Monorail Removal Project - Review of Environmental Factors (REF)

Map ref(figure8.1)Item name Address/location Heritage listing/s Statement of significance42 Hay StreetStormwaterChannel43 Pier St Precinct -ArchaeologicalRemains44 Water CoolingSystem - UltimoHay Street, betweenQuay and Dixonstreets, near theentertainment centreforecourtThe Pier StreetPrecinct has a listingdefined by Pier Street,Harbour Street, HayStreet and DarlingDrive (Merino Avenue)Powerhouse to MurrayStreet to waters edge,Sydney Water S170RegisterSHFA S170 RegisterSHFA S170 registercreative achievement. The surviving 19th Century interior reveals fashionable taste anddetail, especially plasterwork, stencilling and skylights. The remains of the 1830 chapelinterior give further significance to the interior, and reveal acceptance of building reuse andadaption. The School of Arts was an important educative and social centre for Sydney’sintelligensia in the 19th century and its character and spaces still demonstrate aspects of anearlier way of life. The Governor was its patron and leading citizens such as J.H. Goodlet(brick manufacturer) and Norman Selfe (engineer) served on its committee. Technicaleducation in New South Wales has its chief focus in the School of Arts prior to the transfer ofthe facility to the government in the later 19th century.The Hay Street Stormwater Channel system is highly significant as it was one of the first fiveoriginal combined sewers constructed in Sydney around the 1860 period. The other foursewers were; Blackwattle Bay (SHI 4570535), Woolloomooloo (SHI 4570813), Tank Stream(SHI 4573709) and Bennelong (SHI 4570854). These five sewers were responsible forgreatly improving public health by diverting stormwater and sewage off the streets anddischarging it out into the Harbour. The five sewers are the first examples of sewerage anddrainage services to be built in Sydney, and potentially Australia. The subsequentconstruction of the BOOS (Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer) in 1889 and the connection of theHay Street system in 1901 diverted sewer flow from the Harbour and into the ocean.Eventually the drain was used predominantly for stormwater, this further improved publichealth, hygiene and living standards for the city's residents. The channel is of technologicalsignificance as it provides an excellent example of the engineering and constructiontechniques of the late 1800s and of the city's early infrastructure. The numerous extensionsand modifications made throughout the years provide and an archaeological record of theadvancements made in drainage construction techniques. The operational curtilage for HayStreet SWC includes all original fabric and archaeological evidence including, but not limitedto the channel bed, walls and coping. There is no visual curtilage associated with thisstructure as it is located predominantly underground.Little Pier Street Precinct displays historical significance, firstly, due to being part ofDickson’s Steam Mill Complex, which included Australia’s first Steam Engine and marked thearrival of industrial technology. Little Pier Street Precinct also saw the establishment ofAustralia’s first salting works, which introduced innovative industrial and commercialenterprise. Aesthetically, the site contains sub surface structural features such as; walls,floors and boiler foundations. Socially, Little Pier Street Precinct has become a place of highsocial value as an archaeological site, which contains physical evidence directly related towell known events in Australia’s history. The presence of actual relics has increased theinterpretative potential of the siteThe water cooling system and manifold was an integral component of the operating systemof the Power Station. The former Ultimo Power Station, (now the Powerhouse Museum)GHD | Transport for NSW - Monorail Removal Project REF | 73