4 CULTURAL FEATURES OF THE ACTON CONSERVATION AREA This section concentrates on the extant structures of the Acton Conservation Area and the surrounding landscapes. A description of the structures, including a brief history, discussion of their architectural design, construction techniques and condition is provided. A short historical overview of some demolished buildings has also been included in order to fully demonstrate the associated development of the Conservation Area. The Acton Conservation Area consists of four main site complexes: Lennox House zone, Old Canberra House zone, Acton Cottages zone and the Old Canberra Community Hospital zone. The zones are illustrated in Figure 4.1. The earliest buildings in Acton that survive the initial development of the Capital are those found at the Bachelor’s Quarters (Lennox House zone), which was constructed uphill to the west of the Acton Camp. These buildings were closely followed by the cottages for married men (7, 8 Liversidge Street and 16 Lennox Crossing of the Acton Cottages zone) and the Residence of the Administrator (Old Canberra House), which were constructed uphill of the Bachelor’s Quarters. In the mid-late 1920s a number of other cottages and houses were constructed for middle and high-level public servants to the north of the Residence (Acton Cottages zone). The original Canberra Hospital was constructed to the north-west of the residential area in 1913- 14, with extensive additions in the late 1920s and early 1930s to form the Canberra Community Hospital zone (now the Old Hospital Buildings). Altogether, there are 38 buildings in the Conservation Area that embody heritage values. These range from the large Old Canberra House to small garages and utilitarian structures of the Acton Cottages. They were constructed from a variety of materials at different times and are today in varying levels of condition and intactness. There are also two tennis courts within the Conservation Area, as well as gardens and landscape features. All buildings and sites are used by the ANU or its associated affiliates. The buildings and different site complexes are examined in rough chronological order, from south to north. 49 Figure 4.1: Curtilage of the four zones of the Acton Conservation Area that are examined in the HMP (ANU Heritage Office). The extant structures are identified in the following list of Site Survey Features. Note: Number 8 Liversidge Street and A Block of the Old Hospital Buildings are included in the HMP as early elements of the site, though are not included in the official ACA boundary. 50 Site Survey Features Lennox House Year const. Original Use Current Use A Block 1927? Sleeping quarters Vacant (intermittent occupation) D Block 1911-12 Sleeping quarters Acton Early Childhood Centre E Block 1926 Sleeping quarters Acton Early Childhood Centre F Block 1925? Sleeping quarters Acton Early Childhood Centre G Block 1911-12 Mess Hall Acton Early Childhood Centre H Block 1911-12 Sleeping quarters Acton Early Childhood Centre I Block 1912/1923 Wardsman’s Flat / Vacant sleeping quarters Laundry A 1920s? Laundry? Vacant (intermittent occupation) Old Canberra Year const. Original Use Current Use House Old Canberra 1913 Administrator’s University offices House Residence Chauffeur’s 1938 Chauffeur’s Cottage University offices Cottage Gardener’s 1925-26? Gardener’s Cottage University offices Cottage Garden Shed 1913?/1926? Firewood store?/ Bicycle storage Garden shed? Tennis Court/shed 1914 Tennis court/shed Tennis court/shed Acton Cottages Year const. Original Use Current Use 16 Lennox Crsing 1913 Residence University offices 3 Liversidge St. 1925-27? Residence University offices 5 Liversidge St. 1929 Residence University office 7 Liversidge St. 1913? Residence University offices 8 Liversidge St. 1916 Residence Residence 14 Balmain Lane 1924 Residence University offices 16 Balmain Lane 1924? Residence University offices 18 Balmain lane 1924? Residence Central Canberra Family Day Care 20 Balmain Cres. 1926 Residence University offices 22 Balmain Cres. 1929 Residence Acton Early Childhood Centre 26 Balmain Cres. 1928/29 Residence PARSA 28 Balmain Cres. 1928 Residence University offices Old Hospital Year const. Original Use Current Use Buildings A Block 1928 Administration RSES research offices Block B Block 1928 Women’s Ward RSES research offices/laboratories N Block 1928-29 Isolation Ward Centre for Mental Health Research offices M Block Early Nurses Quarters National Centre for Epidemiology and 1930s? Population Health offices Commonwealth 1928 Health ANU Gardener’s Depot Health Labs Laboratories and Animal House Auxiliary Canteen 1938 Auxiliary Canteen Vacant (storage) Tennis court 1930 Nurses’ court Recreational court 51 Liversidge Street Cottages Old Hospital Buildings Balmain Crescent Cottages Old Canberra House Lennox House Figure 4.2: Aerial view northeast of Acton, 1956 (ANUA 16/20) 52 4.1 Lennox House The following historical