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Conrad Gargett
Practice information
Firm type	Architecture Landscape architecture Interior design Urban design
Founders	Henry Wallace Atkinson Charles McLay (1907) Arnold Conrad (1918) Lange Powell (1926) Sydney Ancher (1946) Bryce Mortlock (1946) Ken Woolley (1946) Robert Riddel (1982)
Founded	1890; 134 years ago (1890)
Location	Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Townsville, Addis Ababa
Website
https://architectus.com.au/

Conrad Gargett was an Australian architecture and design practice founded in Brisbane in 1890, one of Queensland's earliest architectural firms. The practice operated out of studios in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Townsville and Addis Ababa. In 2023, it merged with Australian architecture firm, Architectus.

Establishment

Conrad Gargett Architecture was established as HW Atkinson in 1890 by Henry Wallace Atkinson with the winning design for the new Brisbane Head Fire Station. Charles McLay joined Atkinson to form the partnership HW Atkinson & Chas McLay in 1907. The practice subsequently assumed the position of Diocesan Architect to the Anglican Church, designing several schools and churches in South East Queensland. Following the death of McLay in 1918, the practice was renamed Atkinson & Conrad when Arnold Conrad became a partner. The new firm was noted for its use of the distinctive Spanish Mission style in many of its projects. The practice was also appointed to the position of Hospital Architect by various hospital boards and played a large role in the design of hospitals in Queensland between 1920–80, including extensive projects at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, South Brisbane Auxiliary Hospital (now Princess Alexandra Hospital), Prince Charles Hospital and Gold Coast Hospital. Following their appointment in 1926 as architects to the Brisbane and South Coast Hospital Board, the practice took on a new partner Lange Leopold Powell becoming Atkinson, Powell & Conrad.

During the post-war era, the firm now called AH Conrad & TBF Gargett (Thomas Brenan Femister Gargett having become a partner) became a prominent designer of commercial office towers in the Brisbane CBD. Most notable of these were the SGIO Building including the SGIO Theatre (now Suncorp Metway Plaza) and head offices for three of the big four banks. The MLC building, designed in 1955 with Bates Smart, was one of the first commercial office buildings to be built in the undecorated, modern style in Brisbane.

In 2017, a book titled Conrad Gargett was published detailing the history of the firm between 1890 and 2015. The book was edited by Robert Riddel, and attempts to provide a broader historical and architectural context to the various phases in which the practice has operated.

Growth

Conrad Gargett formed after Conrad Gargett Architecture undertook a series of mergers with Riddel Architecture (2012) and Ancher Mortlock Woolley (2013). The contemporary firm is a multi-disciplinary practice, which specialises in health, education, heritage and defence.

Riddel Architecture was established in 1982 by Robert Riddel. The Brisbane-based practice focused on heritage, conservation and adaptive reuse projects. Notable works by the firm include the restoration and adaptive re-use of Brisbane's Customs House, the former Wests Furniture Showroom and the former Queensland National Bank at 308 Queen Street (in association with Donovan Hill).

Ancher Mortlock Woolley, initially called Ancher Mortlock & Murray, was established in 1946 by Sydney Ancher, Bryce Mortlock and Stuart Murray. The Sydney-based practice was later joined by Ken Woolley in 1964. The practice designed modern structures, winning both the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture and the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture. Notable projects by the practice include Town Hall House and Sydney Square (1977) and more recently, the Royal Agricultural Showground Exhibition Halls and restoration of the State Library of Victoria.

As at 2022, Conrad Gargett employed over 200 staff and worked in varying scales and sectors including commercial, community and civic, defence, education and research, health, heritage, infrastructure, justice, residential, retail and Hospitality, seniors living, sport and leisure, transport, urban design and masterplanning, and workplace and interior design.

On 5 April 2023, it was announced that Conrad Gargett would merge with another large Australian practice Architectus, to create a 'super firm' of over 700 employees.

Notable works

Conrad Gargett has designed some of Australia's landmark buildings, predominately in Queensland, including the following major architectural projects:

