Did you know that Canberra has its very own “room of requirement”? HQ34 in Fyshwick is a blank canvas that frequently whirs to life as the heritage backdrop to any wedding, party, trombone masterclass, board meeting or cover shoot.

Owner Martin Green has worked the events industry for 15 years, which took him all around the world and eventually to a French chateau on the edge of Bordeaux.

To a Downton Abbey effect, all key staff lived onsite, including Martin and his future wife.

“The events the chateau produced were out of this world, just sublime, which inspired me to create something similar of my own.

“I wanted a similar feel, but not so reliant on weddings.”

After three years at the chateau, Martin’s wife, an Aussie of Singaporean Indian descent, found work at the Canberra Hospital. After relocating to the ACT, Martin founded event hire company, The Prop Smith.

“While I was looking for a suitable warehouse, I stumbled across 34 Geelong Street,” recounts Martin. “I didn’t choose Fyshwick; the building chose me. I saw that building, and I could see what the end product would look like immediately.”

Martin had previously worked restoring buildings in his homeland England, “in a past life,” he chuckles. “The high ceilings got me, and the beautiful beams. Even when it was filled with offices, it had this lovely grand feeling.”

Martin got the keys a month before the pandemic began.

“The Prop Smith fell apart. Suddenly we had this great big bloody building, and zero revenue.

“I decided, since I had a lot of time on my hands, I’d just get started with the work myself and try to be ready when the pandemic was over.”

As he began the renovations, entirely by hand, Martin weathered well-meaning concern from his mates.

“There were definitely a few sit downs and “are you sure about this, mate?” he laughs.

“Amongst my group of friends, I’m sure I’m known for taking risks.”

Martin repurposed old windows as bookshelves, and built features inspired by his various lives in other countries. The Art Deco floor-to-ceiling display case was inspired by smoking lounges in South London, and the sleek vintage motorcycle under the stairs a rescue from a farmyard.

“I pulled the bike out of a bog – it had been in a fire – and rebuilt it myself… another example of buying something ugly, because I thought I could turn it into something beautiful,” he smiles.

Together with his wife, Martin installed the finishing touches to complete the “refined industrial” aesthetic.

While HQ34 has been open for business for just two months, Martin says the immediate response has been positive, hosting board meetings, midday workshops, film and photo shoots, as well as fabulous private parties and weddings.

HQ34’s motto is “a place for Canberra to meet”.

“It’s really important to me that I can lend the space to community groups that can’t use anywhere else,” says Martin. “And also, to inflate Fyshwick a little more as a cultural part of the community.

“I hope that soon, Fyshwick will be the place to be.”

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