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Dalgety's Bond Stores
Dalgety's Bond Stores-1.jpg
Dalgety's Bond Stores, Munn Street, Miller's Point, NSW
Location Munn Street, Millers Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built 1875
Official name: Warehouses; Munn Street Bond Stores; Dalgety Bond Stores
Type State heritage (built)
Designated 2 April 1999
Reference no. 526
Type Warehouse/storage area
Category Retail and Wholesale
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The Dalgety's Bond Stores are old warehouse buildings in Millers Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. They are located on Munn Street. These buildings were first built in 1875. They are also known as the Munn Street Bond Stores. Today, they are used as commercial buildings. These historic buildings were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means they are protected because of their importance to history.

History of Dalgety's Bond Stores

The area where the Dalgety's Bond Stores stand has a long history. Since the 1820s, people built ships here. A famous boat builder named John Cuthbert took over the shipyard in 1853. His shipyard became one of the biggest in Sydney.

In the 1870s, the area changed. More and more wool was being sent overseas. This meant there was a big need for storage space. It is thought that Cuthbert built the first two warehouse buildings, known as Block A and Block B. An old map from the 1870s shows these "bonded stores" on Dibb's wharf.

Later, a new road called Hickson Road was built. This made it easier to add Block C in 1908. In 1953, a special steel roof was added to Block C.

The company Dalgety & Co rented the whole site from about 1913 until 1969. Dalgety's was a very large trading company. These buildings showed how important they were on the Sydney waterfront. A plan from 1949 shows how the three stores fit together on the land.

Block B was taken down sometime between 1970 and 1978. In the 1970s, part of Munn Street was removed. This made the buildings more visible. Recently, the remaining buildings have been updated for new uses.

What Dalgety's Bond Stores Look Like

The Dalgety's Bond Stores were once three separate warehouse buildings. They were called Dalgety's Bond A, B, and C. Only Block A and Block C are still standing today. You can still see parts of Block B, like old stone walls and marks from where beams used to be. These show where it was connected to the other buildings.

Block A is a sandstone building with an uneven gable roof. Block C is made of brick and is almost rectangular. It has a special roof with a sawtooth shape that lets in light from the south. The two buildings are joined together.

From Munn Reserve (which used to be Munn Street), Block A is two storeys tall and Block C is one storey. But if you look from the south or west, you can see three more storeys below. This is because the land slopes steeply down towards Hickson Road and the wharf.

Inside the buildings, many original parts have been kept. This includes the strong wooden posts, beams, and roof trusses in Block A. Block C has amazing trussed girders and roof trusses made of steel.

These two warehouse buildings stand together. They both have classic-looking fronts. But they show two different times in how warehouses were built. One used wood for its structure, and the other used steel. The buildings also contain an old hydraulic pump and lift system. These were made by a company called Babcock & Wilcox.

In 2013, the buildings were in good shape. Most of their original details were still there, both inside and out.

Changes Over Time

  • Block B was taken down between 1970 and 1978.
  • The brick and stone parts of the buildings have been painted.
  • A shop on the street level was changed into a medical centre. Its front, along with other entrances, has been made modern with marble tiles.
  • All the inside areas are now modern.
  • A second lift and stairs were added at the back of the building.
  • An old stone archway that was once open has been filled in.
  • New openings were made in the west wall of Block A.
  • Windows and wooden parts were rebuilt.
  • A new lift tower was added to Block A in the 1990s.

Why Dalgety's Bond Stores Are Important

The Munn Street warehouse complex is important for many reasons. It is a key part of the look of this area, which has very steep land. The different shapes and styles of the buildings show how architecture changed over time. They also show how difficult it was to build on this uneven land.

The buildings also remind us of the big changes that happened in the area. These changes came after a health crisis in 1901. The complex also keeps alive the memory of Dalgety & Co. This was one of Australia's largest trading companies. It also connects us to the shipping activities of Millers Point. The inside structure and old machinery are also very interesting for science and history.

Dalgety's Bond Stores were listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means they meet certain important rules.

  • The buildings show how history unfolded in New South Wales.

* The complex shows how important trading businesses were in Sydney. * It provides clear proof of the big changes and building work that happened after the 1901 health crisis. * It is linked to important businesses like John Cuthbert and Dalgety & Co. * It also shows how old buildings can be saved by finding new uses for them.

  • The buildings show great design or technical skill in New South Wales.

* The former Dalgety's Bond Stores are an important part of the landscape. They are built on dramatic land and face two different street levels. * They are an interesting mix of different building styles. They show different stages of warehouse design. They also show how old buildings can be updated for new uses.

  • The buildings can teach us more about the history of New South Wales.

* The former Dalgety's Bond Stores allow us to compare two main types of old building structures. These structures used strong outer walls and wooden frames inside. * Block A shows a mix of heavy timber parts, wooden girders, and steel parts for lifting goods.

  • The buildings are rare or special in the history of New South Wales.

* The former Dalgety's Bond Stores are a rare and impressive group of buildings. They clearly show how warehouses changed over time in their design, structure, and purpose.

  • The buildings are a good example of a type of historic place in New South Wales.

* The former Dalgety's Bond Stores represent the many warehouses that used to be in this area. These warehouses were connected to the harbour and the wool industry.

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