Sewage Pumping Station No 7 (SP0007)

Item details


Name of item:	Sewage Pumping Station No 7 (SP0007)
Other name/s:	SPS 7
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Utilities - Sewerage
Category:	Sewage Pump House/Pumping Station
Primary address:	Roberts Street, Rozelle, NSW 2039
Local govt. area:	Inner West

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1	DP	258200
LOT	2	DP	258200
LOT	1	DP	531412

Boundary:

UBD Edition 36 - Map 9, Q-16. Curtilage to include the fabric within and to the boundary of the SWC property on which SPS0007 is located including the superstructure, substructure and all ancillary installations (pipework, valves, ventstacks, wet wells and inlet well) and original timber gates but not including any fencing.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Roberts Street	Rozelle	Inner West			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Sydney Water	State Government

Statement of significance:


	SP0007 is of historic, aesthetic and technical/research significance. Historically it was part of an original network of twenty low level sewage pumping stations constructed at the end of the 19th century to serve Sydney. The station along with the construction of the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer (ten years earlier) formed a part of the major advance in the protection of the public health of Sydney by ending the discharge of sewage into the Harbour. They were built as a direct response to the outbreaks of Enteric Fever (Typhoid) which plagued Sydney from the 1870s to 1890s and the recommendations of the Sydney City and Suburban Health Board (which was established by the NSW Government in 1875 to report on the best means of sewage disposal) which proposed the establishment of outfall sewers. Aesthetically it is a good example of a small scale industrial building designed in the Federation Queen Anne style. In its surviving fabric SP0007 reflects the importance of Federation Period public utilities, which is evident in the technical excellence of the overall design, traditional construction techniques and craftsmanship such as the stone dressings and tuckpointed brickwork. Due to its prominent position in Roberts Street, the station contributes to the local cultural landscape. The pumping station is also technically significant for its continual use nearly a century after its introduction as a low level sewage pumping station as originally designed and constructed, apart from mechanical and electrical modifications. It has educational and interpretation potential to reveal information about sewage pumping engineering and in architectural taste in a period when utilitarian buildings were given as much careful attention as public buildings. Due to its highly prominent location in Roberts Road, the station makes a valuable contribution to the townscape and cultural landscape of Rozelle. Its aesthetic significance could be enhanced by reconstructing the slate roof.
	Date significance updated: 09 Dec 00
	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:	New South Wales Public Works Department
Builder/Maker:	New South Wales Public Works Department
Construction years:	1902-1904
Physical description:	SP0007, Rozelle is a low level sewage pumping station prominently located in Roberts Road and adjacent to the former White Bay Powerhouse. It consists of two distinct parts: a superstructure comprising a small rectangular single storey loadbearing brick building; and an elliptical shaped flanged cast iron plate substructure which houses machinery and sewage chambers. Architecturally, the building was designed in a utilitarian version of the Federation Queen Anne style. Externally there is a terracotta tiled gable roof with exposed eaves with timber sarking boards; double casement timber windows with multi paned fanlights; timber framed, ledged and sheeted double doors with fanlight; dark red-brown tuck pointed brickwork laid in English bond with a splayed brick plinth; rock faced sandstone sills, lintels and quoins; and cast iron rainwater heads and downpipe. A rare architectural feature of the building are the elliptical shaped gable end walls. Internally, the ceiling is lined with tongue and grooved boarding and the walls are rendered and lined out to simulate ashlar coursing. The substructure is divided into a machinery well comprising two vertical spindle centrifugal pumps, each direct coupled to electric motors. Adjacent are two sewage wells and an inlet well. The station is located within a exposed yet confined site immediately adjacent to Roberts Road. There is a paling fence along the street and west boundary. There are two original timber framed gates which are in good condition and a detached WC. The area surrounding the station is turfed.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The building fabric is fair physical condition: sandstone sills weathered; tuck pointing weathered; and timber doors wet rot affected. Archaeological potential is high to reveal information about the construction of the cast iron substructure.
	Date condition updated:22 Mar 00
Modifications and dates:	Slate roof replaced. The original plunger pumps plus DC current were replaced before 1913. Most of the mechanical and electrical components were upgraded during the 1970's.
Further information:	Aesthetic significance could be enhanced by reconstructing the slate roof.


