Home    Listings    Heritage Databases    Heritage Database Search    Heritage Item Click on the BACK button of your browser to return to the previous page.

Item
Name of Item:	Pines Estate Conservation Area
Type of Item:	Conservation Area
Group/Collection:	Urban Area
Category:	Townscape
Primary Address:	Refer To Map, Newtown, NSW 2042
Local Govt. Area:	Sydney
Property Description: Lot/Volume Code Lot/Volume Number Section Number Plan/Folio Code Plan/Folio Number
All Addresses
Street Address Suburb/Town LGA Parish County Type Refer To Map  Newtown  Sydney      Primary
Statement of Significance	The Pines Estate Heritage Conservation Area has historic significance as a highly intact 1887 subdivision of an early Villa Estate that developed in response to the expansion of the railway. Developed largely in the period 1890-1950, the area has aesthetic values for its harmonious streetscapes comprising intact rows of one and two-storey Victorian and Federation terrace houses. Date Significance Updated: 28 Jul 06 Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.
Description
Construction Years:	1887 - 1915
Physical Description:	The 1887 subdivision of The Pines villa estate is highly intact and features wide tree-lined streets, regular allotments and rear lanes. Rows of one and two-storey Victorian and Federation terrace houses were constructed on the narrow allotments creating harmonious streetscapes which have a high degree of integrity. Pine Street: mix 1 / 2 storey, Victorian, highly intact. Rating A Leamington Avenue: Mix 1 / 2 storey, Victorian intact, railway boundary intrusive Rating A Holdsworth Street: Mix 1 / 2 storey Victorian, intact, detracting flat development and garage at rear Wilson Street property. Rating A Randle Street: Mix 1 / 2 storey Victorian, intact. Rating A Lanes: Mixed character, altered Rating C.
Physical Condition and/or Archaeological Potential:	Good Low   Date Condition Updated: 11 Jul 03
Modifications and Dates:	Industrial sites converted to residential (stucco)
Further Information:	The Conservation Area, as part of a larger area within parts of Newtown and Darlington was first listed as a Consevation Area under the provisions of South Sydney LEP 107, gazetted on 4/10/1991. Heritage Inventory sheets are often not comprehensive, and should be regarded as a general guide only. Inventory sheets are based on information available, and often do not include the social history of sites and buildings. Inventory sheets are constantly updated by the City as further information becomes available. An inventory sheet with little information may simply indicate that there has been no building work done to the item recently: it does not mean that items are not significant. Further research is always recommended as part of preparation of development proposals for heritage items, and is necessary in preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments and Conservation Management Plans, so that the significance of heritage items can be fully assessed prior to submitting development applications.
Current Use:	Residential
Former Use:	Residential, Light Industrial
History
Historical Notes:	The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters. With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney. (Information sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani ) In 1794 Acting Governor Grose granted 120 acres to Nicholas Devine, Superintendent of Convicts, who received a further grant of 90 acres from Governor Hunter in 1799 which comprised the body of the suburb of Erskineville and Macdonaldtown The Conservation Area formed part of the earlier 120 acre grant. Devine named his estate ‘Burrin Farm’ after his birthplace in Ireland and built his home in the area in the vicinity of the present corner of George Street and Erskineville Road. After Devine's death in 1830, the estate was cut up and sold by Devine’s assigned convict servant and sole benefactor, Bernard Rochford. In 1852 Mr John Devine, a grand nephew and heir to Nicholas Devine claimed title to the whole of Devine's 210 acres. Thirty defendants fought the case and won. Devine appealed and lost a second case in 1857. Again he was unsuccessful but the holders of the property established a fund and paid him compensation, thereby concluding the celebrated Newtown Ejectment Case. Felix Wilson was one of the main protagonists in the Newtown Ejectment Case. Wilson (1802-1865) was an ironmonger, and an inaugural Sydney City Councillor in 1842, and director of the Bank of NSW, 1843-50. In 1843, Wilson purchased ‘Lietrim’ near Holdsworth Street, designed by John Verge in 1834, and renamed it ‘Pine Villa’. The area was formerly owned by John Fairfax (1804 - 1877) who commenced his newspaper publishing career in Leamington Spring, Warwickshire in the 1820s. ‘Lietrim’ was occupied by Sir Francis Forbes (1784 - 1841) friend to Governor Brisbane and virtual President of the Legislative Council. Wilson’s property, ‘The Pines’ was so named because of the magnificent Norfolk Island Pines on his estate. The pines were removed when properties along Wilson Street were subdivided. The railway line bisected Wilson’s property. Leamington Avenue was a creek before the railway was built. The Pines Estate, also known as ‘Randle’s Estate’, was first subdivided into 146 lots, in 1887 after the death of Felix Wilson. William Randle was Wilson’s son-in-law, railway builder. The Estate was offered for sale by Holdsworth & Evans, development company. Richard Holdsworth was a solicitor. They also offered to widen Wilson Street to 66 feet. The original Pine Villa stood near Holdsworth Street until the 1890s. In July 1887, resumption of the Pine Villas Estate for a public park was urged, but did not occur.
