Located in Maryborough on Queensland's Fraser Coast, approximately 255 km north of Brisbane, this facility represents Australia's first mass engineered timber fire station. Completed in 2022 by architects Baber Studio and contractor Hutchinson Builders, the 2,695-square-meter complex integrates three new structures with the restored Art Deco brick fire station originally built in 1951.
The design incorporates 500 cubic meters of locally grown plantation pine, processed into glue-laminated timber by Hyne Timber and cross-laminated timber by its sister company XLAM, both subsidiaries of UK-based James Jones & Sons. According to Hyne Timber, this timber usage avoided the release of 1,742 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, with the equivalent volume regrown in plantations within just 38 minutes.
Prefabricated panels contributed to reduced material waste, enhanced site efficiency, and allowed the timber framework to be assembled in only two weeks.
"The project stores carbon, supports Queensland's timber economy, and shows that mass timber can effectively deliver complex public infrastructure initiatives," Built by Nature stated.
Tom Bruce-Jones, chairman of James Jones & Sons Group, described the recognition as "a tremendous accomplishment and a validation of timber's potential in modern construction."
The project gained additional visibility through its feature at COP30 in Brazil in November 2025 and inclusion in a documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
This achievement highlights the practical application of sustainable materials in public buildings, demonstrating benefits such as lower embodied carbon, rapid construction, and support for regional renewable resources. The use of certified, locally sourced timber aligns with broader efforts to advance environmentally responsible building practices while meeting functional requirements for emergency services facilities.
