| Physical description: | Substation, Ultimo is located on the south-western corner of Mountain and Smail Streets, in Ultimo, approximately 200m north of Broadway. (Austral Archaeology 2005: 6).
Exterior:
Substation, Ultimo is a single story brick building featuring a gabled wall entrance with moulded stone parapet, sandstone window lintels and sills and banded brickwork. The main brickwork is in red. The contrasting dark bricks define the foundations, arched entrance, and horizontal striped detailing that aligns with the multi-paned windows. A recessed archway leads to a modified entrance, with the original timber doors now replaced with a steel roller door.
It is a tuck-pointed face brick structure designed in Federation Free style evidenced by the use of a sandstone window headers, sill detailing and gabled parapet with curvilinear elements and contrasting manganese banded brick parapet. Stylistic elements also include a large arched entrance flanked by a ventilator and a multi paned window in the gabled wall and a pitched roof with exposed rafters. .
Interior:
Internally, the building is a simple open space with mansard-shaped ripple steel panel-lined ceiling. Brick corbels protruding from the wall once supported rails for an overhead travelling crane.
There are two trenches or pits running along each far side of the main space against the side walls. These and parts of the floor are covered with steel cover panels, but otherwise, most of the floor is of concrete.
Next to the inside of the roller door entry at the front (Mountain Street), a handbasin sink is mounted on an aluminium wall panel.
Near the northwest corner of the space is the pedestrian entry door (to Smail Street), with steps into the space, and a skylight window over it.
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Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential: | 1994: Good (exterior).
2007: Generally good, though there is some damage and deterioration to some elements. Sandstone window elements have been damaged by original rusting iron security bars. The commercial building immediately to the left of the substation is built hard against the side, obscuring all details (from view). One door on the Smail Street side has been infilled and an interior partition removed (1926). A window on both Mountain and Smail Streets has been replaced with a metal vent (1961). Interior equipment has been upgraded several times (North 2007).
2026: overall, the external fabric is in fair to poor condition and comprises areas that need conservation maintenance work. An overview of the general condition of fabric is below:
- roof sheeting: corrugated steel, with widespread corrision visible on upper sections of northern and southern elevations. Green paint finish is faded in paces and no longer provides adequate protection to the steel. Severl sheets are loose and lifting. Loose sheeting has increased the risk of water ingress and further structural damage if left unaddressed. Step flashings to each parapet end and on the north elevation should be subject to close inspection and repairs implemented as relevant.
A number of essential rainwater elements, including gutters and downpipes are missing or damaged beyond repair, exacerbating water ingress to the building and fabric deterioration. Drainage systems are not functioning and rainwater is not being directed away from the building envelope. The absence of functioning rainwater goods results in roof runoff likely discharging directly onto the building's masonry, increasing potential water penetration, staining and accelerated decay. Detailed observations are below:
- rainwater goods on eastern elevation (head and downpipe) in poor condition, not functional. Rainwater head is extensively corroded and some corrosion on the downpipe, although its most significant defect is the missing base section, such that there is no connection to stormwater (drainage);
- on the northern elevation, the eaves gutter is corroded right through, along most of its length. The downpipe is missing at hte eastern end and at the western end is missing the top section, and there is no connection to the gutter. Metal fastenings in the masonry on the eastern side of the northern elevation indication previous installation of astragals for rainwater goods, noting that no extant rainwater goods are currently connected;
- on the southern elevation, featuring a papet with box gutter behind, there is no evidence of an extant rainwater head. It appears that the gutter may drain in one direction - to the non-functional rainwater head on the eastern elevation, which should be confirmed through further investigation;
- there is no evidence of rainwater goods on the western elevation, and the presence of a previously adjoining building is noted (Urbis 2026: 34-35).
The roof features three ventilators and two lanters. The ventilators appear in fair overall condition, but with corrosion on metalwork. The lanterns are experiencing corrosion, including roof sheeting, end capping and rainwater goods. A detailed inspection would be required to ascertain the functionality and detailed condition of lanterns and ventilators.
The dormer roof is in poor overall condition. The timberwork, including barge boards, rafters, windows and sills show signs of weathering and require conservation works, their extent confirmed by detailed inspection. It is expected there will be a need to treat the timber, repair rotted and unsound sections and undertake repainting to reinstate a protective coating. Corrosion is evident on the metal shingles and on the southern elevation, one window is broken and requires replacement to restore functionality and weatherproofing. A more detailed assessment of the dormer roof is recommended to confirm its integrity and identify any underlying issues not visible in initial inspection from the ground plane (Urbis 2026: 36).
