There are a few notable things about this picture. In the foreground you can see the The Hobart Flying Angel Centre, which belongs to the The Mission to Seafarers. But it is the large building in the background that dominates the scene, the archetype of a 1967 bureaucratic building, the Tasmanian State Offices Building, which sits immediately behind Parliament House.
Now one might think that such a grey and soulless building would evoke little passion, but that is forgetting the nature of Tasmanians, give us an opportunity and we can fight over anything for years. Thus when the State Treasurer hinted that the building may be demolished, one just knew that any number of groups would emerge readying themselves to man (person?) the barricades and save the grand old dame!
Yes, the monstrosity pictured above is on the (very long) list due for assessment for the Tasmanian Heritage Register. As is the manner of such things, it will perhaps be a number of years before actual assessment. Now, as a lover of history, I am more than aware that beauty and heritage comes in all shapes and sizes. Moreover, I am aware that if we were to lose all of these concrete creations, we do risk losing all evidence "signifying cultural and economic responses to post-war development".
It is just that, well, can we save one not quite so big?
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