HERITAGE ASSESSMENT AND IMPACT STATEMENT UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE, CALLAGHAN CAMPUS - STEMM BUILDING
10/10/2019 PREPARED FOR UNIVERISTY OF NEWCASTLE
URBIS STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPORT WERE: Associate Director Fiona Binns, B Arts, M Arts (Curatorial Studies) Senior Consultant, Historian Léonie Masson, B Arts (Lib Sc), Grad Dip (Loc App His) Senior Heritage Consultant Alexandria Barnier, B Des (Architecture), Grad Cert Herit Cons, M.ICOMOS Project Code P0004347 Report Number O1 – Preliminary Draft issued 06/09/2019 02 – Final for submission 10/10/2019
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You must read the important disclaimer appearing within the body of this report. urbis.com.au CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ...... i 1. Introduction ...... 1 1.1. Background ...... 1 1.2. Site Location ...... 1 1.3. Methodology and Limitations ...... 3 1.4. Author Identification ...... 3 1.5. The Proposal ...... 3 2. Site Description ...... 7 2.1. The University of Newcastle Callaghan Campus ...... 7 i2.2. The Great Hall ...... 9 3. Historical Overview ...... 13 3.1. Area History ...... 13 Subdivision and Occupation of the Platt Estate ...... 14 Establishment of the University of Newcastle...... 26 3.2. The Great Hall ...... 31 3.3. Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley (Architects) ...... 40 3.4. Property Owners ...... 41 3.5. Date of Construction ...... 41 4. Heritage Significance ...... 42 4.1. What is Heritage Significance? ...... 42 4.2. Significance Assessment ...... 42 4.3. Statement of Significance ...... 45 5. Impact Assessment ...... 47 5.1. Heritage Listing ...... 47 5.2. Heritage Assessment ...... 47 6. Conclusion and Recommendations ...... 52 7. Bibliography and References ...... 53 7.1. Books, Monographs and Reports ...... 53 Newspapers and Magazines ...... 53 Primary Sources ...... 53 Disclaimer ...... 54
FIGURES: Figure 1 – Aerial view of part of the campus, with the McMullin Building indicated ...... 2 Figure 2 – Campus map. The subject McMullin building is indicated at E4, building MC. The adjacent Great hall is denoted by the GH and is located to the west of the McMullin Building...... 2 Figure 2 – Ground floor plan ...... 4 Figure 2 – North Elevation ...... 5 Figure 2 – South Elevation ...... 5 Figure 3 – View east long the main Ring Road, near the entry from University Drive ...... 7 Figure 4 – View towards the Great Hall ...... 7 Figure 5 – General view of bush landscaping and one of the car parking facilities near the entry from University Drive ...... 7 Figure 6 – View west along Shortland Lane from the juncture of the Ring Road (north side of the campus) ... 7 Figure 7 – General view of a typical campus building ...... 8
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Figure 8 – The Shortland building ...... 8 Figure 9 – The Brutalist Great Hall, located to the west of the McMullin Building...... 10 Figure 10 – The Great Hall ...... 10 Figure 9 – The main entry and forecourt ...... 10 Figure 10 – The Great Hall (southeast façade) and pedestrian walkway ...... 10 Figure 9 – ...... 10 Figure 10 – The rear of the Great Hall (western façade) ...... 10 Figure 9 – The rear of the Great Hall (southern façade) ...... 11 Figure 10 – The southeast façade and curved bay – the curved bay is comprised of contrasting square header bricks...... 11 Figure 9 – The Great Hall foyer/ main entry ...... 11 Figure 10 – The Great hall foyer ...... 11 Figure 9 – The Great Hall (main auditorium) ...... 12 Figure 10 – The Great Hall (main auditorium) ...... 12 Figure 1 - Painting by Sophia Campbell of what could possibly be Platt’s Farm, c1829...... 13 Figure 2 – Detail from Plan of the River Hunter from Port Hunter to the falls at West Maitland, 1844. GB White, surveyor, J Allan lithographer. Location of Platts Mill circled. This plan also shows the traverse of Maitland Road though Platt’s land...... 15 Figure 3 – Detail from The Estates of the Australian Agricultural Co at Newcastle, NS Wales, 1854. Platt’s land grant outlined in bold...... 15 Figure 4 - Plan of Platts Land shewing the transit of the Hunter River railway relative surface elevations, coal croppings, and other mineral indications and The whole Estate subdivided into Farms (the Property of the AA Company 1836), [incomplete], c1857.Drawn by George Eld Darby, AACO Surveyor, 1840-1867. Shows proposed farms and roads. The approximate location of the subject site is shown circled red...... 16 Figure 5 – Detail from Parish of Newcastle, County of Northumberland G. Lewis, 2nd April '86...... 17 Figure 6 - Detail from Parish of Newcastle, County of Cumberland / compiled, drawn and printed in the Department of Lands, Sydney, 1909...... 18 Figure 7 – Detail from Map of the coal properties in the Newcastle District, c190-. Note location of Superintendent’s Residence close to the banks of the Hunter River. Approximate location of subject site circled in red...... 19 Figure 8 - Compilation Australian Agricultural Company’s Platt’s Estate, 1912. Note lot 87 at bottom left. .... 20 Figure 9 – Block plan accompanying OST Bk 1210 No 935, December 1920. Shows Lot 87 of the Long Angle Subdivision of Platts Estate shaded in red...... 21 Figure 10 – Detail from Plan of part of JL Platt’s 2000 ac grant and part of Por. 141 Parish of Newcastle County of Northumberland showing part of Wallsend Coal Coy’s Railway and Tramway to Quarry, c1921. Subject site located in Portion 87 owned and occupied at the date of this plan by Alexander McGregor...... 22 Figure 11 - Skeleton map of Newcastle and suburbs showing main routes to B.H.P. Co. properties and allied industries / [attributed to] M. Toward, 195-? ...... 22 Figure 12 – Plan of Lots 84, 85 & 86 and p-arts of Lots 82, 83, 87 & 88 of a subdivision of the Australian Agricultural Company’s Platts 2000 ac. Grant Parish of Newcastle County of Northumberland, 1938...... 23 Figure 13 - Plan of part of land in CT Vol 5052 Fol 234 Shortland, Parish of Newcastle County of Northumberland, 1949 with later annotations. Land outlined in red...... 24 Figure 14 – Plan of subdivision of the land shown in Plan Catalogued Ms5119 Md University of NSW; Lots 2, 3 & 4 proposed to be appropriated, 1962...... 25 Figure 15 – Aerial photograph of Shortland site before development, 1954...... 26 Figure 16 - Newcastle University Establishment Group inspects the proposed site for the University of Newcastle, early 1960s...... 27 Figure 17 – Pencil sketch of temporary shelters and structures found on the Shortland site, 1962...... 27 Figure 18 – Master Plan—University of Newcastle...... 29 Figure 19 – Model of Stage I Development—University of Newcastle, showing the McMullin Building (at right). The Hall (in its present form) is not depicted...... 29 Figure 20 – Plan 1—Main Plaza, University of Newcastle, 1964...... 30 Figure 21 – Future site of the Great Hall building, University of Newcastle, c1971...... 32
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CONTENTS Figure 22 - Great Hall Appeal Dinner City Hall, Mr W. Fife, Mr R. Coulton, Dr G. Edwards, Bishop Toohey, Sir Alister McMullin, Lord Mayor McDougall...... 33 Figure 23 - Great Hall Appeal, at Newcastle City Hall, showing Sir Alister McMullin, Mr R. Coulton, Dr G.A. Edwards...... 33 Figure 24 - Laying of foundation stone for Great Hall of the University of Newcastle, Australia on May 28, 1971 - Lord Mayor McDougall, Professor J.J. Auchmuty, Dr. G. Edwards, Ald. F. Purdue...... 34 Figure 25 – Site work preparation for Great Hall, University of Newcastle, c1971...... 35 Figure 26 – Aerial view of the University of Newcastle with the Great Hall under construction, c.1972...... 35 Figure 27 – Views during construction of Great Hall, University of Newcastle, 1971-1973...... 36 Figure 28 – Aerial view of University of Newcastle campus, undated. Great Hall in middle left...... 37 Figure 28 –Undated view of the Great Hall, circa 1970s ...... 37 Figure 29 - irst occasion of using the Great Hall, Friday 16 March, 1973, when a Graduation Ceremony was held. [Shows Professor Leonie Kramer of Sydney University]...... 39 Figure 32 – Aerial view of Birmingham Gardens and University of Newcastle looking north, 9 November 1974. McMullin Building circled in red...... 40
TABLES: Table 1 – Property Owners of Lot 87 Long Angle Subdivision of Platts Estate ...... 41 Table 2 – Assessment of heritage significance ...... 42 Table 5 – Heritage Division Guidelines ...... 47
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Urbis has been engaged by the University of Newcastle to prepare the following Heritage Impact Statement in conjunction with a State Significant Development Application (SSDA). This report has been prepared to assess the heritage significance of the Great Hall and potential heritage impacts of the proposed redevelopment of the adjacent site for the STEMM building. The subject proposal includes provision of a new STEMM building located at the entry to the Callaghan campus. It is a contemporary design, constructed of concrete and timber with predominantly glazed facades, with a recessed colonnade running around the ground floor of the north, west and southern facades. The proposal also includes landscaping works and provision of new hard and soft landscaping works between the proposed STEMM building and the Great Hall. The University of Newcastle is not subject to any statutory listings and is not a listed heritage item under Schedule 5 of the Newcastle Local Environment Plan 2012 or on the State Heritage Register. The site is also located adjacent to the Great Hall, which is listed on the RAIA Register of Significant Buildings in NSW. This report has been prepared in response to correspondence from the Office of Environment and Heritage Input into Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements – University of Newcastle STEMM Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan - Newcastle LGA (SSD 9832)1 and provisions for historic (European) heritage. The need for the assessment is also informed by advice from the State Design Review Panel (GANSW). This Heritage Impact Statement has assessed the Great Hall as being of heritage significance for its historic, associative, aesthetic, social and representative values. It has particular importance as the main event space on campus and as a community funded facility as well as a significant work of mid-century architecture. The building is of aesthetic significance as a distinctive example of the Brutalist style, with its robust scale, strong composition of stepped and curved elements and characteristic materiality of concrete and facebrick. The bushland setting complements the Brutalist aesthetic and was a key characteristic of the original University masterplan. The Hall is representative of the works of the well-known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley, acknowledged as key practitioners of Brutalism. As the site is not a listed heritage item, the provisions of the Newcastle LEP and DCP are not applicable. The proposed works have been assessed in relation to relevant questions posed in the Heritage Division’s ‘Statement of Heritage Impact’ guidelines. The assessment (as set out in section 5) has considered that the subject proposal will not impact on the identified heritage significance of the Great Hall. The proposal is supported and has been recommended for approval, subject to the recommendations as set out in section 6.
