Official Launch of Gold Coast Open House 2016

Thank you, Mr Ewart. Councillor Gates, our Acting Mayor; Member for Coomera, Michael Crandon MP; Councillor Owen-Jones; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to join this dynamic cross-section of vibrant Golf Coast life in launching Gold Coast Open House 2016.

I at once, with respect to Elders, acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands around the Gold Coast.

Almost one month ago to the day, I stood in the first ever public park to feature in a multistorey office building in Australia, to launch the Brisbane leg of the worldwide Open House movement. 

As I commented at the time, hosting the opening at that site was a most apposite expression of the ethos of Open House: unlocking the hidden places and spaces of the world’s cities and sharing their fascinating stories.

As so it is equally appropriate that we gather today at The Parklands Project, a precinct integral not just to the Commonwealth Games when it becomes the athlete’s village, but one which is set to really transform life on the Coast for so many people over the coming decades – to all involved, this is a wonderful legacy, and indeed one consistent with the vision of the late Mr Ron Clarke, after whom this very room is named.

The Parklands Project is one of 30 precincts and buildings included in this year’s tantalising Open House offering, which also includes the magnificent Gold Coast University Hospital; our major stadiums; and for those of us who are of an age to do some window-shopping, there is even a funeral home!

The program also includes Biddle House, which now occupies part of The Southport School site and was the former Summer House of two of my predecessor Governors in the late 1800s, Sir Anthony Musgrave and Sir Henry Wylie Norman.

I publicly thank and acknowledge the founding partners of last year’s inaugural Gold Coast Open House, the National Trust, Australian Institute of Architects and City of Gold Coast, and indeed all current supporters of this wonderful event. As Governor, it is an immense pleasure to support initiatives which instil civic pride, share our rich history, and celebrate the wonderfully unique and uplifting esprit de corps of this vitally important City.

With these enriching benefits in mind, it is with great pleasure that I now officially launch Gold Coast Open House 2016.