Ms CARTER - 2001-02-21
I am pleased to see, from my regular travels past the Darwin Botanic Gardens, that the former Wesleyan Methodist Church has been successfully relocated and restored. Could the minister please advise the Assembly if this is indeed the case?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin, who has taken a great interest in this issue, the issue of the former Wesleyan Church, which has been quite a controversial issue at times. I am glad to report to this House and to Territorians that I will be formally opening that restored and preserved former church at lunch time today.
Members would know that this particular building has a long history, particularly in the context of Darwin’s growth; it is about 104 years old. It came here, like many Territorians of the day, on a boat; a prefabricated construction that had been designed initially to withstand cyclones, and indeed it has. It has withstood some 18 cyclones in that period, and the Bombing of Darwin, and it is only fitting that while we commemorate the Bombing of Darwin this week that we do the formal opening of this church.
I can say also that there has been considerable consultation and assessment work before the removal of the building from its former site in Mitchell Street, to make sure that the construction of that particular building was documented – well documented – and we have learnt a great deal from that in the reconstruction.
The reconstruction has enabled us to ensure that the building standards of that building meet contemporary standards with additional cyclone proofing. I am sure that that building will be there for many Territorians to enjoy in the future. It is great that there will be many people invited today who had some dealings with that church over its past history, including a former reverend who exercised his duties in that church, and also people who were either married or frequented the church when it was an official Methodist Church.
So that is the end of a saga, I guess. I have written to the Heritage Advisory Council asking them now to consider the listing of this building as a heritage object in its new location. I look forward to receiving their advice to me. As I said, this is something the Northern Territory government is proud of - $300 000 of taxpayers’ money spent in the restoration and preservation of our heritage and history, and the heritage merits of this particular building. I invite you all to come along to the opening at 12.30 today.
Mr PALMER (Leader of Government Business): Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the question paper.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin, who has taken a great interest in this issue, the issue of the former Wesleyan Church, which has been quite a controversial issue at times. I am glad to report to this House and to Territorians that I will be formally opening that restored and preserved former church at lunch time today.
Members would know that this particular building has a long history, particularly in the context of Darwin’s growth; it is about 104 years old. It came here, like many Territorians of the day, on a boat; a prefabricated construction that had been designed initially to withstand cyclones, and indeed it has. It has withstood some 18 cyclones in that period, and the Bombing of Darwin, and it is only fitting that while we commemorate the Bombing of Darwin this week that we do the formal opening of this church.
I can say also that there has been considerable consultation and assessment work before the removal of the building from its former site in Mitchell Street, to make sure that the construction of that particular building was documented – well documented – and we have learnt a great deal from that in the reconstruction.
The reconstruction has enabled us to ensure that the building standards of that building meet contemporary standards with additional cyclone proofing. I am sure that that building will be there for many Territorians to enjoy in the future. It is great that there will be many people invited today who had some dealings with that church over its past history, including a former reverend who exercised his duties in that church, and also people who were either married or frequented the church when it was an official Methodist Church.
So that is the end of a saga, I guess. I have written to the Heritage Advisory Council asking them now to consider the listing of this building as a heritage object in its new location. I look forward to receiving their advice to me. As I said, this is something the Northern Territory government is proud of - $300 000 of taxpayers’ money spent in the restoration and preservation of our heritage and history, and the heritage merits of this particular building. I invite you all to come along to the opening at 12.30 today.
Mr PALMER (Leader of Government Business): Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the question paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016