Architect Chris Bosse's plan to keep the Sirius building in The Rocks

Sue Williams 29/7/2015



The controversial Sirius apartment building at The Rocks – loved by some, loathed by others – could enjoy a new lease on life with a modern makeover designed by one of Sydney's leading architects.

Architect Chris Bosse's plan for remodelling The Sirius building at the rocks. Photo: Supplied

 ebate has been raging over whether the 1970s building, lauded as a fine example of 'brutalist' architecture and originally constructed to provide affordable public housing during the period of the green bans, should be heritage-listed or demolished. But now the novel plan has already won backers, including from the original building's architect and developers, as well as stirring "interest" from one of its most ardent supporters.
 

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Award-winning architect Chris Bosse, director of LAVA, an adjunct professor at UTS, and a key designer of the Beijing Watercube, has released drawings of his vision for the 79-apartment stepped block. He sees its future as a much more contemporary re-adaptive re-use with clipped-on curved balconies providing residents with a more "friendly" Sydney lifestyle.
"Rather than freezing architecture for an eternity, I think it's much better to adapt it to current circumstances," Mr Bosse said.

The Sirius building at the rocks, as it is now. Photo: Supplied

 "Lifestyles and circumstances change, and buildings should change with them. This is a way of preserving a building in a fabulous location and giving it a whole new life. The social housing issue is an emotional topic and a completely different question; this is about the building itself."

The original architect of the building, at 36-50 Cumberland Street, Tao (Theodore) Gofers, is also enthusiastic about the proposal. "I think adding balconies would be a very good idea," he said. "That's much better than demolishing it which would upset me a little bit."
One of Sirius's greatest champions, Millers Point conservation activist Mary Sutton, has been shown the proposal by Fairfax Media and said she was also looking at it with interest.



The Sirius building is a classic example of Brutalist architecture. Photo: Steve Lunam

 

"I like the idea but I'm not totally convinced – yet – but the concept is one that deserves further study. A heritage listing wouldn't preclude such a scheme, and this is a rare example of brutalist architecture, but it's certainly much more promising than a tall steel and glass structure in its place!"
In October 2014, a nomination for listing the Sirius Building on the State Heritage Register was received by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage from the National Trust of NSW, and earlier this month the Heritage Council formally notified their intention to consider listing the building and called for public submissions.
A spokesperson from the Office said that part of this process involved informing residents of the nomination and encouraging them to make comment, with the call for public submissions closing on September 8.
The Heritage Council believes the building may be of State Heritage Significance as a rare, representative and fine example of the Brutalist architectural style, especially in its use of off-the-form concrete and the stacking of cubic components to create a harmonious whole. It says it's also significant as an early example of rooftop landscape gardening in NSW and Australia.
But Mr Bosse's scheme has already been applauded by developers' lobby group the Urban Taskforce. Its chief executive Chris Johnson said he would not like to see the building either heritage listed – which would keep it in its current form – or demolished to make way for a new building. The Bosse design, he believed, was an excellent alternative.
"It's a way of upgrading the building to give it a lot more amenity, while still working with the original structure," he says.
The director (advocacy) of The National Trust of Australia (NSW), Graham Quint, however, has examined the design and has reservations. While he said the process of public consultation needed to run its course first, and only later could such schemes be considered, he was not sure how practicable such an adaptation could be.
"It's heartening that developers aren't planning a complete demolition of the building, but this is a little premature," Mr Quint said. "And if cantilevered balconies were added on, that could be a massive amount of work for every single unit and the cost could go through the roof.
"It certainly changes the whole character of the building, too."

RESOURCED: http://news.domain.com.au/domain/domain-news/architect-chris-bosses-plan-to-keep-the-sirius-building-in-the-rocks-20150728-gim85a.html 

Plan to save Sirius building in The Rocks causing rift between government departments

Andrew Clennell State Political Editor July 27, 2015
 

The Sirius building in The Rocks is at the centre of a rift between Family and Community Services and the Office of Environment and Heritage. Source: DailyTelegraph 

 THE Heritage Council is mounting a bid to save a boxy concrete apartment building in The Rocks which the government wants to sell to pay for more public ­housing.         

The Sirius building is causing a rift between Family and Community Services and the Office of Environment and Heritage, which argues the 79-apartment block is of historical significance because of its design and the fact that it was associated with union green bans of the 1970s.

SHOULD THE SIRIUS BUILDING BE SOLD OR SAVED? Comment below

Heritage Council delegate and senior Office of Environment and Heritage bureaucrat Tracey Avery has written to residents calling for submissions on the proposed heritage listing.
Ms Avery said the Tao Gofers-designed building beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge was “a rare, representative and fine example of an apartment building in the Brutalist architectural style, especially in its use of off-form concrete and the stacking of cubic components to create a harmonious whole”.
         

Eyesore or heritage value? The Heritage Council argues the Sirius Building in The Rocks has historical significance. Source: DailyTelegraph    



The view of the Sirius building from the Harbour Bridge. Source: News Corp Australia

Ms Avery said Gofers “pioneered a new modular building style in concrete with specific application to social housing in Australia”.
“It is also significant as an early example of rooftop landscape gardening,” she said.
“The Sirius apartment building is likely to have state heritage significance for its historical values as a major outcome of the green bans, a protest movement against the development of

The Rocks and Millers Point area in the 1970s.” The Sirius was built in the late 1970s as affordable public housing for about 200 people displaced by development in the area.
Family and Community Services opposes a heritage listing, with a spokeswoman saying that it would deprive the state of sale proceeds which would “deliver hundreds of new social housing dwellings”.

