Recent Projects of Dawbin Architects, Heritage Consultancy and Architectural Design practice of Bruce Dawbin

Recent Projects

Heritage

• North Head, School of Artillery

Conservation Management Plan for North Head, School of Artilery

Former Defence Sites - Harbour Trust

The north Head School of Artillery was constructed in response to the country's mobilization for the war effort between 1936 and 1945. Vacated by the Army in 1999, the complex of art deco buildings and the formal planning of the site arranged around the parade ground, form an intact and significant group of military structures.

The practice is currently preparing a two stage Conservation Management Plan for the entire site This includes assessment and defining options for adaptive reuse of the major core buildings and detailed inventories of all major and minor building and landscape elements of the site.

• Mosman Drill Hall


Further to the completion of a Conservation Management Plan for Harbour Trust for the former 1913 army Drill Hall at Mosman, Dawbin Architects was invited by Mosman Council to participate in the design, documentation and contract administration of the adaptive reuse of the building as an indoor sporting facility for the local community and to provide offices for the Childrens' Services section of the Council. The building is the sole survivor of a standard design Drill Hall constructed in many locations in the city and country NSW prior to World War 1. The project injects a new lease of life into the redundant military building, which has remained unused since 1998. The site is adjacent the existing Rawson Park and oval, and has now been redeveloped as a major sporting complex with outdoor netball courts and the Drill Hall indoor courts.

• Fort Scratchley, Newcastle

Fort Scratchley was constructed in 1882 for the defence of Newcastle, strategically located on Signal Hill overlooking the entrance to the Hunter River.

Following decades of negotiations, in June 2008 the entire historic site was transferred from the Commonwealth to the custodianship of Newcastle City Council. At a cost of $11 million, major conservation works were completed in 2008 involving refurbishment of all structures on the site. The work included upgrading and waterproofing of the tunnels linking the gun emplacements, and improving accessibility to the site.

In conjunction with the conservation program and as a condition of the transfer, a Heritage Management Plan was prepared for the entire site by Dawbin Architects in collaboration with Suters Architects in Newcastle. After many years of closure, Fort Scratchley is now re-established as a major tourist attraction for the city.

• Eveleigh Railway Workshops (Large Erecting Shop)

Conservation Management Plan for Eveleigh Railway Workshops

Conservation Management Plan and adaptive reuse proposals for a large 19th century workshop building to ensure its conservation of fabric and ongoing useful function. The building is part of the vast former Eveleigh Railway Workshops (Australian Technology Park complex) in Sydney and former home of locomotive 3801.

• Eveleigh Carriageworks


This project involved the archival recording and photographic survey of the former Stores complex at the western precinct of the former Carriageworks at North Eveleigh, prior to proposed redevelopment by the Redfern- Waterloo Authority in 2009. The complex includes the oldest structure on the Eveleigh complex, constructed in 1883, and the Carriage Shop Extension where many passenger carriages on the NSW Railway system were constructed and remodelled, prior to closure of the Works in 1989.

• Grenfell Railway Station

This restoration of a picturesque Edwardian timber railway station followed closure of the country branch line and this terminal station. Community action saved the building from demolition and RailCorp provided funds for restoration and adaptive reuse as a community facility and Tourist office.

• Hornsby Traction Substation and Power Signal Box
Relocation of Hornsby Signal Box

Conservation Management Plan for Hornsby Traction Substation

Conservation Management Plan for Hornsby Power Signal Box

Heritage Assessment of the station and yard precinct for potential heritage items and buildings in association with planning the 5th platform development and additional tracks as part of the Rail Clearways Program.

Conservation Management Plans were prepared for the Signal Box and Traction Substation located close to the new track alignment.
Further work is currently in progress on the site for relocation of the brick signal box on the site.

• Yass National Australia Bank

As part of a program of upgrading of country banks for Bovis Lend Lease, a heritage assessment of the interior at Yass NAB ensured that the unusually intact original 1885 cedar counter joinery units could be retained and incorporated as part of a new interior fitout and upgrade of the banking chamber.

• Bankstown Airport – Hangar 14

A heritage impact statement was carried for one of the original 1940 wartime hangars at the Airport, as part of a broader strategy for heritage management for the site.

• Gladesville Hospital

In conjunction with a series of projects for the adaptive reuse of former ward accommodation, the practice prepared heritage assessments for several buildings in the western precinct of the former psychiatric hospital, originally designed by Mortimer Lewis in 1835.

New Residential Projects

• New residence, Salamander Bay
Completed 2006

Salamander Bay House interior

• New residence, Kurrajong Heights
Completed 1991

• Other residential projects

Ski lodge, Jindabyne
Summer house, North Arm Cove, Port Stephens
Alterations and additions in Sydney and Newcastle
New houses in Hornsby Heights, Turramurra, Thornton, Nelson Bay, Maitland, Turramurra, Kurrajong Heights

Earlier Work

• Brisbane Customs House

A detailed study (Conservation Management Plan) was carried out on behalf of the Commonwealth, prior to occupation and adaptive reuse by the University of Queensland, as its city campus and function centre.

• Lithgow Blast Furnace and the State Mine


A Conservation Management Plan was prepared for the conservation and archaeological assessment of the ruins of Lithgow Blast Furnace Park, the birthplace of Australia's iron and steel industry. The project included site planning and appropriate landscaping to present the site for tourist visitation as an interpretive precinct. The ruins and remnant structures were investigated and recorded and former functions interpreted. Access for the public was a major consideration and suitable viewing areas were identified and a heritage trail established around the site. Associated with this project we have been involved with the development of the State Mine Heritage Park and Railway which has now been developed into a quality coal mining display effectively adapting the remaining buildings and structures of the State Mine.

• University of Technology, Sydney Blackfriars campus

Conservation of external fabric, stonework, roof and joinery. Former school buildings by GA Mansfield in 1885, now part of the UTS campus in Broadway, Sydney.

• Nowra School of Arts, 1898 Cyril Blacket building

Other projects for Shoalhaven
City Council:

Old ES&A Bank, Berry, 1884 by William Wardell
Kangaroo Valley School of Arts
Milton Theatre
Werninckes Cottage
Mt Cambewarra Tea Rooms

• Other Heritage Projects

Townsville Customs House
Hornsby Traction Substation and Power Signal Box
Mulgrave Railway Station
Riverstone Station Master's Residence
Kiama Infants School
Kiama Cargo Shed, redevelopment of wharf
Hornsby Rail Clearways Project

Revesby Railway Station Turnback project
Campsie Railway Station
Summer Hill Railway Station
Rhodes Railway Station in conjunction with design of new station and concourse by Simpson Dawbin