| Photographs: | None |
|---|---|
| List: | Register of the National Estate |
| Class: | Historic |
| Legal Status: | Registered (21/10/1980) |
| Place ID: | 2181 |
| Place File No: | 1/12/036/0379 |
| Statement of Significance: |
|---|
|
Building 88, built during 1889-91, is historically highly significant.
It was constructed 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 former Chain and Anchor Store (now Sheet Metal Workshop), 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 7.7 Defending Australia, 7.7.1 Providing for the common defence) The building is important as an example of a late nineteenth century naval industrial building, as designed by the NSW Colonial Architect using as a basis plans supplied by the British Admiralty. Original and early fabric, both external and internal, contributes to the significance. (Criterion D.2) Further significance is found in the building's association with NSW Colonial Architect James Barnet. Barnet played a seminal role in NSW architecture for over two decades. (Criterion H.1) The utilitarian building, dating from the late nineteenth century, contributes to the late 1800s industrial flavour of Garden Island and accordingly has aesthetic values. It abuts Building 89 (RNE 2179) and it shares stylistic elements with other buildings in the precinct. The spaces around the building 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 88 was originally constructed as the Chain and Anchor Store and was also used as the Paint Store. It was built during 1889-91 and the contractors were Parry and Farley; the building cost 5725 pounds. The building was designed by NSW Colonial Architect James Barnet, using as a basis plans supplied by the Admiralty. Barnet was Colonial Architect for 25 years and played a major role in NSW architecture. By 1980 the building was known as the Battery Shed, and by the early 1990s it was the Sheet Metal Workshop. DESCRIPTION Building 88 is a single storey, utilitarian industrial structure. It is built of stuccoed brick, the render being ruled to imitate ashlar stonework. There is some, very restrained, Italianate influence. There are arched openings and recessed bays. The bays have small, arched, multi-pane, timber windows at a high level, or else there are large doors; the end facade has two main entrance doors. The floor is concrete. Light iron trusses support the hipped roof; originally the roof was clad with corrugated galvanised iron but now it has ridge vents and is clad with corrugated asbestos cement. The building abuts Building 89 (RNE 2179) and contributes to the nineteenth century, industrial flavour of this precinct of Garden Island. It shares stylistic elements with other buildings in the precinct and the spaces around the building are important. |
| History: Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity: |
| As mentioned above, the roof has been reclad, and the ridge vents were added in 1928. Travelling cranes were installed internally. Many of the original openings have been bricked up, and new openings have been made in other bays. The building is in good condition. (January 2002) |
| Location: |
| Building 88, West Road, Garden Island. |
| Bibliography: |
|
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 01:39:00 2010