Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Official Opening of RACT House

Well, I survived: that is the main thing!

The last forty-eight hours has been a fairly hectic period of time getting every little piece of the jigsaw ready for today's official opening of the RACT's new headquarters in Hobart (where I work).

It was a bit stress-filled here and there; but in the end, everything seemed to go pretty well and around two hundred guests had a good time.

I've attached a couple of photos of the new building for your viewing pleasure.

His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania the Honourable Peter Underwood made a lively and engaging official opening speech

The terrifc open spaces of the interior stairs were filled with the gorgeous sounds of a delightful string trio from the Conservatorium of Music.

The team from our cafe - Hybrid Rooftop - did a fabulous food and beverage service too. It really was a spectacular event.

I spent the two hours or so of the official reception afterwards doing a vox pop video record of the event - interviewed about forty or so attendees. Can't wait to see the raw footage of that (the bloopers in particular).

As I blog I'm just chilling out to some grooving beat from NZ acid dance meisters Shapeshifter, their "Live" sets recorded in Christchurch. absolutely brilliant. The opening number is a standout - "Good Looking" - and I also really like "Bring Change".

Decadent relaxation.



John Temple photograph: outside RACT Board Room


The fabulous internal stairs: beautiful design - space, and natural light.


John Temple photograph - Bay of Fires - in the Group Support offices


John Temple photograph - in the Group Support offices


RACT Board Room table - designed by Simon Ancher, UTAS School of Furniture Design at Inveresk - Tasmanian blackwood; two trees only, selected by Mark Bishop of Stanley, Tasmania


The ground floor attraction - Tom Samek's master mural "RACT since 1923" - the biggest mural Samek has painted anywhere in Tasmania took around three months's work.


The original Harley-Davidson road service motorcycle, from 1927: on display in RACT House foyer.


The new retail centre, RACT House ground floor. The building was designed by local architects Heffernan Button Voss.


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

my new Canon Ixus does wonderful scene shots...


this is the Derwent River at Granton, north of Hobart, home region of the delicious Stefano Lubiana wines. Taken from the causeway that houses the Bridgewater Bridge and that traverses the river, and I am facing back down the river towards Austins Ferry and further down to Berriedale (where the amazing Museum of Old and New Art - MONA - is being finished off).

Lovely little camera the Canon IXUS 210 - and it was a beautiful day today, too