Former Crown Street Women's Hospital Including Interior

Item details


Name of item:	Former Crown Street Women's Hospital Including Interior
Other name/s:	City View
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Health Services
Category:	Hospital
Primary address:	351 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
351 Crown Street	Surry Hills	Sydney			Primary Address
Albion Street	Surry Hills	Sydney			Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	The building dates from one of the key periods of the development of Surry Hills as a direct result of the subdivision of the Riley Estate. The building became a key element in the development of the Crown Street Womens Hospital and is a good example of a late Victorian building on a prominent corner site which makes makes a positive contribution to the streetscape
	Date significance updated: 10 Mar 05
	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:	1884-1912
Physical description:	The building is a 3 storey Victorian style former church hospital, on the corner of Crown and Albion Streets . The building is constructed of rendered brickwork with rendered detailing with pilasters and pediments framing the timber windows and doors. There is prominent corner faceted bay turret with bell shaped roof at the end of an arcade arched verandah over 3 levels and a decorative parapet divided into bays by engaged piers with cornices capping.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	In good condition, with a high degree of original fabric externally.
	Date condition updated:20 Feb 03
Modifications and dates:	The building has been continually altered and modified since it became part of the hospital.1908: Building remodeled to cater for the hospital; 1912: Substantial Federation additions to the existing Victorian building and 1962: remodeling of the 1st and 2nd floors
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:	Commercial offices
Former use:	Boarding House, Church Home and Hospital

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 building is within the area that was part of the original grant to the first Surry Hills landowner - Captain Joseph Foveaux, who was assigned 105 acres in 1793 and subsequently increased his holdings to encompass most of Surry Hills. By 1800, John Palmer - farmer and grazier, had acquired more than 200 acres of Surry Hills and become Commissary General. However by 1814, Palmer had fallen into financial trouble and lost his position in the colony, resulting in his estate being divided and sold at public auction. Edwards Riley attempted to reassemble the Palmer Estate during the 1820s, although after his suicide in 1825 the holdings were once again subdivided according to Meehan’s original plan and sold to the public. The economic boom of the 1830s acted as the necessary catalyst for residential development in Surry Hills with the original allotments being initially subdivided into villa estates. With much of the Riley Estate still locked up in a legal battle, the early development in Surry Hills focused on the lands around Albion and Bourke Streets. It wasn’t until the gold rush boom of the 1850s that the Riley Estate finally become available, and provided substantial land for the development of workers housing locally employed by the breweries and other industries. The building was constructed in 1884 as a church home and became a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney.. The Hospital closed in 1983.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The building has historic significance as it dates from the key period of development of Surry Hills and the consolidation of residential estates to commercial development.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The building is associated with the development of the Crown Street Womens Hospital.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The building is a prominent element in the streetscape and good example of a late Victorian Commercial building with elaborate parapet detailing with classic motifs and other typical key elements of the style.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The building is significant to women and to the Surry Hills community for over 100 years.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The area is not identified in an archaeological zoning plan and the area has been well researched and it is unlikely that the site would reveal further information that would contribute to the significance of the area.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is not rare.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is a representative example of a Victorian building found in the inner suburbs of Sydney.
Integrity/Intactness:	Medium externally
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 Heritage Assessment 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 facade of the building above awning level other than to reinstate original features. 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 South Sydney Council Heritage Conservation DCP. 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 Local Environmental Plan 2012	I1498	14 Dec 12
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
Written	Anita Heiss		Aboriginal People and Place, Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City
Written	Crown Street Centenary Committee	1994	The Women's Hospital Crwon Street: A Family Remembers
Written	Crown Street Womens Hospital	1963	70th Anniversay Report

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:	2420617

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.

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