Newcastle Customs House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newcastle Customs House |
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The clock tower of Newcastle Customs House, topped by a time ball, in 2009.
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| Alternative names | Customs House |
| General information | |
| Type |
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| Architectural style | Italianate Renaissance Revival |
| Location | Corner of Bond and Watt Street, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°55′36″S 151°47′6″E / 32.92667°S 151.78500°E |
| Completed | 1877; 1899 |
| Owner | Fernance Family Holdings |
| Height | |
| Tip | 32-metre-high (105 ft) clock tower, lantern and time ball |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Predominately brick |
| Floor count | Two, plus basement |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect |
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| Architecture firm | New South Wales Colonial Architect |
| Developer | Jennings and Pallister |
| Official name: Newcastle Customs House | |
| Designated: | 14 July 2000 |
| Reference #: | 01403 |
The Newcastle Customs House is a very old and important building in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It's located on the corner of Bond and Watt Street. The building was designed in a fancy style called Italianate Renaissance Revival by New South Wales Colonial Architect, James Barnet, in 1877. Later, in 1899, a new part was added by Walter Liberty Vernon, matching the original style. Today, it's known as the Customs House Hotel.
History of the Customs House
For a long time, starting in the 1820s, traders used Newcastle harbour to ship goods like coal. To keep track of these goods and collect taxes (called customs duties), a Customs Officer was needed. The first officer arrived in 1827 and worked from a small cottage.
Over the years, the Customs Office moved to different temporary buildings. None of these places were quite right for the job. In 1846, Newcastle was declared a "free port," which meant it was an important place for trade. This made the need for a proper Customs House even greater.
Building the Customs House
People in Newcastle really wanted a new, purpose-built Customs House because the old places were too small for the growing amount of shipping. Money was set aside for a new building in the 1860s, but nothing happened right away.
Before the current building, the Customs Department was on the second floor of a different building. This temporary office was not good enough, and everyone agreed a new one was needed.
In 1871, work on the new Customs House was supposed to start, but the first builder didn't finish the job. So, new builders were hired in 1874: Messrs Jennings and Pallister. They started preparing the site for construction. There were some concerns about the ground being "quicksand," but construction went ahead.
The original plans for the building are gone, but copies were made later. By the end of 1874, some money had been spent on building it.
Completion and Early Years
In October 1876, the very last stone was placed on the building. The builders celebrated this big moment, raising flags on top of the building. Even though they celebrated, the building wasn't fully finished until the next year.
In January 1877, flags were raised on the spire, and between March and April, the time ball was put into place. A time ball is a large ball that drops at a specific time each day, helping ships set their clocks accurately.
People wondered why the new building wasn't open, even though it looked ready. Finally, in November 1877, the Customs House opened for business. The first ship to be cleared from the new building was called the "Jane Spiers."
After it opened, some small additions and important items were still being added for a few years. For example, a low wall and railing were built around the site in 1878 and finished in 1880.
Adding a New Wing
In 1897, it was decided that the Customs House needed an extra wing. This new part was completed by the end of 1899. It was built to match the original building perfectly.
Changes and Repairs Over Time
The building has seen many changes and repairs throughout its history:
- In 1924, the clock was fixed and started working again.
- A big renovation happened in 1956.
- In January 1959, a fire in the roof caused serious damage to the top floors. Repairs were costly and involved laying new roof slates.
- In 1960, the Department of Works moved into a large part of the upper floor, leading to more alterations and repainting.
- More major repainting and refurbishing happened in 1962.
- In 1963, the roof was retiled with terra-cotta tiles.
- In 1968, the outside stonework was restored by replacing eroded parts with a special mixture.
The building's historical value became more recognized over time. In 1968, it was first listed by the National Trust of Australia. However, some of the earlier repair work was later found to have damaged its original look.
In the late 1970s, tests showed that some of the earlier stonework repairs had failed. This led to efforts to restore the building more carefully, respecting its history.
Earthquake Damage and Restoration
In December 1989, the Customs House was badly damaged by the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. From 1990 to 1994, major repair and conservation work was done. This included:
- Rebuilding damaged chimneys and making them stronger.
- Adding steel supports to the ceilings.
- Making the tower stronger with reinforced cement.
- Removing later additions like counters and partitions inside.
- Rebuilding parts of the verandah and stairs.
- Repairing and replacing stone.
- Putting in new doors, lighting, and a new slate roof.
- Repainting the outside.
- Adding new fencing.
Current Use
In 1995, the building was changed to become a licensed cafe and event venue.
Today, it's known as the Customs House Hotel. It has a restaurant and bar on the ground floor and a function room upstairs for events.
What the Building Looks Like
The Newcastle Customs House is built in the Italianate Renaissance Revival Style. This style was common for the architect, James Barnet. Even though the building was built in two main stages, the newer part added in 1899 by W.L. Vernon matches the original design perfectly. This shows how well a new part can be added to an important old building.
