Victoria
Spowers designed the upgrade of the Sovereign Hill Gold Museum. This necessitated repurposing a significant part of the existing building. The redevelopment program to expand the existing Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections (ACGRC) and add a Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades (CRAFT) has required balancing the requirements for adaptive reuse with conservation.
CRAFT imagines a world where contemporary practice and future innovation is supported by a dedication to expertise and skill sharing. The project presented us with exciting design opportunities to reveal some of the building’s original features, honouring its past whilst enlivening the design for use by a whole new generation of creatives by accommodating six workshop spaces (specialised for metal, woodworking, silversmithing, and more) for bookable public programming.
The result in the design and construction of this project were achieved in partnership with local industry and trades, this has been transformative in delivering interior strategies.
The program to expand the Museum, has balanced adaptive reuse with conservation. “The Rare Trades Centre is a vital next step towards playing our role in the preservation and promotion of the deep roots of history that run through this place. Through Ballarat.” Sara Quon.
“With respect to the original architecture, the 70s brutalist architecture … has been reinstated to its original architectural intent”. “Sovereign Hill is determined to preserve, protect, and extend trades that deserve to remain as a gift to future generations. There’s the opportunity to reach out to new people through this space”. GM, Erin Santamaria said.
Andrew Rutt, Project Leader
Jinwoo Jung, Design Architect
Ros Magee, Managing Director
Sam Gardiner, Design Associate
Chris Hutton of Sovereign Hill Museum Association, Chief Engineering Officer
David Harlock of Harlock Consulting, Quantity Surveyor
Glen Rundell and Lisa Rundell of Rundell & Rundell, Project Working Group
Linus Tong of Architecture & Access, Safety in Design Consultant
Mark Byrne of John Mullen & Partners, Structural/Civil Engineer
Michael Theisz of Design Guide, Building Surveyor
Paul Cushion of HRC, Building Services Engineer
Peter Harris of Renzo Tonin & Associates, Acoustic Consultant
Sally Lewis of Sovereign Hill Museum Association, Head of Business Improvement and Projects
Sara Quon of Sovereign Hill Museum Association, CEO
Sharlene Howard of Architecture & Access, Universal Access Consultant
Stuart Menhennet, Construction Manager
Travis Coulson of Sovereign Hill Museum Association, Services & Maintenance Manager
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