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1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. BACKGROUND The University of Newcastle is proposing to develop a new STEMM building. The new building is intended to mark the entry to the campus and sits at the terminus of an important campus axis. The proposed site is located on the site of the McMullin Building (the demolition of which was assessed in a previous REF and subject to a separate assessment by Urbis). The site is also located adjacent to the Great Hall. Great Hall, which is listed on the RAIA Register of Significant Buildings in NSW and was designed by the well-known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley in 1968 (constructed between 1971 and 1973). The Great Hall also sits within an important bush landscape setting. Urbis has been engaged by the University of Newcastle to prepare the following Heritage Impact Statement in conjunction with a State Significant Development Application (SSDA). This report has been prepared to assess the heritage significance of the Great Hall and potential heritage impacts of the proposed redevelopment of the adjacent site for the STEMM building. This report has been prepared in response to correspondence from the Office of Environment and Heritage Input into Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements – University of Newcastle STEMM Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan - Newcastle LGA (SSD 9832)1 and provisions for historic (European) heritage as provided below. The need for the assessment is also informed by advice from the State Design Review Panel (GANSW). Historic Heritage The EIS must provide a heritage assessment including but not limited to an assessment of impacts to State and local heritage including conservation areas, natural heritage areas, places of Aboriginal heritage value, buildings, works, relics, gardens, landscapes, views, trees should be assessed. Where impacts to State or locally significant heritage items are identified, the assessment shall: a. outline the proposed mitigation and management measures (including measures to avoid significant impacts and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the mitigation measures) generally consistent with the NSW Heritage Manual (1996), b. be undertaken by a suitably qualified heritage consultant(s) (note: where archaeological excavations are proposed the relevant consultant must meet the NSW Heritage Council’s Excavation Director criteria), c. include a statement of heritage impact for all heritage items (including significance assessment), d. consider impacts including, but not limited to, vibration, demolition, archaeological disturbance, altered historical arrangements and access, landscape and vistas, and architectural noise treatment (as relevant), and e. where potential archaeological impacts have been identified develop an appropriate archaeological assessment methodology, including research design, to guide physical archaeological test excavations (terrestrial and maritime as relevant) and include the results of these test excavations. 1.2. SITE LOCATION The subject site is located within the Callaghan campus of the University of Newcastle on the western side of the campus (Figure 1). The STEMM building is proposed to be located on the site of the McMullin building, to the east of the Great Hall on the main campus Ring Road, opposite the entry from University Drive. It is bound by McMullin Lane to the east. The university also operates campuses in Ourimbah, Port Macquarie, Singapore, Newcastle CBD and Sydney CBD
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Figure 1 – Aerial view of part of the campus, with the McMullin Building indicated Source: Google Maps 2019
Figure 2 – Campus map. The McMullin building (site of the proposed STEMM building) is indicated at E4, building MC. The adjacent Great hall is denoted by the GH and is located to the west of the McMullin Building. Source: University of Newcastle: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/40842/Callaghan- Campus-Map-20180507.pdf
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1.3. METHODOLOGY AND LIMITATIONS This Heritage Impact Statement has been prepared in accordance with the NSW Heritage Division guidelines ‘Assessing Heritage Significance’, and ‘Statements of Heritage Impact’. The philosophy and process adopted is that guided by the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter 1999 (revised 2013). Preparation of this report follows a site inspection undertaken by the author on the 10th of April 2019. The proposed works are addressed in relation to relevant questions posed in the Heritage Division’s ‘Statement of Heritage Impact’ guidelines. As the site is not a listed heritage item, the provisions of the Newcastle LEP and DCP are not applicable. This report does not assess archaeological potential or impacts, which are subject to a separate Historical Archaeological Assessment and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report. The proposed STEMM site is located on the site of the McMullin Building, the demolition of which was assessed in a previous REF and subject to a separate Heritage Assessment and Impact Statement prepared by Urbis. This report does not assess the demolition of the McMullin Building. 1.4. AUTHOR IDENTIFICATION The following report has been prepared by Fiona Binns (Associate Director). Historical research and analysis was undertaken by Leonie Masson (Senior Heritage Consultant/ Historian). Unless otherwise stated, all drawings, illustrations and photographs are the work of Urbis. 1.5. THE PROPOSAL The University of Newcastle is proposing to develop a new STEMM building. The building is designed by Lyons Architects. The university has a vision to embed new ways of learning, teaching and research that span the STEMM disciplines, supported by cutting-edge infrastructure to enable the collision of ideas. This will allow the University to continue to produce research with real-world impact, create future-facing graduates, and forge closer connections with industry. The proposed STEMM building is a critical part of this vision, providing a new, flagship facility designed to enable interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and industry engagement. Masterplans for the University include provision of additional STEMM buildings to the northeast and north west of the subject development. The new building is intended to mark the entry to the campus and sits at the terminus of an important campus axis. It is a contemporary design, constructed of concrete and timber with predominantly glazed facades, with a recessed colonnade running around the ground floor of the north, west and southern facades. The proposed STEMM building is built over 4-5 storeys. The lower ground floor houses mechanical plant, substation, fire services, loading dock and other back of house facilities. The ground floor comprises the main central interaction and circulation spaces, as well as a teaching laboratory. Levels 1 and 2 feature collaboration workplaces, design and research labs and meeting spaces. The third floor features seminar and conference spaces and additional plant. The proposal also includes landscaping works and provision of new hard and soft landscaping works between the proposed STEMM building and the Great Hall to the west to create a new square (replacing the current courtyard). The proposal also includes provision of a new terraced landscape amphitheatre to the north and ceremonial pathway connecting the Auchmuty Plaza. This assessment is based upon the following architectural drawings prepared by Lyons Architects:
• Drawing Number CD-A1002 – Context Plan – Ground Floor, July 2019 Revision 2
• Drawing Number CD-A3101 – Lower Ground Floor Plan, July 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A3102 –Ground Floor Plan, Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A3103 –Level 1 Floor Plan, Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A3104 –Level 2 Floor Plan, Feb 2019 Revision 1
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• Drawing Number CD-A3105 –Level 3 Floor Plan, Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A3104 –Roof Plan, Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A4001 – North and South Elevations Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A4002 – East and West Elevations Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A5001 – Building Sections A & B, Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A5002 – Building Sections C & D, Feb 2019 Revision 1
• Drawing Number CD-A5003 – Building Sections E & F, Feb 2019 Revision 1
Figure 3 – Ground floor plan Source: Drawing Number CD-A3102 –Ground Floor Plan, Feb 2019 Revision 1
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Figure 4 – North Elevation Source: Drawing Number CD-A4001 – North and South Elevations Feb 2019 Revision 1
Figure 5 – South Elevation Source: Drawing Number CD-A4001 – North and South Elevations Feb 2019 Revision 1
Figure 6 – Montage of the new STEMM building as viewed from the northeast. Source: Lyons + EJE architecture
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Figure 7 – Masterplan showing the integrated STEMM building and new site landscaping Source: Lyons + EJE architecture
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2. SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1. THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE CALLAGHAN CAMPUS The University of Newcastle Callaghan campus is characterised by generally low scale development, in an informal bush setting. In the 1960s, when the campus was first planned, the objective was to retain as many of the native trees (predominantly spotted gum (Corymbia maculata)) as possible and this vision is generally retained in the current campus. This is strongly illustrated by the aerial view of the campus at Figure 1 above which shows the dominant landscape setting.