The building is mostly two stories tall and made of dark cream-coloured brickwork. It has a strong stone base about two meters high, with stone details and projecting stone eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls).
The windows on the main street-facing side have carved stone frames and rounded arches made of alternating cream and black bricks. Windows on the back, facing the courtyard, are simpler with brick frames and segmented stone arches.
The Clock Tower and Time Ball
The western end of the building has a tall, 32-metre-high (105 ft) clock tower. On top of the tower, there's a lantern and a time ball. This time ball is one of only three in Australia that are still mostly complete. It used to drop at 1 PM every day to help ships set their clocks. This stopped during World War II to keep it hidden from enemies.
The building has two main floors and a basement area under the eastern side.
Inside the Building
The ground floor has a bar, dining areas, a kitchen, and toilets. The first floor has conference rooms, more bar areas, and function rooms.
In the older, northern part of the building, many original features remain. These include cedar wood frames around windows and doors, as well as original architraves (decorative moldings around openings) and skirtings (moldings along the bottom of walls).
In the main rooms on the ground floor, the plaster ceilings and cornices (decorative moldings where walls meet the ceiling) are still mostly original. On the first floor, these features have been restored more recently.
The stairs inside the tower are made of stone and seem to float, with a beautiful cedar handrail. Another wooden staircase in the eastern part of the building also has a cedar handrail.
In the newer back wing, the wood and plaster details are a bit different, showing the style from around 1900. Many of the ceilings in the building's rooms have been restored to their original look. Most rooms have been repainted using colours that were researched to be similar to the original ones.
Many original wooden panelled doors on the upper floor have been returned or restored.
Original features you can still see inside include:
- The original layout of the rooms.
- Original plaster ceiling roses (decorative centers on ceilings) and cornices.
- Painted plaster walls and original wall vents.
- Wooden floors and floorboards.
- Original wooden doors and windows.
- Wooden staircases with original stairs, balusters (spindles), and posts.
- The locations of old fireplaces.
The building is in good physical condition today.
Why it's a Heritage Building
The Newcastle Customs House is a very important heritage-listed building for many reasons. It's important historically, for its beauty, for its connection to the community, and for what we can learn from it.
Historical Importance
This building is important because it was where customs duties were collected in Newcastle, which was a big part of trade in New South Wales and Australia. It has been used continuously since it opened in 1877. Special areas like the "Long Room" were unique to how Customs worked.
The building was designed by James Barnet, a very famous architect in Australia. He designed it in the Italianate Renaissance Revival style, which was inspired by old Italian palaces. The later additions by W. L. Vernon also matched this style perfectly, making the whole building look harmonious.
The Customs House is a landmark that you can see from across the harbour and from many places in the city. Its connection to the harbour shows its strong link to Newcastle's shipping and business history.
The time ball and clock are also historically important. They show the amazing technical achievements of the late 1800s. The time ball was crucial for ships to set their clocks accurately for navigation. It's one of only three almost complete examples of this rare technology left in Australia.
Aesthetic and Creative Importance
Since it was built, the Customs House has been a landmark because of its beautiful Italianate Renaissance Revival style. Its dark cream brickwork, sandstone details, and tall 32-metre-high (105 ft) tower with the clock, lantern, and time ball make it stand out. Many parts of the original 1877 building and the 1899 wing show building styles and methods that are no longer used today.
The building's look and its connection to the harbour and city are very important. It represents Newcastle's history of trade and shipping. It's a key part of the city's unique feel and identity.
Social and Cultural Importance
The people of Newcastle really value the Customs House. It's listed on important heritage registers at local, state, and national levels. People are becoming more interested in its history and what it can teach us about past designs and building methods.
The building and its grounds have special cultural, social, and educational value because of their links to people from the past and present, and their potential for research and learning.
The Customs House has been a major feature of Newcastle's waterfront for over 130 years. It clearly shows how customs and excise duties were managed. Areas like the Long Room were unique to how Customs authorities operated.
It provides a lasting connection to the past and is very important to the community's sense of place.
Research Potential
The site has the potential to reveal more information about the history of New South Wales. There might be traces of an old convict stockade (a type of prison camp) hidden underground. Also, archaeological evidence related to old outbuildings might be found in the car park area.
The time ball and clock are examples of late 19th-century technology. The time ball was vital for accurate navigation. It is one of only three almost complete examples of this rare technology in Australia.
Rarity
The Newcastle Customs House is a rare example of a 19th-century building that still has many of its original 1877 features and early 1899 additions intact. It's also a rare example of a government building designed by the famous Colonial Architect, James Barnet, with additions managed by another important Government Architect, W. L. Vernon.
