#Overview
This extraordinary project is the centrepiece of a major upgrade of the Qantas Founders Museum (QFM) in Longreach, the spiritual home of the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas). This two-stage project delivered an 8,000 square metre roof over the Air Park which is home to a collection of legendary Qantas aircraft including the mighty Boeing 747. It also included construction of a lift and viewing platform. These set the stage for a spectacular light and sound show. The team faced extreme conditions of the outback summer including heat, insects and strong winds.
#Details
Longreach, Queensland
Qantas Foundation Memorial
$12 million
Complete
2019 - 2020
NRA Collaborative
#Full circle
Delivering this important precinct for Qantas in its centenary year brings our contribution to the airline’s outback heritage full circle having built the museum in 2001. We restored the historic Qantas hangar at Longreach Airport converting it into a 3,150 square metre visitor’s centre complete with museum that traces the pioneering of aviation in Queensland. The 72-metre long roof over the visitor’s centre was the first time a roof of this length using the Klip-Lok system had been installed in the southern hemisphere.
“It was a great experience for Watpac to be involved again with QFM. We built the original stage in Longreach and to come back and build the roof over the iconic Jumbo 747 was fantastic for us.”
Barry Whewell, BESIX Watpac General Manager - Queensland and Northern Territory
#Awards
Steel Excellence Award - Large Buildings
Australian Steel Institute
2020
Tourism and Leisure Facilities over $10M
Master Builders Queensland (CQ)
2021
Project of the Year
Master Builders Queensland (CQ)
2021