Figure 8 – View east long the main Ring Road, near the Figure 9 – View towards the Great Hall entry from University Drive Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Urbis 2019
Figure 10 – General view of bush landscaping and one Figure 11 – View west along Shortland Lane from the of the car parking facilities near the entry juncture of the Ring Road (north side of the from University Drive campus) Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Google Maps 2017
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Figure 12 – General view of a typical campus building Figure 13 – The Shortland building Source: Herald Jan 26 2018 Source: Herald Jan 26 2018 https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5177320/no-more- https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5177320/no-more- old-school-as-university-plans-tech-precinct-at- old-school-as-university-plans-tech-precinct-at- callaghan-humanities-in-cbd/#slide=18 callaghan-humanities-in-cbd/#slide=18
The majority of the built stock comprises low scale brick and concrete buildings in late 20th century styles including Brutalist, International and regional styles. The proposed STEMM building will be located on the site of the McMullin Building and to the east of the Great Hall.
Figure 14 – The McMullin Building (site of the proposed STEMM building) as viewed from the vicinity of the Ring Road Source: Urbis 2019
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Figure 15 – View south showing panoramic view of the McMullin building (the site of the subject STEMM building) (Note there is some distortion due to the panoramic view) Source: Urbis 2019
2.2. THE GREAT HALL The Great Hall is listed on the RAIA Register of Significant Buildings in NSW and was designed by the well- known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley in 1968 and constructed between 1971 and 1973. The Hall was designed in the Brutalist style and sits within an important bush landscape setting. The Hall was built as the result of a public appeal sponsored by the Lord Mayor’s Newcastle University Committee. The building sits at the highest point of the campus and is an important and symbolic building for the University as it is the venue for graduation ceremonies, university examinations, performances and other cultural events. The building is constructed of smooth in-situ concrete and mottled facebrick in predominantly stretcher bond. The form of the building is irregular, a robust and bold composition with the auditorium function dictating the form. The building has two components; a single storey flat roofed concrete and glazed pavilion, and the auditorium. The roof form of the auditorium comprises a series of stepped forms and fans from a single point on the western side creating a curved profile. The roof features clerestory windows. Access is via the courtyard and pavilion to the northeast. The principal north eastern façade comprises the low-slung pavilion, with the stepped form of the auditorium behind, with a large curved bay terminating the eastern façade and creating a contrasting element and focal point in the asymmetric form. Typical of the Brutalist style the western, southern and south eastern facades are dominated by large areas of unbroken wall surface with the western façade being of a dominant scale. The southern and western facades include some fire exits.
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Figure 16 – The Brutalist Great Hall, located to the west Figure 17 – The Great Hall of the McMullin Building Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Urbis 2019
Figure 18 – The main entry and forecourt Figure 19 – The Great Hall (southeast façade) and pedestrian walkway Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Urbis 2019
Figure 20 – Figure 21 – The rear of the Great Hall (western façade) Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Urbis 2019
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Figure 22 – The rear of the Great Hall (southern façade) Figure 23 – The southeast façade and curved bay – the curved bay is comprised of contrasting Source: Urbis 2019 square header bricks. Source: Urbis 2019 The Hall is accessed via the courtyard and entry to the northeast. The forecourt did not form part of the original design (refer to Figure 56). The entry opens to the foyer which features a waffle ceiling. Ancillary spaces include the Purdue Room and WCs. The auditorium is dominated by the stepped ceiling. The timber floor is raked, with tiered seating at the rear. Typical of the style, the reinforced concrete structure and blade walls are expressed, with services exposed.
Figure 24 – The Great Hall foyer/ main entry Figure 25 – The Great hall foyer Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Urbis 2019
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Figure 26 – The Great Hall (main auditorium) Figure 27 – The Great Hall (main auditorium) Source: Urbis 2019 Source: Urbis 2019
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3. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 3.1. AREA HISTORY The University of Newcastle (hereafter shortened to UoN) is located wholly within the suburb of Callaghan, which name was gazetted on 17 May 1991. It lies 11km from the heart of Newcastle. Prior to this date, the University was located within the suburb of Shortland, named after Lt John Shortland, master’s mate of the Sirius, one of the ships of the First Fleet. This ship was wrecked off Norfolk Island in 1790. Lt John Shortland returned to England in 1792. Two years later, he returned to Australia with new governor, John Hunter, in the Reliance as first lieutenant. On 9 September 1797, while on his way to Port Stephens in pursuit of some runaway convicts who had seized 'the largest and best boat, belonging to Government', he entered the estuary of the Hunter River, where William and Mary Bryant and their party had probably sheltered briefly when they escaped northwards in 1791. During his brief stay Shortland named the river, though for some years it was often referred to as the Coal River, made the first chart of the harbour in the form of an eye-sketch and collected some samples of coal; in a later letter to his father he predicted that his discovery would prove 'a great acquisition to the settlement'.1 Callaghan was part of 2000 acres (809 ha) of land on the Hunter River granted to John Laurio Platt in August 1822. This grant was one of the first in the Newcastle district. The grant was officially registered in June 1823. In the intervening period, Platt commenced work immediately, clearing the land and erecting a homestead and windmill. He named his estate “Iron Bark Hill”. He faced immediate difficulty in operating the sawmill as he could not secure the services of qualified millrights, and consequently used it as a flour mill for the grinding of wheat.
Figure 28 - Painting by Sophia Campbell of what could possibly be Platt’s Farm, c1829. Source: University of Newcastle Cultural Collections C917-005
By October 1829, coal was being mined on his land by Rapsey and Mitchell. There is no surviving evidence of the relationship between this operation, the two men and Platt. Interestingly, Platt did not possess mining rights according to the original grant. Platt’s mill remained in operation until at least 1842 as it was listed in colonial returns for the years 1834 to 1842. Historians and archaeologists believe the mill was located in the vicinity of Werribi Street, Waratah. On 20 December 1831, two of the Platt's sons died in a bush fire. Within five years, Platt and his wife had died too. Their remaining seven children were adopted by EC Close, a friend of Platt’s, and went to live in
1 Arthur McMartin, 'Shortland, John (1769–1810)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/shortland-john-2659/text3663, published first in hardcopy 1967, accessed online 8 April 2019
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Morpeth. Frederick Platt, the eldest son, sold the estate in 1839 to the Australian Agricultural Company. At this date, there were several tenants on the property occupying small portions of arable land. Platt's farm was subsequently let on a yearly basis with the company reserving for its use anything it should require. In 1857, the Main Northern Railway line was built from the port of Newcastle to Maitland, bisecting the Platt Estate. Four years later, following passage of the Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company’s Railway Act, the Wallsend branch railway line was built from the Main North line at Hanbury Junction through Platt’s Estate to the town of Wallsend. This line was primarily used for the transportation of coal from the Wallsend, Wallsend Borehole and Elermore collieries. The track was closed by the 1960s. The AA Company progressively subdivided their extensive landholdings at Newcastle, forming the suburbs of Mayfield and Waratah. In 1920, over 500 acres of land in Platt’s Estate, was acquired by the Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP). They subsequently leased portions of this land to various individuals and companies, including the Waratah Abattoir (present day suburb of Warabrook). 293 acres (118 ha) was dedicated in October 1954 for a university and teachers college site. The suburb designation Callaghan was assigned in May 1991, at the same date as the adjoining locality Warabrook. 3.2. SUBDIVISION AND OCCUPATION OF THE PLATT ESTATE In 1839, the AA Company purchased Platt’s 2000 acres and continued to operate Platt’s mill until at least 1842. The site of the mill is shown on the 1844 plan of the Hunter River (Figure 29). Platts land was also bisected from the road to Maitland. In September 1857, WH Whyte was instructed by the Company to offer for Lease, by public auction, “Platts Land Estate”, “containing 2000 acres…situated about 4 miles from Newcastle, with frontage to the River Hunter, with the Railroad and public road from Maitland running through it…subdivided into seven farms, so as to combine arable and grazing land in each farm”.2 The plan of subdivision is shown at Figure 31. The immediate result of the auction sale in October 1857 is not known, however in 1862, the AA Company reported that “nearly the whole of Platt’s Estate was let at a low rental” but reserving to the Company the rights to resume portions of it for sale or mining.3 The respective tenants of Platts Land Estate are not known. Nor do we know if that portion of the grant comprising the study site was occupied. In any case, by this date, the Wallsend Coal Company had erected a railway line through Platts grant to Wallsend to their mine in that area. The grant was also bisected by the main road to Maitland.
2 Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 26 September 1857, p3 3 Newcastle Chronicle, 22 October 1862, p3
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Figure 29 – Detail from Plan of the River Hunter from Port Hunter to the falls at West Maitland, 1844. GB White, surveyor, J Allan lithographer. Location of Platts Mill circled. This plan also shows the traverse of Maitland Road though Platt’s land. Source: SLNSW, Digital Order No. c00760001h
Figure 30 – Detail from The Estates of the Australian Agricultural Co at Newcastle, NS Wales, 1854. Platt’s land grant outlined in bold. Source: ANU, Noel Butlin Archives, 131/4/32/B Map X7 Neg. 1339
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Figure 31 - Plan of Platts Land shewing the transit of the Hunter River railway relative surface elevations, coal croppings, and other mineral indications and The whole Estate subdivided into Farms (the Property of the AA Company 1836), [incomplete], c1857.Drawn by George Eld Darby, AACO Surveyor, 1840-1867. Shows proposed farms and roads. The approximate location of the subject site is shown circled red. Source: ANU, Noel Butlin Archives, F326, http://hdl.handle.net/1885/8322, accessed online 5 April 2019.
