Mayne Hall restoration

Mayne Hall is being restored as a space for keynote lectures, music performances and graduations.

The University is restoring Mayne Hall as a space for keynote lectures, music performances and graduations.

The investment, backed by generous community support, will enhance the University’s cultural and events experience at St Lucia to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Mayne Bequest and the Art Museum’s 50th anniversary.

Opened in 1973, it hosted major University events before becoming the UQ Art Museum in 2004.

The restored pipe organ, which stands 2 storeys high and consists of 3,283 pipes, will remain a feature in the refurbished venue.

At the same time, the University will invest in a purpose-built, architecturally designed art gallery for the UQ Art Museum, located in the iconic Forgan Smith Tower.

The restored Mayne Hall is expected to be open for bookings in May 2027, with the aim for graduations to return from mid-2027. 

Features

The restored hall will accommodate more than 800 people with flexible seating arrangements and new mezzanine seating. The external pond will be removed to create a covered break out space, which will be complemented by landscaping. 

The design respects the building’s history by preserving its original fabric, showcasing the historic organ as part of the stage, and retaining the stained-glass windows in the foyer. 

During early works more than 3,190 metres of timber was reclaimed and 2,900 metres will be reused in the new hall design. 

Architect appointment

Property and Facilities is working with representatives of future user groups of Mayne Hall on the design and restoration plans.

Wilson’s Architects is leading the design, bringing their experience and expertise from working on the previous conversion of Mayne Hall to an art museum.

Managing construction impacts and maintaining safety

UQ and its contractors will aim to minimise disruption as much as possible.

A construction management plan is in place to ensure safety and minimise noise, dust, vibration and other disruptions as much as possible.

Works will be carried out from Monday to Friday between 6am and 6pm, with Saturday works by exception.

For more details, including parking and traffic changes, visit road and building works updates.

Protecting key features

During construction, special care is being taken to protect the historic pipe organ, and the coloured-glass windows (1972) by Nevil Matthews on the eastern side of the building.

The organ is enclosed in a sealed temporary structure with a filtered air system to manage temperature and protect it from construction activities including dust.

The coloured-glass windows are protected by a solid, full‑height temporary wall, sealed to keep out dust and fitted with ventilation and fans.

Current works

Internal stairwell installation and chiller expansion - October 2026

Construction will start on a new internal stairwell and fire escape at the north-western end of Mayne Hall. These works are mostly internal and include concrete cutting, drilling and general construction activities, generating intermittent construction noise.

Construction is also starting to expand the existing external chiller system that supports building operations. Activities include concrete removal, construction of a new enclosure, and installation of a new chiller unit. These are external works and general construction noise is anticipated from concrete cutting and construction machinery.

Internal works are also continuing to remove internal structures and fixtures in preparation for the building fit-out.

Noisy works will be paused during university examination periods.

Main construction works - August 2026 ongoing

Contractors are now mobilised to site, and safety fencing has been installed around Mayne Hall.

Nine parking bays will remain closed throughout works to allow access to a temporary work site on the eastern side of Mayne Hall. A new pedestrian pathway has been established on the eastern side of the building, with signage to ensure safe pedestrian movement.

Delivery vehicles will access the site via University Drive and Mill Road at the rear of Mayne Hall. Where possible, deliveries will be scheduled outside of peak operational periods, with traffic management measures in place to support the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

These arrangements will remain in place for the duration of the project.