$10m lifeline for City Hall
Brisbane’s Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk has thanked the Federal Government for a $10 million donation to kick start the fundraising campaign to Save City Hall.
Cr Quirk today joined Federal Environment and Heritage Minister Peter Garrett for the announcement of funding in Brisbane.
The funding injection comes as Brisbane City Council moves to establish a fundraising trust to raise public funds to support the restoration of City Hall.
The Trust will also build awareness about the importance of the historic building which was once the grandest and most expensive City Hall in Australia.
“This is a great start for a significant project which will create jobs in Brisbane during the construction phase over three years and restore our heritage while making City Hall a better place for the community,” Cr Quirk said.
“Council will shortly create a trust in partnership with the National Trust of Australia (Queensland). Obviously the Trust will target grants such as this today, in addition to fundraising campaigns and encourage people to make donations through a voluntary donation on their rates bill.”
Minister Garrett, the lead singer of Australian band Midnight Oil, is one of several musicians, public figures, religious figures and royalty to visit City Hall in 78 years.
Powderfinger, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Elton John have all graced City Hall’s grand stage over the years, enthralling numerous of Brisbane fans.
Brisbane’s faithful have also been fortunate enough to receive blessings from Mother Teresa in 1981, meet Pope John Paul II in 1986, and hear from the Dalai Lama in 1992 inside Brisbane’s most iconic heritage-listed building.
City Hall was often the first stop on the list of various royal visits to the state’s capital, including Prince Charles and Diana Princess of Wales in 1983, and Queen Elizabeth II who opened the new Civic Art Gallery and Museum in 1977.
“We are calling on everyone that has a fond memory of City Hall to dig deep when the time comes and help save this iconic structure,” the Deputy Mayor said.
“The public wants to save City Hall. The Can-Do team in Council wants to save City Hall. And we must save this magnificent building for future generations.
In November 2008, an independent report by the City Hall 2010 Committee found the building has serious structural, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and safety issues, and recommended that without immediate action, City Hall could face permanent closure.
The 6500 square metre site requires a $215 million restoration, which would be the largest restoration of a heritage-listed building undertaken in Australia.
Tennyson councillor Nicole Johnston, who has been guiding the Save City Hall campaign, said the building was used by large numbers of community groups.
“This building holds immense cultural significance for Brisbane, Queensland and the nation,” Cr Johnston said.
“The people of Brisbane and our visitors use it every day for community activities, hosting concerts, conferences and citizenship ceremonies and it is also the home of the Museum of Brisbane.
“Countless VIPs have graced this building and raised the roof of the grand auditorium. To lose such an important building would be devastating for our community.”
About 80 per cent of hits on Council’s website supported saving City Hall.
Celebrities have also added their voice to the issue, with Bernard Fanning keen to save the venue he performed at in 2006 during the Youngcare Benefit Concert and where Powderfinger filmed its Lost and Running music video clip.
“Like most Brisbane people, I’ve been very lucky to have some really great experiences at City Hall. It’s part of our cultural fabric, and somewhere future generations should continue to experience,” Mr Fanning said.