See also

• Architecture of Australia

References

1. ^ Neale, Douglas (September 2005). "Conrad Gargett Architecture: 12 decades of design". Architecture Australia: 33–4.
2. ^ "A New Firm of Architects". The Brisbane Courier. 5 January 1907. p. 5. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "St Paul's Anglican Church and Columbarium (entry 602826)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
4. ^ "Tristrams West End Market". Australian Heritage Database. Australia: Department of Environment. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014.
5. "Nurses' Homes, Royal Brisbane Hospital (including Lady Lamington and Blocks 1 and 2) (entry 600223)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
6. ^ De Gruchy, Graham (1994). A study of change in the built environment with special reference to urban and architectural design in Brisbane's central business district core and core periphery (PhD thesis). University of Queensland.
7. ArchitectureAU (2017). "An 'impossible task': 125 years of practice collected in Conrad Gargett: 1890–2015" (Editorial). Architecture Media. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
8. Bleby, Michael (18 January 2014). "How architect firms compete in a consolidating industry". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
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10. Moody, Ann-Maree (18 January 2014). "Defence buildings: design with a military precision". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
11. ^ Fraser, Magie. "Robert Riddel, Geoff Cook and David Gole of Riddel Architecture". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014.
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13. ^ Architects for the New Millennium. Images Publishing. 2000. ISBN 978-1-86470-079-4.
14. "People - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
15. "Home - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
16. Brown, Ray (5 April 2023). "Gargett merge to expand national design capability". Architectus.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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18. "Search". Queensland Heritage Register. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014.
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21. "Brisbane Fire Brigade Station, ca. 1899". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
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23. "Former Wesley Church and Parsonage". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
24. "Brisbane Fruit & Produce Market/Exchange (former)". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
25. "THE QUEENSLAND BREWERY COMPANY". The Brisbane Courier. 9 January 1906. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
26. "Residence 'Denila' (former)". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
27. "Ithaca Town Council Chambers and Red Hill Kindergarten (former) (entry 602058)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
28. "McWhirters Marketplace (entry 600214)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
29. "Desmond Chambers". Brisbane Heritage Register. Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
30. "St Paul's Anglican Church and Columbarium (entry 602826)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
31. "Untitled". The Brisbane Courier. 31 August 1926. p. 9. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
32. "Craigston (entry 600165)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
33. "Masonic Temple (entry 600074)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
34. ^ "St John's Cathedral (entry 600076)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
35. "National Australia Bank (entry 600141)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
36. "Brisbane Boys College (entry 600337)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
37. "Nurses' Homes, Royal Brisbane Hospital (including Lady Lamington and Blocks 1 and 2) (entry 600223)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
38. "Somerville House (entry 600305)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
39. "David Jones (entry 600142)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
40. "Nurses' Quarters at the South Brisbane General Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, 1958". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
41. ^ Moulis, Antony; Wilson, Andrew (2010). University of Queensland Centenary Architecture Campus Map (Map). St Lucia: University of Queensland.
42. "NEW T.B. SANATORIUM FOR CHERMSIDE". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 7 July 1952. p. 5. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
43. ^ Discover Brisbane architecture (PDF) (Map). Brisbane Modern Magazine. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014.
44. "Archbishop's Chapel in Hamilton, Queensland, 1965". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
45. "Metropolitan Fire Brigade Head Station in Brisbane, Queensland, 1964". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
46. "Block 8 of the Royal Brisbane Hospital at Herston, Queensland, 1970". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
47. ^ "Conrad Gargett Riddel History – Conrad Gargett". CGR Architects. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
48. "The Mansions (entry 600119)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
49. "St Martin's House (entry 600075)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
50. "Brisbane Customs House (entry 600156)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
51. "Brisbane City Hall (entry 600065)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
52. "Spring Hill Baths (entry 600313)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
53. "St Stephens Cathedral (entry 600107)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
54. "Blackall Woolscour". Conrad Gargett. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
55. "Warroo Shire Hall (entry 602612)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
56. "Old Government House (entry 600118)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
57. "St Stephen's Hospital Hervey Bay". St Stephen's Hospital. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
58. "Conrad Gargett Riddel". Architecture and Design. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016.
59. "Health & Aged Care Architecture Projects". Architecture & Design. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
60. "ACU St John Paul II Building T - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
61. "General Electric Headquarters - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
62. "Retail & Office Architecture". Architecture & Design. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
63. "Australia's The Piano Mill by Conrad Gargett – Winner at the World Architecture Festival 2018 - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
64. Crombie, David (12 December 2018). "The Piano Mill Wins Prestigious Architecture Award". WORLD PIANO NEWS. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
65. "World Architecture Festival: Conrad Gargett's Piano Mill strikes winning note". Australian Financial Review. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
66. "Griffith University Aquatic Centre and Gym - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
67. "UQ Whitty Building - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
68. "St Laurence's STEM and Sports Centre - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
69. "QUT Gardens Point OJW Conference Venue - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
70. "Africa Hall Redevelopment - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
71. "Coorparoo Square - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
72. "Queensland Theatre's Bille Brown Theatre - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
73. "North Shore State School - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
74. "Sydney Ferry Wharves Upgrade Project - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
75. "Maritimo - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
76. "Ogden Street Transport Revitalisation Project - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
77. "Proserpine Administration and Local Disaster Coordination Centre - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
78. "Smalls Road Public School - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
79. "Rockhampton Performing Arts and Convention Centre - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
80. "Newcastle Station Stage 2 Redevelopment & Public Realm - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
81. "Building 8, RNA Showgrounds - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
82. "Building 8, RNA Showgrounds – 2022 National Architecture Awards – Australian Institute of Architects". www.architecture.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
83. "York Street - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
84. "Timbin House | Conrad Gargett". Architecture & Design. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
85. "Timbin House - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
86. "Timbin House / Conrad Gargett". ArchDaily. 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
87. "Minokō - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
88. "Queensland Rail Station Design Manual - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
89. "Queensland Rail Station Design Manual". Good Design. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
90. "Rockhampton Museum of Art - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
91. "Thomas Dixon Centre, Home of the Queensland Ballet - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
92. "Redevelopment of Queensland Ballet HQ complete". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
93. Edition, The Weekend (26 September 2022). "The Thomas Dixon Centre has reopened after a $100 million makeover". The Weekend Edition | What's on in Brisbane. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
94. "Conrad Gargett future-proofs Queensland Ballet". Australian Design Review. 8 August 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
95. "Our Building". Thomas Dixon Centre. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
96. "Redevelopment Plans for Queensland Ballet's Thomas Dixon Centre Released". West End Today. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
97. "National School Building at Warwick East State School - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
98. "Mohammed bin Salman "Misk" Foundation Centre - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
99. "Australian practice Conrad Gargett wins competition for the world's first non-profit city". Architecture & Design. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
100. "Great Barrier Reef authority office building approved". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
101. "The HIVE - Conrad Gargett". www.conradgargett.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
102. "Construction & Architecture News". Architecture & Design. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.

External links

• Digital Archive of Queensland Architecture
• Fryer Library Database (Conrad Gargett Collection)
• Book review: Conrad Gargett

• Architecture firms of Australia
• Companies based in Brisbane
• Design companies established in 1890
• 1890 establishments in Australia