Historic Themes
Australian Theme (abbrev) New South Wales Theme Local Theme 4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages - Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages (none) -
Assessment of Significance
SHR Criteria a) [Historical Significance]	Subdivided in 1887, the Pines Estate is an intact example of a late Victorian subdivision and residential development of a 1830s Villa Estate that developed with the expansion of the railway.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative Significance]	Working and middle class settlement, corner store communities on Devine’s Estate.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic Significance]	Comprising rows of one and two-storey Victorian and Federation period terrace houses, enhanced by street plantings the streetscapes possess a high degree of coherence.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Representative of Victorian subdivision (circa 1887) of Villa Estate. Representative of middle/working class late Victorian residential development.
Integrity/Intactness:	Both the subdivision and the housing stock have a high degree of integrity.
Assessment Criteria	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.
Recommended Management	1.Protection of Significance (a) Subdivision - Retain Victorian subdivision - Do not allow amalgamation of sites (b)Key Period Significant (Contributory) Development: - Retain 1-2 Storey Victorian / Federation terraces - Retain mix of 1 and 2 storey development - Retain Scale - Maintain building alignment - Retain form - Retain finishes and details - Reinstate verandahs, front fences, lost detail - Protect intact rear lane (single storey development to lane) - Additions to rear not to exceed ridge height and retain original roof form - Discourage front dormers (c)Other Significant Development: - Retain intact industrial development - Limit redevelopment to existing volume - Prepare policy for redevelopment of industrial sites. 2.Redevelopment of Non Contributing Sites - Encourage reinterpretation of Victorian Subdivision - Respect scale and form of significant development - Respect building line of significant development - Encourage rendered and painted finishes - Encourage contemporary detail - Provide landscape screening - Do not allow carparking access from street - Do not allow carparking forward of building line 3.Enhance Significance of Area - Maintain and enhance street planting to unify streetscape - Encourage render/paint finishes to detracting developments - Remove / Discourage reproduction of Victorian detail in contemporary development - Interpret villa estates - Provide landscape screening to detracting sites - Improve street planting and screen planting at railway boundary. 4.FSR and Height Controls Controls to reflect desired future character of area. - FSR / Height controls appropriate 5.Boundary Adjustment - Maintain current Conservation Area boundary - Contributory buildings should be retained and conserved. A Heritage Assessment and Heritage Impact Statement should be prepared for contributory the buildings prior to any major works being undertaken. There shall be no vertical additions to such buildings and no alterations to the façade of the building other than to reinstate original features. Any additions and alterations should be confined to the rear in areas of less significance, should not be visibly prominent and shall be in accordance with the relevant planning controls. - Neutral and detracting buildings should where possible be enhanced. Any replacement of such buildings should be in accordance with the infill provisions of the relevant planning controls.
Listings
Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number Gazette Date Gazette Number Gazette Page Local Environmental Plan  SS LEP 1998 (Amendment No 9)  CA40  03 Apr 09       Local Environmental Plan - Lapsed  South Sydney Amending LEP 2000  CA40    97
Study Details
Title Year Number Author Inspected by Guidelines Used South Sydney Heritage Study  1993    Tropman & Tropman Architects    Yes  South Sydney Conservation Areas  2003    Architectural Projects P/L    Yes
References, Internet links & Images
Type Author Year Title Internet Links Written  Anita Heiss    Aboriginal People and Place, Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City
Note: Internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.
(Click on Thumbnail for Full Size Image and Image Details)
Data Source
The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database Number:	2421494
Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager. All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of the Heritage Branch or respective copyright owners.