Texcel is currently assisting in the monitoring of heritage structures in and around the huge Queen’s Wharf project in Brisbane. This project is a major river-front development that covers almost all of the sites where Brisbane began, so there are quite a few heritage structures to be concerned about. The most important of them are:
- The Commissariat Store dating from 1829 is one of only two original convict-built structures remaining in Brisbane.
- Harris Terrace built between 1866 and 1887.
- The Mansions, built in 1889.
- The Treasury built between 1886 and 1928.
- The Land Administration Building completed in 1905.
- Queen’s Gardens built in 1905.
- While there are no “structures” as such, the area is also of great significance to the First Nations people – especially the Turrbal people from what is now the Brisbane CBD.
Considering all the needs associated with these structures makes us think more broadly about heritage structures.
What are heritage structures and where do we find them?
The answers to these questions are not straight-forward. Let’s have a look.
The first point to appreciate is that we must deal with more than heritage structures – we must deal with Heritage Values. These are usually broken down into five categories:
- Historical Value
- Spiritual Value
- Aesthetic Value
- Social Value
- Symbolic Value
Heritage Values are generally described as being of significant cultural value. Note that the age of the Value is not mentioned – they can be of any age.
So what are the heritage values for the above assets? Let’s look at the oldest building:
The Commissariat Store.
Penal colonies were run on the military system, which means that commissariat stores were used for procurement, supply and distribution of essential goods as well as serving as a customs house and even a bank.
The original Moreton Bay penal settlement was moved from Redcliffe to the current Brisbane site in 1825 and the infamous Captain Logan arrived as the Commandant in 1826. He established a works program that included this Commissariat Store as well as houses for the Commandant, the Commissariat and the chaplain (all on William Street). Of these, only the Store remains. It is the second oldest building in Queensland (after the Tower Mill in Wickham Park) and one of only four left in Australia. Building started in 1828 and was finished in 1829. The stone was quarried at Kangaroo Point – just across the river. So this structure really does represent the birthplace of Brisbane.
Interestingly, when the penal colony was opened for free settlement in 1842, the Store was used as temporary accommodation for immigrants unable to be housed elsewhere. Currently it is the home of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland and houses a museum, the Welsby Library and function spaces. The last major refurbishment was done between 1999 and 2001.
The Store was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 having satisfied the following criterion:
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.
The Queen’s Wharf development includes the restoration and repurposing of all these heritage buildings. The buildings and the lanes will be filled with cafes, bars, restaurants and shops while historical elements will be brought back to life through the restorations.
Legally, Heritage Values are controlled by one or more of the three levels of government:
- Australian/National (world heritage places are managed here too)
- State/Territory
- Local
Some heritage sites are registered (covered under law) and some are not.
So there is a minefield of laws and expectations to consider.
Looking at each of these Values in turn:
- Historical Value. Generally defined as places of significance to people on account of historical, physical (e.g. technological, architectural, archaeological) and cultural values. This is the heritage value we most commonly encounter. All of the sites listed at the beginning of this article fit in here.
- Spiritual Value. These values relate to the deep feelings and beliefs, especially religious beliefs, that most people hold – e.g. relocating burial grounds.
- Aesthetic Values. These are natural features which are of outstanding universal value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view – e.g. the Great Barrier Reef.
- Social Values. Culturally learned customs, codes and rules of behaviour that are constant across generations – e.g. demolishing community centres.
- Cultural Values. These values include artefacts, monuments, groups of buildings and sites that have a diversity of values including symbolic, historic, artistic, aesthetic, and social significance – e.g. cave paintings.
It is quite possible for one site to contain all these heritage values. Which values must be considered in any given project will be decided by one or more of the government bodies. This will normally be followed by a preservation plan generated by either the appropriate government department, or by a qualified consultant. These plans will then be incorporated into the consent conditions for the project.
Standards
Obviously, in our line of business, the usual issues we have to deal with are managing structures (heritage or otherwise). And in comparison with all the other possible issues, ours are pretty straightforward. We usually have specific standards we have to meet (Australian, ISEE, British, German, etc) for vibration, noise, dust, etc. and the challenge is to remain within these boundaries.
Remember that all these standards are minimum standards and local authorities are usually allowed to set more strict standards for specific projects if they think it appropriate.
But it is helpful to understand why the Environmental Manager often has a very difficult job negotiating the various requirements of these Heritage Values. Even understanding what the spiritual, social and cultural values are can be a challenge, much less how they can be preserved not just during after the project, but also ensuring they remain valid after the project.
All of this goes some way to understanding why approvals for some projects can take a very long time! And why environmental monitoring can be so critical for projects. All too often the public hears of consent conditions being blatantly ignored.
Our very social licence to exist depends upon our ability to improve our performance.