Sirius Building next to the Harbour Bridge. Source: News Corp Australia

FACS wants to sell the building to raise money for more social housing, just as it has with several other Millers Point public housing properties, and said it was preparing its own submission to the Heritage Council.

An Office of Environment and Heritage spokeswoman said: “Listing on the State Heritage Register does not prevent the sale or transfer of a property.
“The Heritage Council is also working with Land and Housing Corporation and Government Property NSW to develop site-specific exemptions for the future management of the site should the property be recommended for listing.”

RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/plan-to-save-sirius-building-in-the-rocks-causing-rift-between-government-departments/story-fni0cx12-1227458091501 

      

Barangaroo park a throwback to pre-colonial Sydney, Indigenous leader says

A new park at Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour is spiritually significant for generations of Indigenous women, an Aboriginal leader says.
The ABC accompanied Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council board member Ann Weldon on an exclusive visit to the Barangaroo Point Reserve.
Mrs Weldon said the park was a tribute to a strong Aboriginal woman.
"Barangaroo was a protector, a keeper of our culture along with the warriors," she said.
 
"She was an incredible woman who stood up for her rights and her culture, she defied the authority of the day.
"She is remembered as one of Bennelong's wives
 
"I honestly think it's a good thing for Sydney," she said.
"It's important for younger Indigenous people to get a sense of what it was like before colonialism."

A modern interpretation from a time immemorial

The chief executive of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Craig van der Laan, described the site as "a modern interpretation of the headland that existed from time immemorial".
"It was a tarmac, like a concrete runway at an airport that we've built on top of to create this amazing headland," he said.
The park occupies six hectares along the foreshore at the north western end of Barangaroo and is about a quarter of the whole site.
"I honestly think it's a good thing for Sydney," she said.
"It's important for younger Indigenous people to get a sense of what it was like before colonialism."

A modern interpretation from a time immemorial

The chief executive of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Craig van der Laan, described the site as "a modern interpretation of the headland that existed from time immemorial".
"It was a tarmac, like a concrete runway at an airport that we've built on top of to create this amazing headland," he said.
The park occupies six hectares along the foreshore at the north western end of Barangaroo and is about a quarter of the whole site.
Almost 74,000 native plants have been planted on terraces and a new cove has been constructed, which doubles as an amphitheatre for concerts.
Mr van der Laan acknowledged the site is a special place for Indigenous people and said they were consulting with the Aboriginal community.
"We are looking to curate, for example, a major Indigenous artwork here on the headland," he said.
"We are recruiting guides through the Eora TAFE, we're sponsoring a program and guides on the site will be drawn from an Indigenous employment program that we have helped to create."
Mr van der Laan said half of the total Barangaroo development would be public space, but he confirmed that included streets and roads.
He could not be specific regarding what percentage of roads and streets would take up of the overall dedicated public space.
"There are a number of roads in the commercial area that include outdoor seating and entertainment areas. We certainly include those as part of our calculations," he said.
While there has been controversy surrounding the commercial use of public harbour front parks, Mr van der Laan confirmed "it's actually part of the authority's role to promote appropriate commercial use".
He could give few details on what types of commercial activities were being considered, but told the ABC that there had been huge interest in couples wanting to marry at the foreshore park.
The public headland park has cost $250 million, which has been funded through commercial development at Barangaroo South.
The investment in the commercial precinct so far is estimated at in excess of $6 billion.

Residents flag concerns with development

The chair of the Millers Point Resident Action Group John McInerney told the ABC: "I'm not sure we got a bargain there."
"The total floor space has nearly doubled from the original plans. It was argued by the Labor government that it had to be done to pay for the park," he said.
Mr McInerney said one of the fundamental problems of the park development was that a 300 space underground car park and a very large "undetermined" space had to be accommodated.
"There's some concern that the design is not authentic for a harbour headland piece of landscape," he said.
Crown Resorts' revised application for a $2 billion casino and hotel development is before the City of Sydney and is currently on public exhibition.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore declined to be interviewed.
The Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich was overseas and was not available for comment.

Resourced: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-25/barangaroo-park-a-throwback-to-pre-colonial-sydney/6646980 

Sirius Apartment Building

Sirius Apartment Building (Draft)

Item details

Name of item:	Sirius Apartment Building (Draft)
Other name/s:	Sirius Apartments
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Public housing
Location:	Lat: -33.85759 Long: 151.2080
Primary address:	36 - 50 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000
Parish:	St Philip
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	100		DP	264104

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
36 - 50 Cumberland Street	The Rocks	Sydney	St Philip	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Department of Community Services	State Government
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority	State Government

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Statement of significance:

