Review of Environmental Factors - Transport for NSW - NSW ...

Heritage Branch Website - Online Databasehttp://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=5055121Page 3 of 523/08/2011other hostels built to meet the demands brought about by theimmigration policy.The Balgownie Migrant Hostel was built by Concrete ConstructionsPty Ltd, the contract being let in October 1950 and occupied inDecember 1951. The hostel was later renamed Fairy Meadow MigrantHostel and continued operation until 1982.The property was purchased by the University of Wollongong forstudent accommodation in June 1987. About 1989 the buildingknown as 201 a former dining hall was converted for use as theScience Centre.The first Nissen Hut was designed by Canadian Lieutenant ColonelPeter Norman Nissen in 1916. In WWII the Nissen Hut design wasmodified and extensively used in military activities.The British Nissen Hut was copied by Americans in the Quonset hutand evolved to become quite different by the end of WWII.The buildings numbered 201, 204 and 210 are remnants of thehostel completed in 1951. They were part of a large complex of hutsdivided into blocks around common dining room and laundrybuildings.Historic ThemesAustralian Theme(abbrev)2. Peopling - Peoplingthe continent4. Settlement -Building settlements,towns and citiesNew South Wales ThemeMigration - Activities and processes associated with theresettling of people from one place to another (international,interstate, intrastate) and the impacts of such movementsAccommodation - Activities associated with the provision ofaccommodation, and particular types of accommodation –does not include architectural styles – use the theme ofCreative Endeavour for such activities.Local ThemeDeveloping Italiansettlements -Accommodatingmigrants in hostels andcamps -Assessment of SignificanceSHR Criteria a)[Historical Significance]SHR Criteria b)[Associative Significance]SHR Criteria c)[Aesthetic Significance]SHR Criteria d)[Social Significance]SHR Criteria e)[Research Potential]These buildings are the only physical evidence on site of the formerBalgownie Migrant Workers Hostel as built in 1951. The pattern ofmigration after WWII is clearly evidenced by these buildings. Thehistory of the development of Australia and particularly Wollongongwas heavily influenced by migration. The evidence of migration atthis period is rare. Nissen and Quonset huts were commonly used athostel sites throughout NSW however there are very few examplessurviving today.The subject site has been the subject of a number of works ofliterature. Notably 'the Winter Sparrows' by Mary Rose Liverani whodocuments her own experiences of growing up at the hostel. There isa significant community surviving today who have very strongconnection with the former hostel.The Nissen and Quonset huts have some technical interest asexamples of World War ii period prefabricated buildings which havebeen adapted for migrant hostel use. These buildings are the onlysurviving landmarks of the former Balgownie Migrant WorkersHostel.The Wollongong community has a large number of people who werepost-war migrants or are descended from post war migrants. Thiscommunity has demonstrated esteem for these buildings throughgroups such as the Migration Heritage Project.The Nissen and Quonset huts are good examples of prefabricatedpost World War II buildings which have been adapted for uses such