Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 7 : Debate on New Art Gallery and Cultural Centre, 1970-1976

r I Arts ~centre 1 no Opera House, says Sir ·Gordon By o Stoff Reporter STATE Treasurer (Sir Gordon'Cha'lk) promised yesterday Brisban•'• pro,:osed $45 million cultural complex would not turn into 'another Opera Hou1_e." But quantity surveyors estimated Jeter that the complex could cost up to $90 million by the time it is expected to be completed, late in 1983. Sir Gordon yesterday u n v e J I f d · models and plans !or the new com- r~~~he% b:Pb~~~:!a t~ the Victoria &ridge, Construction or the complex will be carried out in four stages, with !~~~r:~·'t!:'t: ~~\.r;i~r:a by early 1970, Sir Gordon said the $45 million estlmat,, was based on October l 97t costs. Although there would be some tscalatlon Jn coal$ becauae of in!latlon, the main structural cost or the project.would be maintained as close u poulble to H5 milllon. Designed "It certainly won't be another Opera Hou,e. "What happened there was that no one knew l•he total design, or how the roof woula be put on. ' 'Th Is complex has been fully de•lgned," he aald: But current building co•t Increases and proj– ected future costs seem certain to push the price of the comJ>lex well be– yond the t45 million fig– ure. E,tlmat.,. from a State firm o! qu,mtlty sur\'e- ~g[f,. 5 1~~l~d\~: 11.t~~~I~~ materinl r.o.111t lncrcn~es, art expecttrl to ri~t' by an nreraRe 15 per cent each )'tar unlll June 1979, Rlld by about 10 per cent each year from then on, Taking Into account the ataee-by-staRe con– struglon or the complex, Its estimated cost bv late 1983 Is between $80 mii- lloJtran&~:o',';'lll!~f:i the n e w c u I t u r a I centre would be a great acqulal• tlon for Brisbane and Queensland. It would not be shaded by anythlne else like It in the southern Stai..s. construction or the complex wlll involve: cc:1r:: e~t"!.~~~~~~~ Street,. containlnr a 2000-seat concert hall, A 1800-•eat opera and bal• let theatre and 400-seat studio theatre, • The Queensland Art Gallery, west o! Mel• t~~;i:':n:triftJe:~c~~hth: total floor area or 13,000 square metres (140,000 aq.• ft.' The Queensland Museum, sep&,rated from the art gallery ~l' • t',:'i~S'\~~~ a~:~\,w:~~03; . square metres 1160,000 sq. ru . • The Stnte Library, to be built on the •lie or ~:::,pri_~•eo~~dStSa~~[/~;~ Ar;::r r~~f1':.'Atm. r1ver- sldl' restaurant and ron– \·Cnllon complex Hl,-;o 9i,•1ll be Included In lhe com– plex, Sir Gordon said •II sectlom of the cultural centre, oxcept for car c~m 1~to!~·~~·~: ~1.be I / ., '