	The Sirius Apartments building at 36-50 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, designed by Tao (Theodore) Gofers is likely to be of State Heritage Significance as a rare, representative and fine example of the Brutalist architectural style, especially in its use of off-the-form concrete and the stacking of cubic components to create a harmonious whole. It is also significant as an early example of rooftop landscape gardening in NSW and Australia The building is likely to have further State landmark aesthetic significance as an unusual and aesthetically distinctive treatment of high rise accomodation, bookmarking the view of Circular Quay from Sydney Harbour together with the Opera House. The Sirius apartment building is likely to have state heritage significance for its historical values as a major outcome of the Green Bans, a protest movement against theredevelopment of the Rocks and Millers Point area in the 1970s. The Sirius building built to provide affordable public housing in its 79 apartments, for approximately 200 people potentially displaced by other developments in the area. The historical significance of the building is further demonstrated as the socially responsible design of the Sirius Apartment was part of a world wide movement in architecture concerned with social justice and better outcomes for those less advantaged in society. The building is likely to have state level significance for historic associations with the Green Bans of the 1970s, the Green Ban's leader Jack Mundey as well as for its association with its designer, Tao Gofers, a noted architect who pioneered a new modular building style in concrete with specific application to social housing in Australia. The Sirius Apartment Building is likely to have state level heritage significance for its long and strong association with past and present residents of the Millers Point and The Rocks community. Many of The Rocks and Millers Point residents were the descendants of maritime workers who lived and worked in the area for generations. Sirius may also be of social significance to others in NSW who consider it an important achievement that the unique makeup of the Miller's Point and The Rocks community has been preserved for so many generations.
	Date significance updated: 04 Jun 15
	Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.

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Description

Designer/Maker:	Tao (Theodore) Gofers
Builder/Maker:	Built by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority.
Construction years:	1978-1979
Physical description:	This 79-apartment residential building complex consists of repetitive geometric (cubic) elements stacked on top of each other to give a step-like terrace effect rising from under five storeys for much of the northern sections and part of the southern end, to eleven storeys in a high-rise block towards the south. The profile of the apartment building is a landmark in the Central Sydney Precinct. In fact 75 per cent of the building is five storeys or less. It was originally intended to have a white finish to echo the Opera House but, due to budget constraints, the building remained in grey, off-the-form concrete. At the time of construction, one of the main complaints was that the building rose above the level of the Bridge's roadway. The general form is said to have been inspired in part by Moshe Safgdie's Habitat '67 residential complex in Montreal, originally built for Expo '67. Another Housing Commission apartment building designed by Gofers and built as a prototype for the Sirius Apartment Building, was built at 1A Ritchie Street, Sans Souci, on the site of a former trolley-bus, then bus, depot. Floors are concrete slabs, and the window frames are acid-etched. There are 79 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom apartments, mostly single storey, with two- or three-level walk-ups as well as lifts. Because of the design, each lift foyer on each floor serves only a small number of apartments. The apartments for the aged are located in the tower building and there are no steps at the entrance to the units. The majority of the apartments open onto gardens on the roofs of lower apartments, while there is also a communal garden on the 8th floor and ground floor courtyards. Hanging garden effects soften the appearance of the concrete. Large planter boxes on the top floor, visible from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, were referred to in a 1979 letter to the Sydney Morning Herald as 'those hideous purple bulbous things on the roof'. They are still there but much faded. Inside, the main foyer has a slatted 'waving' timber ceiling and there are three-dimensional wood sculptures designed by the architect, Tao Gofers, based on European cave art figures. There are two community lounges, both with marvelous views, as well as service rooms and on-site parking. The foyer also accomodates a distress call panel indicating one or other of the aged care units should the resident press the alarm. This no longer works but is an important expression of the buyilding desingn's attention to resident's requirements. The building was also well known for a sign announcing 'One Way! Jesus' that has been displayed in the window of Unit 74 facing the Bridge for more than 15 years.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The building both externally and internally is in excellent condition.The building is intact and has high integrity. All of its internal fittings and artworks have been retained.
	Date condition updated:05 Feb 15
Modifications and dates:	No known modifications
Further information:	The Sirius building provides affordable public housing for people displaced by other developments in the area.It has been government policy to house a social mix of young and old, and of large and small families. Some apartments were designed with particular families in mind as original occupants.

Current use:	The Sirius building provides affordable public housing for peopledisplaced by other developments in the area.
Former use:	The Sirius building provides affordable public housing for peopledisplaced by other developments in the area.

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History

Historical notes:

