Semi-detached house, including interiors

Item details


Name of item:	Semi-detached house, including interiors
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Semi-Detached House
Primary address:	8 Broderick Street, Balmain, NSW 2041
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Inner West

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
8 Broderick Street	Balmain	Inner West		Cumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	No. 8 Broderick Street is of local historic and aesthetic signficance as good and fairly intact representative example of a modern 1970's building with influences from the Sydney School and elements of the Brutalist style. The building is supported by concrete poles, with concrete floors and a flat roof, set at 45 degrees to the street between coral trees and rock outcrops on the site and has harbour views. Despite recent alterations and additions the building still retains its original scale, form and details although some integrity is lost due to garage on the street frontage. Together with No. 6 it makes a positive contribution to the Broderick Street 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
	Date significance updated: 08 Feb 11
	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


Designer/Maker:	Stuart Whitelaw, Architect
Construction years:	1971-1972
Physical description:	Nos. 6 and 8 Broderick Street, Balmain comprise of a three storey modern (1972) concrete, timber and glass semi-detached dwellings with a flat roof. The structure is supported on circular concrete columns that extend from the ground to the roof. It has square cantilevered balconies with a central square cutout containing a spiral staircase. Walls facing the street and rear sides of the houses are clad in vertical timber boards with horizontal slit windows and walls facing the water view consist of timber frame glass doors and highlight windows from floor to ceiling height. The balconies have a wire mesh and timber railing balustade. (The first floor level balcony has since been enclosed). The corners of the balconies are suspended from the grid beam structure at roof level by 30mm diameter steel rods. The elevation facing the street contains a large open concrete paved area with a brick garage with flat kliplock metal roof located below ground level (built in 1983 ). Behind this structure is the three storey house with tall trees and palms in front of it with a timber bridge leading to the entry door. The house is elevated high above the water. The rock outcrop and vegetation are layered with steps leading down to the waterfront where there is a very small sand frontage.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Very Good
	Date condition updated:04 Jan 11
Modifications and dates:	1971- 3 storey house (BA/1971/10933). 1971: Garage (BA/1971/10495). 1982: Double garage (21088).(DA/403/82) 1983: Garage (21061).
Further information:	(Photos in 1972 Constructional Review)


Current use:	Residential
Former use:	Vacant land

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 6 of Section 40 of the 1852 subdivision and was owned by Charles King of Paddington. In 1877 the block appears to have been subdivided into lots 17 and 18 and owned by Leopold Theodore Jung. A Sydney Water Plan dating from the late 1880's (Balmain Sheet 40) shows the site as being vacant land. In 1903 the property was owned by John Joseph Jung, Clerk of Balmain. The property was transferred in 1912 to William Henry Golding of Balmain, (boatbuilder), and passed on to Oswald Armstrong Golding and Mary Golding in 1943.

In 1970 the two properties were bought by Advertising House (Holdings) Pty Ltd (No. 8) and Marr and Joan Grounds (No.6). No.8 was then bought by Lady Alice Bettine Grounds, (wife of Sir Roy Grounds, Architect) of Toorak, Victoria in 1972.

Marr Roy Grounds taught architecture at Sydney University in the 1960s-70s. One of his tutors in Design, Stuart Whitelaw was commissioned by Marr Grounds and (Advertising Holdings) to design a pair of semi-detached houses on the waterfront land. Advertising Holdings and Marr Grounds owned the land. Later Sir Roy Ground's took ownership of the land for No. 8. Sir Roy Grounds often stayed at Darling Point when he was in Sydney as he had architectural commissions. He decided he would like to live in Balmain for some time in the 1970's to continue his work.

Stuart Whitelaw designed the house in the style he was familiar with at the time - the modern movement of the 1960's (Sydney School) developed a style of domestic architecture attuned to the lifestyle to which the upper middle-class or artistically nonconformist clients aspired. These architects of the Sydney School were greatly influenced by the qualities of the sites on which the houses were built, often sloping rocky sites with views to the harbour, iIdealy the site around the building was left untouched. There was a preference for weight, toughness and elaborate articulation. Raw off-form concrete became the favoured material. The design of a new building was carefully considered in relation to its context.

Stuart Whitelaw designed 6-8 Broderick Street with influences from the Sydney School with elements of the Brutalist style. The site was of utmost importance and the building is set at 45 degrees to the street because of the original coral trees and rock outcrops on the site and to gain harbour views to the northern aspect. The building is supported by concrete poles, with concrete floors and a flat roof. The original sandstone outcrop and trees surround it. The top two levels have balconies and the walls are clad in glass and timber.

The properties had to be resubdivided after commencement (a most unusual event) so that their common boundary reflected the 45 degree grid. There is now a 'zig zag' in the common boundary.

The houses are associated with the Grounds family who lived in the houses when they were first built. Sir Roy Grounds (1905-1981) is a recognised as one of Australia's leading architects of the modern movement. His son, Marr Roy Grounds is a reknowned artist, environmental sculptor and architectural teacher. Marr's wife, Joan grounds is a well known Australian artist (originally from America) who is known for her sculpture, ceramics, installation and film. She possibly did some of her work at the Broderick Street house. She was associated with another artist, Aleks Danko who has some of his work incorporated into part of the building.

No. 8 was sold in the 1980s to the current owner. The front garage was rebuilt in 1982. Materials included a concrete slab, timber walls and steel frame flat roof with roof deck above.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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 the modern 1970s period of development in the local area.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The houses are associated with the Grounds family who lived in the houses when they were first built. Sir Roy Grounds( 1905-1981) is a recognised as one of Australia's leading architects of the modern movement. His son, Marr Roy Grounds is a reknowned artist, environmental sculptor and architectural teacher. Marr's wife, Joan Grounds is a well known Australian artist (originally from America) who is known for her sculpture, ceramics, installation and film. Aleks Danko is an Australian conceptual artist whose works are part of the house.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The building is of aesthetic significance as a modern semi-detached house built in 1971-72 with influences from the Sydney School and elements of the Brutalist style. It is built up on concrete poles, with concrete floors and a flat roof. The top two levels have balconies and the walls are clad in glass and timber. Despite recent alterations and additions to the building it still retains its original scale, form and details although some integrity is lost due to garage on the street frontage. The building occupies a water front location.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is rare in the Balmain area.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is a representative example of a modern 1970's style residence
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 features of the building particularly the flat roof form , balconies and associated details and finishes, timber cladding, timber windows and doors, pattern of openings be retained and conserved; - the rear balconies should remain and details, elements and fabric repaired and replaced to match as required; - the water front garden setting should be retained. - any further alterations and additions should be restricted to the rear of the building and site and should not detract from the existing form, character and scale of the building as presents to the water front.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan 2013	I146	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
Written	Australian Dictionary of Biography-online addition	2006	Grounds, Sir Roy Burman (1905-1981)
Written	Max Solling and Peter Reynolds	1997	Leichhardt: On the Margins of the City
Oral History	Stuart Whitelaw	2011	Design and history of 6-8 Broderick Street, Balmain

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:	1940154

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 Heritage NSW or respective copyright owners.