North Sydney Sewer Vent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Sydney Sewer Vent |
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North Sydney Sewer Vent, Corner Falcon Street and Miller Street, North Sydney, New South Wales
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| Location | Falcon Street, North Sydney, North Sydney Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | c. 1899 |
| Built for | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
| Architect | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
| Owner | Sydney Water |
| Official name: Sewer Vent; North Sydney Sewer Vent; Alfred St Sewer Vent | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 15 November 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1641 |
| Type | Other - Utilities - Sewerage |
| Category | Utilities - Sewerage |
| Builders | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
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The North Sydney Sewer Vent is a tall brick tower. It helps to let out gases from the sewer system. You can find it at the corner of Falcon Street and Miller Street in North Sydney, Australia.
This important structure was designed and built around 1899. The Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage created it. Today, Sydney Water still owns it. The vent is also known as the Alfred St Sewer Vent. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on November 15, 2002. This means it is a special historical building.
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History of the Sewer Vent
The North Sydney Sewer Vent is part of the first sewer system in North Sydney. This system was built by the government between 1891 and 1898. Before the vent was built, bad smells often filled the area. People complained a lot about these smells.
The original design of the vent had a special dome on top. This dome was later removed, maybe because of the smell complaints. Even today, you might still notice some smells when the weather is right.
In the 1960s, a big road called the Bradfield Highway was built nearby. This construction caused the vent's shaft to crack. To fix this, steel hoops were added around the brickwork. These hoops help to keep the tower stable.
The vent used to be completely inside St Leonards Park. But after the highway was built, the vent ended up on its own island. It is now separate from the park.
What the Vent Looks Like
The North Sydney Sewer Vent is a tall brick tower. It stands about 30 meters (98 feet) high. At its base, it is about 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) wide inside. It gets narrower towards the top, where it is about 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) wide.
The first design included a dome that looked like a pagoda on top. But this dome is no longer there. Now, the top has a flat, cement-covered edge.
At the bottom of the tower, there is an iron door. It has "Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage 1899" written on it. The brickwork is a bit fancy but simpler than other similar towers built earlier.
You can see parallel steel bands wrapped around the tower. These were added in the 1960s to make the structure stronger. They help to hold the bricks together. The vent is still in very good condition today.
Changes Over Time
The vent shaft is located next to the Cahill Expressway. Some cracks on the tower might have happened when the expressway was built in the 1960s. This construction could have caused the ground to shift. To make the vent stable, several circular steel bands were added. They are placed evenly along the outside of the tower.
Why the Vent is Important
The North Sydney Sewer Vent is a great example of old sewer ventilation shafts. These tall brick towers were built around the year 1900. They helped the main sewer pipes work well. Its design is useful but also has nice architectural details. The brickwork shows high quality craftsmanship.
Because of its size and shape, the vent is a landmark in the Cremorne and Crows Nest areas. It can even help drivers find their way on the Bradfield Highway. Its old style looks very different from the modern buildings around North Sydney. This helps us remember the past. The vent still works today, just as it was first designed to.
The North Sydney Sewer Vent was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on November 15, 2002. It met several important requirements.
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
The vent is a key part of the first North Sydney sewer system. It helped get rid of bad-smelling gases from the sewers. This kept the air cleaner for people living and working nearby.
- It shows great design and technical skill.
The vent is a wonderful example of brickwork. It has fancy parts at the bottom and a special shape called "entasis" on the shaft. It is a landmark near the North Sydney expressway. It also adds to the beauty of St Leonards Park and North Sydney Oval.
- It is important to the community.
The vent played a big role in developing the sewer system. Without vents like this, dangerous gases would build up. This would be unsafe for people and workers. So, the community likely values it for its important job. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) has also recognized its value.
- It can teach us about history.
Studying ventshafts helps us understand how and why gases form in sewers. It also shows how different types of vents were used to get rid of smelly gases.
- It is a rare type of structure.
This vent is one of only a few of its kind in the Sydney Water system and in New South Wales. It is from the late 1800s.
- It represents an important type of historical place.
It is an excellent example of a tall brick ventilation tower built around the turn of the century. Its brickwork is quite unique.
