| Photographs: | None |
|---|---|
| List: | Register of the National Estate |
| Class: | Historic |
| Legal Status: | Registered (21/10/1980) |
| Place ID: | 2172 |
| Place File No: | 1/12/036/0370 |
| Statement of Significance: |
|---|
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Buildings 31 and 32, the former Barracks and Kitchen buildings dating from the 1880s, are historically highly significant.
They were built during the major phase of nineteenth century development of Garden Island as the island was turned into a key naval station for the British Admiralty. From the early decades of the twentieth century, Garden Island has functioned as the Royal Australian Navy's major fleet base and ship-refitting dockyard.
Consequently the buildings have a direct connection with a lengthy period of naval activity in Australia, and with a place that is central to the story of Australia's naval history (see also Garden Island Precinct RNE 2171).
(Criterion A.4)
(Themes: 3.12 Feeding people, 7.7 Defending Australia, 7.7.1 Providing for the common defence, 8.4 Eating and drinking, 8.12 Living in and around Australian homes) The buildings are important as examples of naval accommodation and kitchen buildings of the late nineteenth century, as designed by the NSW Colonial Architect working with designs used by the British Admiralty. Further, the Barracks and Kitchen reflect Victorian Georgian style as applied to military buildings. The original and early fabric, both external and internal, adds to the significance, as does the museum collection. (Criteria D.2 and B.2) Further significance is found in the buildings' association with James Barnet, who as NSW Colonial Architect played a salient role in the architectural development of NSW over a long period. (Criterion H.1) The large Barracks block is a prominent building on Garden Island, and both buildings, by virtue of their styling and materials, contribute to the late nineteenth century character of this part of the island. The open, well proportioned spaces around the two buildings that provide both the setting for appreciating the distinctive building form and style, and the connecting link with other buildings, are important. Buildings 31 and 32 have aesthetic qualities in the Garden Island precinct. (Criterion E.1) |
| Official Values: Not Available |
| Description: |
|
HISTORY In February 1788, only a month after the arrival of the First Fleet, an island in Sydney Harbour was selected as the site for a garden to supply vital vegetables for the crew of HMS Sirius. Soon the island became known as Garden Island, and it was allocated to various ships over the next few years. A hut and later a house were built on the island. By the early 1800s vegetable supplies from other gardens in Sydney made the island garden obsolete. Garden Island became part of the Domain (administratively) for a short period and then was a spot for picnickers. In the 1820s Judge Advocate Ellis Bent was buried on the island, as was Major John Ovens; their tomb was moved to North Sydney in the 1870s once naval development commenced on the island. In 1856, the NSW Government suggested that Garden Island be used as a naval base by the Imperial authorities (the northern end though was to remain for defence use by the army). Royal Navy occupation began in the late 1850s. In 1865 the south of the island was officially dedicated to the Admiralty, and in 1866 the rest of the island was dedicated to the Admiralty as well. The major period of development of the naval station took place from 1883 to 1896. The first task was to level the southern hill on the island, and wharves and buildings followed, slowly to the late 1880s and then with greater speed. By the early 1890s Garden Island had quite an industrial appearance. Electricity arrived in 1896 and the station was completed that year and handed over to the Admiralty. Following Federation in 1901 the Commonwealth Government took responsibility for defence. The Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911 and from 1913 the Commonwealth had the use of Garden Island. The island became the RAN's main fleet base and principal ship-refitting dockyard. The period of the First World War saw much activity at the island, the work relating to the fitting out and arming of transports and troopships. A total of 852 ships was serviced in this way, and 3,000 men employed. Garden Island treated ships from allied fleets as well as RAN vessels. The inter-war period witnessed, initially, reconditioning of merchant ships and, later, expansion of wharves at the island. From 1922 to 1929, in a long-running court case, NSW challenged the Commonwealth's claim to ownership of the island and won. Later, during the Second World War, the Commonwealth acquired Garden Island. During the Second World War many ships were refitted at the island. The major undertaking was the construction of the Captain Cook Graving Dock which began in 1940 and was completed five years later; it was a huge engineering project for Australia to that time, and it connected the island to Potts Point. The major incident at Garden Island during the war was when, during the May 1942 Japanese midget submarine raid, torpedoes were fired at USS Chicago moored at the island, and one hit HMAS Kuttabul, killing 19 men. After the war few new buildings were erected. During the 1980s a modernisation program got underway. The island is still used by Defence and continues to service the RAN. BUILDING HISTORY Buildings 31 and 32 were constructed during the major phase of development in the late nineteenth century, being built 1887-89. One building was a barracks and the smaller building behind was the kitchen. The architect was NSW Colonial Architect James Barnet, using Admiralty plans as a basis; Barnet played a major role in NSW architecture over a lengthy period. The building contractor was G.Langley and the buildings, with fittings, cost over 9000 pounds. The barracks was designed to accommodate 239 officers and men. In 1912 a hospital was established on the second floor. The buildings were converted to offices and in 1980 they were known as the Registry, Offices and Signwriters Shop. By 1994 they were being used as a museum, with the larger building also housing offices and the Fleet Supply Team as well. DESCRIPTION The buildings are designed in Victorian Georgian style. Building 32 (the former barracks), is three storeys and is constructed of stuccoed brick ruled to imitate ashlar stone. The roof is hipped and clad with slate. Ceilings are ripple iron and boarded, and there are Queen post roof trusses. As originally built, there was a three storey verandah to the western elevation only, with a corrugated iron roof, Tuscan cast iron columns and cast iron and pipe balustrades; in 1892, this verandah was extended around the northern and southern elevations. Windows are double-hung sashes, with six panes per sash, and fanlights over. Building 31 (the former kitchen) is similar in style. It is single storey, of stuccoed brick with a hipped slate roof. The buildings are important examples of barracks and kitchen blocks of their period, built for naval personnel and using Admiralty designs as applied by the Colonial Architect. Building 32 is a particularly prominent structure, and the two contribute to the late nineteenth century character of this part of Garden Island. The two buildings are part of the Garden Island Precinct (RNE 2171). |
| History: Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity: |
| The buildings have been altered over the years and have been converted for new purposes, as described above. They were reported to be in good condition in 1994. As part of the Garden Island complex, they are still used by Defence. (January 2002) |
| Location: |
| Buildings 31 and 32, corner Endeavour Road North and Return Stores Lane, Garden Island. |
| Bibliography: |
|
Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects, "Asset 32, Garden Island Former Barracks Building: Statement of Heritage Impact", prepared for Brown & Root Services Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, July 2001. Martin, Eric, "HMA Naval Dockyard, Garden Island: A Building Conservation Study of the Historic Buildings", for Master of the Built Environment course, University of NSW, October 1980. Schwager Brooks and Partners, "Conservation Strategy, Heritage Inventory: Garden Island Naval Base and Dockyard, Sydney", for the Department of Defence, June 1994. |
Report Produced: Wed Feb 10 01:40:20 2010