Gympie, Queensland

This master plan is conceived to create a new heart of Gympie, a city 170 kilometres north of Brisbane with a rich legacy of historic buildings. One of these is the Town Hall which now, unfortunately, sits isolated by roads in the city centre. The concept closes roads and a roundabout to link the Town Hall with an existing civic precinct and park. A new library is carved into the topography, opening out to gathering and outdoor performance space previously occupied by road.

Along from the library, a new Council administration centre flanks a tiered amphitheatre leading up to high level parkland, An existing civic centre is further along is retained but proposed to be refurbished to open up its edges, and lastly a new art gallery proposed to anchor parkland forming a sculpture park.

The proposition is awaiting Council consideration but, if approved, will breathe new life into the centre of Gympie as a civic and cultural heart as well as linking the city’s historic Mary Street and ‘Rattler’ railway station, an outstanding heritage building.