Former "Burns Philp & Co" Building Including Interior

Item details


Name of item:	Former "Burns Philp & Co" Building Including Interior
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Commercial
Category:	Commercial Office/Building
Location:	Lat: -33.8654862706167 Long: 151.206875275495
Primary address:	5-11 Bridge Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
5-11 Bridge Street	Sydney	Sydney			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The Burn Philp's building is of high architectural, historic, aesthetic, social and scientific significance as one of the best examples of the Romanesque style exhibiting finely executed detailed sandstone carving and design with an impressive and imposing facade to Bridge Street. The richly carved and modelled facade is a major contribution to the Bridge Street area forming part of one of the most historically significant streetscapes in the city with buildings such as the Lands Department, Chief Secretary's, Education Department and Inter Continental Hotel. The building has particular historic significance through its relationship with the Burns Philp Company, a major maritime company in Sydney that has been a household name. It has scientific significance for its use of composite construction of steel, timber, masonry and cast iron. It was one of the first uses of cast and wrought iron structure after its early manufacture. The building is also of significance for the way the entrance to the lane is incorporated into the building with the building being allowed to build "over" the lane; an unusual and rare example in the city of building over public space.
	Date significance updated: 30 Dec 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


Designer/Maker:	A.L. & G. McCredie & Anderson. later additions John Brogan & Associates
Builder/Maker:	Mitchell King, Phippard Bros. cost of 60,000 pounds
Construction years:	1901-1901
Physical description:	The Burns Philp Building is a finely designed and ornamented Federation city office building, with a sandstone exterior on a rusticated plinth, arched openings and vaulted entry vestibules. The facade is symmetrical apart from a small car opening to one side giving access to a laneway. The interiors are largely intact with very fine decorative painted metal ceilings, high quality timber partitioning, elaborate cast iron columns, cedar joinery and polished stone finishes to the foyer. The building used an innovative construction system combining load bearing walls, brick cruciform columns, central stair shaft, cast iron columns, wrought iron beams, timber joists and oregon flooring. This effectively separated the facade from the main structure of the building (even though the front wall is loadbearing). The building is in excellent condition and is almost intact apart from several recent alterations to openings on the main facade. Category:Individual building. Style:Federation Romanesque/Late Victorian Gothic. Storeys:3. Facade:Sandstone. Side/Rear Walls:Sandstone, masonry. Internal Walls:Plastered brick, timber joinery. Roof Cladding:Slate tiles. Internal Structure:Loadbearing Walls, Cast Iron Columns, Wrought iron beams, Brick, Cruciform Columns. Floor:Timber joists and boards. Roof:Timber. Ceilings:Pressed metal. Stairs:Timber. Sprinkler System:Yes. Lifts:None. General Details:The building is in excellent condition both internally and externally with the last fitouts being of a high standard and retaining the significant interiors..
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	AirConditioned:Yes FireStairs: Yes
	Date condition updated:05 Dec 05
Modifications and dates:	1901-1903
Further information:	High Significance: All facades to the building with all original material but not including later minor changes. All early (and refurbished) interiors with all surviving early finishes and materials and structural system. Entrance to lane. Low Significance: Alterations from various periods including recent refurbishment where they have changed original fabric. Was a heritage item in 1989 and remains so to the present. 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:	Offices, Bank
Former use:	Offices

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 )

On 13th September 1899 James Burn, on behalf of Burns Philp and Company Ltd purchased the lots in Bridge Street (encompassing No 5-11) for a sum of 20 pounds from the then owner, McDonald. Buildings on the site (shops and offices) were demolished to make way for the present building. The building was designed by McCredie and Anderson and was completed in 1903 at a cost of 60,000 pounds. The major addition to the building has been the construction over the adjacent lane which features matching stonework and an impressive arched opening. This is one of the early examples of building over public space. The construction of the building is of interest as it marks the first use of a cast and wrought iron structural frame with a stone and brick facade still providing structural support, but the external walls stabilised by the internal framing. This was a departure from the predominantly masonry construction of earlier buildings.
The building was leased to a variety of tenants including: McCredie and Anderson; Ebsworth and Ebsworth solicitors; Henry W Peabody merchant; the Bellambi Coal Co; The North Queensland Insurance Company and; Nordcuttscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd) Shipping Company. A large proportion of the tenants were involved with the shipping and importing industries. A significant number were also involved in the mining industry. Amongst the many illustrious tenants was the German Consulate General and his staff. In October 1919 Burns Philp & Co whose business has expanded, became the sole occupiers of the building. They were involved in shipping, import/export and sale of merchandise. They have occupied the building since that time and have retained most of the early fitout. The building was carefully refurbished during the 1980s.

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	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The building was designed for a long established maritime company who have continuously occupied and retained ownership of the building. The company has maintained a continuous association with the building even though they did not occupy the entire building when it was initially constructed. Has historic significance at a State level.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The building displays one of the first uses of composite construction and is a landmark building for the combination of new structural techniques and fine facade treatment. The use of wrought iron is of particular significance because if was one of the first uses of the material after its early manufacture. Has aesthetic significance at a State level. Cultural:It is a building with a facade and interiors of high architectural and aesthetic quality demonstrating the skills of local craftsmen and the capability of sandstone for architectural ornamentation and structure. The incorporation of a lane entrance is an unusual and distinctive feature of the Bridge Street elevation.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	It is associated with late nineteenth and early twentieth century commerce in Sydney, but has used materials and finishes normally seen on banks and government buildings, indicating confidence in the future (possibly related to Federation.) Has social significance locally.It is a building with a facade and interiors of high architectural and aesthetic quality demonstrating the skills of local craftsmen and the capability of sandstone for architectural ornamentation and structure. The incorporation of a lane entrance is an unusual and distinctive feature of the Bridge Street elevation.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is a rare example of a well composed three storey commercial Federation building executed in finely detailed sandstone. It is one of the outstanding privately owned federation buildings in the city.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is representative of new construction techniques and high quality construction at the time of Federation which displayed confidence in the future.
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:

General: The building is to be conserved in its complete form and generally in its current configuration. A conservation plan should be prepared to guide the future use and maintenance of the place. Exterior: The sandstone and brick facades and detailing should be retained intact. Infilled openings should be removed and original detail reinstated. The roof should be retained in its current form. Appropriate stone conservation work to should be undertaken. Interior: The structural system, ceilings, wall finishes, stone finishes, columns, joinery, and early fitout including partitions, should all be retained intact. Minor adaptation of fitout for changing commercial needs and servicing may be acceptable provided it does not alter early finishes or any other significant fabric. 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	I1679	14 Dec 12
Heritage study

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written			National Trust listing Title Deeds Balint Commercial Building Construction in NSW; Ogg Steel
Written	Middletons Moore & Bevins	1999	Statement of Heritage Impact
Written	Anita Heiss		Aboriginal People and Place, Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City
Written	Conybeare Morrison	1999	Statement of Heritage Impact
Written	Conybeare Morrison	1998	Statement of Heritage Impact
Written	Heritage Group	1995	Statement of Heritage Impact
Written	McDonald McPhee	1998	Statement of Heritage Impact

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	2423729

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