Sydney Central Police Station

Item details


Name of item:	Sydney Central Police Station
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Law Enforcement
Category:	Police station
Primary address:	7-9 Central Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
7-9 Central Street	Sydney	Sydney			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Attorney Generals Department - Department of Communities and Justice	State Government

Statement of significance:


	Central Police Station is of local historical significance as a good and largely intact example of an inner city Police Station that was originally constructed to accommodate a resident police force. The original three storey building was designed in the Federation Free Classical style by James Barnet, the last Colonial Architect with construction of the building supervised by WL Vernon, the first Government Architect. The building is an example of a Police Station with attached Holding Cells that operated in association with a Courthouse for nearly 100 years. Central Police Station and Holding Cells are good examples of a late nineteenth century Police Station and prison environment that despite alterations and modification and closure of the Police Station demonstrate certain design philosophies and standards of that time. The form and layout of the building and relationship with the Holding Cells is functional and reflects Barnet’s preference to relate each building to its site and context. The additions to the building, including the upper two floors to both wings of the building and western addition and subsequent closure of the main building represent the changing philosophies and requirements and evolution of the functions of the police force in Sydney and NSW. Central Police Station is of some social significance for its association with the NSW Police force, Department of Corrective Services and NSW Sheriff’s Office and all associated parties who have used the building for over 100 years. This significance has been diminished by the closure of most of the building, however, the ground floor of the building significantly continues to operate and is part of a network of Courts in the local area. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
	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:	J Barnet, WL Vernon
Builder/Maker:	Phippard Brothers
Construction years:	1889-1892
Physical description:	Central Police Station is a dignified rendered masonry building constructed in the Federation Free Classical style with dressed sandstone details to the base of the ground floor façades. The original three storeys of the northern wing are clear when looking at the Central Street façade and delineated by a heavy, profiled cornice which extends across the façade. The later additions, comprising four storey amenities added to the western façade and two storeys over are evident, particularly when looking at the simpler detailing and openings. The building comprises two wings, with main, northern wing addressing Central Street and southern wing which extends from its south eastern corner. The northern wing features low pitch gable and flat roof sections. The southern wing features a skillion roof form. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Poor condition overall. Some fire damage to first floor of northern wing. (October 2008)
	Date condition updated:25 Oct 10
Modifications and dates:	Third and fourth floor were added to the northern and southern wings of the building and original dormitories and barracks converted into individual bedrooms and cubicles. (1926-28) Former barracks area converted into offices. (1930) External yards enclosed for additional cells. (1935-48 and 1948-55)


Current use:	Holding cells
Former use:	Police Station

History

Historical notes:

Sydney Central Police Station was constructed in 1892 as part of a court, cells and police station complex, to a design originally drawn by Colonial Architect James Barnet and elaborated by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon.

The current courthouse and police station replaced an earlier local court and police building located on the corner of George, Druitt and York Street, which had been in use since c1828. The land on which the current building sits was purchased by the Crown in 1885. Original plans for Local Police Courts fronting Liverpool Street with a police station behind fronting Central Street were designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet. While this concept of courthouse and police station on the same site was common in large country towns it was the first built in Sydney.

Barnet was dismissed in 1890 and his replacement, Walter Liberty Vernon, produced more detailed plans based on Barnet's original design. The construction contract was awarded to Phippard Brothers in March 1891. Work on the courthouse was finally completed in early 1893 at a cost of £49,600.14.1. The complex opened in September 1892, some months before its final completion. The police station included police barracks and fronted Union Lane, which was renamed Central Street in 1905.

Numerous additions and alterations were made to the police station throughout the twentieth century. A third and fourth floor were added to the northern and southern wings of the building in 1926-28 and the original dormitories and barracks were converted into individual bedrooms and cubicles. This former barracks area ceased to be used as sleeping accommodation in 1930 and the rooms were converted into offices. External yards were enclosed for additional cells in 1935-48 and 1948-55.

The police station closed in 1990. The ground floor cells are currently used by the adjacent Central Local Court as holding cells and the ground floor of the southern wing is used as the Police Prosecutors' Offices. The rest of the building remains vacant.

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	-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Police-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Administration of justice-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Corrective services-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Central Police Station and associated Holding Cells are of high historic significance as a purpose built Police Station constructed in association with the Central Police Courts. The building, which originally incorporated on-site residential accommodation and barracks for a police force provided inner Sydney with a valuable service for almost a century. The Police Station and Holding Cells are historically significant for their close relationship to the Courthouse. The interior of the Police Station and Holding Cells, whilst modified, is of historical significance as a record of a late nineteenth century Police Station incorporating a barracks and prison environment, which was designed to cater for all classes of prisoners. The buildings continue to surround and enclose the central open courtyard which is historically significant as it evokes the original use of the courtyard for stabling and Police training and drills and also access to the site. The space also provides separation between the two original functions of the site, the Courthouse and former Police Station. The buildings are historically significant as one of the last such complexes designed by the Colonial Architects Office under James Barnet. The Police Station has undergone some alteration and additions which represents the evolution of the Police service in Sydney and NSW and associated changing philosophies, security, service and amenity requirements. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Central Police Station is associated with James Barnet, the last Colonial Architect and Walter Liberty Vernon, the first Government Architect, and their respective offices. The building has long association with the NSW Police and State Justice System and subsequent managers and users of the buildings including the Criminal Investigation Bureau Unit, and more recently the ground floor is associated with the Department of Corrective Services, Sheriff’s Office and Police Prosecutors unit. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Central Police Station is a good and intact example of a Police Station building constructed in the Federation Free Classical style that retains its original features and elements of its principal facades including stone detailing and relief lettering around the ground floor carriageway, vertical pilasters and profiled cornice lines on the Central Street façade and wrought iron balconies, balustrades and brackets on the south and western facades of the building. The interior of the building also retains its principal spaces and finishes such as the central carriageway with vaulted ceiling on the ground floor, main north-south cross walls on the upper floors, timber joinery and windows. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Central Police Station is of some social significance for its near 100 years association with the Police and system of law and justice in Sydney and NSW. The closure of the building in 1990 has impacted on its significance, however, the ground floor of the building significantly continues to operate as part of a network of Courts in the local area. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is a rare example of a Police Station that was originally constructed with on-site barracks and accommodation for a small force of men. The Police Station and associated Holding Cells were strongly linked with a Courthouse, like other Court complexes built around the same time, however, the connection, form and massing of these elements in this central city location is unique. Unlike other combined complexes built in Sydney around the same time, the two functions of Courthouse and Police Station are clearly separated with separate street frontages and addresses. The Holding Cells in this case form the link between the two functions and all components surround an open yard. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Central Police Station is a good representative example of a classically inspired Police Station constructed in the late 19th century by the Government Architects Office. Despite closure of the building it continues to retain its principle characteristics that indicate its former functions. (Perumal Murphy Alessi 2008)
Integrity/Intactness:	Moderate level of integrity. Building no longer used as a police station.
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.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Perumal Murphy Alessi, Heritage Consultants	2008	Central Police Station, Nos. 7-9 Central Street, Sydney Conservation Management Plan (Draft)

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:	State Government
Database number:	3080149

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