The land on which most of the Sirius Apartment Block now stands is the traditional land of the Cadigal Aboriginal people. With European settlement the traditional people were eventually dispossessed of their land. The area where the apartment block now stands was once known as Bunker's Hill, in recognition of Captain Bunker who was granted the land by Governor King in 1806, in return for "services to the Governor". (Mary Suttor 2015 'The Sirius Legacy - A Conversation) Captain Bunker was Master of the Third Fleet and delivered his cargo of 185 convicts to Sydney in 1891. He went on to set up a flourishing whaling enterprise. In around 1800, Bunker established a wattle and daub cottage on Bunkers Hill which was later replaced by a stone villa and store buildings in 1820. The villa and stores became the headquarters of his whaling enterprise. By the 1840s this dwelling was surrounded by a row of sandstone terraces This buildings were demolished in 1909. A number of Housing Board buildings were erected on the site in 1913-1916 after the realignment of Cumberland St. These consisted of bond stores, warehouses and government office buildings. (Mary Suttor 2015 'The Sirius Legacy - A Conversation) According to Jack Burke, Chairman of the Housing Commission when Sirius was designed and built, it replaced an ugly warehouse in dangerous condition with a large neon 'Yamaha' sign on its roof. The remaining section of the warehouse, the Ajax building at the northern end of the site (23 George Street North) is also listed on the SHFA Heritage & Conservation Register and was listed on the National Trust Register in September, 2014. (2015 National Trust Nomination ) The Green Bans The Sirius building was designed by Housing Commission architect Tao (Theodore) Gofers during 1978-1979 and construction was completed in March 1980. Its construction was in response to the 1970s Green Bans movement protests over planned redevelopment in The Rocks and Millers Point. and a move to The Green Bans were instigated by the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) in 1971 as a powerful protest against a persistent push by developers to pull down large sections of old Sydney and replace these with the often speculative construction of modern high-rise offices, luxury housing and other infrastructure projects. The BLF led, by Jack Mundey, Bob Pringle and Joe Owens, was motivated to protect housing and natural open landscapes for the ordinary people in over the interests of developers. (2011Meredith Burgman and Veruty Burgman. The Green Bans Movement) The first successful campaign was at Kelly's Bush where a large luxury housing development by AV Jennings at Hunters Hill threatened the last scrap of open space in that area. After a public meeting supported by 600 local people, the union placed a green ban on construction there. In a resounding response to Jennings declaration to use non-union labour on the development, workers at another AV Jennings site vowed to leave the office construction half built forever "as a monument to Kelly's Bush." (2011Meredith Burgman and Veruty Burgman. The Green Bans Movement) By 1974 the BLF had placed Green Bans over construction works that threatened the Centennial Parklands, Woolloomooloo, the Botanic Gardens and the Rocks. All these bans were made were with the union's expressed commitment to building socially "useful buildings such as Kindergartens , homes for the aged, hospitals and housing for ordinary people." (1972 Jack Mundey. Letter to the Sydney Morning Herald in 1972 in 2011Meredith Burgman and Veruty Burgman. The Green Bans Movement At the Rocks and Millers Point the Green Ban was resolved when the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority agreed a compromise where some development could go ahead on the proviso that some residents were rehoused in quality accommodation but at low, affordable rents. (2015 National Trust Nomination) The Housing Commission's architect Tao Gofers was given the project in 1978anf the building was completed in1979. Gofers design for the Sirius building marked a turning point in public housing design with a refocus on the needs of the tenants and a commitment to providing safe and comfortable accommodation for housing commission residents. Influenced by the world wide movement towards providing quality social housing, and especially the design of the Moshie Safie's Habitat apartments in Montreal, Tao Gofers began his task by speaking directly to the prospective tenants and canvassing their needs and ideas for their own homes. From this consultation the building brief included the requirement that the profile of the building not be monolithic but 'blend into the existing skyline'. The resolution of this requirement was the asymmetrical building consisting of a stepped stack of apartments the roofs of those at a lower level providing a garden space for the apartment above. (2013 Charles Picket Sirius on the Rocks) In another innovation for public housing at the time, the apartment block were intended to house a mix of families and single people and old and young people. This provided another level of security and community to the residents. In his design Gofers located the housing for elderly in the tower the entrance of which was at ground level requiring no steps and the elevators transported tenants to their front door. The apartments in the tower also featured an alarm button which was connected to a distress call panel in the foyer of the block in case of personal emergency. Elsewhere there were apartments of one, two, three and four bedrooms, often designed for particular families. There were a number of two storey flats on the ground level featuring courtyards, others were split level and still others were single storey. (2015 Millers Point Sirius http://millers point community.com.au/the-place/sirius) The amenity of the apartment block was provided in a generous communal garden on level 8, a communal common room named the Phillip Room, a library and a generous foyer decorated with an unusual laminated timber sculpture of animals which was part of the original design.(2015 Millers Point Sirius http://millers point community.com.au/the-place/sirius) The comprehensive redevelopment plans for The Rocks and Millers Point were largely dropped in 1975 after vigorous public and union protests. Sirius was built by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority and leased to the Housing Commission, later going through the hands of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. 2015 National Trust Nomination) There was much public outrage at the time of construction and for some time afterwards. The National Trust, in 1979, referred in its Bulletin to 'a lump in The Rocks', viewing Sirius as 'a vast and out-of character building'. Tao Gofers, in 1980, was quoted to the effect: 'I'm not worried about the criticism. People will accept it in 3 or 4 years.' Charles Pickett, writing on the Powerhouse Museum website, comments: 'This prediction proved to be correct.' (2015 National T\rust Nomination) Roads adjoining Sirius were closed in the early 1980s and Gloucester Street became Gloucester Walk, which is now listed on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Heritage and Conservation Register. In 2014 the State Government of NSW announced the sale of numerous properties in The Rocks including the Sirius building. Since that time the Housing NSW Relocation Team has set up office in the Phillip Room where it coordinates the movement of tenants out of the ROcks to other social housing accommodation.(2015 Millers Point Sirius http://millers point community.com.au/the-place/sirius)

