A history of Conrad Gargett
Conrad Gargett has a long legacy of design excellence in Brisbane and beyond.
The practice can trace their history all the way back to 1890, when founders Henry Wallace Atkinson and Charles McLay first started working as architects in Brisbane. In 1907 the men formed a partnership that would eventually become the modern day practice of Conrad Gargett.
The creative minds behind city landmarks
Respected professionals who each served as president of the Queensland Institute of Architects, Atkinson and McLay were behind a number of landmark projects in the early 1900s, including the Brisbane Fire Brigade HQ and McWhirters Department Store, a five-story Federation-style building still standing today.
After significant growth between the World Wars, the practice entered a new era in 1939, becoming the firm of AH Conrad & TBF Gargett.
A new generation takes the reins
Around 25 years later, the next generation changed the face of the firm again, with Gargett handing the reins to his son.
From the 60s to the 90s, Conrad Gargett continued to make its mark on Brisbane, with iconic projects such as the Bishopbourne Chapel, winner of the Robin Gibson Enduring Architecture Award in 2016.
They also designed some of the city’s most distinctive high-rise buildings, including the SGIO Tower – the tallest building under construction at the time – and the Commonwealth Bank Head Office, a unique fan-shaped tower where the practice setup a studio.
A contemporary portfolio of exceptional projects
In more recent years, Conrad Gargett designed many award-winning projects across multiple sectors, including vital public buildings such as the Queensland Children’s Hospital, cultural destinations such as the Thomas Dixon Centre (home of the Queensland Ballet), and internationally renowned heritage projects such as Africa Hall for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
In 2023, Conrad Gargett started another new chapter, merging with Architectus to become one of Australasia’s largest, most diverse practices.