Waterview Wharf Workshops facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waterview Wharf Workshops |
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| Location | 37 Nicholson Street, Balmain, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1880–1941 |
| Official name: Waterview Wharf Workshops; Adelaide Steamship Company wharf; Burns timber yard | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 687 |
| Type | Shipyard |
| Category | Transport - Water |
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The Waterview Wharf Workshops are old buildings in Balmain, Sydney, Australia. They were once busy workshops for a shipping company. Built between 1880 and 1941, these workshops are also known as the Adelaide Steamship Company wharf or Burns timber yard. They are important because they are listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register since 1999.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Workshops
The Waterview Wharf Workshops are special buildings right by the water in Waterview Bay, Balmain. They are some of the few old shipping structures left in Sydney Harbour. Many similar buildings used to stretch along the southern shore, from Balmain to Garden Island. This included wharves in places like Pyrmont and Circular Quay.
Early Days: Timber and Ships
The site has a long history, starting in the late 1800s.
- 1880-1898: The first use of the site was as a timber yard owned by a company called Burns. To build the mill, a stone sea wall was put up. Workers also dug out a cliff to get soil to fill the land. This shows how important waterfront land was in Balmain back then.
- 1900-1939: The Adelaide Steamship Company took over. This company became the biggest shipping company in Australia for many years. Having their workshops in Waterview Bay was a big deal for Sydney's shipping history.
- 1939-1960s: The workshops continued during World War II. After the war, the company slowly became less active.
These workshops are the last important reminder of the busy shipping industry that was in Waterview Bay. Other big names like Mort's Dock and Sydney Slipways were also there. The workshops show how important sea trade was for Sydney's growth in the early 1900s. They are also linked to famous business people from the 1800s, Thomas Elder and Robert Barr Smith.
Working at the Workshops
The Waterview Wharf Workshops were a major employer in Balmain in the early 1900s. Like Mort's Dock, the Adelaide Steamship Company often hired workers for specific jobs, rather than as permanent staff. This helped strengthen the idea of unions in the area. The workshops were known for having some of the best medium-sized repair tools in Sydney.
Buildings and Their Stories
- Building 2: This building was part of the first phase of the Adelaide Steamship Company's development, between 1900 and 1939. It originally had a corrugated iron roof. Around 1940, this was changed to a corrugated asbestos roof.
- Building 1: This building was built around 1940. It shows the decline of the shipbuilding industry after World War II. It was used for things like offices and storage, not for the main industrial work.
What the Workshops Look Like
The Waterview Wharf Workshops are a nice group of buildings designed for shipping work. They are located right on the water in Waterview Bay, Balmain. They are among the few old shipping structures left that once lined Sydney Harbour.
The way the stone sea wall was built and the cliff was dug out shows how important this waterfront land was in the late 1800s. The workshops are the last major reminder of the early 1900s shipping industry in Waterview Bay. This area once included big places like Mort's Dock and Sydney Slipways.
The buildings still have enough of their original parts to help us understand their industrial past. They are also one of the few industrial sites that show how World War II affected local workplaces, with features like the wharf access road and an air raid shelter.
Building 2: The Oldest Part
This building was built around 1900 and is located near the Zig Zag Reserve. It looks similar to other buildings from that time on the site, but it's smaller. It has a wooden frame and walls covered in corrugated iron. The roof is made of corrugated asbestos cement with skylights, and the floors are wood. It has two levels and the same type of windows as other buildings there.
Building 2 gives us a physical clue about the important shipbuilding years of the Adelaide Steamship Company. Its current asbestos roof replaced an original iron roof around 1940.
Building 1: A Later Addition
Built around 1940, this building was made to provide office space, restrooms, and storage. It was constructed using brick, fibro, and corrugated iron. This building shows how the shipbuilding industry and the Adelaide Steamship Company declined after World War II. It likely still has its original asbestos roof and walls. It was used for supporting tasks and was not a main part of the industrial work on the site.
Heritage Status
The Waterview Wharf Workshops were officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means they are protected because of their historical importance.
