The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.
14 July 2006
National Portrait Gallery Construction Contract Awarded
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Richard Colbeck, and the Minister for the Arts and Sports, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced that John Holland Pty Ltd had been selected as the construction contractor for the new National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
“Some of Australia’s most experienced construction companies tendered for this project but John Holland Pty Ltd presented the strongest tender. This is a complex project that will make a significant contribution to strengthening the arts in Australia,” said Senator Colbeck.
In November 2004, the Australian Government committed to fund a dedicated building for the National Portrait Gallery.
“The appointment of the builder completes the team for the delivery of this prestigious project. John Holland Pty Ltd will now work with the project manager, APP Corporation, and the architects, Johnson Pilton Walker Pty Ltd, to finalise the design—with construction expected to start later this year,” said Senator Kemp.
John Holland Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s oldest and most experienced contractors. It has a track record of successfully completing large, complex and technically challenging projects including major public projects such as Parliament House in Canberra.
John Holland Pty Ltd was selected following a national two-stage tender process. In October 2005, the Department of Finance and Administration issued a national invitation for Registrations of Interest for the Project Construction Contractor. Six firms responded and, in January 2006, a short list of four firms was invited to proceed to the Request for Tender stage.
The new National Portrait Gallery will be built in Canberra’s Parliamentary Zone, adjacent to the High Court of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia.
Media contacts
Senator Colbeck’s office – Aaron Oldaker 6277 5815
Senator Kemp’s office – Michael Christo 0409 040 276
National Portrait Gallery—construction contract
Background to the media release
Project Construction Contractor—John Holland Pty Ltd
John Holland Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected general contractors.
As one of the nation’s largest and most experienced contractors, the John Holland Group’s capabilities span all facets of civil engineering and building construction. Its 57-year history includes a track record of delivering projects within clients’ budgets and programs, especially high profile public projects similar to the National Portrait Gallery. Examples include:
- Parliament House, Canberra
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra
- Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant, ACT
- Replacement Research Reactor, ANSTO, Lucas Heights, NSW
- Wollongong Hospital, NSW
- Sydney Showground, Homebush, NSW
Project architects—Johnson Pilton Walker Pty Ltd
Johnson Pilton Walker Pty Ltd (JPW) was selected to design the National Portrait Gallery following an international design competition in 2005. JPW’s design provides the National Portrait Gallery with a simple, elegant one-storey building which will be both accessible and inviting to the Australian community. The design embodies the purpose of the National Portrait Gallery including its commemorative, celebratory, community and educational roles. It includes elegant gallery spaces, with visual connections to the surrounding tree-filled setting. A light filled entry hall includes views to the Land Axis and adjacent National Gallery of Australia.
National Portrait Gallery—background
The National Portrait Gallery is a significant national cultural institution which aims to increase understanding of the Australian people—our identity, history, creativity and culture—through portraiture.
In November 2004, the Australian Government committed to fund a dedicated building for the National Portrait Gallery. The project budget is $73.6 million.
The new National Portrait Gallery will be constructed in the heart of Canberra, near other national cultural institutions on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. The site is in the Arts and Civic Campus of the Parliamentary Zone, next to the High Court of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia. It is planned to have a gross floor area of approximately 14 000 square metres and will include gallery spaces for the collection, as well as temporary exhibitions, public areas, café, function room, education and schools group area, theatrette, art storage, administration facilities and basement car parking.
More details are at www.portrait.gov.au