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Figure 32 – Detail from Parish of Newcastle, County of Northumberland G. Lewis, 2nd April '86. Source: NLA, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-229900830
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Figure 33 - Detail from Parish of Newcastle, County of Cumberland / compiled, drawn and printed in the Department of Lands, Sydney, 1909. Source: NLA, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232694632
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Figure 34 – Detail from Map of the coal properties in the Newcastle District, c190-. Note location of Superintendent’s Residence close to the banks of the Hunter River. Approximate location of subject site circled in red. Source: NLA, nla.obj-229953448, accessed online 5 April 2019
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Figure 35 - Compilation Australian Agricultural Company’s Platt’s Estate, 1912. Note lot 87 at bottom left. Source: Google Earth
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Figure 36 – Block plan accompanying OST Bk 1210 No 935, December 1920. Shows Lot 87 of the Long Angle Subdivision of Platts Estate shaded in red. Source: NSW LRS
In December 1920, the AA Company sold Lot 87 of the Long Angle Subdivision of Platt’s Estate (Figure 36) to Alexander McGregor Senior of Newcastle, butcher for the sum of £933/6/4.4 Almost simultaneously, McGregor sold this parcel of land to BHP for £6,500.5 No documentary evidence has been located indicating occupation or not of this land, but given the proximity of this allotment to the abattoir, it may been used for grazing cattle.
4 OST Bk 1210 No 935, NSW LRS 5 OST Bk 1211 No 243, NSW LRS
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Figure 37 – Detail from Plan of part of JL Platt’s 2000 ac grant and part of Por. 141 Parish of Newcastle County of Northumberland showing part of Wallsend Coal Coy’s Railway and Tramway to Quarry, c1921. Subject site located in Portion 87 owned and occupied at the date of this plan by Alexander McGregor. Source: Crown Plan 3056-3070
Figure 38 - Skeleton map of Newcastle and suburbs showing main routes to B.H.P. Co. properties and allied industries / [attributed to] M. Toward, 195-? Source: NLA, nla.obj-234011858
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Figure 39 – Plan of Lots 84, 85 & 86 and p-arts of Lots 82, 83, 87 & 88 of a subdivision of the Australian Agricultural Company’s Platts 2000 ac. Grant Parish of Newcastle County of Northumberland, 1938. Source: NSW LRS, DP82714
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Figure 40 - Plan of part of land in CT Vol 5052 Fol 234 Shortland, Parish of Newcastle County of Northumberland, 1949 with later annotations. Land outlined in red. Source: NSW LRS, Crown Plan 5119-3070
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Figure 41 – Plan of subdivision of the land shown in Plan Catalogued Ms5119 Md University of NSW; Lots 2, 3 & 4 proposed to be appropriated, 1962. Source: NSW LRS, Crown Plan 7060-3070
In February 1938, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd (BHP) lodged an application to convert 552 acres 3 roods of land to Torrens title. The application comprised Lots 82 to 86, Lot 88 and part of Lot 87 of the Long Angle Subdivision of Platt’s Estate. The land, including all improvements, was valued at eighteen thousand five hundred pounds. The accompanying plan is reproduced at Figure 40. According to PA 32714, the property was occupied by Henry Thomas Lucerne of Newcastle and part by Edward Wilson of Platts Hill, respectively Lots 88 and 83 of the Long Angle Subdivision. These allotments were acquired by BHP between September and December 1920 as follows: 25 Sep 1914 AA company sold Lot 88 to Henry Thomas Lucerne 7 Nov 1916 AA company sold Lot 83 to Hunter River Meat Preserving Company Ltd 7 Nov 1918 Hunter River Meat Preserving Company Ltd sold Lot 83 to Edward Wilson 25 Aug 1919 AA Company sold Lots 84/86 to William Arnold 40 Nov 1920 Arnold sold Lots 84/86 to BHP 10 Dec 1920 AA sold Lot 87 to Alexander McGregor Senior 23 Dec 1920 McGregor sold Lot 87 to BHP 10 Dec 1920 AA sold Lots 82 & 85 to Alexander McGregor Junior 23 Dec 1920 McGregor sold Lots 82 & 85 to BHP The property was registered in June 1939 on CT Vol 5052 Fol 234.
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3.3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE The following history of UON is drawn from the university webpage (https://www.newcastle.edu.au/about- uon/our-university/history, accessed 5 April 2019) and Don Wright, Looking Back, a history of the University of Newcastle (c1992), and supplemented with additional information and pictorial material. The University of Newcastle (UON) began life as a college of the University of New South Wales (UNSW). It opened in late 1951 and accepted its first students in 1952. It was located at Tighes Hill—on the same site as the TAFE NSW Hunter Institute, then known as a Technical College. The staff and students of the Newcastle University college shared cramped conditions with their Technical College colleagues. Space was at such a premium that one lecturer's office was his car; another lecturer, Dr Beryl Nashar, was accommodated with a flimsy partition in the typing pool. The community had campaigned for a University since the 1940s. While the Newcastle University College offered a university education in the region, the community wanted more. They campaigned throughout the 1950s to gain independence. In 1962, the Vice-Chancellor of UNSW, Sir Philip Baxter, finally relented.
Figure 42 – Aerial photograph of Shortland site before development, 1954. Source: NSW LRS
During the intervening period, a large parcel of land at Shortland was gazetted for education purposes, though at this date, there were no immediate development plans nor was the site allocated to any specific institution. The 1954 aerial photograph reproduced at Figure 42 shows the site was heavily wooded with spotted and grey gum stands. In August 1962, beneath the headline, “Mud, Mush and Mosquitoes”, Opus staff reported on a visit to Shortland, a site which had been shortlisted for the establishment of Newcastle University. They wrote: “the
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Shortland site offers planners and architects ample scope for originality in the planning and setting out of the buildings. If the buildings are so situated as to preserve as much of the sloping hillsides and natural bush, Newcastle University could become one of the most beautiful university sites in Australia”.6
Figure 43 - Newcastle University Establishment Group inspects the proposed site for the University of Newcastle, early 1960s. Source: UON Archives
Figure 44 – Pencil sketch of temporary shelters and structures found on the Shortland site, 1962. Source: UON, Medical Communication Unit
In late 1964, the UON was granted autonomy by the NSW parliament and the following year became an
6 Opus, 29 August 1962, p2
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independent university. Several locations were considered for the University—the Watt Street Mental Hospital among them—but the government settled on a patch of bush ten kilometres from town. Early indications were not auspicious: Warabrook was then the home of the Newcastle abattoir; Shortland Waters Golf Club was a rubbish tip; illegal games of two-up and rough pony races were held on the site.7 In his history of the UON, Don Wright writes: “two sets of illegal users had to be removed from the university land during 1963. In April, the Newcastle City Council ordered the removal of nineteen squatters, mainly Aboriginal people, occupying shacks unfit for human habitation close to the Waratah garbage dump where they scavenged for an income. They had been noticed first by the Opus editorial party which had gone searching for the Shortland site eight months earlier. It took eighteen months of effort by the City Council, the University, the Department of Education, the Crown Solicitor and the Aboriginals Welfare Board (which rehoused the settlers) to reach a solution.” By this time, Newcastle University College had commissioned Sydney architects/planners, Laurie and Heath, to prepare a master plan for the Shortland site which involved “controlled orderly development of an excellent site”. The report was issued in February 1964 but reissued in condensed form in early 1965, coinciding with the granting of Autonomy. Following approval of the master plan, Laurie and Heath were asked to develop the design of Stage 1 buildings in the 1964-66 triennium together with associated site works. In the introduction to the master plan, the site is described as follows: The University property comprises some 235 acres divided into two disconnected areas by a proposed Teachers College. The site is in its present natural state, heavily wooded and undulating with…considerable distribution of mature eucalypts throughout the site except for the separated area allocated to Residential development”. As outlined in the Master Plan and illustrated at Figure 45, Figure 46 and Figure 47, Laurie and Heath designated the south-west section of the site (containing the McMullin Building and Great Hall) for the Administration, Library, Union, Non Science, Science and General Hall or Theatre.
7 “The Shortland site in prospect”, Tharunka, 27 July 1961, p6
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Figure 45 – Master Plan—University of Newcastle. Source: Master Plan 1965
Figure 46 – Model of Stage I Development—University of Newcastle, showing the McMullin Building (at right). The Hall (in its present form) is not depicted. Source: Master Plan 1965
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Figure 47 – Plan 1—Main Plaza, University of Newcastle, 1964. Source: UON Archives, https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/5475659560/
Building operations commenced on the Shortland site in September 1964; on 3 September 1964, the Newcastle Morning Herald (NMH) reported that local firm, Arthur E Davis (Building) Pty Ltd, had commenced work the previous day on the first stage of the new University at Shortland, with buildings expected to be ready for the first term 1966. In the intervening period, the Commonwealth announced it would “provide a half share of interim capital grants of 100,000 pounds to the Newcastle University for site works.”8 Building development continued almost continuously from 1964 to 1978. During this period, the major academic buildings, the Library (1974), Union and Staff House (1969) and the Great Hall (1973) were all erected. The construction of the latter was funded largely by the community. Former Newcastle Lord Mayor Frank Purdue spearheaded a fundraising campaign and members of the community 'bought a brick' to build the Great Hall. The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1971. It was designed by Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley, architects. At the end of 1974, James Johnson Auchmuty, the University's Foundation Vice-Chancellor, retired. It ended a twenty year association with tertiary education in Newcastle and began a new era. He was succeeded by Don George, who inherited a much larger University and the challenge of shepherding an innovative medical program to maturity. One of Auchmuty's last acts as Vice-Chancellor was to oversee the hiring of Professor David Maddison as Foundation Dean of Medicine. He was poached from the University of Sydney—at that time the most prestigious medical school in Australia—with the promise of a free hand to create an innovative medical program. Maddison toured the world to investigate new approaches to medicine and returned with a three principle approach that would revolutionise the teaching of medicine in Australia and, eventually, abroad: patient- centred medicine; problem based learning; alternate pathways to entering a medical degree. The medical program accepted its first students in 1978. David Maddison died before he could see the fruits of his efforts: the first medical students graduated in 1983.
