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Item
Name of Item:	Bondi Surf Pavilion
Type of Item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Recreation and Entertainment
Category:	Other - Recreation & Entertainment
Primary Address:	Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026
Local Govt. Area:	Waverley
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 Queen Elizabeth Drive  Bondi Beach  Waverley  Alexandria  Cumberland  Primary
Statement of Significance	Outstanding early twentieth century building. Its construction marked the establishment of the Australian beach and leisure culture. Prize winning example of the work of Robertson and Marks, architects. A fine example of the Inter-War Mediterranean style. Introduced to Australia by Leslie Wilkinson. Famous landmark. Attractively sited in the landscape, serving to understate its large scale. State significance. Date Significance Updated: 06 Nov 99 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:	1915 - 1945
Physical Description:	A very large, masonry constructed 1920's seaside pavilion. Core building is two storeys with single storey wings encircling a large central courtyard. Characterised by its colonnaded facades, featured on all four elevations. Inter-War Mediterranean style, reminiscent of the Italianate (of former Coogee Palace Aquarium and Coogee Bay Hotel). Tuscan columns to central loggia. Parapet above provides balustrade to large balcony area. Good use of mouldings on this central structure. Ornamentation otherwise restrained. Short span, hipped roof now in concrete tiles. Most openings either arched or topped by arched, rendered bands. Interior extensively remodelled with large courtyard areas retained. Well sited in the beach park landscape. Strong horizontal emphasis and partly sunken siting reduce the potential impact on the former dune landscape. Park area around is boomerang shaped, and siting creates special visual interest when viewed from high vantage points. Pivotal contribution in the surrounding townscape.
Current Use:	Pavilion
Former Use:	Pavilion
History
Historical Notes:	Foundation stone laid by Waverley Mayor in 1928. Part of a major beach and park improvement scheme. Replaced an earlier structure. Prize winning design by Robertson and Marks, architects. Clearly influenced by the work of Leslie Wilkinson. Lengthy delays in construction. Originally provided extensive changing facilities, shops, Turkish baths, gymnasium, ballroom, dining rooms and auditorium. Still used for dressing rooms and shops, in part, together with theatres, club rooms, community centre and art gallery. Built at a time when surf bathing became a mass leisure pursuit. Although trams arrived many years earlier, it was not until the 1920's that visitors flocked to Bondi. Earlier seaside palaces, like the Coogee Aquarium, were attractions in themselves, and modelled on those in Victorian England. Here the primary emphasis is on meeting the needs of bathers. The departure from the English tradition is marked by both the styling and the use.
Historic Themes
Australian Theme (abbrev) New South Wales Theme Local Theme 8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure - Activities associated with recreation and relaxation (none) -
Assessment of Significance
SHR Criteria a) [Historical Significance]	This item is of historical and cultural significance.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic Significance]	This item is of architectural, aesthetic, landmark and streetscape/landscape value.
SHR Criteria d) [Social Significance]	This item is of social significance.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	This item is of rarity value significance.
Integrity/Intactness:	Substantially intact.
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.
Listings
Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number Gazette Date Gazette Number Gazette Page Local Environmental Plan      06 Dec 96       Heritage study
Study Details
Title Year Number Author Inspected by Guidelines Used Waverley Heritage Study  1990  3/1 - 0240  Perumal Murphy Pty Limited    No
References, Internet links & Images
None
Note: Internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.
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Data Source
The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database Number:	2620255
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