Bushells Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bushells Building |
|
|---|---|
Bushells Building, 121-127 Harrington Street, The Rocks, NSW
|
|
| Location | 121-127 Harrington Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1924–1925 |
| Architect | H. E. Ross & Rowe |
| Architectural style(s) |
|
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Bushells Building; part address 122-142 Gloucester Street (Bushell's) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1534 |
| Type | Factory/ Plant |
| Category | Commercial |
| Builders | A. C. Lewis Constructions (Concrete Constructions) |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Bushells Building is a special old building in The Rocks, a historic part of Sydney, Australia. It used to be a busy factory and warehouse where the famous Bushells Tea was made. Today, it's a modern office building. It was built a long time ago, between 1924 and 1925, by architects H. E. Ross & Rowe. This building is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's protected for future generations to see and learn from.
Contents
History of the Bushells Building
The area where the Bushells Building stands was once called "Frog Hollow." It had many small houses and cottages. A small creek ran through it, which might be why it was called Frog Hollow! These old buildings were not in good condition.
In 1900, a serious illness called the Bubonic plague spread. Because of this, the government decided to tear down many old buildings in The Rocks. They wanted to replace them with safer, cleaner ones. The land where the Bushells Building now stands was part of this big clean-up.
How Bushells Tea Got the Site
The Bushells Tea Company bought this land around 1920. They planned to build a new factory there. The building was finished and ready for use by 1924–1925. Bushells Tea used this building for many years. They packed and delivered tea from here.
The building stayed mostly the same while P. H. Bushell was in charge. Only small changes were made to the machines inside. In 1974, the building was sold. Bushells Tea moved to a new place in Concord in 1975.
Modern Use and Awards
After Bushells left, the building was empty for a while. In the 1990s, it was used as offices for a construction project nearby. Then, in 1998, a company leased the building for 99 years. They planned to turn it into modern offices.
Work began in 1999 to update the building. They made sure to keep many of its original features. This careful work won four awards in 2002. It showed how well they changed an old factory into a useful new office space.
Bushells Building Design and Features
The Bushells Building has seven floors. It has a basement and six levels above ground. The building is made with strong brickwork walls. These walls have many windows. Inside, it has a timber frame, which was a common way to build warehouses back then. It also has two stair towers made of reinforced concrete.
The roof is made of galvanised iron. The floors are a mix of timber and reinforced concrete. The building even had special lifts for moving tea chests!
Building Condition and Changes
In 1999, the building was in good shape for its age. It had been used for many years without much repair. But in 1999, a lot of work was done to fix it up. This work helped keep the building's history alive. Many parts that showed its past as a tea factory were saved.
Over the years, a few changes were made:
- 1936-1937: The Board Room was updated.
- 1950: A "Voucher Room" was removed to create parking space in the basement.
- 1962: The building was officially approved for "tea packing and delivery."
- Around 1970: After the building was sold, some parts of the top floor were taken down. The basement was turned into a car park.
- 1999: The building was fully updated to become office spaces. This project won several awards for its excellent design.
Why the Bushells Building is Important
The Bushells Building is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's listed on the State Heritage Register because of its historical and scientific value. It also adds to the special character of The Rocks area.
Connection to Bushells Tea
This building is important because it was home to a famous Australian company, Bushells Tea. Bushells made a very popular product that many Australians used every day. The company's leader, P. H. Bushell, was known for his contributions to business and charity.
The building was a major workplace for people living in The Rocks for over 50 years. It's a physical reminder of the area's growth after the plague and before modern changes. Its look also adds to the unique feel of Harrington and Gloucester Streets.
Unique Design and History
The Bushells Building shows how industrial buildings were designed and built in its time. It's a simple, strong building with a classic look. Many old warehouses in Sydney have been torn down. So, the Bushells Building is a rare example of one that stayed mostly the same for a long time.
It still has parts of its original tea-making equipment. This includes loading docks, conveyors, and special tea chest elevators. These features help us understand how tea was processed and moved inside the factory.
Social and Community Value
The Bushells Building was a well-known landmark in The Rocks. The Bushells Company was seen as a good employer. Even today, the name "Bushells" makes many Australians feel nostalgic. The building, especially with its prominent sign, is a memorable part of Sydney's history. It helps us understand how workplaces were run in the past.
What We Can Learn from the Building
The building holds a lot of historical and archaeological information. It shows how buildings were constructed in the early 20th century. Its timber frame is a link to older building methods.
The preserved equipment, like the tea chest lifts and chutes, are like 3D clues from the past. They help us imagine what it was like to work in a tea factory. The building also shows that factories and food production used to happen right near the center of Sydney's city area.
A Rare and Special Place
The Bushells Building is a landmark in The Rocks. It's important for its industrial style and its connection to the Bushells company. It's rare because it kept the same use for the same company for over 50 years. It still has many of its original factory features.
