Flat Building "Marlborough Hall" Including Interior

Item details


Name of item:	Flat Building "Marlborough Hall" Including Interior
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Flat
Primary address:	4 Ward Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, NSW 2011
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
4 Ward Avenue	Elizabeth Bay	Sydney			Primary Address
4 Ward Avenue	Kings Cross	Sydney			Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	Marlborough Hall is of significance as it was designed by the prominent and influential twentieth century architect Emil Sodersten. It represents an important shift in aesthetic expression to be found in Sodersten's work after he returned from an extensive trip to Europe in 1936 and more generally demonstrates the influence of modern European architecture on local practitioners during the second half of the 1930s both in terms of planning and architectural expression. Marlborough Hall is a prominent and important element within the streetscape in this part of Kings Cross because of its resolved and unusual external design. It has retained a substantial amount of intact original fabric both externally and internally and demonstrates well the planning and design of residential flat buildings of the inter- war period particulalry from the second part of the 1930s.
	Date significance updated: 29 Dec 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:	Emil Sodersten
Builder/Maker:	Norman Newton
Physical description:	Marlborough Hall is a seven storey Inter-War Functionalist style residential flat building. It has an "L" shaped plan which ensured that the majority of the 62 apartments had a north-easterly aspect and many commanded fine views of the harbour, whilst allowing a maximum of open garden space at ground floor level. The building has a strong horizontal expression, reflecting the experimentation that was taking place in Sydney with aspects of European modernism at the time. The exterior features unadorned face brickwork, simple window openings with cantilevered canopies. The horizontality of the fenestration is relieved on the Ward Avenue elevation by a projecting stair well with its continuous "V" shaped windows which allows the stair to be read from outside the building.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Good
	Date condition updated:24 Dec 10
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:	residential
Former use:	residential

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.

With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today.

Marlborough Hall was designed in the office of Emil Sodersten, and built by Norman Newton for the Consolidated Trust Co Ltd in 1938. Structural Design was carried in the office of A W Morrison, consulting engineer. The design represents an important shift in aesthetic expression to be found in Sodersten's work after he returned from an extensive trip to Europe in 1936 and more generally demonstrates the influence of modern European architecture on local practitioners during the second half of the 1930s both in terms of planning and architectural expression.

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.	Flats-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Marlborough Hall is associated with a period of intensive residential flat development in the Kings Cross Area in the 1920s and 1930s.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Associated with prominent and influential twentieth century architect Emil Sodersten.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Marlborough Hall is a prominent and important element within the streetscape in this part of Kings Cross because of its resolved and unusual external design. It has retained a substantial amount of intact original fabric both externally and internally and demonstrates well the planning and design of residential flat buildings of the inner war period partially from the second part of the 1930s.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Marlborough Hall provides insight into the design of residential apartment building erected during the second half of the 1930s, both in the way than the buildings functions and as a comparative example of how the design of this building type evolved during the inter-war period as a result of foreign influences.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Representative of a late 1930s residential flat building.
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, 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	I600	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	Building 25 May 1937	1937	N ew Batchelor Flats
Written	Building Feb 24 1938	1938	Marlborough Hall, Darlinghurst Sydney
Written	Rod Howard Heritage Conservation	2003	Marlborough Hall - 4 Ward Avenue kings Cross, Representation to Fire Order

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:	2421401

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