The Friends of the Albert Hall is a national network for groups and individuals interested in the future of Canberra's historic Albert Hall.
November 28, 2010
Canberra City Band 85th Anniversary Concert
The Canberra City Band and Friends of Albert Hall presented the 85th Anniversary Canberra City Band Concert at The Albert Hall On November 24 .
Attended by over 200 people, the concert featured all ensembles in the band structure. The audience was treated to some great music ranging from Marches to jazz, musicals to classical.
This concert has sown the seeds for the regeneration of the hall. Here is a picture for your enjoyment.
July 28, 2010
Report on the cost of Capital Works
The ACT Auditor-General's recent report into ACT agency expenditure on capital works included references to the refurbishment of the Albert Hall since 2008. The report mentioned delays in completing the refurbishment due to extended community consultation and that the cost of the project had risen by $500,000 over the period.
While the ACTGovernment did extensively consult with the Friends of the Albert Hall during the refurbishment project, this was done through the Albert Hall Capital Works Reference Group on which the Friends were and continue to be represented and the consultation was not the cause of delays. In fact, as the Albert Hall is a Heritage listed property, the Reference Group was careful to institute a refurbishment program that met Heritage objectives.
Among other things this meant that the refurbishment of the roof required the Referece Group to source compatible roof tiles and this could only be done by ordering 20,000 hand made tiles from a supplier in Tasmania. No other major work could commence until the roof work was completed. As the tiles were not received till late 2009, the timetable for the completion of the major works was pushed back from 2008/09 till 2009/10. The roof refurbishment took less than a month after the tiles were received and the other major works were completed before the end of the 2009/10 financial year.
The Report also implied that the $500,000 was a cost over run, when in fact this amount represented a contribution from the Commonwealth Government which was promised during the last Federal election and which was provided to the ACT in the Commonwealth's 2009/10 Budget. As a result of this contribution the refurbishment budget was increased to $3.2m and the scope of works was adjusted accordingly.
February 10, 2010
Celebrate the 82nd Birthday in 2010, March 10
The Friends in conjunction with The National Trust and the ACT Government (ACT Property Group) presents a special event to celebrate the 82nd birthday of the Hall in 2010. As the Hall is going through the renovation programme, here is an opportunity to 'get inside' and see for yourself what has been done and what is still to be done.
A centrepiece of this event is an Expert Panel Session about the Hall and progress, bookended by entertainment.
The Friends is pleased announce that the key speaker on the Expert Panel will be Dr David Dawes, Chief Executive, Department of Land and Property Services who will deliver an address on Albert Hall refurbishment and the Plan of Mangement process. Mr Steven Ryan, Director, ACT Property Group, Department of Land and Property Services and Mr Andy Wilson, Senior Manager, Strategic Project Facilitation, Department of Land and Property Services, will be available to answer questions.
Read all about it: Click here for a fast downloading PDF with all the details
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