May 25, 2020
Kingaroy Hospital’s old canteen building is up for sale, and the Kingaroy Hospital Auxiliary is keen to see it stay in the community’s hands.
The building began life in 1960 thanks to a £5000 loan from Red Cross headquarters; a £1000 bequest from the estate of Thomas Gawn; and donations from several different Kingaroy groups and organisations.
Its first role was as the Red Cross Rest Rooms in Albert Street, which provided accommodation for the families of Kingaroy Hospital patients.
The Rest Rooms were officially opened on February 25, 1961, at a Red Cross fete after being painted by local volunteers.
In 1983, the building was moved to its current location in the hospital’s grounds and over the next 29 years was used as a blood bank; a library for Kingaroy Hospital patients (from 1972 to 1996); and to run a medical loan service.
Then in 2012, it was converted into a canteen run by the Kingaroy Hospital Auxiliary.
Richard Rose, the builder and president of the Kingaroy Rotary Club at that time, undertook the building work to convert it to a canteen.
However, now that the new Kingaroy Hospital is being built, the former canteen is no longer required because a café will be included in the new design.
All the same, the Hospital Auxiliary say they would be delighted to see the building continue its life with another South Burnett not-for-profit group.
The canteen has three entrances, including wide doors accessed by a concrete ramp; a large dining/meeting room suitable for social gatherings; a separate toilet; a disabled toilet; built in cupboards; fireproof doors; two sets of stairs; and a modern kitchen with overhead cupboards, stainless steel benches, a hand washing sink, a double sink, rangehoods and air-conditioning.
“If this is your dream canteen or clubhouse, a quick coat of paint on the outside and possibly the roof will bring it up to speed for the start of your sporting season or your club’s re-opening,” Auxiliary president Alison Murray said.
“But you’ll need to be quick, because tenders close this Friday (May 29) at 2:00pm.”
Tender documents can be obtained by emailing the DDHHS Commercial Management Unit, phoning Tracey Orton on (07) 4699-7197 or by visiting the Q Tender website
Inspections are required prior to tendering for the building.
South Burnett Regional Council is also willing to assist any local community group which wants to buy the building.
“If a not-for-profit group wants to purchase this community building and move it on to Council land, the Council is happy to discuss reducing the Council Building Relocation Bond,” Alison said.
“They should contact Council’s General Manager Community Peter O’May on (07) 4189-9100 for further information.”
