The Barracks

The brief

Heritage hotel design starts with what is already there. The site is a heritage-listed former Drill Hall Complex on the edge of a Central Queensland city centre. Built in 1906 and once home to the 42nd RQR, it carries more than a century of local history.

The brief was a flagship hotel and event destination for Central Queensland. Our concept restored the original barracks as the heart of a master planned hospitality precinct, with new buildings set around them: guest rooms, a day spa, formal and alfresco dining, an aquatic centre, a convention and function centre, and dedicated wedding ceremony spaces.

The project did not proceed to construction as wider economic conditions shifted. The design was recognised by the Building Designers Association of Australia as the winner of the 2016 Unbuilt Work category.

Recognition

Winner, Unbuilt Work, BDAA 2016

Site

Heritage-listed former Drill Hall Complex, built 1906

Program

115 guest rooms, day spa, restaurants, aquatic centre, convention and function centre, wedding venues

Status

Concept design, not built

Heritage hotel design that respects the original

Good heritage hotel design keeps the original building at the centre of the story. Our concept restored the barracks rather than replacing them, and arranged the new hotel, spa, dining and event spaces around them, so the heritage building stays the heart of the precinct.

It remains a clear example of how we approach commercial and hospitality briefs: start with the site, respect what makes it worth keeping, and design the new around it.

Have a hospitality or heritage project in mind? See more of our projects, or tell us about your site.