Bethany on The Range, Rockhampton
From '74 to '78, I worked at Goodsir Baker Wilde at their St Lucia office. Bruce Goodsir (Bill Goodsir's son) had returned from England and was adding a new generation of life to the office. Whilst he worked on many Queensland projects, I was fully engaged with projects the office had in Papua New Guinea.
One of Bruce's biggest jobs was Bethany in Rockhampton and Ian White, another contemporary and friend who had joined the firm was his right hand man. 50 years later Bethany received an enduring architecture award from the Queensland chapter of the Institute. Bruce came up from Tasmania and spoke memorably about the building on the awards night at the Brisbane City Hall. Bethany was then due to proceed to the National Awards and there was a discussion amongst us about taking some better photos to improve its chances. Having been up to Rockhampton with Don Watson and Peter Skinner earlier in the year, I said that a photographer could not work miracles with the number of haphazard and obvious additions (mainly air conditioners) now on the building. Don suggested that maybe some works of art would better show the veneration in which the building was held.
I said I'd make a print to help out but I had barely started when news came through that Bethany had not made the 'short list.' (who knew there was such a list...there are only 6 states and a couple of territories after all?) I decided to complete the print as a tribute to the building and my friends who had made it and here it is, with the building cleaned up a little and some additional planting.
Hand coloured 500 x 280mm
Edition of 40 $490
One of Bruce's biggest jobs was Bethany in Rockhampton and Ian White, another contemporary and friend who had joined the firm was his right hand man. 50 years later Bethany received an enduring architecture award from the Queensland chapter of the Institute. Bruce came up from Tasmania and spoke memorably about the building on the awards night at the Brisbane City Hall. Bethany was then due to proceed to the National Awards and there was a discussion amongst us about taking some better photos to improve its chances. Having been up to Rockhampton with Don Watson and Peter Skinner earlier in the year, I said that a photographer could not work miracles with the number of haphazard and obvious additions (mainly air conditioners) now on the building. Don suggested that maybe some works of art would better show the veneration in which the building was held.
I said I'd make a print to help out but I had barely started when news came through that Bethany had not made the 'short list.' (who knew there was such a list...there are only 6 states and a couple of territories after all?) I decided to complete the print as a tribute to the building and my friends who had made it and here it is, with the building cleaned up a little and some additional planting.
Hand coloured 500 x 280mm
Edition of 40 $490