Conrad Gargett


Conrad Gargett is an Australian architectural practice, founded in Brisbane in 1890 and is one of Queensland's oldest architectural firms.
The practice operates out of studios in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Townsville and Addis Ababa.

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 a number of 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, 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 became a prominent designer of commercial office towers in the Brisbane CBD. Most notable of these were the SGIO Building including the SGIO Theatre 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 and Ancher Mortlock Woolley. 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.
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 and more recently, the Royal Agricultural Showground Exhibition Halls and restoration of the State Library of Victoria.

Notable works

Conrad Gargett has designed some of Australia's landmark buildings predominately in Queensland, including the following major architectural projects:
CompletedFirm nameProject nameLocationAwardNotes
1890HW AtkinsonFire Brigade Head Station, Ann & Edward StBrisbane City
1892HW AtkinsonCoorparoo School of Arts and RSL Memorial HallCoorparoo
1903HW AtkinsonWesleyan Methodist Church, Linton StreetKangaroo Point
1906HW AtkinsonBrisbane Fruit & Produce Markets, Turbot StBrisbane
1906HW AtkinsonQueensland Brewery Fortitude Valley
1907HW Atkinson & Charles McLayFire Station, Ann & Wharf StBrisbane
1907HW Atkinson & Charles McLayVilla Residence "Denila", for FAJ Isles, Jordan Tce
1909HW Atkinson & Charles McLayIthaca Town Council ChambersRed Hill
1910HW Atkinson & Charles McLayFitzroy Chambers Brisbane City
1910HW Atkinson & Charles McLayMcWhirters & Son, Wickham & Warner St
1912HW Atkinson & Charles McLayDesmond Chambers, Adelaide StBrisbane City
1918HW Atkinson & Charles McLayChurch of England Grammar School East Brisbane
1918HW Atkinson & Charles McLayTrades and Labour HallBrisbane City
1920Atkinson & ConradThe Southport SchoolSouthport
1923Atkinson & ConradSt Paul's Anglican Church and ColumbariumEast Brisbane
1925Atkinson & ConradGordon and Gotch, Adelaide StBrisbane City
1926Atkinson & ConradAtcherley Private Hotel, Adelaide StBrisbane City
1926Atkinson & ConradCraigston Apartments, Wickham TceSpring Hill
1926Atkinson & ConradBlock 2 & Block 3, Royal Brisbane HospitalHerston
1927Atkinson & ConradResidence and rooms for Dr Hedley BrownNundah
1927Atkinson & ConradMasonic Temple, Ann St Brisbane City
1928Atkinson, Powell & ConradSt John's Cathedral Brisbane City
1928Atkinson, Powell & ConradNational Australia Bank Brisbane City
1929Atkinson, Powell & ConradBrisbane Boys' College
1929Atkinson, Powell & ConradLady Lamington Nurses Home, Royal Brisbane HospitalHerston
1930Atkinson, Powell & ConradRoyal Women's Hospital, Royal Brisbane HospitalHerston
1930Atkinson, Powell & ConradTristram's Factory West End
1934Atkinson, Powell & ConradSomerville House LibrarySouth Brisbane
1935Atkinson, Powell & ConradCourier-Mail Building, Queen StBrisbane City
1935Atkinson, Powell & ConradFinney Isles & Co Building, Queen St Brisbane City
1951AH Conrad & TBF GargettSouth Brisbane Auxiliary Hospital
1953AH Conrad & TBF GargettCromwell College, University of Queensland
1953AH Conrad & TBF GargettPrince Charles Hospital
1954AH Conrad & TBF GargettSt John's College, University of QueenslandSt Lucia
1955AH Conrad & TBF GargettMLC, Adelaide & Edward StBrisbane City
1958AH Conrad & TBF GargettWomen's College, University of QueenslandSt Lucia
1960AH Conrad & TBF GargettSt John's Cathedral Brisbane City
1960AH Conrad & TBF GargettPhysiology Lecture Theatres, University of QueenslandSt Lucia
1961AH Conrad & TBF GargettCommonwealth Bank Building, King George SquareBrisbane City
