| Photographs: | |
|---|---|
| List: | Register of the National Estate |
| Class: | Historic |
| Legal Status: | Registered (30/05/1995) |
| Place ID: | 18346 |
| Place File No: | 1/12/041/0116 |
| Statement of Significance: |
|---|
| Australia's oldest extant Naval base, which has important historic associations with the development of sea defence in New South Wales (Criterion A.4). The site has close associations with the Naval Brigade of New South Wales, as its base until it was disbanded in 1907 and the RAN Reserve, as its base on formation in 1911. The base housed, in the Administrative Building, the RAN Anti Submarine School while it played a great part in turning the tide against the U-boats in the Atlantic during World War Two (Criterion H.1). The Drill Hall, its two storey extension, the associated parade ground, cottage, boatshed and sail loft are of considerable significance as a group, for the evidence it provides of the way the base functioned during its initial period (Criterion B.2). The design and construction of the original buildings, in particular the choice of timber framing and corrugated iron cladding, is a reflection of the need for economy during the years of hardship in the 1890s (Criterion F.1). The Administrative Building, the former torpedo workshop, jetties and Sayonara slipway are important in demonstrating the later use of the base (Criterion B.2). |
| Official Values: Not Available |
| Description: |
|
HMAS Rushcutter is the oldest extant Naval Base in Australia.
It's site was chosen to provide a base for the NSW Naval Brigade, formed under the Volunteer Force Regulation ACT of 1867.
A requirement was a waterfront site in marching distance from Victoria Barracks, so the location at the closest bay of Sydney Harbour to the barracks is significant.
The base was not a reality until the 1890s.
The Naval Brigade contributed to the imperial engagement known as the Boxer Rebellion and continued to occupy the site until 1907.
On the formation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, the site became the Sydney Naval Depot, responsible for reserve training.
In the 1930s the Anti Submarine School was formed and housed in the brick buildings erected for that purpose behind the boatshed.
In the 1960s HMAS Rushcutter was decommissioned and the RAN Research Laboratory and the RAN Trials and Assessment Unit were housed in the buildings. In 1966 the Royal Naval Sailing Association, formed after W W II, became an independent body to promote sailing in the RAN.
In the early 1970s the Command Sailing Club transferred from HMAS Penguin and shares the boatshed and its facilities with RANSA and the Army Sailing Club.
In 1976 the RAN returned the site to the NSW Government, with an agreement to lease back the site to the Commonwealth. The RANRL
has since vacated its portion of the site.
The significant elements of HMAS Rushcutter are: Boatshed and Slipway, Administrative Building (Building B), Federation Cottage and adjacent trees, Parade Ground, Drill Hall (Building D) & extension (Building C), Sail Loft (Building F), Torpedo Workshop (Building A), Sayonara Slipway, four jetties. The earliest structures extant, dating from c1892, are corrugated iron clad buildings. The later brick structures were erected during the first part of this century. The buildings, harbour and jetties enclose a bitumen car park that was formally the parade ground. The Boatshed: is an early iron-clad building with modern roof cladding. The stone retaining wall around this section of Rushcutters Bay returns at the ramps adjacent to the shed, indicating that the shed was built at a time when Rushcutters Bay was reclaimed. Administrative Building: A two-storey cream brick structure built in a number of stages between 1938 and 1943, entered through a narrow courtyard. The building, which features some Art Deco detailing, is located at the south-eastern corner of the site fronting New Beach Road. Federation Cottage: Located centrally on the western (New Beach Road) side of the site and was built in the 1890s. Mature Trees enhance the setting of the Cottage. Parade Ground: Quite an extensive area stretching from the RANSA Yacht Club to the Drill Hall and Federation Cottage. Drill Hall and extension: There are two sections to the Drill Hall complex. The Drill Hall itself, which was built during the 1890s, and the two-storey addition on the harbour side. The original Drill Hall is a single-storey timber framed building with corrugated iron external cladding, which is now lined internally with fibreboard. The most significant decorative features are semicircular arches over double-hung two-pane sash windows and gable ends with decorative finials. Sail Loft: A pre-1900 two-storey timber-framed building, corrugated iron-clad with a fibro upper storey. The building features a 1910 staircase, with herringbone struts supporting the loft floor, and six-pane windows. Torpedo Workshop: Erected over an early slipway, the remains of which are reported to exist under the present floor. Built in 1939, as a recruitment hall and converted during World War II into a torpedo workshop. Later, until 1984, it was the headquarters of the RAN Research Labroratory. The structure is two-storey brick with a concrete frame, central timber doorways, timber frame windows, bull-nosed brick corners and ceramic tile floors. Sayonara Slipway: Probably constructed by the Navy during the Second World War. The jetties: Constructed in the late 1930's to facilitate storage of vessels and the training of service personnel. Swing Moorings: Within the area designated as Naval waters, RANSA has 43 designated swing moorings. A further 7 RANSA moorings are located directly to the north of the Naval waters. |
| History: Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity: |
| Boatshed: is in reasonable condition although it is in need of repainting. The roof has recently been replaced by colorbond kliplok. It is now used as headquarters for the Australian navy sailing association (ransa). Administrative building: the two-Storey brick building appears structurally sound, however, internally it is in a state of disrepair. Garage: permission has been granted by Woollahra council for demolition. Federation cottage: it appears to be in excellent condition having recently been renovated. Its surrounding picket fence compliments the architectural features of the cottage and highlights its central position on the site. Parade ground: the bituminous covering over the parade ground is unsightly and is in average condition.It is presently used for car parking. Naval stores: demolised police office: demolished car port: demolished sonar building: demolished drill hall and extension: comprises two separate buildings requiring a considerable amount of maintenance. The northern ground floor section of the drill hall is in a dilapidated state and in need of refurbishment whilst the southern portion of the ground floor area has been extensively renovated. The northern portion of the first floor are has been renovated. However, the remainder of the first floor is in a dilapidated condition. Sail loft: the building has been extensively renovated both externally and internally. The floors have been highly polished and the paint colours are appropriate. Torpedo workshop: the two Storey building appears to be structurally sound and is in quite reasonable condition. It is occupied by the naval reserve cadets and is principally used on weekends and school holidays. Sayonara slipway: both slipways and the existing sheds are in a dilapidated condition. The jetties: from north to south, jetty 1 and jetty 4 are in the best condition. The condition of jetty 2 is fair whilst jetty 3 is Poor. |
| Location: |
| New Beach Road, Darling Point, comprising the area bounded by New Beach Road, D'Albora Marina, the waters of Rushcutters Bay and Yarranabbe Park. |
| Bibliography: |
|
HUGGETT, E.J. 1984. HISTORY OF THE RAN RESEARCH LABORATORY (UNPUBLISHED) GARY SHIELS & ASSOCIATES P/L. A REPORT OF THE POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR THE HMAS RUSHCUTTER. COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF WOOLLAHRA. 1990. NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (NSW) LISTING CARD. 1984. |
Report Produced: Wed Feb 10 01:39:28 2010