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Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in urban settings-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - 20th century Modern Movement-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Sirius apartment building funded, designed and built by the NSW State Government, is likely to have state historical significance as a major outcome of the Green Bans, a protest movement against the development of the Rocks and Millers Point area in the 1970s.This movement was the first such movement in the world committed to protecting open spaces from development, protecting existing housing from infrastructure development and the preservation of older housing stock from replacement with high-rise. The Sirius building was built to provide affordable public housing in its 79 apartments, for approximately 200 people potentially displaced by other developments in the area. The historical significance of the building is further demonstrated as the socially responsible design of the Sirius Apartment was part of a world wide movement in architecture concerned with social justice and better outcomes for those less advantaged in society. Post WWII social housing projects around the world aimed to provide affordable accomodation for a mix of family units, communal facilities and rooftop gardens One of the earliest examples of such social housing projects was Corbussier's Unite d'Habitacion in Marsailles (1947-1952). Other similar building complexes with an eye to provide social housing and community facilities in large urban areas include the Barbican Housing estate (Chamberlain, Powell and Bon 1982) in London and Habitat '67 (Moshe Safgdie) in Montreal .
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The Sirius Apartment Building is likely to meet this criterion of state significance because it has a special association with Jack Mundey through The Rocks/Millers Point green ban and the negotiations that led to the settling of that green ban. The Apartments also have a strong association with architect Tao Gofers, its designer, who pioneered in Australia a new modular building style in concrete, intended to meet the differing configurations of the single persons and various sized families displaced by development and the apartments also contain his interior designs and artworks.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Sirius Apartment Building at 36-50 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, designed by Tao (Theodore) Gofers is likely to be of State Heritage Significance as a fine example of the Brutalist architectural style, especially in its use of off-the-form concrete and the stacking of cubic components to create a harmonious whole. It is also significant as an early example of rooftop landscape gardening in NSW and Australia. As such it featured in a number of architectural websites and in architectural literature internationally. The building is likely to have further State landmark aesthetic significance as an unusual and aesthetically distinctive treatment of high rise accomodation, bookmarking the view of Circular Quay from Sydney Harbour together with the Opera House. Described in the magazine "Concrete" (Issue 11) as a 'bold and exceptional experiement in low income public housing'. It was a conscious attempt to reduce the monolithic natiure of most high-rise residential developments. The four wooden sculptures in the foyer area are likely to have State aesthetic and technical significance as rare surviving works by architect Tao Gofers. The Sirius Apartments is likely to meet this criterion of state significance because it is a rare example in Australia of Tao Gofer's modular housing design in concrete originally pioneered by Canadian/Israeli architect Moshe Safgdiee. His three-dimensional, prefabricated units for living were a central feature of Expo 67 and an important development in architectural history.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Sirius Apartment Building is likely to have state level heritage significance for its long and strong association with past and present residents of the Millers Point and The Rocks community. Many of The Rocks and Millers Point residents were the descendants of maritime workers who lived and worked in the area for generations. Sirius may also be of social significance to others in NSW who consider it an important achievement that the unique makeup of the Miller's Point and The Rocks community has been preserved for so many generations, and are aware that the building was specifically built and designed to house long term residents.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The Sirius Apartment Building is likely to be of state heritage significance because, with the Ritchie Street, Sans Souci, Tao Gofers building they represent the only two known examples of Gofers pre-fabricated modular social housing.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Sirius Apartment Building is likely to be of state heritage significance because it is the most prominent and intact example of this type of social housing specifically designed for its intended occupants' needs.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

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Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - Under consideration for SHR/IHO listing	Graham Quint		05 Feb 15

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References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written		2015	Sirius
Written		2014	Scratching Sydney's Surface - Sirius Apartments
Written		1979	Cove Courier
Written		1979	National Trust Bulletin No 87
Written		1978	'Sirius'
Written	Alex McKinnon	2014	An Entire Subub in Sydney Is Being Evicted
Written	c.Pickett	2013	Serius on the Rocks
Written	Jim McIllroy	2014	Millers Point residents oppose sale of Sirius apartments
Written	Michael Bogle	2012	Beauty of the Beast
Written	Monica Kovac	2015	Sirius Public Housing in The House Hunter blog
Written	Nicole Ahsham	2014	Sydney waterfront publ;ic housing properties to be sold off
Written	Nicole Hasham	2014	Eviction News 'worst day' for Sirius building tenant, 84
Written	Pinterest	2014	‘Architecture according to Apple’ website.
Written	Toby Johnson	2014	Sirius uncertainty at The Rocks

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

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Data source

The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage Office
Database number:	5062575
File number:	EF14/28279

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Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of the Heritage Branch or respective copyright owners.

 RESOURCED:

The real estate loophole foreign buyers have not yet exploited

July 18, 2015 Lucy Macken, Domain Prestige Reporter

(5)

The historic Bidura House in Glebe sold late last year for $33,006,000 to Chinese developers Lina Jin and Yuelai Zhou

                 .
A little-known loophole in foreign investment laws means government-owned property can be sold to foreign investors without the need for approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board.

As the state government ramps up its sell-off of state-owned property, questions are being raised about the exemption.  Close to $1 billion worth of state-government owned property has been sold off in the past two years, since the establishment of Government Property NSW.

Foreign investment rules do not allow non-residents to buy established dwellings, however a spokesperson for Treasury confirmed that any sales by local, state and territory governments are exempt from requiring any buyer approval because they should "be able to deal with their assets without interference".