information has been reproduced from the Lennox House Heritage Management Plan (Armes 2007). Relevant site plans of the Lennox House zone can be found as Appendix 4. The Lennox House complex is located at the south-eastern tip of the Acton Conservation Area. Its curtilage is defined by Lawson Crescent to the east, Lennox Crossing to the south/west and the southern boundary of 16 Lennox Crossing to the north. The complex constitutes eight of the original buildings and some later structures and a number of significant trees. Lennox House (and the adjacent Lennox Crossing) was named after the NSW pioneer bridge builder David Lennox (1788-1873). The complex represents one of the few remaining links to the early surveyor’s camps erected prior to the development of the Capital and has served a number of purposes associated with the growth of the city. Lennox House was erected in stages from 1911-1927. The official date of the earliest occupation of G Block is given as 22 August 1912, the same date as the Administration Office further down the peninsula. A large number of residents and regular visitors were housed in the complex, which began to play an important role in the social life of the settlement. Notable firsts for the Bachelor’s Quarters include: 1912: Formation of Canberra’s first cricket club, ‘Acton Cricket Club’, the Canberra Sports Club for the Department of Home Affairs employees and the Canberra Cricket Club. 1913: Canberra Lawn Tennis Club formed with 24 members - and already seeking a second court (before 1933 there were five courts in the Acton area). 1914: First Rifle Club. 1925: First amateur theatre group, the Canberra Community Players. 1926: First Chess Contest. Figure 4.3: Tents and buildings of the Bachelors Quarters, 1926 (NAA A3560, 46). 53 Some junior members of the Royal party were accommodated in the buildings when the Provisional Houses of Parliament was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927. The complex continued to house public servants until it was leased to Mrs M. Marshall in 1935, who changed the name to the Acton Guest House. In 1939 the property was commandeered by the Royal Australian Navy to house staff of their Canberra Radio Station until new accommodation for them was completed in 1940. From 1944 to 1945 the United States 7th Fleet conducted part of a radio training school for their servicemen in the buildings. After the navy released the buildings in 1946 they were used to accommodate junior public servants and, by April of that year, held 130 guests. The complex became the property of the ANU in 1953 but continued to be used as a guest house until 1960. Figure 4.4: View west of Lennox House, c1964 (ANUA 16-07). Eight of the original sixteen buildings remain. Listed alphabetically, they include Blocks A, D, E, F, G, H, I and Laundry A (the lost buildings include Blocks B, C, J, K, L, M, Q and Laundry B). The design of each building is essentially symmetrical and there is some evidence to indicate their connection via covered walkways. There is also evidence to suggest symmetrical planning for the complex as a whole, although this pattern has largely become obscured with loss of the buildings and later additions. Most buildings were sited to overlook the river corridor and flood plains of what was to become West Basin of Lake Burley Griffin. The majority included verandahs, which would have added to their amenity and provided an architectural response to their rural and exposed locale. It is clear that any cohesive plan for their original siting has not endured. Blocks A, D, F, G, H, I and Laundry A are clad externally with rusticated weatherboards supporting a corrugated iron roof; the standard materials of many 54 rural Australian settlements. The perimeter walls are of stud construction and partition walls consist of vertical v-jointed boards stiffened with a central horizontal stringer. The buildings have 2.7m high ceilings made of v-jointed boards and a timber floor. Many original surfaces remain intact beneath recently applied caneite and other modern floor coverings. E Block was the last building added to the complex prior to the University taking control of the site and is formed of fibro sheeting attached to a light wooden frame. The windows vary throughout the complex, with the standard type of double-hung with cords and weights. Transoms are fitted to some of the original windows and the sashes have a central vertical bar and horns in an ogee curve. Others have a variety of sash designs, including a pair of casements on some with hopper sash above. The windows of Laundry A are double hung with ogee horns, although they are without glazing bars. Modern aluminium alterations to the windows of G Block are obvious. The windows of E Block are of painted timber, with two hoppers, one above the other; each displays a central vertical glazing bar. Figure 4.5: Lennox House zone; remnant buildings shaded (ANU Heritage Office).