The Riverview Hotel, including interiors

Item details


Name of item:	The Riverview Hotel, including interiors
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Commercial
Category:	Hotel
Primary address:	29 Birchgrove Road, Balmain, NSW 2041
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Inner West

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
29 Birchgrove Road	Balmain	Inner West		Cumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The Riverview Hotel at No. 29 Birchgrove Road is of local historic, aesthetic and social significance as a corner Hotel that was established on the site in 1880 with building remodelled in c. 1909. It is not clear if part of the earlier Victorian building remains, however, the existing building remains as part of the Federation period of development of the area. Despite painting of the façade and modification of the ground floor entries, the building significantly retains its form, Arts and Craft character and details including, brick and rendered details, distinctive parapet, recessed balconies and arched openings, brackets awnings and hoods, bay windows and corner treatment, timber framed windows and doors and pattern of openings. The building occupies a corner site and makes a positive contribution to the Birchgrove Road streetscape. Note: This inventory sheet is not intended to be a definitive study of the heritage item, therefore information may not be accurate and complete. The information should be regarded as a general guide. Further research is always recommended as part of the preparation of development proposals for heritage items.
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1880-
Physical description:	Two storey with basement, painted and face brick corner Hotel with splayed corner and high parapet concealing the roof. Constructed to the street frontages the façades comprise a number of bays with brick and rendered details about the splayed corner which has a timber framed bay window on faceted brick base on the ground floor and small recessed balcony over. The balcony has timber framed French doors with multi-paned toplight and hipped metal roof over. The two main facades each have central recessed entries with simple timber doors and multi-paned toplights on the ground floor and recessed balconies with arched opening and iron balustrade over. Deep, decorative timber brackets support a timber framed awning clad in metal tiles which wraps around the corner and extends over the two entries. A single door and basement openings are also located on the south western façade. The facades also have multi-paned timber framed double hung windows and window sets with rendered sills. The facades are surmounted by a bayed parapet with continuous profiled cornice, brick and rendered details including triangular pediment detail over window bays.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	In very good condition. Vines are growing over the north eastern façade parapet.
Modifications and dates:	1959: Awning (Melo-lite) (3381). 1984: Renovations (Hotel) snd amendment 1985 (22721). 1985: Internal alterations (85/441).
Further information:	Part of the north eastern façade remains face brick. Modern tiles have been added to the ground floor entrance steps and door thresholds and reveal. The tiled reveals have been painted. Service elements have also been fixed to the south eastern façade.


Current use:	Corner Hotel
Former use:	Corner Hotel

History

Historical notes:

Surgeon William Balmain was granted 550 acres and most of the area now encompassing Balmain in 1800. In 1801 the entire grant was transferred to fellow surgeon John Gilchrist. Gilchrist never actually lived in NSW and advertised the land for sale in 1823. However, the sale was not a success. He gave power of attorney to his Sydney-based agent and merchant, Frank Parbury, who commissioned Surveyor John Armstrong to subdivide part of the land. This subdivision and sale of this land took place in 1836 and commenced from the eastern end of the suburb (East Balmain) due to its proximity and convenient water access and later spread west. The early subdivision was, however, suspended in 1841 due to difficulties associated with Gilchrist’s will, but was resumed in 1852 when Surveyor Langley divided it into 46 later 47 sections. Langley used existing routes such as Darling Street and other tracks such as Beattie and Mullens Streets, which followed the local topography and contours, to delineate the parcels. The sections were purchased over the next 30 years by wealthy investors, local speculators and builders.
The site is located in Lot 27 of the 1852 subdivision. The early land ownership is not clear, however, a Hotel was constructed on the site in 1880-81. Publican Thomas Norton transferred his license from Wooloomooloo at this time avoiding restrictions laid by Council. The name of the Hotel relates to viewsof the Parramatta River. The htoel was associated with rowers who proabably watched William Beach win his world title on the river in 1884.
A Sydney Water Plan dating from the late 1880s (Balmain Sheet 28) and revised in the early 1890s shows an L-shaped building constructed to the corner. The north eastern arm of the building is setback from the Birchgrove Road frontage and a number of smaller buildings are also shown constructed to the north eastern boundary with open rear yard. The building was remodelled and renovated in 1909. It now occupies the entire site with a small open courtyard located along the south eastern boundary. It is associated with Dawn Fraser, its publican from 1978-83.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Growth of Balmain-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Growth of Balmain-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The site is part of an early subdivision. It is not clear if part of the earlier Victorian building remains, however, the existing building remains as part of the Federation period of development of the area dating from c. 1909. A hotel has significantly continued on the site since it was established in 1880. It is significant as a corner hotel that is a defining characteristic of Balmain and its working class origins.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Associated with local rowing community and Dawn Fraser, its publican between 1978 and 1983.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The building is of aesthetic significance as brick Federation period corner Hotel with Arts and Crafts details dating from c. 1909. Despite painting of the façade and modification of the ground floor entries, the building significantly retains its form, Arts and Craft character and details including, brick and rendered details, distinctive parapet, recessed balconies and arched openings, brackets awnings and hoods, bay windows and corner treatment, timber framed windows and doors and pattern of openings. The building occupies a corner site and makes a positive contribution to the Birchgrove Road streetscape.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Hotel is of social significance as a corner hotel that has continued to serve the local community since 1880 and has contributed to the social and economic life of the local community.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is a good representative example of Federation Arts and Crafts corner hotel.
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:

It is recommended that: - the existing scale, character and details of the building particularly the brick facades and parapet and associated brick and rendered details, timber bracketed awnings and hoods, ground floor entries, recessed balconies and pattern of openings including wide arched balcony openings be retained and conserved; - the first floor balconies should remain open; - no new or enlargement of any openings should be undertaken on the street facades; - the remaining face brick northern facade should remain face brick and surfaces that have been previously painted such as timber, metalwork and render should continue to be painted in appropriate colours. It is not necessary to remove the paint finish from the brick facades and parapet; - the ground floor entrances and separate door and basement access should be retained; - further alterations are permissible, however, should not detract from the existing character and scale of the building and presentation to the street.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan 2013	I129	23 Dec 13

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Leichhardt Municipality Heritage Study	1990		McDonald McPhee Pty Ltd (Craig Burton, Wendy Thorp)		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Max Solling and Peter Reynolds	1997	Leichhardt: On the Margins of the 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:	1940135

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