A rare and ancient method of roofing forms a striking architectural feature of the expanded museum, allowing it to display heritage skills both inside and out. A roof made of 14,000 individual red mahogany shingles is incorporated into the design of the unique heritage skills training complex of national and international significance. The design success is the culmination of more than 20 years of partnership by the facility director and designer.

IN BRIEF

The building had to be a place marker for the Toowoomba community. It had to mesh seamlessly into the existing structure and reflect the strong heritage values that underpin both the museum and the community’s cultural identity.

The mission of safeguarding heritage trades had to be imbued in the building’s design, materials used and finish demonstrating a commitment to master craftsmanship throughout. It also had to interpret the museum’s position within the Old Toowoomba Showground site.

ARCHITECT’S WORDS

The museum features custom designed spaces for teaching and learning heritage trades and skills such as saddlery, silversmithing, leadlighting, felting and leatherwork.

Activities are made visible to visitors from the specially designed Viewing Hub. A new gallery was also constructed in 2010 to showcase Australia’s National Carriage Collection of almost 50 horse-drawn carriages. The new roof took six weeks to make, the red mahogany shingles hand split and shaped before being hand drilled and nailed into place.

There are 14,000 individual shingles made from red mahogany wood sourced from Wauchope in New South Wales. The museum also includes a new blacksmith shop, fitted with a high volume extraction system to reduce soot fall out.

Environmental considerations feature throughout, and include water tanks to collect water for use in the toilets and cleaning out plant rooms - they also assist with regulating the building temperature by providing thermal mass.
Power is generated by solar panels and an original Dunlite wind turbine from the 1950s.

The building is designed and uses specific materials to reduce energy use for lighting, heating and cooling.

MORE FEATURES
  • Construction of the Cobb+Co Museum redevelopment took 14 months from the beginning of July 2009 to late August 2010.
  • The Museum’s shingle roof took 6 weeks to make. There are 14,000 individual shingles made from red mahogany wood sourced from Wauchope in New South Wales. Each shingle was shaped by hand to fit and hand drilled and nailed into place.
  • The new blacksmith shop can fit up to 10 students and an instructor. Five forges can run simultaneously.
  • The blacksmith shop is fitted with a high volume extraction system to reduce soot fall out.
  • The four water tanks in the mezzanine floor above The Factory will hold 55,000 litres. They will collect water for use in the toilets and cleaning out plant rooms. They will also assist with regulating the building temperature by providing thermal mass in this part of the museum.
  • The solar panels will generate power saving the equivalent 12.8 tons of greenhouse gases annually.
  • It is estimated that the wind turbine will generate power saving the equivalent of 38.5 kg of greenhouse gas annually. This is an original Dunlite wind turbine from the 1950s.
  • The new facilities have increased the number of trade and craft workshops offered, these will continue to increase to up to a maximum of 90 workshops per year.
  • The building is designed and uses specific materials to reduce energy use for lighting, heating and cooling.
  • The factory has two large diameter ceiling fans for summer air movement and re-circulation of warmer air in winter at minimal energy input.
  • The north facing under cover area (under the shingle roof) is regularly used for out-door presentations.

ACCOLADES

  • 2011 William Hodgen Award for Building of the Year (RAIA Queensland Architecture Awards)
  • 2011 F.D.G Stanley Award for Public Architecture (RAIA Queensland Architecture Awards)

PRODUCTS

EXTERIOR STRUCTURAL STEEL
WATKINS STEEL

CONCRETE
WAGNERS CONCRETE BEST SET CONCRETING

CONCRETE BLOCKS
ADBURY/HANSONS, CONCRETE MASONRY, BRIX N BLOX

FORMWORK
ACTION FORMWORK

LAMINATED TIMBER
HYNE TIMBER

TIMBER TRUSSES
TOOWOOMBA TRUSS AND FRAMES

METAL ROOF SHEETING
BLUESCOPE STEEL
COLORBOND

ROOFING
QUEENSLAND INDUSTRIAL CLADDING
RITEK BUILDING SOLUTIONS, COMPOSITE ROOF PANELS
AMPELITE AUSTRALIA, TRANSLUCENT ROOF SHEETING

TIMBER CLADDING
SIMONS TIMBER

SHINGLES
TIMBERTOWN

WINDOWS
G JAMES PTY LTD

INTERIOR GLASS
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS

SURFACE FINISHING
M P & J E GIBSON

CEILINGS AND PARTITIONS
PAUL PLASTERING SERVICE PTY LTD

WALL PANELLING
LAMINEX

ACOUSTIC WALL PANELLING
STRAMIT BUILDING PRODUCTS

STAINLESS STEEL
QUEENSLAND STAINLESS

VENEERED CEILING PANELS
SUPAWOOD ARCHITECTURAL LINING SYSTEMS 

HARDWARE
LOCKWOOD AUSTRALIA

JOINERY
ASPECT JOINERY

SECURITY MESH
CRIMSAFE

PAINT
DULUX

PRE-COLOURED RENDER
SUPA COAT

FLOOR COVERINGS
ANDERSONS FLOOR COVERING

CERAMIC TILES
WINCKELMANS, JOHNSON WARINGA

EPOXY FLOORING
NUPLEX SURECOAT 200

CARPET
TUFTMASTER LUMINARY 48

VINYL
ALTRO SAFETY FLOORING

TACTILE INDICATORS
GUARDIAN TACTILE SYSTEMS

RUBBER FLOORING
ACTIVA GALAXY

MATS
BIRRUS MATTING SYSTEMS

BATHROOM PARTITIONS
KIRKBUILD SYSTEMS

SANITARY FIXTURES
CAROMA