Wintergarden Community Hub

About The Job

The Century-Old Wintergarden Theatre receives a new lease on life, transforming into a community Hub for the residents of Bundaberg to enjoy for years to come

The Wintergarden Community Hub, previously known as the Wintergarden Theatre was originally built in 1929. After 39 years as a theatre, the Wintergarden building took on numerous, varied tenants, including more recently Blockbuster Video and a Gym.

Bundaberg Regional Council’s redevelopment of the building began in 2023, with the project reaching completion in July 2024. Due to the age of the building, many obstacles were faced during the renovation project. Existing Internal Walls were found to be non-structural and therefore had to be removed, involving extensive propping of the upper floor while new footings and a core-filled block wall was reinstated.

During construction, the slab was disturbed in order to run new services into the building, revealing an underslab full of brick rubble which needed to be removed, replaced with fill material, and new concrete poured. Asbestos and extensive amounts of lead paint were found throughout the building requiring specialist removal.

Access to the building was challenging with some elevations encumbered by power lines or a neighbouring property. High Voltage power was isolated for a part of the project while working on the Lift pit and high external works along the Woongarra St side. Complex scaffold was erected outside the building and on the roof to provide access for the removal of Asbestos Gables.

Undertaking significant structural works inside an existing building with a roof insitu is difficult, especially throughout the summer months when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees. Carrying out works with restrictions to the construction loads that can be placed on the exisiting structure is also a challenge.

Heritage-style features such as intricate decorative mouldings have been retained, original red bricks have been exposed on the back wall of the lower level, and the hardwood timber floor on the upper level was refinished. New Pressed metal panels have been introduced in keeping with the heritage style of the building and a red perforated wavy screen has been installed on the upper floor which links the building back to its original use as a Theatre.  

Despite all the challenges faced throughout construction, it was a very rewarding project for Murchie Constructions and our team of Subcontractors who worked on the project. The Construction Period was approximately 14 months, and local subcontractors and suppliers were engaged wherever possible.

Renovating a century-old building is a deviation from our usual construction activity, and a wonderful opportunity to transform a building that has had numerous uses throughout its lifetime and various meanings to many generations. Tomas O’Malley has done a wonderful job in designing this renovation, maintaining heritage characteristics and creating modern spaces for the Bundaberg Community to enjoy for many years to come.

Murchie Constructions is proud to add the Refurbishment of the Wintergarden Community Hub to its portfolio, and would like to thank the Bundaberg Regional Council for the opportunity to have been engaged on this project.

Project Team

Architect: Tomas O'Malley Architect
Hydraulic Engineer: Floth Brisbane
Electrical & Mechanial Engineers: THE Consulting Engineers
Structural Engineer: Empire Engineering