designed by the Department of Public Works in the 1930s. The principal characteristics include having an expressive and skilful neo-classical styling, three-storeyed form, high quality design, materials and construction, plan layout with north facing verandah, teacher’s rooms, hat and cloak rooms, south facing classrooms that are well ventilated and day lit, and understorey play space.^[24]

The school was the only purpose-built state high school north of Townsville until 1960.^[24]

In 2014 the Cairns Technical College and High School building is known as Block A and continues in use as a teaching building for the school.^[24]

List of ministers of public works

References

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "Department of Housing and Public Works: Our History" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU license (accessed on 29 December 2014, archived on 29 December 2014).