Exterior masonry is in generally good condition, with brickwork of street elevations comprising high quality dense fired bricks. THere are however, some penetrations in masonry facades associated with service installations and rainwater goods, resulting in localised damage and affecting the overall presentation of the building. There are also areas requiring repointing, including around the plinth. There is limited evidence of the tuck pointing referred to in documentary sources and there is opportunity to investigate reinstatement on the north and east elevations. On the south and west elevations, there is opportuntity for cleaning and some repointing work. Vegetation growth is present on the masonry facades, in particular the southern (one), which has the potential to open masonry joints and allow water ingress, if left unmanaged - this should be removed.
Wall-mounted vents are along both lower and upper courses of northern and eastern elevations. While the extent of vents was established early in the building's history, the lower course vents display variation in age, condition and material, reflecting different periods of installation and repair. The iron wall vents have largely corroded, with some showing advanced corrosion that has weakened their structure and in several cases, caused them to become dislodged entirely. This los not only reduces ventilation capacity but also leaves openings that may allow water ingress or pest entry. The terracotta vents, while generally more stable, exhibit significant erosion of the glazing, particularly at exposed edges, likely due to prolonged weathering and moisture retention (Urbis 2026: 37).
Sandstone is used on the building's exterior in windowsills, headers and parapet capping. The latter appears in fair condition but shows significant localised defects and widespread decolouration, likely from prolonged exposure to weathering and pollution. While this is primarily comsetic, it presents an opportunity for improvement through conservation works. The sandstone windowsills have experienced severe degradation, particularly around metal penetrations associated with installing security bars, which are corroding and adversly affecting the stone. This has compromised the integrity of affected areas and conservation works are required to address deteriorated stonework.
The timber-framed windows are in fair overall condition. There are areas of blistering and peeling paint and some of timber requiring rpairs, in addition to replacing broken glass.
In condideration of the above, there are opportunities to do repairs to external fabric as part of a program of conservation works, including:
- repairs and remediation to roof, including repainting and re-fastening or replacement of roof sheeting;
- sympathetic repairs and replacement of rainwater goods, and connection to stormwater (drainage);
- repairs to roof ventilators, lanterns and dormer windows;
- brick repairs and repointing;
- repair and replacement of corroded and delaminating wall mounted vents;
- cleaning, repair and remediation of sandstone elements.
In additon, there are opportunties to review appropriate security measures for the building in the future (Urbis 2026: 38-39).
Internal fabric condition:
Overall, this is in fair condition and comprises areas that need conservation maintenance work. An overview of condition follows:
Paint failure, characterised by widespread cracking and efflorescence, is evident across all walls. This is likely the result of moisture ingress, particularly affecting lower and upper courses where exposure and moisture retention are greater. In several areas, multiple paint layres have delaminated, revealing underlying brickwork. Similar paint failure is present on the ripple iron ceiling.
Prior to future repainting, the sources of moisture ingress should be identified and addressed to prevent recurrence. This may involve inspecting rainwater goods, roof sheeting and masonry joints to determine points of water penetration. Also, whether or not the damp proof course has been breached or is non-existent should be confirmed (Urbis 2026, 39-40).
The roller door at the substation's eastern end is in fair to poor condition. Its corrugated metal is corroded and paint coating is flaking off across its surface. Several holes are present in its lower section, which may compromise security and weatherproofing. The door's operatoinal functionality is not known.
Installing services to masonry facades have resulted in localised damage and diminished the presentation of the interior. Throughout, metal fixings, largely associated with installing electrical infrastructure, are evident. These interventions have caused minor deterioration in some areas and, if left unaddressed, may lead to further damage to building fabric. Remedial works should focus on minimising additional impact, repairing affected masonry, and considering alternative, less invasive methods for future service installations to protect the building's fabric (Urbis 2026: 41).
There is scope to carry out repairs to internal fabric as part of a broader program of conservation works. These could include:
- investigating sources of damp (entry) and corresponding remediation work;
- repainting;
- repair or replacement of corrugated iron roller door;
- repairs / patching of brick masonry (Urbis 2026: 42). |