8 Tharunka, 26 March 1965 p3
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While medicine and biological sciences were desired additions to the growing University, other expansions were unwanted. In 1981 the Fraser Federal government attempted to force the amalgamation of the University and the Newcastle College of Advanced Education (NCAE). The NCAE was located across the creek from the University in what is now known as the Hunter Building. The two had grown almost in parallel under two giants of education: Auchmuty at the University and, at the NCAE, Griffith Duncan—after whom the Grif Duncan Theatre is named. After protests and a change of government, the forced amalgamation slipped off the agenda, for a time, in 1983. By 1989 universities across Australia were being driven to reform by the Federal Government and tight economic conditions. After a long and sometimes bitter negotiation, the University and the NCAE amalgamated in 1989. Husbanding the change fell to the third Vice-Chancellor, Keith Morgan. At the time, many feared that the University would be diminished by joining the NCAE, or vice versa. In retrospect, both institutions were strengthened in a new University of Newcastle, one focussed on combining academic rigour with vocational excellence. The University took its final step to a full complement of disciplines when it opened the Newcastle Law School in 1992. Much like the medical school, its pioneering foundation Dean, Neil Rees, created a School that was focussed on community-centred advocacy. The new Law degree incorporated a clinical legal placement that has been emulated across Australia. At its beginning, the University was a satellite of another university. In this period the University took a decisive move to the Central Coast, expanding its regional commitment. The beginnings of the Central Coast Campus were, like the University's own, rough. A tree planting ceremony in 1989 heralded the start of classes in a demountable called The Lodge. In 1995, the Ourimbah Campus was officially opened. This period of the University's history has seen fundamental changes to the technologies with which we teach and the nature of student experience. In 1997 The Forum was opened. At the time, it was the largest gymnasium in the area. In the early days of the University, team sports, particularly Rugby, were popular. The Vice-Chancellor and other senior staff members rarely missed a game, always showing up in the University colours. By the mid-nineties this had shifted; students continued to pursue fitness as part of their University experience, but now they did so on their own schedule. This pattern has been repeated across the University, particularly in the provision of information services. The first Vice-Chancellor used to spend an hour every morning reading the Times in the Library now named in his honour: 11 am, regular as clockwork. Students are now more likely to be seen drinking coffee and accessing online course materials in one of several information commons, twenty-four hours a day. The first of our information commons, the Auchmuty Information Common, opened in 2003. The 2004 fire in the Shortland Union building in retrospect seems a turning point: a signal of the changes to student life and presage of more to come.
3.4. THE GREAT HALL The Great Hall of the University of Newcastle was designed by a firm of Sydney architects - Messrs Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley, the design having been chosen in 1968. The Great Hall was a significant commission designed by Stuart Murray (with Woolley). The firm was also responsible for the design of the Shortland Building on the Callaghan site. The Gazette, October 1968 reported: The designs submitted for the Competition were displayed at the Newcastle Art Gallery during the period of the Mattara Festival in August/September [1968]... The Great Hall will have to serve a number of academic and civic purposes. It will be used for University examinations and ceremonial occasions; it will provide a venue for symphony concerts; it will be available as a conference centre, for the performance of chamber music and for exhibitions. The basic requirements for the design are therefore a main auditorium to seat at least 1,500 people; a stage area capable of seating a full symphony orchestra; a Green Room/Conference Room for 120 people; a Supper Room/Exhibition Space to accommodate up to 600 people and a Lecture Room/Chamber Music Room to seat up to 120 people. In addition, the design will provide for three
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special purpose rooms, dressing rooms, a control booth for electronic and lighting services, a kitchen servery and other ancillary spaces. It is hoped that funds will run to the provision of a grand piano and an organ. The Appeal for the Great Hall, launched by the Lord Mayor on 19th July, 1966, was magnificently supported by the citizens of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, by local industry and a large number of business firms and other organisations. To date, contributions received and promised from these sources amount to $521,000 and the Commonwealth and State Governments have agreed to a grant of $500,000 to be shared equally by them towards the cost of a Great Hall.
Figure 48 – Future site of the Great Hall building, University of Newcastle, c1971. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:45, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/49727
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Figure 49 - Great Hall Appeal Dinner City Hall, Mr W. Fife, Mr R. Coulton, Dr G. Edwards, Bishop Toohey, Sir Alister McMullin, Lord Mayor McDougall. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:41, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/53777
Figure 50 - Great Hall Appeal, at Newcastle City Hall, showing Sir Alister McMullin, Mr R. Coulton, Dr G.A. Edwards. Source: Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:39, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/53774
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Figure 51 - Laying of foundation stone for Great Hall of the University of Newcastle, Australia on May 28, 1971 - Lord Mayor McDougall, Professor J.J. Auchmuty, Dr. G. Edwards, Ald. F. Purdue. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:42, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/54892
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Figure 52 – Site work preparation for Great Hall, University of Newcastle, c1971. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:33, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/53779
Figure 53 – Aerial view of the University of Newcastle with the Great Hall under construction, c.1972. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:28, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/40034
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Figure 54 – Views during construction of Great Hall, University of Newcastle, 1971-1973. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019
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Figure 55 – Aerial view of University of Newcastle campus, undated. Great Hall in middle left. Source: Living Histories (3rd Nov 2017). B&W aerial photo of campus (incl. Great Hall middle left) - Newcastle University, NSW. In Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:31, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/5793
Figure 56 –Undated view of the Great Hall, circa 1970s Source: Living Histories @UoN: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/59993
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The first use of the Great Hall was the Graduation Day of Friday 16 March, 1973, as reported in The Gazette, April 1973 - The Great Hall was used for the first time on Friday, 16th March, the fitting and impressive occasion being the University's Graduation Day. Both the morning and afternoon ceremonies attracted capacity crowds of relations and friends of graduands, The Chancellor, Sir Alister McMullin, admitted candidates to their degrees after the Deans had presented them to him. The year has been significant in the University's history because it brought the virtual completion of the Great Hall. The building is a conspicuous landmark at Shortland and a number of public functions have been held inside the hall. At the morning ceremony degrees were conferred in the Faculties of Applied Science, Economics and Commerce, Engineering, Mathematics and Science. The occasional address was delivered by the Vice - Chancellor. Degrees in the Faculties of Architecture and Arts were conferred in the afternoon, when the occasional address was delivered by Professor Leonie J. Kramer, Professor of Australian Literature the University of Sydney. The graduands were given a reception by the Chancellor and Members of the University Council in the Union on the night preceding Graduation Day and following the ceremonies the Graduation Ball was conducted by Convocation in the Great Hall. Occasional address given by Professor Auchmuty: This is a historic day for the graduates in the Sciences, Technology and Commerce, but it is also a historic day for the University as we make public use for the first time of this magnificent, almost awe-inspiring Great Hall. It is a triumph of Engineering as of Architecture: of Technology as of Science; a work of Art, even of beauty; but I must admit it has been a problem in Economics. Men and women are more important than buildings and machines so as we join in congratulating the new graduates of today we must also pay our tribute to the architects, the engineers, the builders and the other workmen concerned with this glorious achievement and as well to the hundreds of our fellow citizens who voluntarily supported this project by their financial gifts, together with the thousands of others who indirectly through the state and federal governments' supporting grants made involuntary contributions. The University is proud of its graduates, it is also proud of its acceptance by the community, of its close relationships with the population of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley and we hope that on our expanding campus we will see great development in scientific and cultural achievements so that the links between the University and its neighbourhood will be ever strengthened and that citizens will feel that though the University is a contributing and accepted member of the international community, nevertheless it has its roots firmly based in the local environment... The Great Hall was officially opened on Wednesday, 28 November 1973 by Sir Roden Cutler, Governor of New South Wales and Visitor to the University. The ceremony was marked by the conferring of honorary degrees (Doctor of Science) on two men who had made significant contributions to the university - Mr Bede Callaghan, C.B.E., Deputy Chancellor of the University, and Ald. F.J. Purdue, Chairman of the Lord Mayor's Newcastle University Committee, which conducted the appeal for funds for the construction of the Great Hall.9
9 University News, No. 71, 27 Sep 1973
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Figure 57 - First occasion of using the Great Hall, Friday 16 March, 1973, when a Graduation Ceremony was held. [Shows Professor Leonie Kramer of Sydney University]. Source: Website Living Histories. Retrieved 8th Apr 2019 16:38, from https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/53707
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Figure 58 – Aerial view of Birmingham Gardens and University of Newcastle looking north, 9 November 1974. McMullin Building circled in red. Source: UON Archives, 00300545 3.5. ANCHER, MORTLOCK, MURRAY AND WOOLLEY (ARCHITECTS) The partnership of Prevost & Ancher, begun in 1937, and thrived on a steady stream of designs for hotels. Ancher enlisted in the in June 1940 and after the Second World War he resumed his private practice in 1945, designing mainly houses. In 1952 Ancher took his two assistants, Bryce Mortlock & Stuart Murray into partnership. The flow of domestic and hotel work continued. From 1960 the practice expanded to take commissions for council chambers, municipal libraries and university buildings. The practice was joined by Ken Woolley in 1964 becoming Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley.10 The firm contracted to Ancher Mortlock Woolley after Ancher retired in 1968-69 and following Murray’s departure in 1976. Murray continued to practice as a solo architect thereafter.
