Sydney Cove railings

Sydney Cove Railings
Sydney Cove Railings
	The railings under the southern arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge near their western boundary, at Dawes Point
Location	Circular Quay Concourse, Circular Quay East and West, from Dawes Point, The Rocks to the Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°51′37″S151°12′35″E / 33.8603°S 151.2096°E
Built	1900–
Owner	Property NSW
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Railings, Sydney Cove; Part of Sydney Cove
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	10 May 2002
Reference no.	1572
Type	Streetscape
Category	Urban Area
	Location of Sydney Cove Railings in Sydney Sydney Cove railings (Australia)

Last updated December 10, 2024

The Sydney Cove railings are heritage-listed railings located at the Circular Quay concourse, Circular Quay east and west, in the inner city Sydney suburbs of Dawes Point, The Rocks and the CBD, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. These were built from 1900. The railings were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.^[1]

History

The railings and sandstone gate posts are relics of the main steamer wharf and previous schemes of improvement to Circular Quay. They are some of the last remaining from the 19th century.^[1]^[2]

Railings of this pattern are shown on an historic photograph dated 1894-98, continuing from Circular Quay around to Circular Quay West. The configuration of both Circular Quay and Circular Quay West have changed since that date, which would have involved the moving of sections of the railings. As well, additional railings of the same pattern were made as part of the Circular Quay improvement works for the 1988 Bicentennial. Identification of the location of the original railings requires further research and should be clearly recorded. A different railing pattern featuring seahorses has been used along Circular Quay Concourse to the end of Wharf 2, when the same pattern used at Circular Quay West is used along the sea wall at East Circular Quay, terminating at Whalebridge. It is noted that the same railing pattern has also been used at Pyrmont Point Park and Jones Bay, c. 1996.^[1]

The railings were introduced as part of various schemes for urban improvements in the late 19th and early 20th century, by the Sydney Harbour Trust at the turn of the century, by the Maritime Services Board at the time of refurbishment of the ferry wharves and building of the Cahill Expressway in the 1950s-60s, and for the 1988 Bicentennial.^[1]

Description

Much of the sea wall at Sydney Cove is edged by cast iron fencing comprising vertical posts of two alternating patterns joined by horizontal railings at top and bottom with diagonal bracing and a central medallion at the cross point between. This fencing continues from around Dawes Point to the north boundary of the Park Hyatt Hotel, and continues, interrupted by the decking in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel, the fencing and gates to Campbell's Wharf and then the open area in front of Campbell's Stores and by the Overseas Passenger Terminal. It continues again past the palisade gates, fencing and gateposts to the south of the Terminal, along Circular Quay West to the main concourse giving access to the ferry wharves, and resumes at Circular Quay East, terminating at Whalebridge.^[1]

The posts are of cast iron while the rails are in steel. The fencing was reproduced and extended for the improvements undertaken in the 1988 Bicentennial. In addition, when they were damaged they were replaced over the years.^[3]^[1]

It is noted that the same railing pattern has been used in the fencing at Pyrmont Point Park, completed in 1997. The Circular Quay Concourse has a different style of fencing with smaller posts and vertical railings enclosed by horizontal railings at the top and bottom, with the top two horizontal rails decorated by a sea horse set in a circle motif. It is noted that sea horses form part of the ironwork decorative scheme of the railway station at Circular Quay. These railings continue along the concourse and return for 2–3 metres (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in) at the access to each ferry wharf.^[1]

Modifications and dates

Since c. 1900: Constant replacement of damaged sections of railings.^[3]^[1]

Further information

Further research should be undertaken regarding the dates of introduction of the two types of fencing, and of the location of the original sections of fence.^[1]

Heritage listing

As at 31 March 2011, the Sydney Cover railings and site are of State heritage significance for their historical and scientific cultural values. The site and building are also of State heritage significance for their contribution to The Rocks area which is of State Heritage significance in its own right. The railings have historic significance as part of the urban improvements undertaken at Sydney Cove at two phases: by the Sydney Harbour Trust as part of its urban improvements at the turn of the century, and by the Maritime Services Board at Circular Quay Concourse as part of the refurbishment of the Wharves in the 1950s. They are aesthetically significant as prominent and attractive urban features of the Cove.^[1]

Sydney Cove railings was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

The railings have historic significance as part of the urban improvements undertaken at Sydney Cove in different phases: by the Sydney Harbour Trust as part of its urban improvements at the turn of the century, and by the Maritime Services Board at Circular Quay Concourse as part of the refurbishment of the Wharves in the 1950s.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The railings are aesthetically significant as prominent and attractive urban features of the Cove.^[1]

Related Research Articles

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Railings, Sydney Cove". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01572. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
↑ City of Sydney, 1989.
1 2 McBeath, 2000.

Bibliography

Sydney Cove Authority (SCA) (1998). SCA Register 1979-1998.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Railings, Sydney Cove , entry number 1572 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 14 October 2018.

External links

Media related to Sydney Cove railings at Wikimedia Commons

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Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[nswshr-1572-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Railings, Sydney Cove". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01572. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .

[2] City of Sydney, 1989.

[nswshr-1572-1572-1-3] 1 2 McBeath, 2000.

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v t e The Rocks historical attractions
Residential buildings	Argyle Terrace Avery Terrace Baker's Terrace Cadmans Cottage Cumberland Street Nos. 106-128 Nos. 130, 132-134, 136-138, and 140-142 No. 182 Nos. 182.5-188 Gannon House George Street Nos. 29-31 No. 93 Nos. 95-99 No. 101 No. 103 No. 105 Nos. 107-109 No. 121 Nos. 123-125 Nos. 139-141 No. 145 No. 147 Nos. 149-151 [some of the aforementioned were subsequently converted into commercial buildings] Gloucester Street Nos. 32-36 and 38-40 Nos. 46-56 103-111 Nos. 113-115 Nos. 117-117a Harrington Street No. 32 Nos. 42-52 Nos. 55-59 Nos. 61-65 No. 67 No. 71 Jobbins Terrace Lilyvale Long's Lane Precinct Merchant's House Penrhyn House Playfair Street Terraces Playfair's Terrace Reynolds' Cottages Samson's Cottage Samson's Cottage wall remains Sergeant Major's Row Susannah Place (museum) View Terrace facades
Commercial buildings	Accountants House Ambulance Station (former) ASN Co building Argyle Stores ASN Hotel Building Bushells Building Butchery Building Campbell's Stores Cleland Bond Store Coroner's Court (former) English, Scottish and Australian Bank Federation Hall George Street No. 231 Harrington's Buildings Harts Buildings Joe Bananas shop Johnson's building Julian Ashton Art School Lawson House Metcalfe Bond Stores Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (former MSB building) Mining Museum (former) New York Hotel (former) Model factory building, Gloucester Street NSW Housing Board Building, Grosvenor Street Old Bushells Factory Phillip's Foote Restaurant Police Station (former) Raphael Mackeller Stores Royal Naval House Science House Sydney Sailors' Home Union Bond Store (former) Unwin's Stores
Churches	Mariners' Church St Patrick's Church, Church Hill
Pubs and hotels	Australian British Seamen's Brooklyn Fortune of War Glenmore Harbour Rocks Mercantile Observer Orient Russell
Transport infrastructure	Argyle Bridge Argyle Cut Captain Tench Arcade Cumberland Place and Steps Sydney Cove railings
Other significant historical features	Cumberland Street Archaeological Site Dawes Point Battery Rocks Push Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct