HUTCHIES’
SON HIN HUBTUCIL DERS
HUTCHIES’
2017
105 1912
YEARS
A Q U A R T E R LY N E W S L E T T E R F O R H U T C H I N S O N B U I L D E R S
M AY 2018
Work on live entertainment venues is music to the Chairman’s ears
CHAIRMAN Scott Hutchinson is enjoying his work more than usual these days with four major Hutchies’ projects involved in the live entertainment and music industry – his other lifelong passion after building. The four projects have a combined estimated value of almost $55 million. They include: • The Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda, Melbourne; • Palais Theatre, on the opposite side of the street to The Esplanade; • Fortitude Hall (working title) in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane; and, • The Queensland Theatre Company, South Brisbane.
I I I HUTCHIES started work in January on a major renovation of The Esplanade Hotel, better known to Melburnians as The Espy. The hotel is the longest continuously running live music venue in Australia. Built in 1878, the venue was listed by the National Trust in 1990. The Espy has a patron capacity of 1,752 and is a venue for the SBS television show, RocKwiz. Renovation works include 10 new bars, new dining areas, gallery, library, lounges and a new glazed operable roof to create an outdoor terrace area, while maintaining the character
The Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda, Melbourne.
Overseas research on international entertainment venues included a visit to The Fillmore in Philadelphia. and feel of the Gershwin Room – the pub’s live music room. The venue will re-open in December.
I I I WORK has finished on the Palais Theatre, across the road from The Espy. The Palais opened in 1927 and has a capacity of 2,896 patrons, making it the largest seated theatre in Australia. The former cinema is considered to be one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the country and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. Hutchies’ role was to refurbish the interior, including restoration of both domed ceilings, installation of a new bar, construction of
a new “wintergarden” to the front of the building and addition of a western annexe and passenger lift to house the administration and a private function space. The Palais is ranked in the top 20 theatre concert venues in the world.
I I I HUTCHIES’ team has started work to convert what was once the Optus Centre at 312 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley into a live music, performance and event venue for an audience of up to 3,300. Hutchies owns the property which is destined to fill the need for a mid-sized music and performance venue to replace Brisbane’s Festival Hall which closed in 2003. Fortitude Hall will be a world-class venue, with the project leaders having visited and researched international live entertainment locations, including The Fillmore in Philadelphia, for the latest trends and technology in event presentation. Once developed, the Brunswick Street site will be operated by the same team behind Triffid (Hutchies’ other live music venue) which includes Paul Piticco from Secret Sounds Group and former Powderfinger
bassist, John (JC) Collins.
I I I QU E E NSL A N D T heat re Company has engaged Hutchies to carry out extensive refurbishment and upgrade works on its Bille Brown Studio and the adjacent external courtyard and bar areas in Montague Road, South Brisbane. The works are being carried out to accommodate up to 365 patrons by reconfiguring the stage to one corner of the theatre, with a surrounding tiered seating arrangement. The courtyard works involve complete demolition and the introduction of a covered suspended walkway providing access to the upper levels of seating, a lift, landscaping and façade refurbishments. Due to the close proximity of the works to Queensland Theatre Company’s main office and rehearsal rooms, consideration is necessary when carrying out demolition and internal/external piling. The project will be completed in July this year.
➤ Special offer from QTC to Hutchies’ families and friends – see P 3)