The new cruise liner passenger processing facilities spearhead an urban renewal of the Cairns wharf precinct. The existing heritage structure is newly cloaked with an exterior skin of Colorbond steel and insulation, leaving the original fabric largely visible inside. Steel-framed windows installed all around the exterior skin let natural light in, open up views and make the interior heritage fabric visible from the outside.

IN BRIEF

Renovate and restore an abandoned wharf shed into a modern cruise passenger terminal - and preserve the heritage fabric of the original structure.

ARCHITECT’S WORDS

Wharf Shed 3 was originally constructed in 1914 as part of the sequence of sheds servicing port operations in Cairns. The wharf structure itself was one of the first concrete wharves to be built in Australia in 1910 and is the primary reason for the listing of the precinct on the Queensland State Heritage Register in 2000.

The wharf precinct still operates as a working wharf however goods loading from the sheds ceased in the 1960s. As a result, the sheds became redundant structures and a few were even demolished. As part of a greater urban renewal of the wharf precinct, Wharf Shed 3 was nominated as the location for the new cruise liner passenger processing facilities.

The key design philosophy for the project was retain as much of the heritage fabric as possible and to create contemporary insertions containing necessary amenities required for operations and openings into the existing fabric. The insertions had to be easily discernible and “polished” using materials which are sympathetic to the heritage fabric. As part of the conditions set by the Department of Environment and Resource Management, any modification or insertion into the shed had to be easily reversible. This influenced the team to apply a “skin” to parts of the building where required for structural upgrades or thermal insulation.

One of the most impressive elements of the heritage fabric is the timber portal frames and girts, which were only experienced from the inside of the shed. By inserting steel frame glass windows into the external skin, the timber structure is revealed to the exterior and the windows allow plentiful natural light to penetrate the space, further highlighting the structure. The windows also allow the magnificent views across Trinty Inlet to be experienced from the interior.

ACCOLADES

  • AIA National Awards, Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage Architecture 2011
  • Australian Institute of Building Professionals Excellence Awards, Commercial 2011
  • Engineers Australia Award, Project of the Year, Cairns Region 2011
  • National Trust Queensland, John Herbert Memorial Award, Most Outstanding 2011
  • National Trust Queensland, Gold Heritage Award for Heritage Conservation 2011
  • CCAA Public Domain Awards, Commendation for Public Precincts 2011
  • AIA Queensland, Don Roderick Award for Heritage Architecture 2011
  • AIA Far North Queensland Awards, Eddie Oribin Building of the Year 2011

PRODUCTS

STRUCTURE
HARDWOOD TIMBER FRAME STRENGTHENED WITH STEEL REINFORCEMENTS

WALLS
EXISTING – Z600 BARREL ROLL PROFILE SHEETING, REPLACED LIKE FOR LIKE AS NECESSARY
NEW – COLOURBOND STAINLESS STEEL CORRUGATED SHEETING OVER INSULATION, STRAMIT PREMIER 300 COLOURBOND STAINLESS STEEL CLADDING, SUNTUF POLYCARBONATE SHEETING, BLOCKWORK, OFF FORM CONCRETE

FLOORS
BROOM FINISHED GREY AND COLOURED CONCRETE, HONED CONCRETE, SPOTTED GUM DECKING

ROOF
EXISTING – Z600 BARREL ROLL PROFILE SHEETING
NEW – COLOURBOND ULTRA STEEL CORRUGATED SHEETING OVER INSULATION

WINDOWS
STEEL FRAME WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE GLASS

EXTERNAL DOORS
EXISTING – CARGO DOORS RESTORED AND REPAINTED
NEW – TIMBER FRAME WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE GLASS INFILL

BALUSTRADES
OFF FORM CONCRETE, STAINLESS STEEL AND FRAMELESS GLASS

HANDRAILS
STAINLESS STEEL

AWNINGS
COMPRESSED FIBRE CEMENT

SEATS
SPOTTED GUM BATTENS, OFF CORM CONCRETE, RECYCLED WHARF TIMBER

BOLLARDS
OFF FORM CONCRETE, RECYCLED WHARF TIMBER

STRUCTURE
EXISTING – HARDWOOD TIMBER FRAME
NEW – STEEL AND HARDWOOD BRACE FRAMES

WALLS
EXISTING – Z600 BARREL ROLL PROFILE SHEETING
BATHROOMS – VITRIFIED TILES, CERAMIC MOSAICS AND CLOURBACK GLASS

FLOORS
POLISHED CONCRETE TOPPING SLAB WITH BRASS CONTROL JOINTS, CARPERT TILES IN OFFICES, SHEET VINYL IN PREPARATION AREAS

CEILINGS
PLASTERBOARD, SPOTTED GUM BATTENS

TRIM
SPOTTED GUM

SEAT
OFF FORM CONCRETE

WORKSTATIONS
ERGO SYSTEMS

MOVABLE PARTITIONS
ERGO SYSTEMS

WORKSTATION CHAIRS
UCI

BATHROOMS
CAROMA, BASINS, TOILET SEATS AND URINALS
ENWARE AUSTRALIA, ENIGNATIC TAPWARE
BRITEX AND BARBEN INDUSTRIES, ACCESSORIES

TOILET PARTITIONS
LAMINEX, PARTITION SYSTEM

PREPARATION AREAS AND WET ROOM
MOULDED STAINLESS STEEL SINKS

PREPARATION AREA JOINERY
RECONSTITUTED BENCH TOPS, RECYCLED TIMBER FASCIA PANEL

AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS
PAINTED STEEL

VENTILATION
BIG ASS FANS AUSTRALIA

LIGHTING
THORN LIGHTING, RAYLINC, ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING, ISM

DOOR HARDWARE
LOCKWOOD AUSTRALIA AND CANTOR