10 Australian Institute of Architects
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Woolley’s arrival changed the tenor of the practice which began to grow in new directions. The firm began to gather larger commissions, especially within the education industry with New Brutalism buildings drawn from the philosophy of Alison and Peter Smithson at Sydney and Macquarie Universities.11 The firm have been generally recognised as key practitioners of the Brutalist Style. The term Brutalism has its origin in the French béton brut, meaning roughcast concrete. After the Second World War, governments turned to pre-fabricated concrete because it was inexpensive to produce and easy to erect. Worldwide, the material was used in the construction of public housing, town halls, schools, universities, community centres and other civic buildings. Brutalism is a truly global architectural style and there are examples of it in cities on every continent.12 The Great Hall was a significant commission designed by Stuart Murray (with Woolley) and was also one of his best known commissions.13 The following biography has been sourced from Design and Art Australia Online:14 Stuart Murray (1926–) was educated at Fort Street Boys High School and worked as a draughtsman for Wunderlich during the Second World War (1943-44), then studied architecture at the Sydney Technical College under Henry Pynor, Sydney Ancher and Morton Herman, graduating in 1949 with a Diploma of Architecture (civic design distinction). While a student, he had worked for Walter Burley Griffin and Eric Nichols (1945-47) and with Sydney Ancher (1948-49). From 1949 to 1953, he worked in London for Denis Clarke Hall and Intercon; assisted by a NSW Board of Architects research bursary announced in 1950. In 1953, he joined Ancher as a partner in the firm Ancher Mortlock and Murray, where he worked on a variety of houses and won the Waverley Town Hall design competition in 1957. After Ken Woolley became a further partner in 1964, Murray stayed on with the firm until his retirement in 1976. He became a Fellow of the RAIA in 1966 and designed schemes which won two significant competitions: for the Waverley Town Hall (1958, unbuilt) and the University of Newcastle Great Hall (1968) (the subject building). His academic career included periods as a design tutor with the University of Sydney 1962 and 1974-1978 and he was a member of the university’s faculty from 1965 to 1975. He served on the NSW RAIA Council from 1966-1976. He was the author of two books: Elements of Urban Environment, Sydney 1972 and Contemporary Architecture and Environment, Canberra 1976. He travelled to England and Europe 1951-1952 and South-east Asia, Europe and the Middle East 1972-1973. 3.6. PROPERTY OWNERS Table 1 – Property Owners of Lot 87 Long Angle Subdivision of Platts Estate Date Owner Title Details
John Laurio Platt
1839 AA Company OST Bk Q No ?
10 Dec 1920- Alexander McGregor Senior OST Bk 110 No 935
23 Dec 1920 BHP OST Bk 1211 No 243
3.7. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION The Great Hall was designed by the well-known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley in 1968 (constructed between 1971 and 1973). The Great Hall was a significant commission designed by Stuart Murray (with Woolley).
11 Architecture Bulletin, Michael Bogle: In Memoriam, Stuart Murray and Ken Woolley, http://architecturebulletin.com.au/summer-2016/stuart-murray-1926-2015-ken-woolley-1933-2015/ 12 Broadsheet, Get to Know Brutalist Sydney: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/art-and- design/article/get-know-brutalist-sydney 13 Architecture Bulletin, Michael Bogle op.cit. 14 Design and Art Australia Online: https://www.daao.org.au/bio/stuart-murray/biography/
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4. HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE 4.1. WHAT IS HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE? Before making decisions to change a heritage item, an item within a heritage conservation area, or an item located in proximity to a heritage listed item, it is important to understand its values and the values of its context. This leads to decisions that will retain these values in the future. Statements of heritage significance summarise the heritage values of a place – why it is important and why a statutory listing was made to protect these values. 4.2. SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT The Heritage Council of NSW has developed a set of seven criteria for assessing heritage significance, which can be used to make decisions about the heritage value of a place or item. There are two levels of heritage significance used in NSW: state and local. The following assessment of heritage significance has been prepared in accordance with the ‘Assessing Heritage Significance’ guides.
Table 2 – Assessment of heritage significance Criteria Significance Assessment
A – Historical Significance Newcastle University College commissioned Sydney architects/planners, Laurie and Heath, to prepare a master An item is important in the course or pattern of the local plan for the Shortland site which was approved in 1965. area’s cultural or natural history. Building development of the first stages of the University campus was almost continuous between 1964 and 1978. Whilst the Great Hall was not designed by the masterplan architects (rather as a result of a competition) it formed part of the first phase of development and along with the Library (1974), and Union and Staff House (1969) was one of the major academic buildings constructed during this first stage of works.
The Great Hall is of historical significance at the local level.
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• shows evidence of a significant human activity • has incidental or unsubstantiated connections with historically important activities or processes • is associated with a significant activity or historical phase • provides evidence of activities or processes that are of dubious historical importance • maintains or shows the continuity of a historical process or activity • has been so altered that it can no longer provide evidence of a particular association
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Criteria Significance Assessment
B – Associative Significance The Great Hall was designed by the well-known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley An item has strong or special associations with the life or in 1968 (constructed between 1971 and 1973). The Great works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Hall was a significant and one of the best known the local area’s cultural or natural history. commissions designed by Stuart Murray. The firm is acknowledged as key practitioners of Brutalism and undertook a number of commissions for educational buildings. The Great Hall is demonstrative of their work in this style.
The Great Hall demonstrates associative significance at the local level.
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• shows evidence of a significant • has incidental or unsubstantiated connections human occupation with historically important people or events
• is associated with a significant • provides evidence of people or events event, person, or group of persons that are of dubious historical importance
• has been so altered that it can no longer provide evidence of a particular association
C – Aesthetic Significance The Great Hall is a distinctive example of the Brutalist style, with its robust scale, strong composition of stepped An item is important in demonstrating aesthetic and curved elements and characteristic materiality of characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or concrete and facebrick. The bushland setting technical achievement in the local area. complements the Brutalist aesthetic.
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• shows or is associated with, creative or technical • is not a major work by an important designer innovation or achievement or artist
• is the inspiration for a creative or technical • has lost its design or technical integrity innovation or achievement • its positive visual or sensory appeal or landmark • is aesthetically distinctive and scenic qualities have been more than temporarily degraded • has landmark qualities • has only a loose association with a creative or • exemplifies a particular taste, style or technical achievement technology
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Criteria Significance Assessment
D – Social Significance The construction of the Great Hall was funded largely by the community. Former Newcastle Lord Mayor Frank An item has strong or special association with a particular Purdue spearheaded a fundraising campaign and community or cultural group in the local area for social, members of the community 'bought a brick' to build the cultural or spiritual reasons. Great Hall.
The building sits at the highest point of the campus and is an important and symbolic building for the University as it is the venue for graduation ceremonies, university examinations, performances and other cultural events.
The Great Hall likely meets the threshold for listing at the local level.
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• is important for its associations with an • is only important to the community for amenity identifiable group reasons
• is important to a community’s sense of place • is retained only in preference to a proposed alternative
E – Research Potential Research/ assessment does not indicate that the building is an important benchmark of the period/ construction or An item has potential to yield information that will typology. contribute to an understanding of the local area’s cultural or natural history. This report does not assess archaeological potential.
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• has the potential to yield new or further substantial • the knowledge gained would be irrelevant to scientific and/or archaeological information research on science, human history or culture
• is an important benchmark or reference site • has little archaeological or research potential or type • only contains information that is readily available • provides evidence of past human cultures that from other resources or archaeological sites is unavailable elsewhere
F – Rarity Research/ assessment does not indicate that the building/ typology is rare. An item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the local area’s cultural or natural history.
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Criteria Significance Assessment
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• provides evidence of a defunct custom, way of • is not rare life or process • is numerous but under threat • demonstrates a process, custom or other
human activity that is in danger of being lost
• shows unusually accurate evidence of a significant human activity
• is the only example of its type
• demonstrates designs or techniques of exceptional interest
• shows rare evidence of a significant human activity important to a community
G – Representative The Great Hall is representative of the Brutalist style and the work of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley, An item is important in demonstrating the principal recognised key proponents of the style. characteristics of a class of NSWs (or the local area’s):
• cultural or natural places; or
• cultural or natural environments.
