As Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson start searching for alternative accommodation, the Government has put out a call for tenders from architects, engineers and designers interested in refurbishing The Lodge.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It was reported yesterday that the ageing 1920s mansion is in desperate need of repairs, with a leaky roof, rusty plumbing, wiring that is a fire hazard and an asbestos problem.
The Department of Finance has asked for expressions of interest from ''suitably qualified and experienced organisations to provide in-house architectural and engineering design services'' for the building's refurbishment, with work set to begin in January.
The project is expected to take at least 18 months.
Although it's not clear yet how much the refurbishments will cost, yesterday's revelations about the state of the official residence prompted renewed calls for a new residence to be built on a separate site that has been set aside since the early 1980s.
Expressions of interest close on October 25 at 2pm.
