Gordonvale Police Station

Engaged by the Queensland Government’s Public Safety Business Agency, JMc Architects designed the new Gordonvale Police Station. Located on a greenfield site with direct access to the Bruce Highway, the new police station accommodates up to 12 uniformed police officers and includes investigative offices.

The previous Gordonvale Police Station, which was constructed in the early 1900’s and located in the heart of the township, was found to be out of date and unable to meet the needs of future growth. Hence the new design needed to accommodate the existing seven officers, with capacity to accommodate for future growth.

The new police station sits comfortably within the context of its surrounds, capturing the prevailing breezes to the courtyard and maintaining a welcoming and engaging street presence. The building is inviting and encourages community engagement while offering an aesthetic solution that responds to the tropical climate.

The positioning of the entry and façade treatment clearly reference the surrounding Great Dividing Range, including the nearby Walsh’s Pyramid, the world’s largest natural freestanding pyramid. The red brick and white articulations pick up on the flow of the terrain and relate back to the materials once readily used for construction in Gordonvale for civic buildings such as police, fire and ambulance buildings.

Photography: Andrew Watson