White Bay Power Station © Chris Bennett from Evolving Picture
The First talk of the 2023 SYDNEY SERIES is about the White Bay Power Station
White Bay Power Station at Rozelle was built to supply electrical power to the Sydney railway and tramway system. It was operational between 1917-1983 and was the longest serving power station in metropolitan Sydney. The large industrial site includes a boiler house, turbine hall, switch house, coal handling shed, a rail line spur, two steel chimney stacks and various items of machinery. In 2002, Design 5 were engaged with a multi disciplinary team to prepare the Conservation Management Plan for the Power Station and have since had a continuing role in its preservation and maintenance. In recent years, the White Bay Power Station has been heralded as a strategic piece in the State Governments’ plan for the revitalisation Bays West comprising a 77 hectare precinct encompassing White Bay, Glebe Island, Rozelle Bay and Rozelle Rail Yards. New infrastructure construction including the Westconnex and Sydney Metro West is the first step in the largest transformation of the area in over a century. This presents both opportunity and major challenges not only for the White Bay Power Station but also the significance and integrity of the former industrial and export precinct. This talk will detail the history of the White Bay Power Station, what makes this place significant and conservation policies. The talk will also discuss the state Governments’ $86 million investment to conserve the power station and some of the work that has been carried out to date.
The speakers are:
Alan Croker
Alan, founding director of Design 5 – Architects, has more than 40 years experience in conservation, adaptive reuse and new works across a broad range of projects. Alan was the lead author of the White Bay Power Station – Conservation Management Plan and is also author of other notable CMPs including Respecting the Vision – Sydney Opera House and Unlocking the Past to Free the Future – Kinchella Boys Home (co-author assisting the Kinchella Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation).
Robert Gasparini
Robert is a senior architect with Design 5 and has been involved with the White Bay Power Station since he was an undergraduate in 2002. Robert has assisted with the preparation of the White Bay Power Station CMP (2004 and 2013) and is currently preparing the third edition due later this year. Robert is currently project architect for the conservation works commissioned by Place Management NSW, managed by CBRE and undertaken by FDC contractors.
Time & Date: Tuesday 28th February 2023, 5.30pm for 6pm start
Cost: Students $10, Members $15, Non-Members $20, all payable through the Eventbrite link below
Venue: NBRS Architecture, Level 2, 4 Glen Street, Milsons Point, 2061
RSVP by Friday 24th February 2023.
Bookings are essential as places are limited. Any queries to thubbul@bigpond.com
Australia ICOMOS, DOCOMOMO Australia, NSW Chapter Australian Institute of Architects members and friends are all invited to attend