1962AH Conrad & TBF GargettQueensland NewspapersBowen Hills
1963AH Conrad & TBF GargettBishopsbourne
1963AH Conrad & TBF GargettSir William MacGregor Building, University of QueenslandSt Lucia
1965AH Conrad & TBF GargettHead Fire Station, Kemp PlaceFortitude Valley
1965AH Conrad & TBF GargettThe Age NewspapersTullamarine, Melbourne
1967AH Conrad & TBF GargettSGIO Offices and TheatreBrisbane City
1968AH Conrad & TBF GargettBlock 7 & Block 8, Royal Brisbane HospitalHerston
1970AH Conrad & TBF GargettBrisbane Administration Centre and City PlazaBrisbane City
1971AH Conrad & TBF GargettANZ Head Office, Queen & Creek StBrisbane City
1971AH Conrad & TBF Gargett100 George Street, Executive Building Brisbane City
1972AH Conrad & TBF GargettCentral Railway Administration Building, Central Station Brisbane City
1973AH Conrad & TBF GargettComalco House, George & Ann St Brisbane City
1974AH Conrad & TBF GargettNational Bank House Brisbane City
1978Conrad Gargett and PartnersNational Mutual Centre, Edward & Charlotte St Brisbane City
1981Conrad Gargett and PartnersSantos House and Rowes Arcade, Adelaide StBrisbane City
1981Conrad Gargett and PartnersQueensland Parliament House Brisbane City
1982Conrad Gargett and PartnersSheraton Hotel, Central StationBrisbane City
1983Conrad Gargett and PartnersThe Mansions, George StBrisbane City
1985Conrad Gargett and PartnersQueensland Mapping and Surveying BuildingWoolloongabba
1989Conrad Gargett and PartnersCommonwealth Bank Head Office, Queen & Edward StBrisbane City
1990Conrad Gargett and PartnersSt Martin's House, St John's Cathedral PrecinctBrisbane City
1991Conrad Gargett and PartnersQueensland NewspapersMurarrie
1992Conrad Gargett and PartnersState Law Building, Ann StBrisbane City
1993Conrad Gargett and PartnersTherapies and Anatomy, University of QueenslandSt Lucia
1995Conrad GargettBrisbane Customs HouseBrisbane CBD
1996Conrad GargettBalmoral Water ReserveBrisbane City--
1999Conrad GargettBrisbane City HallBrisbane City
2000Conrad GargettAustralian Catholic University MasterplanBanyo--
2000Conrad GargettSpring Hill BathsBrisbane City
2001Conrad GargettRAAF Base Amberley RedevelopmentAmberley--
2001Conrad GargettSt Stephens CathedralBrisbane City
2003Conrad GargettBlackall Woolscour conservationBlackall
2004Conrad GargettBrisbane City HallBrisbane City--
2004Conrad GargettCombined Mess Facility, RAAF Base TownsvilleTownsville--
2004Conrad GargettClinical Science Building I Griffith UniversityBrisbane City--
2005Conrad GargettState Library of Victoria RedevelopmentMelbourne City--
2006Conrad GargettSt Stephen's Cathedral PrecinctBrisbane City--
2009Conrad GargettWarroo Shire HallWarroo
2009Conrad GargettBarambah StationBarambah--
2009Conrad GargettHoly Spirit Seminary, Brisbane Australian Catholic UniversityBanyo--
2009Conrad GargettOld Government House Conservation and AdaptationGardens Point
2009Conrad GargettFormer Wests Furniture ShowroomFortitude Valley--
2010Conrad GargettQueen Victoria Building RefurbishmentSydney CBD--
2011Conrad GargettAustralian Tropical Science Innovation ProjectTownsville-
2012Conrad GargettHarvey's BistroFortitude Valley--
2013Conrad GargettEmergency Shelter CompetitionBrisbane City
2013Conrad GargettBDO WorkplaceBrisbane--
2013Conrad GargettHarrison Grierson WorkplaceBrisbane--
2013Conrad GargettGoddard Building Rooftop Expansion University of QueenslandSt Lucia
2013Conrad GargettMt Isa Hospital Redevelopment--
2014Conrad GargettSt Stephen's Hospital
2014Conrad GargettLady Cilento Children's Hospital South Brisbane
2015Conrad GargettSt John Paul II Building Australian Catholic UniversityBanyo--
2015Conrad GargettGE HeadquartersSpringfield--
2015Conrad GargettCoorparoo SquareCoorparoo--
Conrad GargettBrian Wilson Chancellery, University of QueenslandSt Lucia--