"That's a big gap in the market for foreign buyers to take advantage of if they want to buy into the established housing market," said lawyer Marcus Clark, a partner at Allens

Industry experts say it is surprising that few foreign buyers have taken advantage of the exemption, particularly in the case of Millers Point, where the state government is part-way through the sale of 293 historic homes.

Of the 21 of the historic houses sold to date for a total of $46.6 million, all have been bought by locals.

That lack of foreign buyer interest in Millers Point hasn't eased the concerns of local residents.
"The whole rationale behind the sale of these houses was that the government couldn't afford to restore them, and by selling them off to private hands that would pay for the necessary restoration and maintenance costs," said resident and member of the local public housing tenants group Barney Gardner.

"Our concern is if these houses are bought by speculative investors or foreigners "land banking" the properties then the government's heritage concerns won't be addressed anyway."

The National Trust advocacy director Graham Quint has weighed into those concerns of land banking and speculative investment sales to urge the government to return to the former practice of offering the homes on 99-year leases.

"This is prime real estate and the oldest surviving suburb in Australia so it makes sense to keep the properties as leasehold homes to ensure tighter controls on the work being done and when," said Mr Quint.

One of the first state-owned houses that was last August for $1,911,000 was resold last month by the Sfeir​ family for about $2.5 million after a few minor cosmetic changes. The sale was not intended to be flipped for profit, but relisted after the City of Sydney Council ordered the owner to cease renting part of the property as an Airbnb.

That property is one of two heritage-listed houses sold by the government to be issued with stop-work notices by the City of Sydney Council because of unauthorised building work.

A Government Property NSW spokesman said "any decisions relating to Australia's foreign investment policy are a matter for the federal government".

Lawyers said the exemption has been part of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act since it was enacted in 1975.

The federal government is currently undertaking a modernisation of the act.

"The government has been consulting on its plans to strengthen the foreign investment framework and welcomes public submissions on the regulations," said the Treasurer's Parliamentary Secretary Kelly O'Dwyer​.

Although individual foreign buyers do not need approval to buy government owned property, Ms O'Dwyer said foreign governments still needed approval.

Of the 10 big-ticket property sales by Government Property NSW, the most recent was historic Bidura House in Glebe, which sold late last year for $33,006,000 to developers Lina Jin and Yuelai Zhou, whose previous projects include duplexes for more than 500 families in Shanghai and a five-tower project in Huangzhou.

RESOURCED: http://news.domain.com.au/domain/domain-news/the-real-estate-loophole-foreign-buyers-have-not-yet-exploited-20150717-giefn9.html

A City of Sydney DA for upgrades to Millers Point angers soon to be evicted public housing tenants

James Gorman  July 17, 2015

Barney Gardner of Millers Point is disappointed his community will not be around to see the City’s works completed. Source: News Corp Australia

                  
A DEVELOPMENT application for a $3 million beautification of the Millers Point precinct has angered public housing residents, who claim they will not benefit from the works because they are being forced out.         

The DA, which has been submitted by the City of Sydney, will include upgrades to footpaths, the creation of shared zones, the installation of new lighting and seating, and the reclamation of the bus layover next to the Abraham Mott Hall for use as a new community pocket park.



Proposed Millers Point upgrades listed in the City of Sydney’s DA Source: Supplied

 While the renovations were planned by the council before the State Government’s public housing sell-off was announced, Millers Point residents are disappointed they will not be able to enjoy the improvements.

 

Public housing tenant Barney Gardner said the council’s DA felt like another nail in the community’s coffin.

“We aren’t entirely surprised,” he said. “We knew this work was probably coming, but it’s not exactly the most ideal time to hear about it.

“The footpaths and roads have been deteriorating for years and these works are now being put into effect just as we are being forced to leave.



The Millers Point community has attracted several advocates opposing the forced sell off including Blue Lucine who is making a documentary about the area. Source: News Corp Australia

“We have put up with all the noise and dust from Barangaroo and now that is almost finished, we have to go.

“There is no way these works would have happened if Barangaroo had never happened and the new buyers were going into the area.

“Barangaroo has caused us nothing but trouble and misery. We won’t benefit from these upgrades, they are not for us, we know that.”

An artist impression of the Barangaroo developments. Source: Supplied

    

A spokeswoman for the City of Sydney, which has fought the State Government over the evictions, said the improvements were not for the benefit of the precinct’s well-heeled new residents.
“The City of Sydney Council approved the Argyle Street Improvement Project at its March 2014 meeting — before the NSW Government announced its plans to sell off social housing in the area,” a spokeswoman said.

MILLERS POINT HOUSING EVICTIONS DESCRIBED AS ‘SOCIAL CLEANSING’

STRUGGLE STREET IN MILLERS POINT CAPTURED BY BLUE LUCINE

“It is nonsense to suggest the plan was conceived for the benefit of Millers Point’s incoming residents. The City has been a supporter of the Millers Point social housing tenants.

“In April 2014, Council approved a $100,000 grant to the Redfern Legal Centre to support, advocate for and provide advice to tenants affected by the public housing sales.

“In April this year, Council resolved to grant a further $50,000 (excluding GST) to enable Redfern Legal Centre to carry on its work until November 2015. This additional funding will ensure those remaining tenants have access to independent legal advice to assist them.

“The money provided by the City will help the remaining Millers Point tenants get the advice and support they need.”

RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/a-city-of-sydney-da-for-upgrades-to-millers-point-angers-soon-to-be-evicted-public-housing-tenants/story-fngr8h22-1227444539387?from=newslocal_rss 

Doco looks at the plight of eviction

Tue 07/07/2015 11:26 AM]

By Don Groves
After tackling children held in detention as the subject of her AFTRS graduate film, Blue Lucine is shooting a feature documentary on another controversial topic.

The writer-director is examining the plight of residents who are being evicted from public housing in Millers Point in Sydney by the NSW government.

She is focussing on six people, three who have moved out after their houses were sold, and three who say they refuse to budge and the police or army will have to forcibly remove them.

Lucine has teamed up with experienced documentary makers Tom Zubrycki and Helen Barrow, who are serving as the producers. Screen Australia and Screen NSW funded the early development.
She showed  the rushes to Zubrycki when she was doing some filming and editing work for him and he readily agreed to come aboard.

The doc’s working title is Forced Out. She is aiming for festival exposure followed by cinema release and TV broadcast. “This is a universal theme which is happening around the world,” she tells IF.
Lucine will discuss the difficulties she encountered while shooting her AFTRS short A Thousand Suns at the Ozdox forum The Ethics of Documentary Filmmaking, chaired by director/producer Rod Freedman at AFTRS Theatre on July 9.

Also speaking will be Struggle Street writer-producer Marc Radomsky, Sherpa director Jen Peedom and I Am A Girl producer/director Rebecca Barry.

A Thousand Suns told the story of 9-year-old Tamil asylum seeker Kumeran, who was living in the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre when Lucine visited him in 2013 with his father.
She secretly took notes of her conversations with Kumeran using an inkless pen, then coloured in the words when she got home.

“I wanted to tell his story in his own words, without being embellished,” she says. She was not allowed to film the boy so she used an actor in the doco, showing how Kumeran used his imagination to explore the possibilities of escape and to dream of a world he could not reach.

Kumeran was released in early 2014 but his mother is still in detention. The short premiered at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival.

At the Ozdox forum Lucine might also address the challenges she is having in dealing with the two government departments handling the Millers Point sales and relocation: the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment and the Department of Family and Community Services.
Neither, she says, is co-operating with her.

Tags:

• blue-lucine
• ozdox
• struggle-street

RESOURCED

Bulking Up Barangaroo: Should The Crown Logo Shine Brighter Than The Stars?

By Alex Greenwich

 

Sydney Harbour's most important development in decades bears little resemblance to what was initially approved, writes Alex Greenwich.

Barangaroo is publicly owned land on Sydney Harbour and its redevelopment should create a world-class place to visit, live and work. It presents a unique opportunity to improve public access to the harbour and provide new parks and open space, and needed education and childcare services, transport and commercial and residential space including affordable housing.
But the planning process has become nothing more than an exercise in squeezing as much private gain on this public site as possible.
The 2006 winning design had broad community support. It set towers back from the waterfront to ensure public access, enjoyment and activation of the foreshore. Buildings were positioned to promote integration with the CBD and activation of public space throughout the site.
The 2007 initial concept plan was loosely based on this winning design, but successive modifications have massively increased bulk and scale, and diminished the waterfront potential through shadowing and wind. Further erosions are expected.
Changes to the initial approved built floor area of 388,300 square metres have now reached 563,965 square metres, with the latest modification under assessment at the Department of Planning potentially increasing this to 605,911. A future expected modification would increase it further to 661,686 square metres –almost double what was initially approved!

One modification involved building a hotel tower on the water. It led to community outrage over privatisation of the harbor, that led Lend Lease to relocate the hotel.
But the relocation would place the hotel on what was to be Barangaroo’s only waterfront public recreation space.
The public park would be moved behind the tower, relegating it to a mere inner city pocket park; a significant part of the waterfront – Barangaroo’s most valuable asset – would be privatised.
The height of the hotel tower would increase from 170 metres to 250 metres, creating massive shadowing and wind impacts on the public foreshore promenade. The claim is that a taller tower is needed to give it world class status, but design excellence is more important in hotels, with the trend for smaller boutique buildings.
What is vital is that Barangaroo provides a world class public experience of the harbour for all workers, residents and visitors; it is public space that makes a destination special.
The hotel tower would dominate most views of the site and create a barrier reducing Barangaroo South’s integration with the rest of Barangaroo and the CBD.
The latest proposal increases buildings to such heights that wind effects across the site will make parts of Barangaroo South only safe to walk in by able-bodied people. The waterfront promenade will be windy and overshadowed from morning to early afternoon, including the lunch period, between autumn and spring.
While Barangaroo is difficult to drive through, and its integrated transport plan estimates that 96 per cent of visitors will travel by public transport, bike or walking, planning is taking a different direction with the progressive addition of new private parking spaces.
The latest proposal would give the casino in the hotel 500 new spaces, despite government promises that the casino will only be available to high rollers, who chiefly come from outside New South Wales. A future application will massively add private parking spaces to this site.

