The Witton Barracks

About the project

JMac delivered the refurbishment of the Queensland Heritage Register-listed Witton Barracks in Indooroopilly for Brisbane City Council. The World War II military intelligence site, which includes the only remaining purpose-built interrogation buildings for prisoners of war in Australia, was reimagined as a creative community and social enterprise hub while retaining its heritage.

Scope

Refurbishment of three cell blocks for community use and the former headquarters building for multi-use community spaces

Extension of the headquarters building roof structure and delivered a honed floating window box

Restoration of the Motor Transport Cover and revitalised the exercise yard

Removal of 4,000m2 of asphalt, completion of 2,000m2 of clearing and removal and replacement of 500m3 of lead-contaminated soil

Construction of 4,000m2 of asphalt road and car park and 650m2 of footpaths

Planted 30 trees and approximately 700 plants across the site and laid 2,000m2 of turf

Construction 130 metres of concrete retaining wall, 21 metres of concrete seating wall, 20 metres of sandblasted curved concrete seating wall and 15 metres of honed concrete seating wall

Installation of a 350m2 heritage brick screen to the headquarters building in a hit and miss pattern

Upgraded electrical, water, stormwater, sewer, air conditioning, security, fire, communications and lighting services across the buildings

Revitalised the footpath on Lambert Road and integrated it onto the bike path connecting Indooroopilly and Chelmer

Worked with Energex to install a new transformer that services the entire block

Retained and incorporated heritage features including listening devices, original cell doors, original bricks, sound wave patterns, rust-lookalike signage and jail-like air conditioning enclosures

Outcomes

JMac worked with Brisbane City Council, consultants and designers to retain the site's heritage while delivering new community and social enterprise spaces.
The team provided daily constructability input as the construct-only project evolved into a near design and construct delivery model.
Weekly internal and external site meetings supported management of design changes, scope increases, asbestos finds, heritage discoveries and Archaeologist Management Plan requirements.
No major incidents or environmental non-compliances were recorded despite the project being delivered on an Environmental Management Register-listed site close to water and a busy school district.
More than 4,000 hours of on-site training were achieved through JMac and subcontractor apprentices.
The completed project created bookable meeting and exhibition spaces, a multi-use headquarters building, landscaped grounds and community facilities connected to the site's World War II history.