Royal Edward Victualling Yard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Edward Victualling Yard |
|
|---|---|
Royal Edward Victualling Yard, 38-42 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
|
|
| Location | 38-42 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1904–1912 |
| Architect | Walter Liberty Vernon (Buildings A, B and C) |
| Official name: Royal Edward Victualling Yard; Buildings A & B: REVY Main Warehouse; Naval Warehouse; Royal Edward Victualling Yard. Building C: Former Commonwealth Ordnance Stores | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 22 March 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1855 |
| Type | Defence Base Naval |
| Category | Defence |
| Builders |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Royal Edward Victualling Yard (REVY) is a historic group of buildings in Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia. A "victualling yard" is a place where a navy stores and supplies ships with food, clothing, and other important items. These buildings were once naval warehouses. Today, some are used as offices for a television studio, while others are empty.
The famous architect Walter Liberty Vernon designed the main buildings (A, B, and C). They were built between 1904 and 1912. The Royal Edward Victualling Yard is also known by other names, like the REVY Main Warehouse and the Former Commonwealth Ordnance Stores. It is a very important historical site and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2011.
Contents
History of the Royal Edward Victualling Yard
First People of Pyrmont
The land where the Royal Edward Victualling Yard stands was originally home to the Cadigal people. They were part of the larger "Eora People" who lived around Sydney Harbour. The Cadigal people were skilled at fishing and gathering food from the harbour and surrounding land. They used special fishing lines and spears. Even after European settlement, Aboriginal people continued to visit Pyrmont.
Early Days of Darling Island
The Royal Edward Victualling Yard is on Darling Island, which was once called Cockle Island. It was a small, rocky hill connected to the mainland by muddy areas. In the early 1800s, Sydney's trade grew, and more wharves and warehouses were built.
By 1839, a man named Edward Macarthur owned most of Pyrmont. He divided up the waterfront land. Soon, factories and businesses, like iron works and flour mills, appeared. The Hunter River Steam Navigation Company (HRSN) built works on Darling Island. This company later became the Australian Steam Navigation (ASN) Company. They became very big in shipping goods along the coast of New South Wales.
In 1866, Garden Island was officially made a naval base.
As ships got bigger in the 1870s, new, longer wharves were built in Darling Harbour. The ASN Company moved some of its operations. By 1884, their Darling Harbour site was huge, with a long waterfront.
The ASN Company faced tough times in the 1880s. The government bought Darling Island in 1889. They planned to use it as a trade center. Work on a new concrete wharf began in 1897.
Building the Victualling Yard (1900s)
The Sydney Harbour Trust took over the wharf construction in 1901. By this time, the naval stores at Garden Island were too small for the new Commonwealth Naval Forces. Several places were considered for a new victualling yard. Darling Island was chosen because it was on the mainland.
The new buildings needed a lot of space for storage. They were designed to be very good for storing naval supplies. They had excellent natural light, ventilation, and ways to move goods quickly.
Walter Liberty Vernon, the Government Architect, designed the buildings. Construction began in 1905. This first stage included Buildings A and B. Other smaller buildings, like offices and workshops, were also built.
The new stores were finished in late 1906 or early 1907. They were some of the first big projects by the new Australian Government. In 1907, the stores were officially named the Royal Edward Victualling Yard. This made it the first "Royal Yard" in the southern hemisphere. It became the Navy's main storage place.
Expanding the Yard (1910s)
In 1912, a large eight-story building, REVY C, was completed. It was meant to store items for the Military and Postal Departments. It was not originally part of the REVY Yard. It was often called the Commonwealth stores.
REVY C was one of the last buildings designed by Walter Liberty Vernon. It was also one of the first tall buildings in Sydney with special fire safety features. It had outside fire escape stairs, which were rare then. Its concrete floors and steel columns also helped prevent fires.
REVY C became the tallest building on Darling Island. It helped form a long wall of buildings along the western side of the island.
World Wars and Modern Changes
The military likely took over REVY C during World War One. The Royal Australian Navy took full control in 1923. REVY C became the main storage for the Navy. It was vital for supplying troops and materials during World War Two.
The yard's main job was to provide food, clothing, and equipment. Everything had to be high quality. In 1925, special lifting equipment was added to REVY C to handle heavy items.
Buildings A and B had electric goods hoists. These were among the first in Sydney and are very rare today. They show how goods were moved in the early 1900s.
Discussions about moving the victualling yard happened from the 1930s to the 1950s. But the yard stayed because it was efficient and well-located.
In the 1960s, container shipping changed everything. Goods could be stored away from the waterfront in large containers. This made old wharves and sheds less useful. Many sheds at Darling Island were demolished.
Recent Times (1970s to Present)
REVY stopped being a naval victualling yard in the 1970s. This was mainly because of container shipping. It had been the Navy's largest victualling yard and played a huge role in many naval operations.
In the late 1970s, plans were made to update the site. REVY C was renovated for new tenants. In the 1980s, it housed the Department of Defence.
