Main Quad / East Range and Great Hall

Item details


Name of item:	Main Quad / East Range and Great Hall
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Education
Category:	University
Primary address:	Main Quadrangle, The University of Sydney, SYDNEY, NSW 2000
Local govt. area:	Sydney

Boundary:

The University of Sydney: Camperdown Campus

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Main Quadrangle, The University of Sydney	SYDNEY	Sydney			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
University of Sydney	University

Statement of significance:


	The first building of Australia's first university, designed on an impressive scale and in an architectural style traditionally associated with the highest standards of learning, the original building was a potent symbol of the vision and ambition of its founders, of their belief in the future of the colony and of the overriding importance of education in the age of responsible government. The East Range and Great Hall have remained symbolically at the heart of the University throughout its history, despite substantial changes to the dynamics of the University campus and its building stock. One of Australia's grandest secular buildings in the Gothic Revival style and, at the time of its construction, the largest public building in the Colony. The keystone of what is probably the most significant group of Gothic Revival Buildings in Australia.
	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:	Edmund Blacket 1855-1862, James Barnet (Clerk of Works)
Builder/Maker:	Holmes & Coney, John Donovan & Robert Melville, A & S Loveridge, W Elphinstone, W H Hudson & Sons
Construction years:	1855-1862
Physical description:	The two storey sandstone building features high quality carved Gothic Revival style decorative details and tracery, coats of arms and medallions. The sandstone is thought to originate from Pyrmont but it is possible that quarrying occurred in front of the east range forming the terrace. The roofs are clad with Welsh Slate. The east range largely retains its original interiors with fine carved cedar joinery (also Gothic Revival in style), massive timber staircases, marble and timber floors and plastered walls. Externally the Great Hall is crenellated with a corner turret to the north east. The eastern gable has central stained glass window with carved tracery, as does the western facade. The stained glass symbolises Oxford and Cambridge. The central finial of the eastern gable was originally surmounted by a carved Angel of Knowledge which was removed in 1874. Photographs of the Eastern range taken in the mid nineteenth century show a corrugated iron roof, indicating that the slate was not installed initially. Internally the walls of the Great Hall are dressed stone, with a grey and white marble floor. The elaborate carved timber work to the roof vaults includes carved timber angels designed by James Barnet.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Refer to the 1999 University of Sydney Heritage Fabric Survey.
	Date condition updated:17 Aug 00
Modifications and dates:	1858 - Stained glass (survives) 1875 - Marble flooring (survives) 1884 - Gaslights (survive) 1927-28 - War Memorial Carrillion 1928 - Electric lighting c1980 - External stonework to Great Hall
Further information:	An in-depth study of the Gothic Revival buildings at the University of Sydney is required to assess their relative levels of significance on an international level.


Current use:	University Facility
Former use:	N/A

History

Historical notes:

Following the Inauguration of the University of Sydney on 11 October 1852 and the matriculation of the first students, the Senate applied to the government 'for a suitable site of land on which to erect a proper suite of buildings' and for a grant 'to defray the necessary expenses connected therewith'. A site at Grose Farm was offered by the government and by the end of 1854 the boundaries had been determined, confirmed by Crown Grant dated 18 January 1855. The Senate's architect was Edmund Blacket appointed in May 1854 after resigning his position as Colonial Architect. Chosen for his particular skills in Gothic architecture, it was this style which Blacket recommended for the new university as particularly associated with study and learning. As was usual at the time, Blacket's work included the 'careful selection of archaeologically correct detailing to give it appropriate atmosphere'. Various sources can be identified from contemporary publications.
The first plans and designs were discussed by the Senate in June 1854. By September it had been decided to construct the eastern range with a central tower and open archway and the Great Hall. A watercolour by Conrad Martens provides the only evidence for Blacket's larger plan. Work began on the foundations in January 1855 and stone was chosen as the building material. James Barnet was Blacket's clerk of works. By the end of 1857 teaching had begun in the unfinished building. The Great Hall was first used on 18 July 1859, effectively the public opening of the buildings at Grose Farm although work did not finish until 1862 when the tower was completed and all funds were exhausted. As originally designed the north end of the eastern range accommodated classics, the Registrar's office and retiring rooms for students and professors and the southern end lecture rooms for mathematics, chemistry and physics and a laboratory. The Great Hall was one of the most imposing buildings in the Colony and attracted an appeal for donations of stained glass windows. A complete series was specially designed in 1858 by Clayton and Bell. Marble flooring was installed in the Hall in 1875, gaslight in 1884 and electric lighting in 1928. The roof of the Great Hall was damaged by fire on 15 August 1951.
The War Memorial carillon [See Carillon] was installed in the tower in 1927-1928.
A fire which broke out in the roof space at the south-east corner of the quadrangle on 24 February 1989 damaged part of the east and south range.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The first building of Australia's first university, designed on an impressive scale and in an architectural style traditionally associated with the highest standards of learning, the original building was a potent symbol of the vision and ambition of its founders, of their belief in the future of the colony and of the overriding importance of education in the age of responsible government. Modelled on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the facilities were to be contained within the quadrangle. Subsequent expansion of the University has resulted in the creation of new faculties.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	As the starting point of a complex of Gothic Revival Style buildings which form the Main Building Precinct. This building group is probably the most important group of Gothic Revival buildings in Australia. Indicating the spread of architectural ideas to the colonies. The selection of an appropriate style was important to the institution. The Great Hall and East Range continue to symbolise the University of Sydney.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	For its symbolic role, for functions, special events and as the site of graduation ceremonies.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Indicating the development of the Gothic Revival Style.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	A very rare grouping of Gothic Revival Buildings, probably unique in Australia. The Great Hall is an extremely fine example of a hall, modelled on English prototypes.
Integrity/Intactness:	Substantially intact.
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 preparation of a detailed Conservation Management Plan for this area is recommended. Refer also to the 1999 University of Sydney Heritage Fabric Survey. Ensure that the impact of any proposal on the heritage significance of the buildings and their setting is assessed when planning new works. There is a draft CMP for the whole of the Main Quadrangle.

Listings

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

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Photograph
Written			Register of the National Trust and National Trust Listing Cards
Written			Original plans Blacket plans, Mitchell Library & Blacket papers, University Archives
Written	Bertha McKenzie	1989	Stained Glass and Stone : the Gothic Buildings of the University of Sydney (Sydney University Monographs No. 5)
Photograph	C Turney, U Bygott & P Chippendale	1991	Australia's First : a history of the University of Sydney Volume 1 1850-1939
Written	DPWS Heritage Group and Otto Cserhalmi & Partners	1999	University of Sydney, Heritage Fabric Survey
Written	Joan Kerr	1983	Our Great Victorian Architect Edmund Thomas Blacket (1817-1883)

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:	4726003

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