Queensland Fire and Emergency Services North Coast Regional Headquarters and Maryborough Fire and Rescue Station
Baber Studio. Maryborough, Australia
Timber design reimagines heritage site for public service.
This two-storey regional emergency services hub combines three new timber buildings with the adaptive reuse of a 1950s Art Deco fire station. The 2,695 m² project addresses the dual need for resilient public safety infrastructure and low-carbon construction.
The retained heritage bays provide a public museum and community venue, while new CLT and GLT structures host regional operations, training, and response facilities.
Locally sourced, certified timber, processed and manufactured by Hyne and XLAM, was central to the design, reducing embodied carbon by over 500 tonnes compared to concrete. Prefabricated panels cut waste, improved efficiency, and enabled rapid erection in just two weeks. The project stores carbon, supports Queensland’s timber economy, and shows that mass timber can effectively deliver complex public infrastructure initiatives.
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