Guidelines for Inclusion Guidelines for Exclusion
• is a fine example of its type • is a poor example of its type
• has the principal characteristics of an important • does not include or has lost the range of class or group of items characteristics of a type
• has attributes typical of a particular way of life, • does not represent well the characteristics that philosophy, custom, significant process, design, make up a significant variation of a type technique or activity
• is a significant variation to a class of items
• is part of a group which collectively illustrates a representative type
• is outstanding because of its setting, condition or size
• is outstanding because of its integrity or the esteem in which it is held
4.3. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Great Hall is of heritage significance for its historic, associative, aesthetic, social and representative values. It has particular importance as the main event space on campus and as a community funded facility as well as a significant work of mid-century architecture.
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The Great Hall reflects the first stage of development of Newcastle University and was one of the major academic buildings constructed in this period. The Great Hall was designed by the well-known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley and is one of the best-known commissions designed by Stuart Murray (with Woolley). The firm is acknowledged as key practitioners of Brutalism and the Hall is representative of both the architectural style and their work in the style. The building is of aesthetic significance as a distinctive example of the Brutalist style, with its robust scale, strong composition of stepped and curved elements and characteristic materiality of concrete and facebrick. The bushland setting complements the Brutalist aesthetic and was a key characteristic of the original University masterplan. The Great Hall is also likely to be of social significance to the University community and alumni, and potentially to the Newcastle community more broadly. Construction was funded largely by the community following a fundraising campaign where members of the community 'bought a brick' to build the Great Hall. It is also an important and symbolic building for the University as it is the venue for graduation ceremonies, university examinations, performances and other cultural events.
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5. IMPACT ASSESSMENT 5.1. HERITAGE LISTING The University of Newcastle is not subject to any statutory listings and is not a listed heritage item under Schedule 5 of the Newcastle Local Environment Plan 2012 or on the State Heritage Register. Urbis understands that the University of Newcastle does not have a Section 170 Register. Urbis is not aware of any other applicable s.170 Register listings. The site is also located adjacent to the Great Hall, which is listed on the RAIA Register of Significant Buildings in NSW and was designed by the well-known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley in 1968 (constructed between 1971 and 1973). The Institute Register is a non-statutory listing and has no statutory authority, rather it functions to recognise what the Institute deems to be significant buildings. As the site is not a listed heritage item, the provisions of the Newcastle LEP and DCP are not applicable. The proposed works are therefore addressed below in relation to relevant questions posed in the Heritage Division’s ‘Statement of Heritage Impact’ guidelines and having regard for requirements as set out in the correspondence from the Office of Environment and Heritage Input into Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements – University of Newcastle STEMM Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan - Newcastle LGA (SSD 9832)1. 5.2. HERITAGE ASSESSMENT The subject proposal includes provision of a new STEMM building located at the entry to the Callaghan campus. It is a contemporary design, constructed of concrete and timber with predominantly glazed facades, with a recessed colonnade running around the ground floor of the north, west and southern facades. The lower ground floor houses mechanical plant, substation, fire services, loading dock and other back of house facilities. The ground floor comprises the main central interaction and circulation spaces, as well as a teaching laboratory. Levels 1 and 2 feature collaboration workplaces, design and research labs and meeting spaces. The third floor features seminar and conference spaces and additional plant. The proposal also includes landscaping works and provision of new hard and soft landscaping works between the proposed STEMM building and the Great Hall to the west to create a new square (replacing the current courtyard). The proposal also includes provision of a new terraced landscape amphitheatre to the north and ceremonial pathway connecting the Auchmuty Plaza and new shared zone and drop off area to the south of the STEMM building. The proposed works are addressed below in relation to relevant questions posed in the Heritage Division’s ‘Statement of Heritage Impact’ guidelines.
Table 3 – Heritage Division Guidelines Question Discussion
The following aspects of the proposal The proposal considers and responds to the Great Hall in the following respect or enhance the heritage significance ways: of the item or conservation area for the • No physical works are proposed to the Great Hall, with works limited following reasons: to the forecourt and site landscaping.
• Whilst the STEMM building is large, the proposal seeks to mitigate impacts of scale and massing through modulation of the facades and incorporation of setbacks to the west and in proximity to the Great Hall (refer to discussion in New development adjacent to a heritage item below).
• The extant forecourt is not part of the original design and does not significantly contribute to the setting of the Great Hall. The proposed Great Hall Square will provide a similar albeit more formal and enlarged address for the entry to the Great Hall, appropriate to its
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Question Discussion
prominence and function in the University. This also enhances amenity, allowing for overflow during significant functions. A natural character is able to be maintained through consideration of materials and finishes for hardstand areas and pathways, and through appropriate soft landscaping and plantings. Further detailed design of landscaping should be subject to heritage advice.
• The proposal maintains principal views and vistas to the Great Hall from the northeast, along the ceremonial path.
• Shared zones to the south generally retain tree plantings and the informal bushland character in the immediate vicinity to the Great Hall, albeit with the addition of a drop off zone to the south of the STEMM building. No works are proposed to the west of the Great Hall with the bushland character retained and conserved.
The following aspects of the proposal could It is acknowledged that the informal and natural bushland setting is a key detrimentally impact on heritage aspect of the original masterplan and that the setting contributes to the significance. aesthetic significance of the Hall. Landscaping works are proposed to the forecourt of the Hall and the zone between the Hall and the proposed The reasons are explained as well as the STEMM Building that will alter the setting of the Hall. The Great Hall measures to be taken to minimise impacts: square will however provide a more prominent address and enhance the main entry to the Hall as well as improving amenity by providing for an overflow area during formal events and functions. The Square is considered appropriate for the contemporary function. As noted above, a natural character is able to be maintained through consideration of materials and finishes for hardstand areas and pathways, and through appropriate soft landscaping and plantings. New pathways should maintain a meandering rather than formal character. Extant tree plantings should be retained where possible. The extent of tree removal should be rationalised, where possible and further detailed design of landscaping should be subject to heritage advice to ensure that the natural and informal character remains the dominant feature of landscape in immediate proximity to the Great Hall.
It is acknowledged that the proposed STEMM building is of a large scale however as noted above, the design has sought to mitigate impacts via modulation of the form and facades adjacent to the Great Hall. The robust Brutalist style of the building ensures that it remains a dominant element and is not overwhelmed by the proposed development.
The proposal is not considered to detrimentally impact on the Great Hall, its significant setting or character as the main event space on campus and as a community funded facility as well as a significant work of mid- century architecture.
The following sympathetic solutions have It is considered that the potential impacts are mitigated or are able to be been considered and discounted for the mitigated by further detailed design. following reasons:
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Question Discussion
Demolition of a building or structure As noted above, the STEMM building is located on the site of the McMullin Building. Demolition was assessed as part of a separate REF Have all options for retention and adaptive and is not considered herein. re-use been explored?
Can all of the significant elements of the heritage item be kept and any new development be located elsewhere on the site?
Is demolition essential at this time or can it be postponed in case future circumstances make its retention and conservation more feasible?
Has the advice of a heritage consultant been sought? Have the consultant’s recommendations been implemented? If not, why not?
New development adjacent to a heritage Whilst the campus and the Great Hall is not subject to statutory listings, item this report has assessed the building as having heritage significance and meeting the threshold for heritage listing. The proposed development of How does the new development affect views the STEMM building has therefore been assessed against this provision, to, and from, the heritage item? having regard for the assessed level of significance. What has been done to minimise negative The proposed STEMM building will be apparent as part of the effects? contemporary overlay of development at the university and whilst it is of How is the impact of the new development considerable scale, modulation of the form (including setbacks to Level 3 on the heritage significance of the item or from the west and the inset colonnade to the ground floor) as well as the area to be minimised? predominance of glazing to the ground floor serve to reduce the overall massing. This mitigates impacts of scale by reducing solid built forms in Why is the new development required to be proximity to the Hall and maintains wider vistas from the north east to the adjacent to a heritage item? Great Hall (as demonstrated in the excerpt of the concept plan pictured How does the curtilage allowed around the below). Extruded sections of the facades also assist to break up the heritage item contribute to the retention of strong horizontal planes of the facades. its heritage significance?
Is the development sited on any known, or potentially significant archaeological deposits?
If so, have alternative sites been considered? Why were they rejected?
Is the new development sympathetic to the heritage item?
In what way (e.g. form, siting, proportions,
design)? The proposed STEMM building is distanced from the Great Hall, separated by the proposed Square and site landscaping. The dominant
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Question Discussion
Will the additions visually dominate the and robust Brutalist style also ensures that it remains visually prominent heritage item? in the landscape. It retains its character as a significant work of mid- century architecture. How has this been minimised? The Great Hall turns its back to the campus entry and the main Ring Will the public, and users of the item, still be Road (presenting characteristic large and unbroken facebrick facades to able to view and appreciate its significance? the south and west), with its principal orientation to the northeast and the interior of the campus and the campus green. The scheme however presents an opportunity to relate the proposed STEMM building to the Great Hall and to enhance the significant building by providing for a new Great Hall Square, integrating the interface between the two buildings and providing a more prominent civic square and gateway to the University, alongside the Great Hall.
