Charters Towers Ambulance Museum

In the heart of Charters Towers stands a true testament to history—the heritage-listed former Ambulance Building at 157 Gill Street, now a vibrant museum.
Originally constructed in 1903, this iconic structure underwent a significant restoration by Grant Painters 21 years ago, reigniting its charm for the next generation.
Fast forward to mid-2024, our skilled Townsville team returned to this historic site. The mission was clear: to restore the building while preserving its storied past, a task that came with unique challenges.

Picture: Courtesy Charters Towers Ambulance Museum
The challenge:
Painting heritage-listed buildings is no ordinary job. Strict regulations from heritage authorities demand that restoration efforts honour both the architecture and the history embedded in every brick and beam.
This was particularly true for the former ambulance station – the first of its kind outside Brisbane – now an active museum welcoming visitors seven days a week from April to September with its vintage vehicles, uniforms and historical records.
Grant Painters collaborated closely with QBuild and independent heritage consultants, who conducted scientific analyses on paint samples to ensure the new colour scheme was as authentic as possible.

After careful testing, the chosen palette featured Taubmans paints in half-strength Y24 Straw (low sheen), Silver Frost, As2700 R43 Red Dust (full gloss), and full-strength Y24 Straw (full gloss).

The results:
John Stibbs, president of the Ambulance Museum Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome.
“Grant Painters did an excellent job restoring the building, just as they did the first time. With so much cracking and patching needed, we’re very pleased with the result,” he said.
“This building, originally designed for horse and buggy, carries a rich history—it had to be done right.
“The discovery of gold here created a significant demand for the ambulance service at the start of the 1900s.
“The first horse they used – named Ned – covered some 5000 miles, which gives you an idea of the importance of the service back in those days.”
The project saw a two-person team from our Townsville branch dedicating 450 hours over six weeks, employing a meticulous three-coat system.