Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct |
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Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct -- Hospitality area.
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| Location | Hickson Road, Millers Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1912–1921 |
| Architect | H. D. Walsh |
| Official name: Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct; Walsh Bay Wharves; Millers Point; MSB Bond Store No.3; Parbury Ruins | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 559 |
| Type | Wharf |
| Category | Transport - Water |
| Builders | Supervised by H. D. Walsh |
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The Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct is a special place in Sydney, Australia. It used to be a busy area with wharfs, which are like docks for ships. Today, it's a lively spot for fun, food, and shows. You can find it on Hickson Road in Millers Point, a suburb of Sydney.
A person named H. D. Walsh designed this area. He also watched over its building from 1912 to 1921. The precinct includes important old buildings like the MSB Bond Store No. 3 and the Parbury Ruins. Because it's so important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's protected for future generations.
Contents
History of Walsh Bay
Early Days of Millers Point
The land around Millers Point was very rocky. Because of this, it was first used for forts and windmills. Walsh Bay was also a good spot for whaling ships to anchor. As Sydney grew, more people moved to the area by the 1820s. People started getting official land ownership papers, called Crown grants, in the 1830s.
The 1830s were a big turning point for Millers Point and Walsh Bay. This period began a long period of building that lasted until the 1920s. This is why the area looks so unique and historic today.
Growing Up: Roads and Buildings
By the 1830s, the main roads we see today were already there. These include Kent Street, Argyle Street, Windmill Street, and Lower Fort Street. Some of the oldest buildings still standing were built around this time. For example, St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1835.
In the 1830s and 1840s, wealthy merchants built large homes. Early hotels like the Lord Nelson Hotel (1834) and Hero of Waterloo Hotel (1844) also appeared. Community buildings, such as the Garrison Church (1840), were also built.
A ferry started running from Walsh Bay to Blues Point in the 1840s. You can still see where its wharf was because of a lane called Ferry Lane. Other shipping wharves also popped up along the shoreline. Warehouses and special water-powered equipment were built to help these wharves. Many private terrace houses were also built between the 1840s and 1890s. By 1900, the area was very busy and full of buildings.
Changes and Challenges
Towards the end of the 1800s, the area's population changed. The wealthier people moved to nicer suburbs as the city grew. Their homes were then filled by working people who worked on the waterfront. By 1900, many of the houses were considered old and not in good condition.
In 1900, a serious illness called the bubonic plague broke out in The Rocks and other parts of Sydney. This caused a lot of worry. The government took control of most of The Rocks and Millers Point. The Sydney Harbour Trust, which later became the Maritime Services Board, took over the area.
The Trust wanted to modernize the wharves. But they also owned a lot of houses. So, between 1900 and the 1920s, they turned Millers Point into a "company town." This meant they built new homes for workers, shops, kindergartens, hotels, and warehouses. They also fixed up many old buildings. This way, the people who worked at the port could live nearby with everything they needed.
Building the Modern Wharves
The biggest building project by the Trust in Millers Point was rebuilding Walsh Bay. This was a huge change to the landscape. The chief engineer, H. D. Walsh, designed a new system of wharves, stores, and roads. The bay was later named after him.
A wide road, Hickson Road, was dug out along the waterfront. The steep hills were cleverly used to serve the wharves at two different levels. The wharves were very advanced for their time. They were built using a standard timber design. They also had a clever "rat-proof" seawall to keep rats away from the goods.
Building the entire complex took place from 1906 to 1922. Wharf 1 was finished in 1913. Wharves 2/3, 4/5, and their sheds were completed in 1920-1921. Wharf 6/7 and its shed were ready in 1918. Wharf 8/9 and its shed were finished in 1912. The main office building was completed around 1912.
By the 1970s, new shipping technology made these wharves less useful. However, the Walsh Bay complex is thought to be the only one of its kind left in the world.
