August 23, 2012
South Burnett Regional Council has been working with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to identify Council-owned sites which may be architecturally or socially significant to Queensland’s history.
The 1938 Kingaroy Council Chambers and the Murgon Civic Centre have been identified as significant.
“It is a testament to the communities of Kingaroy and Murgon how the two Council owned sites being considered for entry into the Queensland Heritage Register have been conserved,” Cr Deb Palmer, the Portfolio Chair for Community and Cultural Services, said.
The 1938 Kingaroy Council Chambers located in Haly Street was built at an approximate cost of £5000.
Council believes this has proven to be well worth the investment for the community with the current use as part of one of the South Burnett’s premier attractions: the Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct.
The Precinct incorporates an art gallery, museum, meeting rooms, woodcrafters workshop, interpretative arena, information service and retails a large range of local products.
“The Murgon Civic Centre built in the 1930s at a cost of around £10,500 incorporated a main auditorium, library, Returned Soldier’s League room and four commercial shops, which demonstrated an innovative approach by the local government at the time to value-add to the facility and generate income on behalf of the community,” Cr Palmer said.
“The Civic Centre today still provides a valuable service to the community as the hall is regularly booked and the shops provide an economic benefit to the town of Murgon.”
The South Burnett Regional Council has invited interested members of the community to make submissions to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection relating to the Council-owned sites under consideration.
Written submissions can be forwarded through to The Site Registrar, Heritage Branch, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane, 4001.
- Related article: Five Sites Nominated For Heritage Listing
