Erskineville Public School Including Buildings and Their Interiors, Trees And Gr

Item details


Name of item:	Erskineville Public School Including Buildings and Their Interiors, Trees And Gr
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Education
Category:	School - State (public)
Primary address:	13 Swanson Street, Erskineville, NSW 2043
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
13 Swanson Street	Erskineville	Sydney			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	Erskineville Public School has local historic, social and aesthetic significance. It has has historical significance as one of the first large schools built as a result of the Public Instruction Act 1880 and an example of the large schools that were built in densely populated areas and designed to be an impressive expression of the status and value of government education. The 1880s building has significance as being a good example of a Victorian Free classical style school, which is a local landmark and as an important streetscape element along Erskineville Road / Swanson Street. It is an example of the work of C Blackmann and Varney Parkes. The school has social signficance and is held in high esteem by the ocal community evidenced by the recent campaign to keep the school operating when threatened with closure due to declining enrolments. The enrolments have since increased.
	Date significance updated: 23 Apr 10
	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:	C Blackmann, C. & Varney Parkes
Construction years:	1883-
Physical description:	The school comprises: The original single storey Victorian Free Classical style building, 1883, with additions in 1889 (Block B) An inter-war two storey red face brick building backing onto Bridge Street ( Block C) A single storey weatherboard building, backing onto Bridge Street ( Block D) A three storey, post war, cream face brick building adjoining the south of Block B ( Block A) Grounds with some significant trees.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	In good condition with a high degree of original fabric intact. The original building has been recently sympathetically restored and modernised internally.
	Date condition updated:23 Dec 09
Further information:	Further historical research is required. 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.

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 )

Erskineville Public School was established in 1882 and is thee oldest and largest public building in the area. Block B was designed by architects C Blackman and Varney Parkes c 188e and had additons in 1889 and 1920.

The school housed troops in the first world war and it was the place for some of the earliest industrial campaigns by unions.

Block C was consstructed during the inter-war period.

The school was threatened by closure in the 2000s however comnunity action reversed this decision and enrolment numbers have since increased.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis	(none)-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Public education-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Erskineville Public School has historical significance as one of the first large schools built as a result of the Public Instruction Act 1880 and an example of the large schools that were built in densely populated areas and designed to be an impressive expression of the status and value of government education.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The 1880s building is associated with architects C Blackmann and Varney Parkes.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The 1880s building has significance as being a good example of a Victorian Free classical style school, which is a local landmark and as an important streetscape element along Erskineville Road / Swanson Street.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The school has social signficance and is held in high esteem by the ocal community evidenced by the recent campaign to keep the school operating when threatened with closure due to declining enrolments. The enrolments have since increased.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Representative example of Victorian Free classical style school with later additions.
Integrity/Intactness:	Externally 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 heritage buildings on the site 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. Any additions and alterations to heritage buildings should be confined to areas of less significance, sympathetically designed and shall be in accordance with the relevant planning controls.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number
Local Environmental Plan	Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012	I626	14 Dec 12
Local Environmental Plan	South Sydney Amending LEP 2000	1074		97
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
South Sydney Heritage Study	1993		Tropman & Tropman Architects		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Anita Heiss		Aboriginal People and Place, Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City
Written	Urbis	2009	Heritage Impact Statement - Erskineville Publci School, Swanson Street, Erskineville

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:	2420035

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.