Rex Pilbeam

The Fitzroy River Barrage water storage facility on the Fitzroy River is generally viewed by many as the biggest legacy left by Pilbeam. The barrage was constructed as part of Pilbeam's water scheme which was aimed at guaranteeing a permanent water supply for the Rockhampton area. The structure was officially commissioned on 19 March 1970 by the Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson. The Fitzroy River Barrage separates the fresh water upstream from the tidal salt water downstream, enabling fresh water to be pumped to the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant for the city's water supply. The water storage area has a capacity of 80,300 megalitres which extends 60 kilometres upstream. The structure features 18 lift gates which can be opened during river rises to allow excess water to escape downstream.[15]

Prior to Pilbeam assuming office in 1952, Rockhampton's ratepayers had overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to establish a local swimming pool, due to what many viewed as an unnecessary and expensive cost. After Pilbeam became mayor, he introduced his own fundraising scheme to fund a swimming pool. He walked door-to-door and explained his vision for a swimming pool to be built in Rockhampton, before handing out money boxes for residents to donate any change they could spare. When the money boxes were collected, over a million pennies were received.[16]

Pilbeam's money box scheme, combined with other fundraising projects, resulted in enough money being raised without the council needing to spend anything on the pool, with the exception of funding the diving board. The first sod of the World War II Memorial Pool was turned during a ceremony on 15 December 1958. Pilbeam declined to use a ceremonial spade to turn a small amount of earth. Instead, he opted to use a bulldozer with a ripper attached to dig a deep trench, to mark the start of the project. During the 'turning of the sod' ceremony, he thanked the householders who had generously donated £5,500 via his money box scheme. Employees at local businesses had also raised over £6000 by having small contributions deducted from their wages.

The World War II Memorial Pool was opened on 26 March 1960 which was marked with a swimming carnival where some well-known swimmers in attendance.[17]

The original 50 metre pool was demolished in 2013 [18] when the site underwent an extensive expansion which saw the World War II Memorial Pool renamed to the 2nd World War Memorial Aquatic Centre in 2014.[19] The site now consists of a heated 50-metre FINA-compliant 10-lane pool, a heated 25-metre 8-lane pool, a Learn-to-Swim pool and a children's water play area.

Rex Pilbeam became known for his yearning to establish an art gallery in Rockhampton. In 1965, Pilbeam announced that the director of the Queensland Art Gallery, Laurence Thomas, would be visiting Rockhampton to discuss setting up a small gallery of artworks at City Hall. Pilbeam said Rockhampton had the potential to be the first country branch of the Queensland Art Gallery. On 13 September 1967, The Lord Casey officially opened the gallery in the auditorium at Rockhampton City Hall where a rotating selection of pictures from the Brisbane collection began being displayed.[20]

In 1976, Pilbeam established an Art Acquisition Fund with several other community leaders including Bishop John Bayton, architect Neil McKendry and the director of the Rockhampton Art Gallery, Don Taylor. Pilbeam soon noticed a Federal Government scheme where galleries were provided with a 70% subsidy for each piece of art, to assist contemporary Australian artists. To take advantage of this program, Pilbeam led the Art Acquisition Committee on a journey and they selected a variety of art, totalling $350,000.

When learning of Pilbeam's ambitious desire to take advantage of the subsidy scheme, the Federal Government were reluctant to pay out, despite assurances that the subsidy was still available. A settlement was eventually reached where the Art Acquisition Committee was allowed to purchase $500,000 worth of artworks, for just $60,000. The collection of work included works by artists such as Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan and Russell Drysdale.[21]

A new purpose-built Rockhampton Art Gallery was officially opened on 6 June 1979, where Pilbeam took the opportunity to encourage the future citizens of Rockhampton to maintain and advance the gallery as it was the least the citizens of the future could expect in return for the splendid contribution made by the citizens of the 1970s.[22][23][24]

Of the several places in the Rockhampton area that bear Pilbeam's name, The Pilbeam Theatre is the most recognisable. The Pilbeam Theatre is a 1000-seat entertainment venue on the banks of the Fitzroy River which frequently plays host to Australian and internationally renowned performers and stage productions, as well as local productions.

The venue was officially opened on 6 June 1979 by Sir Zelman Cowen who said at the time that Pilbeam should take great pleasure in the theatre being named after him as recognition for his efforts for the city. In his own speech, Pilbeam said that the opening of the theatre and adjoining art gallery were high points of his civic career.[22]

Although bushwalking tracks had been cut in 1932, it was Pilbeam who ensured that a road for vehicular traffic was built up to the peak of Mount Archer which overlooks the city. The road was opened in May 1965 and was named Pilbeam Drive, as it was said at the time that it was only Pilbeam who had the "drive" to see the project through, and for having the vision of enabling tourists and locals alike to enjoy panoramic views of the city. Complaints about the cost of the project were made void as the entire cost was recouped through the auction of mountain allotments.[25]

During Pilbeam's thirty years as mayor, he managed to see that the entire city was completely sewered. To mark the completion of the sewerage program, Pilbeam organised a ceremonial burning of the city's last night soil cart that took place in front of City Hall in 1978. The funeral pyre was lit by the council's oldest living former employee, 90-year-old Alexander Bartlem. Pilbeam said he believed the ceremonial burning was an historic occasion as it signalled the end of an unpleasant and often unhealthy era for Rockhampton.[26]

There is a sports ground in the suburb of Lakes Creek called Pilbeam Park, which is home to the Nerimbera Brothers Football Club. The clubhouse and the sports ground suffered extensive damage when Tropical Cyclone Marcia struck Rockhampton on 20 February 2015.[27]

In 1977, Rex Pilbeam sat for six sittings for renowned Australian artist, Sir William Dargie as Dargie completed Portrait of Rex Pilbeam, an oil on canvas work featuring Pilbeam in a grey pin-striped suit with maroon tie. The portrait is now a part of the William Dargie collection housed at the Rockhampton Art Gallery.[28]