Customs House, Sydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Customs House, Sydney |
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The former Customs House in Circular Quay, Sydney
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Government administration:
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| Architectural style | Victorian Georgian |
| Address | 45 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°51′44″S 151°12′39″E / 33.862195°S 151.210885°E |
| Construction started | 1844 |
| Completed | 1845; 1887 |
| Opened | 1845 |
| Owner | Council of the City of Sydney |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect |
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| Architecture firm | New South Wales Government Architect |
| Official name: Sydney Customs House (former) | |
| Criteria: | A.4, D.2, E.1, F.1 and H. |
| Designated: | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference #: | 105436 |
| Official name: Customs House (former); Site of former Customs House | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Criteria: | a., c., d., e., f. |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 727 |
| Type: | Office building |
| Category: | Government and Administration |
The Customs House, Sydney is a very old and important building. It's located right by Circular Quay, a busy part of Sydney Harbour. For a long time, this building was used by the government to check goods coming into and leaving Australia. This was called "customs."
Today, it's a cool place where you can find a public library, art exhibits, and even a giant model of Sydney's city center! This model is 4.2-by-9.5-metre (14 ft × 31 ft) and weighs one tonne. You can see it through a glass floor on the ground level. The Customs House is a special place because it has a lot of history. It is also known as Customs House (former) and Site of former Customs House.
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History of Customs House
The land where Customs House stands is very significant. In 1788, the Eora people, who are the traditional owners of this land, saw the First Fleet arrive here. This event marked the beginning of the European colony of New South Wales.
The first building for customs in Sydney was built in 1800. It was likely very close to where the First Fleet landed. The current beautiful Sydney sandstone building was started in 1844. It was built because Sydney's trade by sea was growing fast. Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes, who was in charge of customs for 25 years, pushed for its construction. Building it also helped give jobs to stonemasons and laborers during a tough economic time.
Building for a Growing Colony
The site at Circular Quay was chosen in 1843 for the Customs Service. This service was responsible for all goods coming into and leaving the colony. The original design included spaces for storage, offices, and public business. As trade grew, more space was needed. Two new sections were added between 1883 and 1889. These new parts held offices for shipping and the Maritime Board.
The Customs House opened in 1845. It replaced smaller, crowded offices nearby. The building was later expanded to three levels in 1887. This work was overseen by James Barnet, a famous architect. More additions were made over the years, especially around World War I. But some parts of the original 1845 building are still there.
When Australia became a nation (called Federation), customs became even more important. Customs duties (taxes on goods) were a main way the new Australian Government made money. The building was expanded again to handle these new duties. More floors were added between 1915 and 1917.
Modern Use of the Building
After 1917, not many big changes happened to the building. This is because international ships started using other parts of Sydney Harbour. In 1990, the Customs Service moved to a new location.
In 1994, the City of Sydney Council took over the building. It was then renovated to become a place for exhibitions and events. In 1999, it was updated to be a "tourism gateway" for Sydney, especially for the 2000 Summer Olympics. It had galleries, a museum, cafes, and event spaces. The large model of Sydney's city center was also moved here.
After the Olympics, the building was renovated again in 2003. It became the main City of Sydney Library. It's now a mix of commercial spaces, performance areas, a tourism spot, and a museum.
Building Design
The Customs House is a two-storey building designed in the Georgian architecture style. It was designed by Mortimer Lewis. It has thirteen large windows on the front. These windows gave a clear view of all the ships in Sydney Cove. Colonel Gibbes, who lived across the water, could watch the building being constructed from his home.
The building is very strong. Its outer walls are very thick, about 680 to 750 millimetres (27 to 30 in). The inner walls are about 200 millimetres (7.9 in) thick. The roof is a pitched roof with trusses and special tiles.
Inside, the walls are plastered. Some areas have fancy plaster designs. The windows are made of timber. They are either like french doors or sliding sash windows.
Building Condition
The Customs House has been carefully looked after. It is now in excellent condition.
Changes Over Time
- 1885-1887: Architect James Barnet partly took down the original building. He rebuilt it to have three storeys and added side sections, making it a U-shape.
- 1896-1903: Architect Walter Liberty Vernon made more changes. He added two new floors and a section in the back courtyard, making it an E-shape.
- 1915-1917: Architect George Oakeshott replaced the inner U-shaped part with a new structure. This made the ground floor a large open space with a lightwell. A sixth storey was also added for caretakers.
- 1925-1990: Various smaller additions were made.
- 1996-1997: The building was restored and updated. It reopened in June 1997.
Why Customs House is Important
The Customs House in Sydney is a very important historical building. It stands on the exact spot where the First Fleet landed in Australia. This makes it a strong reminder of how important Circular Quay was as the main port for the colony.
The building still has parts of the oldest customs house in Australia. It was used for customs for 145 years! It shows the history of the Customs Service and its big role in Australia's past. The Customs House also shows the work of three famous government architects: Mortimer Lewis, James Barnet, and Walter Liberty Vernon.
Because there aren't many old documents about how the building was first built, the parts of the building that are still standing help us understand its early history.
Historical Significance
The Sydney Customs House is important because it shows the path of history in New South Wales. Its location marks the very beginning of European settlement in Australia. It reminds us that Circular Quay was the first major port. It also shows how important British rule and trade were to the colony.
The Customs Service was the only way the struggling colony collected money. Later, it also controlled who and what came into the country. The changes to the building over time show how its role changed.
Architectural Beauty
The Customs House is also important for its design. Even though Walter Liberty Vernon and James Barnet changed Mortimer Lewis's original design, they used similar materials and styles. This created a unified and beautiful building.
Cultural Importance
The site is also important because it was the first place where Europeans arrived on Aboriginal land.
Learning from the Building
Since there are not many old records, the building itself helps us learn about its early history. It's like a physical record of the past.
A Rare Historical Site
This site is considered very special. It uniquely shows how the colony's trade grew and how important the Customs Service was to Australia's history, especially in its early days.
Gallery
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View of the building in 1872
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Customs House under construction, 1900
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The Royal arms of the British monarch. It includes the motto Dieu et mon droit (God and my right) and the motto of the Order of the Garter, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shamed be he who thinks ill of it).
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The building during Vivid Sydney 2015, a festival of light.
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The building entrance.
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Inside the library.
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The children's library area.
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The Level 1 Library Lounge.
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A staircase in the library.
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The transparent entrance floor with a scale model of the Sydney CBD beneath.
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