PROFESSIONALS: Hill Lockart’s team of architects, from left, Luke O’Connor, Ben Rapley, Nigel Parkinson and Lisa Maatsoo. Photos: Geoff O’Neill 18313GOA01
SCHOOLS across Australia were the winners under the Australian government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) program, and Hill Lockart Architects assisted with many of the new facilities in the North West and New England region.
“We were partially involved in the round one buildings and fully involved in all of rounds two and three,” Hill Lockart principal Greg Hill said.
“To get it all done we had 23 staff on board during that time.”
Greg said they have a strong base of professionals to draw from when needed and although the BER work was intense, it was highly satisfying.
“Around 60 per cent of our work is outside the Tamworth region.”
Hill Lockart has designed Coles shopping centres in South Grafton, Goondiwindi and Mudgee, as well as Tamworth’s Northgate and Southgate stores.
Lake Cathie, Coonabarabran, Toowoomba, Glen Innes and Armidale have Woolworth’s shopping centres designed by the Tamworth firm. Private developments such as Tamworth’s Centrepoint are also Hill Lockart designed.
“There are a number of large projects currently under way too,” Greg said.
These include a 100-plus bed development for Nambucca Valley Care, an aged care facility in Macksville on the Mid North Coast.
Hill Lockart has already been instrumental in the design of aged care facilities in Uralla, Murrurundi, Quirindi, Gunnedah, Tamworth and Banora Point.
Its designers are also converting the old Tamworth Bunnings hardware store into the new premises of Tamworth City Prestige.
Also under way is minor work, in collaboration with specialist hospital architects MSJ Architects, to assist in the rebuilding of Tamworth hospital.
This work involves the relocation of hospital departments and the demolition of old buildings to get the site ready for the rebuild.