NQ DATE
M/ 134 19 September 1973
AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTS CHOSEN FOR NEW
EMBASSY BUILDINGSThe
Australian Government has commissioned six firms
* of Australian architects to design and supervise the building
of new Australian Embassy and High Commission buildings in
* Saigon, Suva, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Paris.
The last major chancery construction overseas was the
Australian Embassy Chancery at Washington which was designed in
1960 by Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, of Melbourne.
Announcing this today, the Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Whitlam,, mid that the architects
had been chosen after consideration by officers o -f the Department
of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Works.
Their selection had also been made in accordance with
the Government's intention that new buildings at Australian
diplomatic missions should not only be functional and efficient
but demonstrate overseas the qualities and skills of some of
Australia's leading architects.
Mr Whitlam said that the program of work comprised:-
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Post Australian Embassy, SAIGON
Australian High Commission, SUVA
Australian H-i gh
Commission, SINGAPORE
Australian High C omm iss ion,
KUALJA LUMPUR
Australian Embassy, BANGKO K
Australian Embassy, PARIS Pro jects
Chancery Ambassador' s
Residence Chancery Chancery Chancery and
Ambassador' s
Residence Chancery and
Ambassador' s
Residence Architects
Leighton Contractors of'
Sydney
Daryl Jackson
Evan Walker of
Melbourne Godfrey and
Spowers of
Melbourne Joyce/ Nankivell
Associates of
Melbourne Archer, Mortlock
Murray and Woolley
Harry Seidler
Associates of
Sydney Estimated Completion Date
November 1974
June 1975
June 1976
September 1976
September 1976
June 1977
Mr Whitlam said that, in addition to this program of new
buildings, the Sydney firm of Peddle, Thorpe and Walker had been
commissioned to design substantial extensions to the Chancery in
Jakarta. A project involving t'he complete redesign ana
reconstruction of the Chancery and the Ambassador's residence in
Tokyo had also been undertaken by the Department of Works.
Mr Whitlam said that the estimated total cost of the
works was more than $ 32 million during the next three years.
This did not include fees for architects and other consultants,
which would amount to about ten per cent of the design and
construction costs.
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