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MEDIA RELEASE | 'Piece by piece' the restoration of Cooktown's Shire Hall commences

Works have commenced on the restoration of Cooktown’s iconic and much-loved, heritage-listed Shire Hall on Helen Street.

Image: CSC Mayor P. Scott; CSC CEO, L. Cardew; WIP Site Supervisor, K Nankervis; CSC Project Manager; D Miller

“The Shire Hall has a very special place in the hearts, minds and memories of the community of Cooktown, which is why Council is committed to its preservation,” said Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott.

“With the overwhelming support of the community, Council secured 100% of the funds required for these important and intricate works to proceed from several Federal and State funding programs,” said Cr Scott.

Funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland, and COVID Works for Queensland programs, works include significant structural remediation works, which – because of highly delicate and complex heritage considerations – will see much of the Hall reverse-constructed before it will be rebuilt piece-by-piece: using modern tools to replicate the same traditional building techniques used to construct the Hall.

Significant structural upgrades to the roof, the eaves and the floor structure will also be undertaken with new roofing, verandas and insulation installed. The Hall will then receive an aesthetic rejuvenation, with repairs, repainting and refinishing of all internal and external walls and floors. Where possible the original building materials will be reused, repurposed and recycled.

Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch MP said “This building is an icon for Cooktown, for the residents and visitors and I am proud the Federal Government has provided these much needed funds to ensure the building is bought back to its glory for everyone to continue to use it for many years to come.”

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui also welcomed the joint investment.

“The Cooktown Shire Hall is so important to the community here in Cooktown,” Ms Lui said.

“By delivering an upgrade we’re ensuring the hall can be used by future generations and can continue to bring our community together.

“The construction will deliver local jobs and help Cooktown’s economic recovery after a tough year for locals.”

The Hall as it stands today was built in 1907. It was closed for bookings in April 2015 following an engineering assessment carried out to assess the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Ita.

For more information contact Cook Shire Council at mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phone on 4082 0500.

Pictured above (L-R): Cook Shire Mayor, Peter Scott; Cook Shire CEO, Linda Cardew; WIP Site Manager, Kevin Nankervis; Cook Shire Building and Facilities Team Leader, Dustin Miller. 

Download this media release here.

ABN: 45 425 085 688

10 Furneaux Street Cooktown, Qld 4895

Mail: PO Box 3 Cooktown, Qld 4895

Email: mail@cook.qld.gov.au

Phone: (07) 4082 0500

Fax: (07) 4082 0588

Hours: 8.45am-4.45pm Monday to Friday