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Heritage
Item ID:
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4726005
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Item
Name:
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MACLEAY MUSEUM
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Street
Number:
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Street
Name:
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Science Road, The University of Sydney
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Suburb /
Nearest Town:
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Sydney
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State:
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NSW
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Post
Code:
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2006
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Other / Former
Names:
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N/A
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Group
Item ID:
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4726018
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Group
Name:
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Science Road Group
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Year Construction
Started:
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1886
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Year Construction
Completed:
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1887
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National
Theme:
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Educating
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Regional
Theme:
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Designer:
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George Allen Mansfield
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Builder:
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Unknown
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Local
Theme:
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Development of new building technologies
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Custom
Field One:
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A12
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Custom
Field Two:
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Custom
Field Three:
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Statement Of
Significance:
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The Macleay Museum was purpose built for a natural history collection of international importance and was the first significant addition to the original University buildings since its construction in the 1850s. It is the only building within the University to have been erected at the instigation of a private individual. The building is an example of the work of George Allen Mansfield, a respected architect and leading member of the architectural profession in the later 19th century. The building, originally constructed entirely of non-combustible materials was specially designed to protect the collections and represented a response to the Garden Palace Exhibition Building fire of 1882. A dominant feature of the Science Road precinct.
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Historical
Notes:
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The museum was built at government expense to house the Macleay Natural History Collection, donated by the Hon William John Macleay for both University and public use. Designed by George Allen Mansfield, with input from the donor, as a fire-proof building, the museum was built in 1886-7. Transfer of the Macleay collections began in 1888 and the museum was opened to the public in 1891. The building was soon used for other purposes. By 1907 Geology occupied part and by 1914 so did Botany. Alterations in 1915 included a ground floor laboratory and classroom followed in 1915-8 by a connecting bridge over Gosper Lane to Old Geology (A11). In 1918 two concrete floors were inserted destroying the original open court, galleries and natural lighting. The Macleay collections were moved to the top floor accessed by a timber stair. In 1924-5 an extension for Botany (A12) was constructed across the east end with the loss of the original entrance. Between 1945-58 the east end of the ground floor and the whole of the first floor were extensively subdivided. In 1990-2 parts of the building occupied by biological sciences were renovated and refurbished to provide research facilities for molecular biology.
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Physical
Description:
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Designed by George Allan Mansfield as a 'fireproof' brick and iron museum, its internal cross section is churchlike, ie, with a nave and side aisles with gallery over. Above the gallery arcade is a clerestory. The interior was not elaborate and is no longer visible. It has been partitioned into a series of rooms. The iron staircases in the NW & SE towers survive. Externally the east facade is completely covered by the Botany buildings and the west is largely hidden by the Geology building. The junction with the bridge over Science Road was not well resolved. The building features unusual cast iron gutters, with the same profile as the string course. Although it initially appears that the building is constructed of polychromatic brickwork the arches have been raddled with red oxide to accentuate the keystone. The building is included within the Science Road precinct listed by the National Trust.
As originally constructed the building consisted of an open court on the ground floor paved with terracotta tiles with eleven open bays on each of the long sides, an upper gallery with nine open bays on each side and clerestory above providing natural lighting. The main entrance was at the east end. No artificial lighting or heating were originally allowed to prevent the risk of fire.
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Physical
Condition:
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Refer to the 1999 University of Sydney Heritage Fabric Survey.
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Modification
Dates:
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1915 - Alteration to form classrooms and laboratories, 1915-1918 - Connecting bridge (to Old Geology), 1918 - Concrete floors internally, 1924-1925 - Botany addition, 1945-1958 - Internal subdivision, 1990-1992 - Renovation and addition of research facilities.
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Recommended
Management:
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The preparation of a detailed Conservation Management Plan is recommended. Refer also to the 1999 University of Sydney Heritage Fabric Survey. Ensure that the impact of any proposal on the heritage significance of the buildings, and their setting, is assessed when planning new works. Further research to determine the cultural significance of this item is required.
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Further
Information:
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Custom
Field Four:
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Custom
Field Five:
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Custom
Field Six:
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Historical
Significance:
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Possibly the first University Museum to be constructed in Australia (further confirmation required). A purpose built, fire proof museum constructed for a natural history collection of international importance. The only building at the University to be erected at the instigation of a private individual. For its association with the Macleay family.
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Aesthetic
Significance:
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An example of a Victorian institution designed by the prominent architect George Allen Mansfield. Specifically designed to be fireproof (to protect the collection) the building was constructed of fireproof materials and contained no potential services which posed a fire risk: heating or lighting. The design reflected contemporary concerns regarding the loss of museum collections in the Garden Palace Fire. Modifications were also fireproof, including a relatively early use of re-inforced concrete floors.
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Social
Significance:
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Continuing it's role in as a university museum, a role it has fulfilled since 1891. As a public museum and collection of archival photographs.
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Technical
Significance:
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For it's fireproof building techniques. Indicating Victorian scientists preoccupation with collecting and classifying all fauna and flora. Containing collections intended for study.
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Rare
Assessment:
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Containing a rare collection. As a relatively rare example of a purpose built university museum, in the Oxbridge tradition, intended for advanced study purposes.
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Representative
Assessment:
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Intact
Assessment:
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The building has been substantially altered, however it retains it's collection.
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| Author |
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Title |
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Reference
Year |
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| DPWS Heritage Group and Otto Cserhalmi & Partners |
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University of Sydney, Heritage Fabric Survey |
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1999 |
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Register of the National Estate and National Trust Listing Cards |
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No original plans known. Plans for works in 1915 & 1918 : NSW Dept of Public Works & Services U2/A3434-A 3436 |
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| S Clarke |
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'The Macleay Museum building' in P Stanbury & J Holland (eds) : Mr Macleay's Celebrated Cabinet : The history of the Macleays and their museum |
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1988 |
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Australasian Concrete 31 July |
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1919 |
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| Fischer, G.L |
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The University of Sydney 1850-1975 'Some history in pictures to mark the 125th year of its incorporation' |
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1975 |
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