Smart Transformation Of Sweet Building Earns Heritage Accolades

The transformation of the Sugar Research Institute into a new secondary school has earned a coveted gold award at Mackay Regional Council’s 2022 Heritage Awards.

Catherine McAuley College won gold in the Tom Casey New or Refurbished Heritage Place or Home category at a ceremony at Harrup Park Country Club on Thursday April 7.

The refurbishment of The Karl Langer Building, one of the region’s most significant and influential State Heritage places, has created a new Catholic secondary school.

Character and Heritage Advisory Committee Chair Cr Fran Mann said the judges noted this project was an outstanding example of council’s vision for the adaptative and sensitive reuse of heritage buildings.

She said special care was taken during master planning of the site to ensure the building and its vistas remained strong in the surrounding development.  

“Catherine McAuley College repurposing the Sugar Research Institute has paid homage to the world-class scientific research conducted from the facility in the late 20th century, revolutionising the sugar industry.”

The silver award in this category went to refurbishment of the State Heritage-listed Mackay Customs House.

Dean Williamson Dental currently resides and operates out of the building.

The award acknowledges how the design considered overcoming hurdles to repurpose the building while respecting the main heritage elements of the building.

Bronze went to BH Building Mackay, the main contractor on a project to restore the Cattle Creek administration building as part of council’s Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails.

Mayor Greg Williamson said there was strong interest in the awards, with gold, silver, bronze, and highly commended awards presented in many of the categories.

“These heritage champions in our region deserve these accolades,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“Their extraordinary work is helping preserve the history and heritage of our region and keep alive the stories of our past for future generations.”

Other awards presented included:

‘Berenice Wright’ Heritage Champion (Individual), Gold Award – Maryann Lister

Maryann Lister has hosted several informative historic bicycle tours to educate our community on different areas of our local history.

‘Berenice Wright’ Heritage Champion (Individual), Silver Award – Christine Vaughan

Christine Vaughan, of Yesterday’s Memories Museum, committed to creating a community display of Antique and Vintage Wedding Gowns, to celebrate the Australian Heritage Festival in 2022.

‘Berenice Wright’ Heritage Champion (Individual), Bronze Award – Shelley Engwirda

In 2021, Shelly Engwirda championed an Art Camp and History program for local children, based on the history and heritage of Greenmount Homestead. Shelley facilitated this program to make heritage accessible to children aged nine to 12 via artistic expression and practice.

‘Berenice Wright’ Heritage Champion (Individual), Bronze Award – Ian Hamilton

Ian Hamilton has had a lifelong interest in local, family and church history and heritage, with contribution to local history publications, as well as the fundraising for and maintenance of the heritage-listed property and grounds of the St Paul’s Uniting Church.

‘Berenice Wright’ Heritage Champion (Individual), Highly Commended – Leigh Mansfield

Leigh Mansfield has been recognised by her peers for her continuous demonstration of her immense passion for the history of the Mackay region. Leigh is a passionate, long-serving teacher at Fitzgerald State School, who is known for frequently hosting excursions to local heritage places and sharing stories of local history during class.

Heritage Champion (Organisation), Gold Award – St Annes Catholic Primary School

St Annes Catholic Primary School in Sarina has worked closely in 2021 with Yuwi custodians to develop a deeper respectful understanding of First Nations history within our region, and to deliver a body of work that reflects the school’s commitment to raising awareness of local indigenous history.

Heritage Champion (Organisation), Silver Award – St Pauls Uniting Church

St Pauls History Group, as a sub-committee of the Church Council of St Pauls Uniting Church, conducted research and delivered a weekend of community celebrations commemorating the 150-year anniversary of the church.

Silver Heritage Champion (Organisation), Bronze Award – Sugar City Art Deco & Modernism Society

The Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society is a new community organisation dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the city’s rich art deco history, including its buildings, events, fashion and transport.

Gold Heritage Media, Tours and Exhibitions, Gold Award – Mackay Family History Society

The volunteers of the Mackay Family History Society delivered two informative and immersive community exhibitions in 2021.

Gold Heritage Media, Tours and Exhibitions, Silver Award – BMA Hay Point Coal Terminal – 50 Years of Memories and Milestones 1971-2021

In November 2021, BMA’s Hay Point Coal Terminal proudly celebrated 50 years of operation in the Mackay region. To mark this significant milestone, a volunteer committee organised a 50 Years of Memories and Milestones open day event at the Hay Point Coal Terminal.

Heritage Media, Tours and Exhibitions, Bronze Award – ABC Tropical North Museums Series

Christy-Lee Macqueen championed a series of radio interviews, conducted with Museums staff and volunteers, as well as private collectors, throughout the Mackay region, to promote a deeper, more meaningful understanding of local heritage.

Heritage Media, Tours and Exhibitions, Highly Commended – Sugar City Art Deco Society

The Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society is a group of locals, passionate about our city’s unique historic buildings. The group was established to promote the history behind the buildings and aim to preserve Mackay’s rich Art Deco and Modernism architecture.

Heritage Media, Tours and Exhibitions, Highly Commended – St Pauls Uniting Church

St Paul’s Uniting Church celebrated the 150-year anniversary of the formation of the St Pauls Presbyterian (now Uniting) Church Congregation from the first meeting held on March 15, 1872. To commemorate this significant anniversary, the Church prepared an exhibition that was displayed in the Jubilee Community Centre for public viewing from March 11 to April 6.

Winners of the 2022 Heritage Awards with council representatives, including Mayor Greg Williamson and Deputy Mayor Karen May.

Leslie Crocker, Woollam Constructions project manager, accepted the Tom Casey New or Refurbished Heritage Place or Home gold award for refurbishment of the Sugar Research Institute building to create a new secondary school.

Megan Harris, of BH Building Mackay, accepted the bronze award in that category for refurbishment of the old Cattle Creek mill administration building as part of council’s Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike trails project.

‍