New landscape works (including car The proposal includes landscaping works and provision of new hard and parking and fences) soft landscaping works between the proposed STEMM building and the Great Hall to the west to create a new square (replacing the current How has the impact of the new work on the courtyard). The proposal also includes provision of a new terraced heritage significance of the existing landscape amphitheatre to the north and ceremonial pathway connecting landscape been minimised? the Auchmuty Plaza and new shared zone and drop off area to the south Has evidence (archival and physical) of of the STEMM building. previous landscape work been investigated? Extent of tree removal is required to be rationalised however the Are previous works being reinstated? proposal retains some tree plantings to the south along the main Ring Has the advice of a consultant skilled in the Road, to the west (with some removal immediately adjacent to the conservation of heritage landscapes been building) and to the terraced amphitheatre, softening visual impacts and sought? If so, have their recommendations maintaining landscaped character. been implemented? Longer vistas to the Great Hall from the northeast across the proposed Are any known or potential archaeological ceremonial path retain extant plantings and the informal native bush deposits affected by the landscape works? If character. so, what alternatives have been There is no evidence of former landscape works. Research indicates that considered? in developing the university, the main intent of the masterplan was to How does the work impact on views to, and retain the natural bushland character as a critical aspect of the plan from, adjacent heritage items? (refer to (refer to Figure 56).
Archaeological assessment is subject to a separate report.
Further detailed design of landscaping must consider the important natural bushland setting which was a key aspect of the original university Masterplan and which complements the Brutalist style of the building.
Tree removal or replacement This assessment does not assess individual tree plantings or tree health.
Does the tree contribute to the heritage The University of Newcastle Callaghan campus is characterised by significance of the item or landscape? generally low scale development, in an informal bush setting. Development of the campus in the 1960s sought to retain as many of the Why is the tree being removed? native trees as possible and this vision is generally retained in the Has the advice of a tree surgeon or current campus. Tree plantings are predominantly spotted gum horticultural specialist been obtained? (Corymbia maculata). As detailed above, it is acknowledged that the informal and natural bushland setting is a key aspect of the original
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Question Discussion
Is the tree being replaced? Why? With the masterplan and that the setting contributes to the aesthetic significance same or a different species? of the Hall.
Removal, retention and protection of trees in the immediate vicinity of the Great Hall is an important consideration, having regard for the contribution of the bush character on the setting of the building. Some removal is supported in principle to provide for the Square and interface elements, which is considered appropriate to the importance of the Hall and the provision of a new gateway into the campus. However, tree removal should be minimised where possible and further detailed design of landscaping should be subject to heritage advice to ensure that the natural and informal character remains the dominant feature of landscape in immediate proximity to the Great Hall.
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6. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The subject proposal includes provision of a new STEMM building located at the entry to the Callaghan campus. It is a contemporary design, constructed of concrete and timber with predominantly glazed facades, with a recessed colonnade running around the ground floor of the north, west and southern facades. The proposal also includes landscaping works and provision of new hard and soft landscaping works between the proposed STEMM building and the Great Hall to the west to create a new square (replacing the current courtyard). The proposal also includes provision of a new terraced landscape amphitheatre to the north and ceremonial pathway connecting the Auchmuty Plaza and new shared zone and drop off area to the south of the STEMM building. The University of Newcastle is not subject to any statutory listings and is not a listed heritage item under Schedule 5 of the Newcastle Local Environment Plan 2012 or on the State Heritage Register. The site is also located adjacent to the Great Hall, which is listed on the RAIA Register of Significant Buildings in NSW. This Heritage Impact Statement has however assessed the Great Hall as being of heritage significance for its historic, associative, aesthetic, social and representative values. It has particular importance as the main event space on campus and as a community funded facility as well as a significant work of mid-century architecture. The building is of aesthetic significance as a distinctive example of the Brutalist style, with its robust scale, strong composition of stepped and curved elements and characteristic materiality of concrete and facebrick. The bushland setting complements the Brutalist aesthetic and was a key characteristic of the original University masterplan. The Hall is representative of the works of the well known architectural firm of Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley, acknowledged as key practitioners of Brutalism. As the site is not a listed heritage item, the provisions of the Newcastle LEP and DCP are not applicable. The proposed works have been assessed in relation to relevant questions posed in the Heritage Division’s ‘Statement of Heritage Impact’ guidelines and having regard for requirements as set out in the correspondence from the Office of Environment and Heritage Input into Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements – University of Newcastle STEMM Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan - Newcastle LGA (SSD 9832)1. Overall it is considered that the subject proposal will not impact on the identified heritage significance of the Great Hall. The Hall is an extremely robust building and will remain a dominant element in the landscape and retains its heritage character. The proposed STEMM building will be apparent as part of the contemporary overlay of development at the university and whilst it is of considerable scale, modulation of the form (including setbacks to Level 3 from the west and the inset colonnade to the ground floor) as well as the predominance of glazing to the ground floor serve to reduce the overall massing. This mitigates impacts of scale by reducing solid built forms in proximity to the Hall and maintains wider vistas from the north east to the Great Hall. Extruded sections of the facades also assist to break up the strong horizontal planes of the facades. It is acknowledged that the informal and natural bushland setting is a key aspect of the original masterplan and that the setting contributes to the aesthetic significance of the Hall. Proposed landscaping works will alter the setting of the Hall, however a natural character is able to be maintained through consideration of materials and finishes for hardstand areas and pathways, and through appropriate soft landscaping and plant selection. The proposed Great Hall Square will provide a more prominent address and enhance the main entry to the Hall as well as improving amenity by providing for an overflow area during formal events and functions. The Great Hall is oriented to the northeast and creation of a new gateway from the south and the main Ring Road is considered an opportunity to enhance activation of the significant item. The proposal is supported and is recommended for approval, subject to the following recommendations:
• Removal, retention and protection of trees in the immediate vicinity of the Great Hall should be rationalised. The natural bushland setting is assessed as contributing to the setting and character of the Great Hall and proposed landscaping works should seek to maintain and enhance this character, whilst allowing for the new Square (considered an important element of the proposal) and interface between the two buildings. The proposal should retain the balance between formal and informal aspects of the landscape in order to mitigate and soften impacts on the Great Hall and its setting. This includes consideration of the form and materiality of hardstand areas and pathways and appropriate selection of tree, shrub and grass species (native preferred). Further heritage advice should be sought.
URBIS 52 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT_GREAT HALLBLDG_10.10.2019
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES 7.1. BOOKS, MONOGRAPHS AND REPORTS Apperly, R., Irving, R. and Reynolds, P. (eds) 2002, A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture: Styles and Terms from 1788 to the Present, Angus and Robertson, Pymble. Australia ICOMOS 1999, The Burra Charter: 2013 The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, Australia ICOMOS, Burwood. Heritage Office and Department of Urban Affairs & Planning 1996, NSW Heritage Manual, Heritage Office and Department of Urban Affairs & Planning (NSW), Sydney. Heritage Office 2001, Assessing Heritage Significance, Heritage Office, Parramatta. Laurie and Heath Architects 1965, Master plan report, Sydney. Laurie and Heath Architects 1976, University of Newcastle: master plan review, Sydney, Wright, Don c1992, Looking back, a history of the University of Newcastle, University of Newcastle, Callaghan. NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES Opus, Newcastle University Students’ Association (NUSA), Newcastle Morning Herald Tharunka, UNSW Student Newspaper
PRIMARY SOURCES University of Newcastle (UoN) Archives (Living Histories and Flickr) City of Newcastle Library Local History Collection
[Note: Some government departments have changed their names over time and the above publications state the name at the time of publication.]
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DISCLAIMER This report is dated 5 April 2019 and incorporates information and events up to that date only and excludes any information arising, or event occurring, after that date which may affect the validity of Urbis Pty Ltd’s (Urbis) opinion in this report. Urbis prepared this report on the instructions, and for the benefit only, of xx (Instructing Party) for the purpose of xx (Purpose) and not for any other purpose or use. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Urbis expressly disclaims all liability, whether direct or indirect, to the Instructing Party which relies or purports to rely on this report for any purpose other than the Purpose, and to any other person which relies or purports to rely on this report for any purpose whatsoever (including the Purpose). In preparing this report, Urbis was required to make judgements which may be affected by unforeseen future events, the likelihood and effects of which are not capable of precise assessment. All surveys, forecasts, projections and recommendations contained in or associated with this report are made in good faith and on the basis of information supplied to Urbis at the date of this report, and upon which Urbis relied. Achievement of the projections and budgets set out in this report will depend, among other things, on the actions of others over which Urbis has no control. In preparing this report, Urbis may rely on or refer to documents in a language other than English, which Urbis may arrange to be translated. Urbis is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of such translations and disclaims any liability for any statement or opinion made in this report being inaccurate or incomplete arising from such translations. Whilst Urbis has made all reasonable inquiries it believes necessary in preparing this report, it is not responsible for determining the completeness or accuracy of information provided to it. Urbis (including its officers and personnel) is not liable for any errors or omissions, including in information provided by the Instructing Party or another person or upon which Urbis relies, provided that such errors or omissions are not made by Urbis recklessly or in bad faith. This report has been prepared with due care and diligence by Urbis and the statements and opinions given by Urbis in this report are given in good faith and in the reasonable belief that they are correct and not misleading, subject to the limitations above
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URBIS HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT_GREAT HALLBLDG_10.10.2019 APPENDICES