Later, REVY A and B were turned into offices for naval staff. In 1995, the work on REVY A and B won an award for being a great example of reusing a historic building. A glass area was built to connect the two buildings.
The Navy moved out of REVY A and B in 2002. The site was sold in 2003. REVY A and B were then changed into offices for a television station. REVY C has been empty since 2005.
What the Buildings Look Like
The former Royal Edward Victualling Yard is in a historic spot on the Sydney Harbour waterfront. The buildings are tall and arranged in a unique way. They stand out as a landmark among other buildings in Pyrmont.
REVY A and B Buildings
REVY A and B are two large warehouses. One is five stories tall, and the other is six stories. They are connected by a square central tower. This tower has a water tank on top, designed in a Romanesque style.
The buildings are made of colorful bricks. They have tiled roofs with exposed wooden beams. Inside, they have huge wooden columns and beams supporting the floors. The windows are mostly rectangular. The top floor has special arched windows. These buildings show a style called Federation Warehouse.
You can still see some of the old equipment for moving goods, like wall-mounted cranes and loading doors.
REVY C Building
REVY C is an eight-story building made of brick with concrete and steel inside. It has a rectangular shape. The ground floor is made of large, rough-cut bluestone blocks. The upper floor has arched windows, while other floors have rectangular ones.
Four tall towers stick up above the roof. On the outside, there's a large metal crane. The building's size and arched windows suggest the Federation Warehouse style. Its rounded gables also hint at a Federation Anglo-Dutch style. You can clearly see the metal fire escape stairs on the outside.
The Seawall and Wharf
A strong seawall and wharf surround Darling Island. It's made of concrete blocks laid on the bedrock. The top of the wharf has a wooden edge.
Large metal posts, called bollards, are bolted to the wharf. Ships would tie their ropes to these bollards. There are also wooden posts and beams along the wharf edge.
Inside the yard, you can still find old equipment from its victualling days. This includes hoists, lifts, and a crane.
Condition and Changes
The buildings are in good condition. Over the years, some changes have been made:
- 1925: Lifting equipment was added to REVY C.
- 1981: REVY C was renovated for the Department of Defence.
- 1994: REVY A and B were turned into offices.
- 2000s: REVY A and B became commercial offices. REVY C was emptied, and some newer fittings were removed.
Why it's a Heritage Site
The Royal Edward Victualling Yard is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is the first "Royal Yard" in the southern hemisphere. This shows how important the Commonwealth Naval Forces were becoming in the region.
The equipment still inside the buildings, like hoists and cranes, reminds us of its original purpose. The yard played a key role in supplying the Navy during both World Wars.
The buildings themselves, designed by Walter Liberty Vernon, are great examples of the Federation Warehouse style. This type of building is now rare in central Sydney.
Historical Importance
The REVY site is historically significant because it was one of the first major projects by the new Australian Government. It is strongly linked to the early growth of the Royal Australian Navy. It was the main supply center for the Navy during two world wars.
It also shows how important water transport was for industries in Darling Harbour in the early 1900s. REVY C, being one of the tallest buildings on the waterfront, shows how the complex grew over time.
Connection to Important People and Groups
The REVY buildings are important because of their architect, Walter Liberty Vernon. They also show the work of the new Commonwealth government. The site has a strong connection to the Royal Australian Navy, as it was used for naval purposes for 100 years (1903-2003). It also shows the growth of the Post Master General's Department and communications.
Design and Technical Achievements
The REVY complex is important for its design and technical features. Its tall buildings and unique layout make it a dramatic landmark on Sydney Harbour. The large, colorful brick buildings are excellent examples of the Federation Warehouse style. REVY C, as the tallest building on Darling Island, is a very noticeable landmark.
The buildings have elements like wall cranes, hoists, and loading bays. These show how goods were moved. Old gantry rails and underground cable tanks also show the building's purpose and the changing technology of the early 1900s. The rare external fire escapes on REVY C show early fire safety solutions.
Social Significance
Many naval staff worked at the site for a long time. This means the site has social importance for the many people who were part of the Royal Australian Navy's Victualling Branch.
Research Potential
The narrow, tall warehouse style of these buildings is rare in Sydney. They can teach us about how goods were stored vertically before container shipping.
The electric goods hoists in REVY A and B are among the first in Sydney and are possibly the only ones of their kind left. They offer a chance to study old technologies. The hydraulic system, including a hydraulic press, is also a rare example of 19th-century technology.
Rarity
The REVY buildings are rare examples of multi-story warehouses right on the dockside. A waterfront warehouse as tall as REVY C is now very rare in Sydney. The fire stairs on REVY C are a rare and early example of fire safety design.
These buildings are also rare surviving examples of a naval store by the water. Most similar facilities were removed due to container shipping. They are also some of the few warehouses designed by Walter Liberty Vernon that still exist.
Representative Example
REVY A, B, and C are excellent examples of the narrow, tall Federation style warehouses. They are typical of buildings built around 1910-1918, with their strong brick walls and concrete floors. They represent the technology used for waterfront warehousing in the early 20th century.
