Restoration of Archer Park Rail Museum – Rockhampton
A Rockhampton landmark
With Australian Heritage Specialists guiding the project, Archer Park Rail Museum, a Rockhampton landmark dating back to 1899 has been given a new lease on life.
Through careful restoration, the character-filled building, replete with a now period-correct colour scheme, has peeled back much of the past 120 years of weathering.
The museum is a popular drawcard for locals and tourists, paying homage to the days when it was the central railway station for Rockhampton and a key to the evolution of central Queensland’s railway network.
Australian Heritage Specialists’ highly skilled professionals developed a scope of works for the building, which needed urgent maintenance including a new roof, building repairs and external painting.
Queensland Heritage Register
Attracting many visitors every year, it was imperative that Archer Park Rail Museum be restored not only to meet compliance standards but to protect the site for future generations.
This included correcting a colour scheme used in a previous restoration project carried out in 1990s.
On Dennison Street, Archer Park Rail Museum is a reminder of the early prosperity of Rockhampton and is entered on the Queensland Heritage Register for its importance to the state’s rail-based transportation history.
Today, the former station is an important part of civic centre of Rockhampton, with its good looks contributing to the streetscape. It also has a special association with the life and work of Henrik Hansen, who also designed stations at Mount Morgan and Emerald.
$500,000 restoration program
Australian Heritage Specialists prepared a detailed Conservation Management Plan for the historic station building on behalf of Rockhampton Regional Council and identified a number of maintenance works requiring urgent attention.
As a result, we worked with the council to carry out a $500,000 restoration program for the popular Rockhampton tourist destination with the assistance of Queensland government funding.
We also facilitated Exemption Certificate Approval, with the restoration project developed using best practice frameworks and respecting its heritage values of the place.
All works were managed in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 using the principles established in the Burra Charter.
A gentle and minimal approach to conservation was taken, to allow the building to look as if it was in use and in working order as a station rather making it look and restored as new.
Drawing on historical research and comparative analysis with Archer park’s sister stations at Emerald, Mount Morgan and Longreach assisted in developing the scope of works.
The restoration undertaken, including the return to an earlier colour scheme, promotes a better understanding of the place.
National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards
The restoration and conservation project gave the museum a new lease on life and received special recognition at the National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards.
Delivered by Australian Heritage Specialists for Rockhampton Regional Council, the project received a High Commendation in the 2018 Agency Conservation Programs category at the state awards ceremony.
As a working museum, Archer Park tells the story of rail transport throughout the region, using photos, artefacts and “speaking mannequins, attracting many visitors each year.
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The Challenge
Attracting many visitors every year, it was imperative that Archer Park Rail Museum be restored not only to meet compliance standards but to protect the site for future generations.
This included correcting a colour scheme used in a previous restoration project carried out in 1990s.
On Dennison Street, Archer Park Rail Museum is a reminder of the early prosperity of Rockhampton and is entered on the Queensland Heritage Register for its importance to the state’s rail-based transportation history.
Today, the former station is an important part of civic centre of Rockhampton, with its good looks contributing to the streetscape. It also has a special association with the life and work of Henrik Hansen, who also designed stations at Mount Morgan and Emerald.
How we helped
Australian Heritage Specialists prepared a detailed Conservation Management Plan for the historic station building on behalf of Rockhampton Regional Council and identified a number of maintenance works requiring urgent attention.
As a result, we worked with the council to carry out a $500,000 restoration program for the popular Rockhampton tourist destination with the assistance of Queensland government funding.
We also facilitated Exemption Certificate Approval, with the restoration project developed using best practice frameworks and respecting its heritage values of the place.
All works were managed in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 using the principles established in the Burra Charter.
A gentle and minimal approach to conservation was taken, to allow the building to look as if it was in use and in working order as a station rather making it look and restored as new.
Drawing on historical research and comparative analysis with Archer park’s sister stations at Emerald, Mount Morgan and Longreach assisted in developing the scope of works.
The restoration undertaken, including the return to an earlier colour scheme, promotes a better understanding of the place.
Results
The restoration and conservation project gave the museum a new lease on life and received special recognition at the National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards.
Delivered by Australian Heritage Specialists for Rockhampton Regional Council, the project received a High Commendation in the 2018 Agency Conservation Programs category at the state awards ceremony.
As a working museum, Archer Park tells the story of rail transport throughout the region, using photos, artefacts and “speaking mannequins, attracting many visitors each year.
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