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Item
Name of Item:	Sydney Technical College - Administration Building A
Other Name/s:	Building A, TAFE, Main College Block
Type of Item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Education
Category:	Tertiary College
Primary Address:	19 Mary Ann Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007
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 19 Mary Ann Street  Ultimo  Sydney      Primary
Statement of Significance	The building dates from one of the key period of layers for the development of Ultimo as a direct result of subdivision of the Harris and Macarthur Estates. It is an outstanding example of Federation Romaneque educational building on a prominent corner and landmark site which makes a positive contribution to the streetscape and is part of the first technical college in the NSW public education system. Date Significance Updated: 26 Oct 05 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
Designer/Maker:	W E Kemp
Construction Years:	1891 - 1891
Physical Description:	The Administration Building is a large, symmetrical, rectangular three storey brick building with a slate hipped and gabled roof. It features two storey high, double semicircular arched recessed panels between expressed pilasters and has carved sandstone and terracotta tile decorative panels to the window spandrels. Top floor windows are grouped as triple semicircular arched openings and the roofline has a central triangular parapeted gable end, with segmental arched pediments to the gable ends of the outer end bays. The entrance portico is colonnaded with polished trachyte columns supporting rusticated sandstone arches containing carved representations of Australian fauna. There are small towers either side of the central gable. The building reflects Federation Romanesque style through its parapeted gable, the emphasis on semicircular openings and the use of grouped semicircular headed windows. Art Nouveau influence is seen in the iron gates with their arched light brackets. The Sydney Technical College is an important site of public education in Sydney which includes several fine, turn of the century educational buildings.
Physical Condition and/or Archaeological Potential:	In good physical condition with a high degree of original fabric intact.   Date Condition Updated: 20 Oct 05
Further Information:	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:	School, Offices
Former Use:	School, Offices
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 ) The first land grants were made in 1803 and 1806 to Surgeon John Harris who was granted 34 acres and then constructed and named Ultimo House in 1804. He named it Ultimo (meaning last month) as a result of a clerical error in his charge papers. There were further grants to Harris of 9 and 135 acres in 1806 and another 12 acres in 1818. He moved to his farm at Shanes Park (near St Marys) in 1821 but retained the estate and leased Ultimo House first to Edward Riley and then to Justice Stephen. Proposed improvements along the first few miles of Parramatta Rd prompted subdivision by Harris along the Parramatta Rd and George Street frontages, and these were developed into houses, shops and public houses over the next 10 years. The remainder of the estate remained largely undeveloped and following Harris’ death in 1838, legal complications prevented further subdivision until 1859. Ultimo was incorporated into the City of Sydney in 1844 and the early 1850’s saw a number of major developments in Pyrmont and also in Ultimo to a lesser extent. Its close proximity to the city’s expanding central business district, Brisbane Distillery port and transport facilities made it an attractive area for housing. In 1853, the Sydney Railway Company resumed 14½ acres of the Ultimo Estate for a railway line to and with a terminus at Darling Harbour. The area was further subdivided in 1860 which established major north/south streets including Pyrmont, Harris, Jones and Wattle Streets although the roads were not fully formed until 1870. The west side of the estate was dominated by quarrying activities and the remainder used for dairying paddocks. Services including water and sewer came to the area in the early 1860’s and gas lighting between 1868 & 1872. The population doubled during this time, and industry began to establish including Castlemaine Brewery in Quarry Street, Atlas Ironworks, and manufacturer and merchant Samuel Freeman in Harris Street. The early 1880’s saw a boom in housing in the area followed by Goldsborough Mort’s woolstores in 1883 and other substantial warehouse buildings including a large grain and produce store in Allen St, Waite & Bull’s woolstore in 1893, Winchcombe Carson No.1 in 1895 (in Wattle St) and Farmers and Graziers (between Wattle and Jones Sts). In 1892 the Ultimo Technical College opened in Mary Ann St. By the early 1880’s Union Square was established as a commercial centre and by 1900 most residential development had ceased by which time the Pyrmont and Ultimo Power Houses had opened and the new Pyrmont Bridge had been constructed. Most development in the 20th century was commercial and industrial and included additional woolstores, Pyrmont Incinerator (1934) , flour mills (1940) , additional power stations (1955) and the Government Printing Office (1960’s). The provision of free technical education was a major development in the history of the Australian workforce. The selection of the location of the Sydney Technical College in Ultimo was considered at the time as appropriate for Sydney as the peninsula was already recognised as a major industrial area, with a population of working class residents and many others who daily commuted to the area for their work. The college buildings illustrate this earlier phase of Sydney's growth, when the industrial heart of the city was located on the south side of the central business district.
Assessment of Significance
SHR Criteria a) [Historical Significance]	The building has historic significance as it dates from the key period of development of Ultimo and the subdivision of grand estates into residential and commercial development. The building is also of historic significance for being part of the first technical college in the NSW public education system.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative Significance]	The building is associated with NSW Government Architect William Kemp and the NSW Education system.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic Significance]	The building has aesthetic significance as a good example of Federation Romanesque style which demonstrates many of the key aspects of the style incluidng the parapeted gable, and grouped semi circular openings.
SHR Criteria d) [Social Significance]	The building is held in high esteem by the local community as a place of education, training and meeting.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is rare in Ultimo and rare within the City of Sydney.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is a rare example of a Federation Romanesque educational building found in the inner suburbs of Sydney.
Integrity/Intactness:	High
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	The building should be retained and conserved. A Conservation Management Plan and Heritage Impact Statement should be prepared for the building prior to any major works being undertaken. There shall be no vertical additions to the building and no alterations to the façade of the building other than to reinstate original features. The principal room layout and planning configuration as well as significant internal original features including ceilings, cornices, joinery, and flooring should be retained and conserved. Any additions and alterations should be confined to the rear in areas of less significance, shall not be visibly prominent and shall be in accordance with the Sydney City Council Development Control Plan. The building should be retained and conserved. A Heritage Assessment and Heritage Impact Statement, or a Conservation Management Plan, should be prepared for the building prior to any major works being undertaken. There shall be no vertical additions to the building and no alterations to the façade of the building other than to reinstate original features. The principal room layout and planning configuration as well as significant internal original features including ceilings, cornices, joinery, flooring and fireplaces should be retained and conserved. 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.
Listings
Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number Gazette Date Gazette Number Gazette Page Local Environmental Plan  Sydney LEP 2005 Schedule 9  6  09 Dec 05   154
Study Details
Title Year Number Author Inspected by Guidelines Used Pyrmont/Ultimo Heritage Study  1990    Anglin Associates    No
References, Internet links & Images
Type Author Year Title Internet Links Written  Australian Heritage Commission  1978  Australian Heritage Database City of Sydney, "Ultimo Pyrmont Conservation Report" (Ranking - 1).  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:	2424448
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.