Laing O’Rourke will redevelop one of Queensland’s best known heritage museums – the Cobb and Co Museum in Toowoomba.

The A$8 million redevelopment will include new exhibition spaces for the Cobb and Co Museum's National Carriage Factory, as well as a demonstration and training site for heritage trades and crafts.

The training facility will provide skills training in trades such as heritage building, blacksmithing, silver smithing and equine trades.

The Cobb and Co Museum is a major tourist attraction in Toowoomba and the local community got behind the redevelopment to raise more than A$1.7 million towards the redevelopment costs.

South West Queensland Area Manager Stirling McConnel said the redevelopment would be a high-profile project for Laing O’Rourke Building North. “Laing O’Rourke has a long history in Toowoomba – more than 50 years – so it’s quite fitting that we can work on a project that has historical significance for the area.”

Premier Anna Bligh said the project would inject more than A$7.3 million into the local community during its construction. “Around 50 jobs will be created and an expected employment impact of up to 280 jobs during its first year of operation,” Ms Bligh said.

Construction will commence in July and is due to be completed by September 2010.