WILLIS PIPE ORGAN – BRISBANE CITY HALL
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Brisbane City Hall Organ is one of the best preserved examples of a five-manual Father Henry Willis Organ anywhere in the world.
SKILLS SHOWCASED
French Polishing
LOCATION
Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland
PROJECT TIMEFRAME
2012
CLIENT
Pierce Pipe Organs (the company engaged to restore the pipe organ)
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The organ was built in 1891-92 by Henry Willis and Sons, London, for the Brisbane Exhibition Building (subsequently the Queensland Art Gallery and Museum) in Bowen Park. The organ was purchased in January 1900 by the Brisbane City Council, and it remained in the Exhibition Building until it was removed in 1927 for rebuilding, enlarging and installation in the new Brisbane City Hall.
In 2010, Pierce Pipe Organs was engaged by Brisbane City Council to remove, restore and reinstall the organ. Pierce Pipe Organs subcontracted the French polishing component of the restoration to Barnes Construction & Joinery. French polishing is a wood finishing technique that results in a very high gloss surface.
This project required delicate work over a large volume of material, incorporating the removal of existing coatings without damaging the wood and then French polishing. Barnes Construction & Joinery also assisted with the reinstalling of the casework into Brisbane City Hall.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- A key challenge of this project involved removing existing polyurethane coatings without solvents. This was done mechanically so not as to damage / impact the wood. Removal of the coatings was in line with the Burra Charter.
- This was a large scale polishing project requiring considerable labour and meticulous attention to detail.