Resurrecting an Australian Icon: rebuilding the Waltzing Matilda Centre in outback Queensland by Brian Jackson

Abstract

The rebuilding of the Waltzing Matilda Centre was a project of major national significance, funded collaboratively by Winton Shire Council and Queensland and Australian Governments. “Managing the rebuild of the Waltzing Matilda Centre was a career highlight” says Peak Services (formerly Local Government Infrastructure Service (LGIS)) project manager Brian Jackson, now Director, Asset and Project Services. Supported by project management principles in the public works arena, delivery of a $24M highly architectural project with an integrated world class museum experience in an outback Qld town whose community had a significant interest was made possible! The sequence of events from inception to completion yielded an immensely successful project. Process and sound management practice aside, the project could not have achieved such success without strong leadership, a vision, a can-do attitude, hard work, advocacy and resilience. According to Alan Rayment, former Winton CEO, the length and uniqueness of the project demonstrated how setting clear and simple objectives helped the team make decisions for the good of the project without getting side-tracked. “You’d be naive to think you could build a $24m project in the middle of Australia that would not have some issues.” Resurrecting an Australian Icon included options for the rebuild, negotiation with the insurer, business case development, securing funding and coordination of the whole design, approvals, procurement and construction processes from beginning to end. Join Mr Jackson on reliving the highs and highs of delivering the Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton, QLD leveraging his project management expertise in the local government arena. From its loss to fire in June 2015 to its opening in April 2018, the home of Australia’s unofficial national anthem resurrected from the ashes.