Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator, Willoughby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator |
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Walter Burley Griffin incinerator, Willoughby, pictured in January 2018
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| Location | 2 Small Street, Willoughby, City of Willoughby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1933–1934 |
| Architect |
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| Owner | Willoughby City Council |
| Official name: Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator; Willoughby Municipal Incinerator | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 84 |
| Type | Incinerator |
| Category | Utilities – Waste |
| Builders |
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The Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator is a special building in Willoughby, Sydney, Australia. It used to be a place where garbage was burned. Today, it is an art gallery, a place for artists to work, and a public park area.
The famous architect Walter Burley Griffin and his partner Eric Nicholls designed this building. It was built between 1933 and 1934. The Willoughby City Council now owns the property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is a very important historical site.
Contents
History of the Incinerator
Walter Burley Griffin: The Architect
Walter Burley Griffin was born near Chicago in 1876. He studied architecture at the University of Illinois. From 1901 to 1906, he worked with another famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Griffin started his own architecture business in 1906. He became known for his "Prairie School" style of architecture.
In 1911, Griffin married Marion Mahony. She was also an architect and had worked with Frank Lloyd Wright. Walter Burley Griffin was very interested in landscape design. He wanted buildings to fit naturally into their surroundings.
In 1912, Griffin and Marion won a big international competition. They designed the plan for Australia's capital city, Canberra. Their design was based on the hills and valleys of the land. In 1919, Griffin left the Canberra project. He then bought land in Middle Harbour, Sydney. This area became known as Castlecrag. He spent many years developing this area.
Griffin believed that houses should blend in with nature. His houses were often small and cozy. He liked to use local plants and materials. He also created a special building system called "Knitlock." It used pre-made interlocking tiles.
In the early 1930s, Griffin designed incinerators. These were buildings to burn household garbage. He built them in different cities across Australia. These incinerators allowed him to try out new shapes and textures in his designs. Sadly, not many of them are still standing today. Two of Griffin's incinerators remain in Sydney. These are the Glebe Municipal Incinerator and the Willoughby Incinerator.
In 1935, Griffin went to India for work. He passed away there two years later. Today, people recognize Griffin's important ideas. He brought new concepts to architecture. These included open living spaces and using reinforced concrete. He is also famous for his town planning designs. These include Canberra and Castlecrag.
The Willoughby Incinerator's Story
After a serious health issue in Sydney in 1901, local governments started managing garbage. They built efficient incinerators in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Willoughby Incinerator was one of these important buildings.
The Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator in Willoughby was built from 1933 to 1934. It started working on 7 May 1934. The Mayor of Willoughby officially opened it on 6 September 1934. It became known as the Willoughby Municipal Reverberatory Refuse Incinerator.
This incinerator used a special Australian invention. It was designed to burn garbage more efficiently. It preheated and dried the garbage before burning it. This made the process much better than other methods. The building's design allowed garbage to move downwards by gravity. This needed truck access on two different levels. Griffin was very good at designing buildings for sloped land.
The Great Depression in the 1930s affected Willoughby Council. They did not have enough money to keep the incinerator running. By the late 1940s, they went back to dumping garbage outdoors. The incinerator was used less and less. By the 1960s, it was closed down.
In the late 1960s, people started caring more about the environment. They wanted to protect natural areas. This led to efforts to save the incinerator building from being torn down. In 1982, the building was changed into a restaurant. This restaurant was successful for several years. But it closed in 1988 due to money problems.
In 1989, the building was changed again. It became office space. In 1995, the site was listed as a local heritage item. This meant it was recognized as important to the area's history.
In August 1996, the incinerator was damaged by a fire. It was restored in 1997 to be used as office space again. In 1999, it was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. This gave it even more protection.
In 2008, plans were approved to fix up the building. The goal was to use it as a community hall, artist studio, and cafe. On 21 May 2011, the building reopened to the public. It now has an art gallery on the lower level. There are artist studios on the middle level. A cafe opened at street level in 2014. The chimney was also put back, showing faith in the building's future.
What the Incinerator Looks Like
The incinerator is made of local sandstone. It has painted stucco on top. The building looks like it cascades down the hillside. It has many steps and interesting shapes.
It is built with concrete, steel, and brick. It has four levels with different roof shapes. A tall, many-sided chimney stands above it. The building's sides are covered with sandstone. It also has decorative concrete panels. These panels have triangle designs. These designs show how ancient Mayan art influenced Griffin.
The building sits high on the northern edge of a park. It is next to a road. High sandstone retaining walls define its edges. The incinerator needed trucks to access both upper and lower levels. Griffin used the sloping ground perfectly to make the building work.
The incinerator has three levels. It goes down the hillside to fit its original purpose. The outside walls are made of rough sandstone blocks. They also have decorative concrete with Griffin's favorite triangle pattern. Most windows have timber frames. Some larger windows were added in the 1980s. The roof is covered with green concrete tiles.
In the fire of August 1996, the inside and roof were badly damaged. But the sandstone and concrete walls stayed strong. The fire was mostly on the top floor. The two lower floors had a lot of water damage. But they did not burn much.
The whole building is topped by a tall chimney. This chimney also has the triangle cement pattern. Today, the inside of the building looks like a modern office. But it is still within the original incinerator structure.
Condition and Changes
As of August 2016, the building was in excellent condition.
- 1933: Incinerator built.
- 1934: Officially opened.
- 1960s: Incinerator closed.
- 1982: Changed into a restaurant.
- 1989: Changed into office space.
- 1996: Damaged by fire.
- 1997: Restored for office use.
- 2011: Reopened to the public as an art gallery, artist studios, and future cafe. The chimney was also put back.
Why the Incinerator is Important
The Willoughby Incinerator is very important. It is one of only two such buildings left in New South Wales. It was designed by the famous architect Walter Burley Griffin and Eric Nicholls. It also used a special Australian system for burning garbage.
It is important to the local area because:
- It is a major work by Griffin and Nicholls. They both lived nearby and helped develop the area.
- It is a well-known landmark in Willoughby.
- It was a place of debate and protest about waste management.
- It became a big success story for heritage conservation in Willoughby.
The incinerator is also important because it shows how waste was managed in the past. It is a great example of an industrial building that fits its function and location perfectly. It is one of the most important buildings built in Australia in the 1930s. It is also one of only three buildings of this type by Walter Burley Griffin left in New South Wales.
The Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 for several reasons:
- History: It shows how local governments in Australia started using new technology in the 1930s to get rid of waste.
- Beauty and Design: It is perhaps the best example of Walter Burley Griffin's work. He used decorative designs in concrete and stone. It looks amazing and clearly shows how its different levels worked. It sits beautifully above a park that used to be a rubbish dump.
- Community Connection: People who admire Walter Burley Griffin's work value it highly. It also provides a great view for people enjoying the park below.
- Learning Potential: The building's design shows how Griffin created architecture for the incineration process. Some parts of the original equipment are still there. This helps us understand the old technology.
- Rarity: This incinerator is rare in Sydney's urban development.
- Example: It is the best example of Griffin's incinerators left in New South Wales.
See also