What Walsh Bay Looks Like
The Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct is a complete port area. It includes the wharves, sheds on the shore, storage buildings (bond stores), bridges, and roads. A standard timber design was used for the wharves and sheds. This made it easy to adjust them for different locations. Some parts, like the remains of Towns Bond and Bond Stores Nos. 1 & 3, were there before the Sydney Harbour Trust started its work.
How the Wharves Were Built
The wharves are built on strong wooden poles called turpentine piles. These piles are spaced out evenly. Some of them are joined together to reach down very deep, about 145 feet (44 meters) below sea level. Rows of these poles have large iron-bark beams on top. These beams are tied together by other strong iron-bark timbers. The whole structure was covered with brush-box wood planks. Later, a 4-inch (10 cm) thick concrete layer was added on top.
Wharf Sheds and Shore Sheds
The wharf sheds usually have two floors. They are built with simple posts and beams. Strong hardwood posts support the floors. The roofs are made of Oregon wood trusses, which form a double pointed shape. These roofs were designed to let in light and air.
The walls of the sheds are made of wooden planks. They have sliding doors, glass windows, or metal sheets. The roofs are made of metal or asbestos cement. Special moving platforms run along the entire length of the wharf sheds.
Shore sheds are built in a similar way but often have irregular shapes. They sit on solid ground behind a concrete seawall. The parts of the shore sheds facing Hickson Road are made of brick.
Roads and Bridges
Overpass bridges go above Hickson Road, giving access to the upper levels of each shore shed. Hickson Road itself was dug out of the sandstone cliffs. It provides access at sea level.
- Wharf 1 is a long wharf along the shore. Its shed facing Hickson Road is covered in cement. A special feature is a deep wooden balcony on the harbor side.
- Wharves 2/3 and 4/5 are "finger wharves." They stick out into the water like fingers. They have two-story wharf and shore sheds with brick fronts facing Hickson Road.
- Wharf 6/7 is another finger wharf. It has a one-story wharf shed and a two-story shore shed with a brick front.
- Wharf 8/9 is a finger wharf with two-story wharf and shore sheds. It also has an office building next to it. It features a special "rat-proof" seawall designed by Walsh. This wall was built between 1907 and 1910.
Special Equipment
The hydraulic power system at wharves 8 and 9 was very important. It was one of the most advanced power systems of its time. This system included a special machine called an accumulator, a pump, and an electric motor. It also had high-pressure pipes and a 3-ton hydraulic lift. This system powered lifts and machines that pressed wool bales.
Other original features still there include lifts for bales, platforms, and parts of the old bale stacking systems. There are also wooden rollers, a hydraulic ram, and cranes. These are all examples of the industrial tools and engineering from that time.
Why Walsh Bay is Special
The Walsh Bay area is very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. It has a unique mix of rocky land, old houses from different time periods, and well-preserved old storage buildings. It also shows the results of a huge urban development project from the early 1900s. This project created the amazing timber wharves, sheds, and the roads and bridges around them.
The Walsh Bay Wharves and its buildings are almost exactly as they were built by the Sydney Harbour Trust. They show how a technologically advanced shipping port worked in the early 1900s. The wharves have a strong and unique look. This comes from using heavy timber and a clear, organized design. The whole area feels connected by its materials, shape, and size. It shows what life was like in inner Sydney in the early 1900s. The precinct also shows the great technical and creative skills of the people from 1820 to 1930.
The Walsh Bay Wharves Precinct was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, for several reasons:
- It shows how history unfolded: The wharves and their connected buildings are a complete example of a port built by the Sydney Harbour Trust. They show how a modern port worked in the early 1900s, using new technology for shipping.
- It shows great design and skill: The wharves have a strong and unique look. This comes from using heavy timber and a clear, organized design of poles, columns, and beams. The whole area is connected by its materials and shape.
- It connects with the community: The precinct shows what life was like in inner Sydney in the early 1900s.
- It can teach us more: The Walsh Bay Wharves and their buildings show the amazing technical and creative skills from 1820 to 1930. We can learn a lot from them.
- It is rare: This is the last complete complex of its kind left in the world.
- It is a great example: It is the best example of a port built in the early 20th century in Sydney.