Current use:	Low level sewage pumping station

History

Historical notes:

In 1859 Sydney's sewerage system consisted of five outfall sewers which drained to Sydney Harbour. By the 1870's, the Harbour had become grossly polluted (especially with the nearby abattoir at Glebe Island) and there were outbreaks of Enteric Fever (Typhoid) throughout the period 1870s-1890s. As a result, the NSW Government created the Sydney City and Suburban Health Board to investigate an alternative means of disposing of the City's sewage. This lead to the construction of two gravitation sewers in 1889 by the Public Works Department: a northern sewer being the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer and a southern sewer draining to a sewage farm at Botany Bay. Low lying areas around the Harbour which could not gravitate to the new outfall sewers continued to drain to the old City Council Harbour sewers. Low level pumping stations were therefore needed to collect the sewage from such areas and pump it by means of additional sewers known as rising mains, to the main gravitation system. The first comprehensive low level sewerage system began at the end of the 19th century when the Public Works Department built a network of 20 low level pumping stations around the foreshores of the inner harbour and handed them over to the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage in 1904. Overall, greater Sydney now has over 600 low level sewage pumping stations. At least two of the early stations received their DC power from the Rushcutters Bay Tramway Powerhouse, near SP0018. Although called SPS No 1 the first SPS was the 1894 emergency Shone Ejector at St Peters (coal fired electricity) followed by the Double Bay Ejector (electricity from Rushcutters Bay) and the coal fired steam driven Marrickville Pumping Station (later SPS 271).

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)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Technology-Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences	(none)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	SP0007, Rozelle was built in 1902 and was among the original network of 20 low level sewage pumping stations constructed to serve Sydney. The pumping stations along with the construction of the Bondi and Southern Outfall Sewers, formed a part of the major advance in the protection of the public health of Sydney by ending the discharge of sewage into the Harbour. The construction of SP0007 evidences the growth of Sydney and expansion of municipal services during the early part of the 20th century.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	SP0007 is a fine example of a robust and well proportioned small scale industrial Federation Queen Anne style building which displays in its fabric a combination of superior utilitarian design, construction and craftsmanship. The scale, colour, texture and detail of the building makes an effective contribution to the streetscape of Rozelle.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The excellent design of the superstructure by the Department of Public Works reflects the body of work emanating from the then Government Architect, Walter Liberty Vernon. With community awareness of the cultural significance of these SPSs, the heritage community at least is likely to hold these stations in high regard.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	SP0007 has the potential to reveal information about construction techniques and design of the cast iron substructure. The pumping station still fulfils its role nearly a century after its introduction as a low level sewage pumping station as originally designed and constructed albeit with some mechanical upgrading.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	SP007 is unique as part of the network of first generation low level sewage pumping stations built to serve the historically significant Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The superstructure is a representative example of a Federation Queen Anne style small scale industrial building. SP0007 is a representative example of a low level sewage pumping station on the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer.
Integrity/Intactness:	Considerably intact with reversible alterations.
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:

Manage the place and its significant components in accordance with the Heritage Council State Owned Heritage Asset Management Guidelines and the Minimum Standards of Maintenance and Repair in the NSW Heritage Regulations. Manage significant site elements in accordance with a Conservation Management Plan (CMP). If no CMP exists, consult with Asset Management Commercial Services with respect to commissioning a CMP. When commissioning a CMP, do so in accordance with the Model Brief for CMPs available on ConnectNet. Seek endorsement of the CMP from the Heritage Council of NSW. Works undertaken in accordance with a Heritage Council-endorsed CMP do not require further approval under the NSW Heritage Act. Involve heritage professionals as required under the terms of the CMP, or as otherwise determined necessary. Review CMP every 5 years or in a major change of circumstances, whichever is sooner. Review of a CMP should only be undertaken following consultation with Asset Management Commercial Services . When commissioning a CMP review, do so in accordance with the Model Brief for CMPs available on ConnectNet. Where no CMP is in place, or where works are outside the scope of the existing CMP, assess heritage impacts of proposed works in accordance with Sydney Water Environment Impact Assessment guidelines (e.g. undertake a Heritage Assessment and/or Statement of Heritage Impact as required, obtain Heritage Council approval as required). Consult with the Heritage Manager, Environment and Innovation, when major works are planned which affect items of State heritage significance. Undertake archival and photographic recording before major changes, in accordance with Heritage Council guidelines. Lodge copies of the archival record with the Sydney Water Archives and the NSW Heritage Office. Where the item is listed in a Local Environmental Plan Schedule of Heritage items, determine if works are exempt from approval under the LEP provisions. Where works are not exempt, obtain necessary approvals from the local council, in accordance with SWC EIA Guidelines.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register			01 Jan 00

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Sydney Water Heritage Study	1996		Graham Brooks and Associates Pty Ltd		Yes
Heritage Study of the Upper Nepean Scheme	1992		Edward Higginbotham & Associates Pty Ltd		No

References, internet links & images

None

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	State Government
Database number:	4571705

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