$1 million in funding to protect and showcase Queensland’s historic places

Published Friday, 19 July, 2024 at 01:10 PM

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Leanne Linard

  • The owners and custodians of some of Queensland’s heritage-listed places will share in more than $1 million in grant funding for projects that will preserve and promote places on the Queensland Heritage Register.
  • Twenty-six projects will receive $849,373 in grants under the latest round of the Community Sustainability Action Grants program
  • A further 11 projects will receive $174,373 under the new Showcasing Queensland Heritage pilot program

The owners and custodians of some of Queensland’s most iconic buildings and historic sites are set to share in more than $1 million in grant funding from the Miles Government.

Twenty-six projects will receive grants totalling $849,373 under the latest round of the government’s Community Sustainability Action (CSA) Grants for Community Heritage.

A further 11 projects will share in funding totalling $174,656 under a new one-off pilot grant program called Showcasing Queensland Heritage.

Under the CSA grant program, grants of up to $50,000 were available for projects that will preserve and promote places on the Queensland Heritage Register.

Some of the funded projects include repairing the side veranda of the Federal Hotel in Childers, improving accessibility to the Blackall Woolscour, conserving the stained-glass windows of Toowoomba’s St Luke’s Anglican Church, and replacing the roof of Redcliffe’s heritage-listed former fire station.

The Showcasing Queensland Heritage pilot program provided grants of between $5000 and $50,000 to support groups to host community events that encourage and promote the understanding, appreciation, and engagement with heritage-listed places in their local area.

The Southern Downs Steam Railway Association will receive $5000 to host an open day celebrating Queensland’s rich railway history at the historic Warwick Railway Station, while the Croydon Shire Council will receive $40,000 to support the 2025 Heritage Festival. A highlight of the festival will be the grand re-opening of Croydon’s heritage-listed Chinese Temple site.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:

“The Miles Government is doing what matters by working to protect and showcase heritage places.

“Queensland has a rich and vibrant history, with the Queensland Heritage Register featuring a diverse array of almost 1800 places including public buildings, schools, industrial sites, homes, hotels and churches that showcase Queensland’s unique history.

“We will continue to work closely with community groups, local councils and place owners to conserve our heritage-listed places, and to identify potential new places to add to the register.

“The owners and custodians of our heritage-listed places play an important role in preserving our state’s history and these grants will ensure these historically significant sites will continue to be protected and enjoyed for many years to come.”

Further information:

Full list of grant recipients:

Recipient name

Heritage-listed place

Project description

Funding amount

Macadamia Rose Pty Ltd

Federal Hotel, Childers

This project will conserve the Hotel by replacing deteriorated stumps at one section to level the building, and replace bearers and joists on the side verandah

$49,999

Marbelle Pty Ltd ATF The Guymer Family Trust

Alfredson’s Joinery, Pre-Cut House Workshop and Sawmill, Cooran

This project will replace the roof section and bow gutters to extend the life of the building for continued showcasing to the Cooran public

$40,910

Sally Smith

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Memorial Church, Innisfail

This project will complete maintenance on the roof ensuring it remains a vital part of the Innisfail community and a destination for visitors to the area

$14,000

Historical Woolscour Association Inc

Blackall Woolscour

This project will complete the restoration and conservation works to the Woolscour’s timber structures so it can remain accessible to visitors and support local tourism in Blackall

$25,000

Anglican Parish of Woolloongabba

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Woolloongabba

This project will complete urgent repairs and waterproofing to prevent further water ingress and protect the heritage features of the church to ensure continued access for community programs

$11,708

John and Diana Lynch

Aldborough, Charters Towers

This project will replace the external stairs and font entry portico so that Aldborough House will be accessible to locals and tourists for events and viewings

$45,938

Anglican Parish of St Luke, Diocese of Brisbane

St Luke’s Anglican Church, Toowoomba

This project will complete repairs towards the conservation of the St Cecilia stained glass windows within the church

