By Tania Phillips
Stanthorpe’s old Queensland Fruitgrowers Store (QFS) is moving a step closer to being a major community hub right in the heart of Stanthorpe – it just needs a little help from it’s friends according to Artworks Granite Belt Secretary Mary Rofe.
The Artworks organisation has taken the lead role in revitalising the Stanthorpe Railway Precinct for community use and enjoyment.
Mary said the goal for all stakeholders was to bring the community together, develop the existing sense of ownership, accentuate the meaning of this place in the heritage of the Granite Belt and ensure that future generations have a sense of history and place.
Artworks has leased the precinct for 10 years and she said in that time, they have refurbished the Heritage Stanthorpe Railway Station, installed a disability toilet and ramp, created a community café and public garden in what was a derelict weed infested space.
All this has been possible through volunteers, grant funding and proceeds from the café.
She said the garden was created during the severe drought that Stanthorpe experienced. The plants chosen and the mulching and volunteer care has ensured that this garden survived and has become a focal point for our town.
And now it’s time to complete the last part of the puzzle and turn the QFS building into another usable and useful space.
“We are really looking for support for our QFS project, I’ve got three grant applications to write this week,” Mary said.
“We’re short of committee members because we’re in the older age group and some of us aren’t well and have to move on.
“We’d love to get more volunteers involved and more brains that are fresher and energetic and get them working on it.
“We know that there are a lot of retirees that are coming to live in this area, I’m sure there are some able people out there that could point us in the right direction.
“At the moment with the QFS building we’re looking for practical people, people who have built things or who know about planning or anything like that.”
“We are looking for Volunteers, we’re looking for funds and what we’re going to produce is a community hub which will have a tribute to the agricultural industry in the area in it as a museum and the rest of the space will be a health and fitness focussed area. The yoga people are interested in it, some natural health people are interested in having a bit of space. Whistlestop Garden want to expand and do workshops and things.
“Other than that, we hope to have pop-up shops, Wi-Fi for people come here. We have a lot of itinerant professional people who come here who do accounting, legal stuff, who come to see clients. They need somewhere where they can have a pop-up office, hot desk.
“We want to make it a place where people feel comfortable, where they can come and carry out business, enjoy a dance class, do some painting, some pottery. I was just talking to a lady in the street today who was looking for a space set up pottery classes.
“That’s what it can become.”
The first major project in the rehabilitation of the building – the stumps – have now been done.
“It’s time to charge ahead with the rest of the building,” Mary said.
“We’ve got enough money to do the disabled access and then it all falls back into my court to raise more money.
“We can take donations or a few months ago a retired builder came in and gave us free advice and hands-on help. If someone wants to come in and help us with the plumbing and earth-moving – anything they would be welcome.”
She said the group wanted the community to feel like they really owned the building.
“If they helped build it then they will really own it,” Mary said.
“They will be able to look up there and say not only is this a tribute to our ancestors who came here and worked the farms but it’s also that we can use today and our children and grandchildren.
“It’s right in the heart of town so it can be part of everything that happens in town, the big festivals Apple and Grape, Snowflakes, and other things where people need spaces.
“We’ve had weddings up there because we took the deserted spaces out friend and turned it into a garden. Young couples come up and get their photos taken and have their ceremonies there. There’s a place where people can play games – pickleball and bocce.”
Artworks is facilitating it, but they want the whole community to embrace the space.
The QFS building lies within the Stanthorpe Railway precinct and is of heritage significance. It has its origins in the co-operative movement in Queensland and played a significant role in the development of the fruit growing industry.
In the 1890’s, with the growth of agriculture in the State groups of farmers formed co-operatives to provide benefits to members and to help market the produce. One of the most successful of these was one started at Woombye which eventually became the Queensland Fruitgrowers Society. The QFS building in Stanthorpe is the only one left within a railway precinct.
ArtWorks Granite Belt is a creative community space; a hub dedicated to building connections, inspiring new ideas, bringing diverse visions as well as expanding opportunities.
They offer learning experiences to the entire community by providing a strong sense of place where artisans and community groups can create, learn, and display their creativity in a unique, inclusive, and welcoming environment.
Mary said it is a space where the entire community and their values are accepted.
She said their programs and events are available to a broad demographic. Men, women, and children regardless of age and/or ability can participate in a range of opportunities.
Mary said those wanting to help revitalise the QFS building can contact her through the Artworks Granit Belt website and Facebook.
