Parramatta Wall Restoration

Gartner Rose returned to the Parramatta North Precinct to complete restoration and conservation works to a number of heritage listed buildings to ensure that the structures were repaired and protected from ongoing deterioration. The works spanned several buildings, including the Yard 2 Privy, Yard 3 Wash House and Privy (C118), Compound Walls A and B (C117) and building C108, which were all constructed in the mid-1870’s, with some of the stone dating back to the 1820’s.

Works to the Yard 2 Privy and Yard 3 Wash House and Privy included:

• Repairs to the outer face of the sandstone blockwork
• Removal of all vegetation growing between the stone walls
• Asbestos and lead paint removal
• Tree and water tank removal
• Replacement of missing or loose pointing to faces of sandstone blockwork
• Reinstatement of timber-framed roof structures followed by installation of new metal roof sheeting

Works to Compound Walls A and B included:

• Repairs to external faces of the sandstone blockwork
• Recording and dismantling of nominated stonework of Compound Wall B to assist with the removal of fig trees and to rectify damage to bedding or unstable stonework, followed by reconstruction of the stonework in its original location
• Desalination of nominated areas of stonework at the base of the walls
• Removal of lead-based paint from the inside walls
• Removal of asbestos
• Replacement of all missing or loose pointing to both faces of sandstone blockwork
• Cleaning of sandstone blockwork to outer face of walls to remove any harmful bacterial growth such as lichen or carbon-rich deposits
• Relocation of temporary water supply
• Relocation of the security floodlights

Works to building C108 included:

• Removal of non-friable asbestos
• Relocation of salvageable heritage items
• Removal of redundant furniture with friable asbestos dust

The Parramatta North Precinct is a place of exceptional cultural heritage significance and is included in the National Heritage List (Commonwealth), State Heritage Register (NSW Government) and as a heritage item in the Parramatta Local Environmental Plan. As such, attention to detail was given to heritage fixtures, fittings and landscaped features to provide an authentic and sensitive outcome that emulated the original intent of the area. All works were completed within a live operational environment.