$14,250

Vaughan Baker

Old Bullamon Homestead, Thallon

This project will provide new signage to the Old Bullamon Homestead to enhance visitor experiences

$25,000

Geoffrey and Michelle Trost

Crows Nest Post Office

This project will conserve the Crows Nest Post Office for patrons by rejuvenating the lantern shroud, and replacing the roofing, guttering and downpipes

$50,000

Maryborough Anglican Parish

St Paul’s Anglican Church and Hall, Maryborough

This project will reinforce the interior walls of the church to enhance the building’s strength ensuring it remains a vital part of the Maryborough community

$31,275

The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane

St Mary’s Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point

This project will enhance the visitor and tourist experience by developing an interactive 3D virtual reality tour of the interior and exterior of the church, as well as LED signage and digital media

$9,128

JR & KE Curtain

Carroll Cottage, Kingaroy

This project will replace the cottage’s deteriorated roof which will contribute towards enhanced public access

$17,500

Tablelands Regional Council

Majestic Picture Theatre, Malanda

This project will address water-related damage and repainting of the exterior so that it continues to attract local and regional visitors

$50,000

Goondiwindi Regional Council

Customs House Museum, Goondiwindi

This project involves the restumping of the main building so that it remains accessible to visitors and promotes local tourism

$48,000

Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Bankfoot House, Glass House Mountains

This project will restore the shingle roof of the Bankfoot House dairy to ensure it remains open to the public and continues to offer a variety of programs including heritage education

$14,368

The Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane

Corpus Christi Church, Nundah

This project aims to waterproof and undertake roof repairs to the church to ensure its continued useability for continued use by the parish and wider community

$50,000

South Burnett Regional Council

Boondoomba Homestead, Boondoomba

This project will restore the homestead’s roof and rainwater system to ensure continued community access to the site – an important tourist attraction for the region

$50,000

Presbyterian Church of Queensland

St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Spring Hill

This project will restore the deteriorating sandstone and undertake waterproofing to protect the structural integrity of the building and establish a safe environment for the community

$50,000

The Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane – Parish Grants

Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Bowen Hills

This project will repair the roof and establish a Conservation Management Plan to ensure the church’s continued use by the parish community, not-for-profit groups and other community events and functions

$50,000

Torbreck Home Units Limited

Torbreck Home Units, Highgate Hill

This project will conserve Torbreck Tower by inspecting and repairing for the safety and enjoyment of its residents and visitors

$40,927

National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Limited

Royal Bull’s Head Inn, Toowoomba

This project will preserve and protect the historical integrity of the building by conducting repairs and restoration across the property. The works will allow for the reopening of areas to the public, maintain the structural stability and improve the appeal of the inn for visitors

$50,000

The Corporation of the Diocesan Synod of North Queensland

St David’s Anglican Church and Raintrees (Samanea Saman), Mossman

This project will undertake repair works to the roof and walls of the church. Restoration of the roof and rainwater system to its original state will ensure long-term attraction of tourists and the Mossman community

$50,000

Suzanne Baines and Wiss Universal Providers Pty Ltd

Wiss Brothers Store and Dwelling, Kalbar

This project will undertake repairs to the cottage and reconstruction of the original fencing, with the heritage values of the building maintained and promoted in the community

$12,540

Bundaberg Regional Council

East Water Tower, Bundaberg

This project will develop a Conservation Management Plan for the water tower which will provide guidance for the ongoing conservation of the site and allow enhanced appreciation and public access. The plan will explore opportunity to allow public access and enhanced interpretation of the site including digital technologies

$10,130

City of Moreton Bay

Redcliffe Fire Station

This project will halt water ingress to the former fire station by replacing the roof over the original section of the building. This will ensure the former station can continue to serve as a vibrant community space

$25,000

Blackheath & Thornburgh College

Thornburgh House

This project will undertake a review of the current condition of Thornburgh House including a structural assessment of the staircase. This review will inform future conservation and ensure the public and members of the community continue to access and learn about the history of the house and grounds

$13,700

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339