USQ icons listed as local heritage treasures

Two University of Southern Queensland icons – the Ceremonial Mace and Toowoomba's Japanese Garden (Ju Raku En) – were selected for inclusion in a booklet titled "Toowoomba's Heritage Treasures".

Launched at Platform 9 on Sunday 11 May 2008, the booklet is designed to highlight local treasures that have helped shape the city's identity and development, to assist in preserving and to permanently record Toowoomba's heritage for future generations.

USQ Corporate Records Manager, Derek Turner, attended the launch, along with members of the Toowoomba Regional Council, the Treasures Selection Panel, successful nominators, the National Trust of Queensland and other heritage groups.

'As indicated by Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Peter Taylor, the USQ Ceremonial Mace and Toowoomba's Japanese Garden are treasures that have helped shape the city's identify and represent strong ‘Town and Gown' links between USQ and the city of Toowoomba,' Mr Turner said.

'The Mace was presented to USQ by the then Toowoomba City Council in 1993.  It was made by Hay's Jewellers and features the USQ Coat of Arms surmounted by the three-dimensional figure of a phoenix surrounded by flames.

'All elements have local origins, with the woodwork and jewellery work performed by two apprentices.

'The ceremonial mace is a significant part of USQ's academic heritage, highlighting the University's traditional regalia and its close connections with the Toowoomba community.'

Located adjacent to USQ's Toowoomba Campus, the Toowoomba Japanese Garden (Ju Raku En) is the largest, most complex and most authentically designed Japanese garden in Australia.

'The garden, opened on 29 April 1989, was designed by Professor Kinsaku Nakane of Kyoto, a past master of the art of Japanese garden design,' Mr Turner said.

'More than 100,000 people visit the garden annually and it is a popular place for weddings. In 2007, the garden was voted ‘the highest quality Japanese garden in Australia' by a panel of Japanese garden experts.'

In identifying the treasures, the selection panel assessed more than 150 nominations using various criteria including the location, accessibility, uniqueness and intactness of the icon.

'The booklet contains 43 treasures that reveal the passion that the Toowoomba community has for the built and natural environment.

'Examples include Mt Tabletop, the Range Volcanics, Carnival of Flowers Memorabilia, the Trades Hall and Associated Memorabilia, St Luke's Church Hall and the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery.'

Copies of the booklet are available, at no cost, from the Toowoomba Regional Council Administration Office on Herries Street and the Toowoomba Visitor Information Centre, James Street.

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092