Wyong Shire Council Building

Item details


Name of item:	Wyong Shire Council Building
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Government and Administration
Category:	Council Chambers
Primary address:	2 Hely Street, Cnr Anzac Avenue, Wyong, NSW 2259
Local govt. area:	Central Coast

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
2 Hely Street, Cnr Anzac Avenue	Wyong	Central Coast			Primary Address
Anzac Avenue	Wyong	Central Coast			Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	The Council Chambers, despite later modifications, has aesthetic significance as a good representative example of post war civic architecture. The building is also important as evidence of civic aspirations at the time of construction, and as a focus of community activities and government. The site is a good compliment to the streetscape on a corner location. The 1959 Wyong Shire Council Building demonstrates a confident assertion of a new shire council, having been separated from Erina Shire in 1947. The building adopts a Post-War Moderne style with steamlining to create a civic presence on a corner site in the Wyong business district. The streetscape elements of the building are significant at a local level. The interior provides generic evidence for local government in Wyong in its second decade.
	Date significance updated: 24 May 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


Physical description:	Replaced earlier building (1948) on site. Two storey civic building with unusual face cream brickwork treated in decorative manner. Windows designed as discrete units, and are surrounded by a stone margin, or separated by sandstone wall lining. Coloured sheet material in spandrels. Unusual canopy to first floor entry. Wrought iron balustrading to stair.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Fair with signs of decay in areas difficult to access
	Date condition updated:28 Oct 09
Modifications and dates:	Main entry relocated. Additions along Anzac Avenue. Extensions carried out in 1979.

History


Historical notes:	The prominent corner building replaced the earlier building (1948) on site and was constructed in 1959.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	(none)-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The building has local historic significance for its association with the evolution of government administration in the area. The building interior has been stripped of its fittings demonstrating the operation of local government, leaving a generic 1950s suite of offices that has provided a loose fit to a range of office requirements since Council's executive left this building. The interior fabric is unremarkable and its significance could be managed in an archieval recording. The historical significance of the building could be retained in the streetscape aspects of the building.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The 1959 Council Building is linked to the work of early Wyong Councillors and senior staff. The History of Wyong Shire 1947-1997 does not identify any links between these key persons in the Shire and the fabric of the 1959 building.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The facades of the building have aesthetic significance at a local level and should be retained. The interiors are not significant and may be adapted or demolished to suit Council's requirements.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The building is connected to the operation of the Shire Council, including community leaders and Council workers, but not at a level sufficient to meet this criterion at a local level. The histories of Wyong do not identify social significance in the interior of the building, which has not been accessed regularly by the wider Shire community since the 1997 Civic Centre nearby was completed.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The building and its site do not have research potential.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	As a Moderne building with streamlining, the building exists in limited numbers in Wyong, though it is not rare in New South Wales. The other mid 20th centure buildings with streamlining (either Art Deco or Moderne) in Wyong are: The former Rural Bank at 98 Pacific Highway in Wyong, The Entrance Police Station at Dening Street, the Long Jetty Hotel at 407 The Entrance Road in Long Jetty, the Lakes Hotel at 199-209 The Entrance Road in The Entrance and the shop at 74 Pacific Highway in Wyong.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Wyong Shire Council Building is representative of other local government offices, but does not meet the threshold for this criterion.
Integrity/Intactness:	Fair
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 enclosed plans provide the levels of significance and any changes should respect the high and moderate levels of significance and an archival record made prior to any changes. Item removed from LEP List as per Council Resolution 13 July 2011 (agenda item 2.2). Final list of items yet to be approved by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan		73	10 Sep 99
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Inventory of Heritage Items	1991	73	Wyong Local Environmental Plan		Yes
Wyong Shire Heritage Study	1994		Rod Howard Heritage Conservation Pty Ltd		Yes
Wyong Shire Heritage Study Review	2009		David Scobie Architects	David Scobie	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Stinson, E		A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE WYONG SHIRE
Written	Strom, B		History and Heritage

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:	2720066

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