Witton Barracks Park and Creative Community Hub project
Brisbane City Council is pleased to announce that the Community Hub at Witton Barracks Park is now complete.
The Community Hub was delivered to expand Brisbane’s network of cultural and creative infrastructure for use by Brisbane residents. The facility will operate under a community lease with White Box Enterprises.
Since acquiring the site in 2016 Brisbane City Council progressively remediated and upgraded the Witton Barracks site. Works were undertaken in stages over several years to deliver a facility that celebrates Brisbane’s history and creates more creative spaces for the community.
Witton Barracks is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and played a vital role in military intelligence during World War II. The three cell block buildings on the site are of significant historical interest as they are the only purpose-built World War II interrogation buildings for Prisoners of War in Australia.
Summary
| Address | Witton Barracks, 9 Lambert Road, Indooroopilly |
|---|---|
| Ward | Walter Taylor Ward |
| Project outcomes | This project established the site as a park with facilities for community use. |
| Latest update | Construction is complete. |
About the project
The Witton Barracks Park and Community Hub project has been delivered in stages. Works completed to date include:
| Year | Completed project works |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Site investigations and priority rectification works were undertaken to secure the buildings within the former military site and prevent them from falling into disrepair. |
| 2017 | An green open space was created for community access. This involved establishing approximately 5000 square metres at the front of the Witton Barracks site (bordering Lambert Road) as open space for the community to enjoy. Community consultation was also undertaken to help shape the long-term vision for the site. |
| 2018 | Council completed maintenance works to the heritage buildings, including repair and repainting of joinery, gutters, fascias, soffits and roof sheeting. The first picnic shelter was constructed and benches were installed in the open space at Witton Barracks Park. |
| 2019 | Council installed a new playground and a second picnic shelter in the new park at the front of the site. |
| 2022 | Council completed an upgrade to site services. The service upgrade included new connections to the Energex and Urban Utilities’ networks, as well as the realignment of the services within the Barracks site to connect the buildings. |
| 2024 | The Witton Barracks Community Hub project was completed. |
Witton Barracks Community Hub project
The Community Hub provides creative infrastructure for use by Brisbane residents. White Box Enterprises has entered a lease with Council to manage the site now that works are completed.
The project involved:
- refurbishing the three cell blocks for community use
- refurbishing the former HQ building for multi-use community spaces
- restoring the Motor Transport Cover and revitalising the exercise yard
- new pathways and landscaping
- on-site parking for creative community hub users
The refurbishment of the Witton Barracks buildings and surrounding site into a Community Hub was jointly funded by the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council.
More information
If you would like to ask questions or find out more about Witton Barracks Park and Community Hub you can visit the White Box Enterprises website or phone Council on 07 3403 8888.