Surrounded by the architecture of Rockhampton’s past, this new venue for Australian art showcases its heritage neighbour through a wall of picture-perfect glazing. Located next to the historic Customs House on Quay Street, the new Rockhampton Museum of Art is an exciting addition to one of Queensland’s most significant heritage streetscapes.

On arriving at the museum’s grand entry area, the visitor’s eye is drawn to a towering glazed façade which provides a framed view of the Classical Revival architecture of adjacent Customs House. The substantial wall of glazing was constructed from Alspec ecoWALL 225 Flush Glazed Framing. EcoWALL 225 is a structural framing system engineered to eliminate the need for additional steel framing supports, allowing vast interior spaces to be created. The system features reinforced subheads and mullion anti-buckling technology which delivers a structural strength not found in similar-sized framing profiles offered by competitors.

For remaining window framing needs across the site, Hunter Evo 150 Double and Single Flush Glazed Framing were incorporated. This flexible product from Alspec is desirable in the commercial environment for its versatility, coming in two depths (101.6 and 150mm), and either single or double glazed glass capacity, which allows a large range of glazing widths to be accommodated. With Rockhampton being in a cyclone-risk region, the cyclonic impact tested and weathering credentials of both the Hunter Evo and ecoWALL products provide the museum’s operators with peace of mind, knowing their valuable collection is well protected.

Now the largest gallery in regional Queensland, the building is home to more than 3000 pieces of art from famous historical figures such as Russell Drysdale, Margaret Olley and Sidney Nolan, to significant contemporary Queensland artists such as Michael Zavros and Sally Gabori. Many of the pieces are newly exhibited as the former gallery was too small to display much of the collection.  The interior has been arranged with lower and upper-level gallery exhibition areas, and education spaces, along with retail and dining facilities. As part of the Quay Street Cultural Precinct, the Museum of Art is another key step in the ongoing revitalisation of the Rockhampton CBD. 

Project Name: Rockhampton Museum of Art

Project Address: 220 Quay Street, Rockhampton City, QLD, 4700

Architect: Conrad Gargett and Clare Design

Builder: Woollam Constructions

Fabricator: Queensland Glass

Applied Finish: Portland Stone

Photography: Troy Sanders

Alspec Products Used:
ecoWALL 225
Hunter Evo 150mm Double Flush Glazed Framing
Hunter Evo 150mm Single Flush Glazed Framing