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HERITAGE NOOSA

Noosa Council Chambers

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Alternative NameNoosa Shire Council ChambersDescription
Prior to 1980, the Noosa Shire Council Chambers was located in Pomona, in a timber building built for this purpose, and which is now occupied by the Noosa Museum.

The first Noosa Shire Council meeting was held in the Federal Hall, Cooran, 11th May, 1910. From May-December 1910, meetings were held at the 'Council Office Cooroy' before a decision was made to construct Chambers in Factory Street, Pomona. Between January-September 1911, meetings were held at P von Blanckensee's Office, Pomona.

The first meeting held in the Council's own Pomona premises, was on 13 September 1911. This remained the Noosa Shire Council Chambers until 1980.

With the population of the Shire expanding, the Pomona building was no longer of a suitable size to match the growing Shire Council. Throughout 1978, debate had continued within Council as to the most suitable location for the new Council chambers. One proposal was for the building to be located in Cooyar Street, Noosaville, due to the expectation that by the year 2000, the population of Tewantin would be 8000 and Noosaville 4000. In actual fact, the ABS Census 2001 had Tewantin's population at 10 896 and Noosaville 11 512, demonstrating the rapid pace of development throughout the period from the late 1970s to the turn of the century. The shift to Tewantin reflected the change in population and industry of the Shire from the farming and timber communities of the hinterland, to the tourism centred coast where housing development was accelerating.

The last Noosa Shire Council meeting held in Pomona, was on 20 November 1980. With construction completed, Council staff quickly moved in to the new Chambers in Pelican Street, Tewantin, with the first Council meeting held on 8 December 1980. At the Ordinary Meeting on 17 Dec 1980, the chairman “wishes a vote of thanks to be recorded for the efficient manner in which the staff carried out the shift to the new offices.”

At the time of opening, the three level building comprised a top level with direct entry from Pelican Street and housed the Council Chambers, a committee room and finance and administration staff. The middle floor was taken up by building and town planning staff, and the ground floor contained the new library as well as store rooms and staff dining. The building accommodated 39 staff members which was expected to soon rise to 44. By December 4, the library was to reopen in the new Chambers building after its relocation from a provisional site in a repurposed bank building in Moorindil Street, Tewantin, where it had been since its opening in 1973.

The new building was officially open for business on Monday December 1, 1980 although an exhibition had opened in the art gallery on 28th November.

The Noosa Shire Council Chambers was designed by architects from the Brisbane practice, Fulton Collin Boys Gilmour Trotter & Partners (now known as Fulton Trotter Architects).

The site of the new Chambers on Pelican Street had previously comprised of a dwelling and caravan park.

Cr Ian Macdonald was one of the principal drivers of the new Council Chambers project, but passed away in September 1980, two months short of the completion of the new Chambers building. He was remembered by the incoming Chair, Cr Bert Wansley: "Without [Cr Macdonald's] hard work, foresight and perseverance, none of this would have happened."

The building was officially opened and dedicated to the memory of Neil Ian Macdonald by His Excellency, the Governor of Queensland Sir James Ramsey, on 3rd February 1982.

References:
Chambers Preview, Noosa News (November 28, 1980), p.1
Fulton Trotter Architects (fultontrotter.com.au/history)
Noosa Shire Council Meeting Minutes 1978_08_11 Special Meeting
Noosa Shire Council Meeting Minutes 1979_08_29

Photograph

Ballistic demonstration, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 1980s

Brian Warner and Cr Karen Finzel, Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Caravan park and camping area upstream from Doonella Bridge, Tewantin, late 1950s

Cecilia Combo and Frank Wilkie (l-r), Smoking ceremony, Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, 19 September 2024

Cecilia Combo, Frank Wilkie, Aunty Helen Gulash (l-r), Smoking ceremony, Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2025

Doonella Lake Caravan Park and Camping area, Tewantin, ca 1950s

Doonella Lake camping ground, Tewantin, 1940

Family group, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin, 1930s

Frank Wilkie and Aunty Helen Gulash (l-r), Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Frank Wilkie and Brian Warner, Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Frank Wilkie and Melissa Bond, Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Frank Wilkie, Melissa Bond, Cecilia Combo, Kerry Jones (l-r), Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Ordinary Meeting, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Commitment, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Land and Sea Rangers and KKPAC Director Cecilia Combo, Smoking ceremony, Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, 19 September 2024

Kabi Kabi Land and Sea Rangers, Smoking ceremony, Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Mayor Frank Wilkie and Brian Warner, Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, 19 September 2024

Mayor Frank Wilkie and Brian Warner, Kabi Kabi Commitment Signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

Mayor Frank Wilkie, Cr Karen Finzel, Kabi Kabi Commitment signing, Noosa Council Chambers, Tewantin, 19 September 2024

People & Family

Neil Ian Macdonald

Book

A Short History of Noosa Regional Gallery

Ephemera

Noosa's War Front: Honor Roll

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LocalityTewantinPersonNeil Ian MacdonaldOrganisation & ClubNoosa CouncilMenuLocation | Tewantin