As a result the expected traffic congestion has led to a proposal to remove most kerbside parking in Barangaroo South so there are extra traffic lanes. This will make Barangaroo Streets more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists and diminish amenity. It is a further privatisation of public land. Why isn’t light rail being extended to the site?
Instead of integrating with adjacent areas and promoting complementary benefits, Barangaroo will terminate views from historically significant panoramic views of adjacent parks and reserves, severely impacting on their character and amenity. View corridors across the site to the water have been broken and there has been little attempt to minimise view interruptions of neighbours.
Shockingly, Lend Lease attempts to justify blocking views of four key Sydney Observatory target objectives at certain times of year because it claims the observatory is in what it calls an “inappropriate” location. Sydney Observatory has provided Sydney residents and visitors opportunities to learn about astronomy and see the stars since the 19th Century.
Community cynicism over the Barangaroo planning process is widespread. The progressive increase in bulk and scale may increase private gain but it will erode the future public experience of the site. We don’t want Barangaroo to become nothing more than massive buildings that tower over the harbour, second rate pocket parks, cold and windswept public space and escalating traffic congestion.
It’s time for the government to end the private land grab and refocus planning on public amenity and public outcomes.

- See more at: https://newmatilda.com/2015/05/24/bulking-barangaroo-should-crown-logo-shine-brighter-stars#sthash.ikoUR9fg.dpuf

Owners of old public housing at Millers Point prepare to renovate amid fears it could put heritage at risk

James Gorman  June 18, 2015



The Development Proposal notification has been pinned to the front fence at 11 Lower Fort St. Source: News Corp Australia

             THE first buyers of Millers Point public housing are wasting no time in planning their dream homes, with two development applications currently before the City of Sydney.         

A $784,696 DA for 11 Lower Fort St and a $350,000 DA for 30 Argyle Place have both been lodged in recent weeks.

Lower Fort St sold at auction for $3.95 million in October, while the Argyle Place home sold for $1.71 million in November.  

The Lower Fort St terrace features spectactular harbour views.... Source: Supplied

   

...but its interiors are basic... Source: Supplied

   

...and the yard could do with some landscaping. Source: Supplied

     The owner of the Lower Fort St property plans “internal reconfiguration, restoration works, demolition of existing outbuilding at rear and construction of a new single storey addition to courtyard.”

 

The plans for 30 Argyle Place include “internal refurbishment and conservation works throughout and rear single storey addition at lower ground level to courtyard”.

As well as council approval, both plans also require the approval of the Heritage Division of the Office of Environment and Heritage.

A DOZEN MILLERS POINT HOMES HIT THE MARKET

STRUGGLE STREET IN CENTRAL SYDNEY

Unlike the public housing sold for 99-year leases under the former Labor government, these acquisitions and those subsequent are freehold, resulting in reduced heritage restrictions in terms of renovations.

Sydney State MP Alex Greenwich suspected the big sales prices achieved by the Millers Point properties to date may have been influenced by the State Government’s decision to switch to a freehold sale.  



Independent State MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich. Source: News Corp Australia

 “When you sell a property on a 99-year lease the owners are charged with protecting the heritage values of that property or they risk losing that lease,” he said.

 

“When you sell a property freehold you don’t have the same enforcement powers. Based on the size of these DAs hopefully that indicates the buyers value heritage and will restore the properties accordingly.

“I am not sure why the State Government changed the lease for the Millers Point sale. They could have put the restrictions on but then that could have impacted the sale price.”

A spokeswoman from the Office of Environment and Heritage said even under a freehold sale, owners were required to seek approval for renovations from the Heritage Council of NSW.

“No 11 Lower Fort Street and No 30 Argyle Place were sold with a Conservation Management Plan endorsed by the Heritage Council of NSW (the Heritage Council) under Section 38A of the Heritage Act 1977 (the Act),” the spokeswoman said.  

A DA has also been submitted for 30 Argyle Pl. Source: News Corp Australia

    

The kitchen at 30 Argyle Pl. Source: Supplied

    

Like many of the old Millers Point properties, the home requires plenty of work. Source: Supplied

   

“Owners of properties listed on the State Heritage Register have responsibilities under the Act. They are required to seek the approval from the Heritage Council of NSW for most development or work carried out on the property.

“Land and Housing Corporation has sought and received endorsement for a number of exemptions for minor works within Millers Point.”

Millers Point public housing resident Barney Gardner, whose home could be sold in the State Government sell-off, stressed the importance of maintaining the precinct’s historic values.

“If you take all of the resident away, Millers Point will lose its identity and if you take the heritage values of these properties away then you will lose a piece of Sydney’s history.” 

Millers Point public housing activist Barney Gardner. Source: News Corp Australia

     A Deparment of Family & Community Services spokesman said efforts were being made to protect the heritage of Millers Point.

 

“The NSW Government continues to work closely with the Heritage Council of NSW to ensure heritage values are maintained,” a spokesman said.

TELL US: WILL HERITAGE VALUES BY KEPT IN MILLERS POINT AS THE RENOVATIONS BEGIN?

“The provision of new social housing will mean that more families in desperate need on the social housing waiting list can get secure, affordable housing.

“Millers Point sales proceeds are being put into the social housing system and approximately 1500 dwellings are forecast to be funded from these sales.” 

Protesters outside the first of the Millers Point auctions held last year.

 

RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/owners-of-old-public-housing-at-millers-point-prepare-to-renovate-amid-fears-it-could-put-heritage-at-risk/story-fngr8h22-1227402162863