| Photographs: | None |
|---|---|
| List: | Register of the National Estate |
| Class: | Historic |
| Legal Status: | Registered (21/10/1980) |
| Place ID: | 2180 |
| Place File No: | 1/12/036/0378 |
| Statement of Significance: |
|---|
|
Building 27, constructed during 1894-95, is historically highly significant.
It was built during the major phase of nineteenth century development of Garden Island as the island became a key naval station for the Royal Navy.
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 Office Building, which has played an office role throughout its life, has 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: 5.4 Working in offices, 7.7 Defending Australia, 7.7.1 Providing for the common defence) The building is important as an example of a naval office building of the late nineteenth century, designed in accordance with Admiralty plans. It also reflects well the major characteristics of Victorian Italianate styling, as is seen particularly in the asymmetrical tower, the bracketed eaves, segmental arches and other features. The building features a rare clock type, and there is also fine cedar work, some original doors, a fine balustraded staircase, etched entrance doors and fanlights, and ceiling features. These and other items of original and early fabric, internal and external, add to the significance. (Criteria D.2 and B.2) The Office Building, possessing a distinctive nineteenth century style, large massing, a landmark tower and a position close to the island's eastern foreshore, has aesthetic values and is an important visual element of Garden Island and this area of Sydney Harbour. It relates to other buildings in terms of its materials, and in form and scale it relates to Building 32 (RNE 2172). The open, well proportioned spaces around the Office Building that provide both the setting for appreciating the distinctive building form and style, and the connecting link with other buildings, are important. (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 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. A small gun battery was also mounted on the island by 1799. By the early 1800s vegetable supplies from other gardens around Sydney made the island garden redundant. 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. The island was used also during this time as a convalescent and quarantine depot. 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 be kept 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. Garden Island was now destined to become the headquarters of the Royal Navy in Australia. 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 construction of 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, 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 the 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 as well as connecting the island to Potts Point it made Garden Island one of the most important naval bases in the southern hemisphere. 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 Building 27 was constructed as the Office Building in 1894-95. It was based on Admiralty plans, and the contractor was R.D.Syme. The contractor for the building's clock was W.Auld. Total cost for the building, clock and furniture was over 6000 pounds. The building has been the main administration centre for Garden Island, and its office function continues today. DESCRIPTION The Office Building is two storey and constructed of cream brick with sandstone dressings. Its Victorian Italianate styling is illustrated particularly by the asymmetrical clock tower, the bracketed eaves and the window treatment. The tower is located above the main entrance and is topped by a cupola which is mounted on finely carved sandstone and polished marble columns. The mechanically operated clock is rare; it is powered by a pulley and weight system and has a differential apparatus which turns all four sets of hands simultaneously. Every fourth course of bricks on the ground floor is slightly recessed. String courses and label moulds are present. The floor on the ground floor is concrete, while that on the first floor is timber. The hipped roof was originally slate but has since been re-clad with tiles. Originally there were verandahs to three sides with moulded timber posts and an iron roof, but these have been removed. The double-hung sash windows have segmental arches on the ground floor and semi-circular arches on the upper floor. The entrance hall is tiled, and throughout the building there is fine cedar joinery. Some original five and six panel timber doors remain. There is a fine internal staircase which has the initials of Queen Victoria on the newel post. The etched glass entrance doors and fanlights feature illustrations of several Australian plants. Internal walls are rendered in ashlar imitation. On the ground floor skirtings are rendered, while on the upper floor there are cedar skirtings. There are also plaster ceilings and cornices and ceiling roses in the stair halls. The building has been extended. With its distinctive style, large massing, landmark tower and position close to the island's eastern foreshore, the building is an important visual element which contributes to the aeshetic values of Garden Island. The building relates to others in terms of materials, and in form and scale there is a relationship with Building 32 (RNE 2172). The spaces around the Office Building, including Office Square, are important. |
| History: Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity: |
| The Office Building has been altered in various ways. The roof slates have been replaced by tiles, some of the marble fireplaces have been bricked up, and the verandahs were enclosed by 1909 and some time later they were removed. Extensions designed somewhat sympathetically were added to the northern (1924) and southern (1936) sides of the building, and in the 1940s an unsympathetic flat-roofed extension was built on the western side. The building is in good condition. (January 2002) |
| Location: |
| Building 27, Office Square and Stores Lane, Garden Island. |
| Bibliography: |
|
Apperly, Richard et al, "A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture", Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1989. 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 02:43:12 2010