Donald Horne Building Opening
The Donald Horne building at the Hunter Innovation Precinct in Muswellbrook was yesterday opened by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP, Federal member for Hunter New England Dan Repacholi MP, State member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell MP and the Mayor of Muswellbrook Steve Reynolds.
The building is a key component of the planned transformation of Muswellbrook into a future focussed regional centre for the Upper Hunter. It contains the STEM innovation lab along with The Melt – one of Australia’s first Industrial prototyping labs and startup accelerators – supporting STEM training at the precinct, both in-house as well as delivered via programs in local schools.
The new building is connected by a glass bridge to Loxton House and is next door to Weidmann Cottage, both of which are State Heritage listed buildings. The heritage context has informed the shape and design of the new building. The bridge incorporates the representation of an artwork by Uncle Les Elvin, a Wonnarua elder and artist who made a significant contribution to the region and in 2011 became the fourth person and the first non-former mayor of Muswellbrook to receive the keys to the city. Representatives of Mr Elvins family and the Wonnarua community were present at the ceremony.
“This building is a perfect encapsulation of Muswellbrook, it’s an act of respect for your heritage that simultaneously looks ahead to the future”ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER
Read the Prime Ministers Speech in full here: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/opening-donald-horne-building
“Now that the building is open, I know that it will inspire innovation and position Muswellbrook as a centre for clean technologies, modern manufacturing and leading the charge on renewable energy production as we move towards a net zero economy.”STEVE REYNOLDS, MAYOR OF MUSWELLBROOK
