Morning Tea to Open Fernberg’s Sesquicentenary Extensions

Speech by Air Commodore Mark Gower OAM, Official Secretary: Thank you all for joining us here for today’s historic occasion of dual importance.

Firstly, these extensions – the most significant to the House since the 1930s – coincide with Fernberg’s 150^th anniversary.

Secondly, today’s official opening of this new covered walkway, the two accessible lifts and other additions marks the latest step in ensuring Fernberg rightly remains a House for all Queenslanders.

The same year Fernberg was added to the State’s Heritage register under the new Act – 1992 – disability legislation was also introduced requiring public buildings to have equitable access.

It hasn’t been easy balancing these competing interests – not to mention ensuring the project meets the functional requirements of the Governor and our guests, and overcomes the restrictions imposed by the rock shelf under the House!

Since the project began in 2007 three reports were commissioned which came up with, in the end, nine ramp and 16 lift options.

This final lift combination received approval in early 2014 and admirably balances those competing heritage and accessibility interests.

And, might I add, this new porte-cochere of local timber and porphyry stone gives the House a wonderful contemporary lift!

I will shortly invite the Governor to make a few remarks and lay the final casting stone.

Before I do that, however, I would like to, on behalf of the Office of the Governor, thank you all for your efforts.

I particularly thank the Queensland Government, well represented here today by the many Department of Housing and Public Works staff (led variously by Stuart Grierson, Geoff Hughes and Dave Keogh) integral to seeing this project through to completion.  

I thank the highly skilled Departmental architectural team: Jim Tainton being the constant; Jinx Miles and Garry Leis who conducted the initial 2007 report; and Justine Ebzery, Vito Villari, and Walter Kite among others who fleshed out these concepts during the project’s many planning iterations.

I also mention our landscape architect Ashley Byrnes.  

To Kane Constructions, represented today by Graham Thornton, and led on the coalface here onsite by Ben Fehervary and David Farrell.

They have led a small army of builders, landscapers, stone masons (and I mention in this respect Scott Redhead), and lift-technicians through severe storms, extreme heat, Christmas lights and professional photo shoots… and, dare I mention, a curious and appreciative Governor!

Their professionalism has ensured the Office could continue to support the vice-regal program despite the obvious intrusions required to carry-out a project of this scale.

Finally I pay tribute to our own team led by Scott Allen. They have ensured the operational requirements of the Governor have been well met.

You have all helped to ensure that Government House remains very much – as it should – ‘A House for all Queenslanders’.

To mark this occasion, we also launch today this commemorative publication of that name (see below) – authored by Judith Anderson – and of which you will all receive the first copies today!

Following these formalities, I would you all to join the Governor and Mrs de Jersey in the Drawing Room for some Government House hospitality.