Growing bid to recycle grand edifices
THE four Treasury Buildings around their large central courtyard would be a most suitable and appropriate host for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery expansion with an equal opportunity to accommodate the Tasmanian Visitor Centre on the Murray and Macquarie street corners.
Such was my opening paragraph in my Talking Point t of November 10.
Much has since been written in letters and supporting articles on this as a possible future for the largest intact collection of sandstone purpose-built office buildings in Australia, the first built in 1824 and the last, the Law Library in 1935, with a very clear preference that these remain as public assets.
Governments have well maintained the fabric, and internal works have been carried out in a sympathetic manner. The $200,000 spent annually on maintenance is a good example of responsible management of our significant buildings and many times less than commercial rental of similar CBD office areas.
Included is the 1862 former Supreme Court, “one of the finest mid-Victorian Courts in Australia”, whose main public entrance includes marble rolls of honour to public servants who fell in World War II.
“In Victorian Academic Classical Style, the Executive Council Offices are of a sophisticated design with Italianate interiors of a particularly high quality”.
Also of note are the public entrance, fine corridors and stairwell leading to “the 1884 Executive Council Chamber, which is only exceeded in Tasmania by perhaps the State Rooms of Government House”.
The quotes are from the Franklin Square Offices, Hobart Conservation Management Plan prepared by Graeme Corney last year, a most comprehensive and relevant plan commissioned for the State Government.
The working chambers are mostly intact because of the care and thought taken to create late 20th century workspaces in mid-19th century interiors.
Dozens of Tasmanian blackwood panelled doors, broad passageways and flowing staircases lead to wellproportioned offices with natural light.
Well executed removal of a dividing wall or two has discreetly enlarged original floor plans. There are few modern fit-outs of a nonstructural nature, so returning to the original is a simple option.
Of these fine bones, many are themselves museum items — including the marble rolls of honour at the entrance to the complete Supreme Court 1862; the Tasmanian Coat of Arms in Executive Council; the filigree — ceiling trusses of police and convict offices 1835, 63 fireplaces; the Tasmanian blackwood doorway to the Executive Council; and the iron balustrade staircase of the Executive Council building.
They all add to a point of original experience were these buildings to house some of many varied collections from the TMAG’s current undisplayed 6500 items; the UTAS artefacts highlighted by Professor Jeff Malpas (Simon Bevilacqua’s column, Mercury, December 16); and other related cultural collections.
Dorothy Shea, a retired librarian of the Supreme Court, has recently completed an excellent archive of Supreme Court matters since 1884 which could be accessible to visitors in this enclave.
The buildings’ thick sandstone walls, wellproportioned windows, high ceilings mean the buildings are well-lit and generally temperate, but it must be accepted that changes to create a museum quality display function will come at a cost, as does the Three Capes Track, mountain bike trails and Cradle Mountain cable car — the list of State Government funded experiences is formidable.
Arts Minister Elise Archer
said on December 12 “the State Government has allocated TMAG $200,000 to develop a capital facilities options appraisal and business case. Alternative locations for part of the TMAG operation will be considered as part of this process”.
The Corney report noted: “The Franklin Square Offices are of national historic cultural heritage significance as a collection of buildings that demonstrate the history of government administration in Tasmania from 1825 until the present.
“Its heritage significance is connected to its history, its buildings and the people who have been associated with the place. The place should be conserved and interpreted for future generations.”
Such interpretation into a valued cultural tourism experience and information office at the most central of venues, the cornerstone of Hobart’s large collection of substantial Georgian architecture, has had significant public support to create a unique further place of difference accessible to all our residents and visitors. Chris Merridew is a motor industry consultant and an active member of the community. He spent 15 years on the State Council of the National Trust.
Of these fine bones, many are themselves museum items — marble rolls of honour at the Supreme Court 1862; coat of arms in Executive Council; filigree ceiling trusses