Push for Dee Why’s concrete civic centre to be added to NSW Heritage Register
Its roof leaks, the aircon’s dodgy and it’s not particularly pretty, but the concrete civic centre at Dee Why looks set to be listed on the State Heritage Register alongside the Harbour Bridge.
Manly
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“Love it, or hate it”, the local council chambers at Dee Why, with its leaky roof and dodgy airconditioning, looks set to be listed on the State Heritage Register.
The 50-year concrete structure, built to accommodate the former Warringah Shire Council, would join classic structures including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Queen Victoria Building in the CBD and the Macquarie Lighthouse at Vaucluse, on the list.
Designed in the “brutalist” style by architects Christopher Kringas and Colin Madigan — best known as the architects of the High Court of Australia — the building on Pittwater Rd at the northern end of the Dee Why town centre, was opened in 1973.
Innovative landscape architect Bruce Mackenzie, of Dee Why, a leading figure in the establishment of landscape design in Australia, was responsible for preserving
and using remnant the remnant bushland on the site.
Northern Beaches Council has been advised that the Heritage Council of NSW was considering listing the “Warringah Civic Centre Precinct” — which includes the Colin Madigan designed Dee Why Library that opened in 1966 — on the State Heritage Register and had put the proposal on exhibition for public feedback, until May 31.
The Heritage Council says there should be formal recognition of the precinct as a “significant example of 20th century civic design and its harmonious integration with the rugged bushland site”.
In its “statement of significance”, the Heritage Council stated that the “dramatic buildings are stylistically integrated and link harmoniously with the rugged bushland site”.
“The two buildings demonstrate technical significance at a state level through the use of copper roofs, precast concrete, post-tensioned and reinforced concrete,” the council states.
“The Precinct overall was a catalyst for Madigan’s later design of the National Gallery and High Court in Canberra and represents a high point in Madigan’s career.”
At its Tuesday night meeting, Northern Beaches Council was told it was invited to make a submission. It voted to contact Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe and request a meeting to discuss the listing intention and to advise her that “an informed Council decision on the proposal will not be made until after the meeting has occurred”.
Independent councillor Candy Bingham supported the listing.
“Love it or hate it, the brutalist style of architecture is an important part of our history and it turns out that the Warringah Civic Centre is a fine example the style … hard to believe,” he said.
“Truly, it’s not particularly a functional building, the airconditioning doesn’t work, there are all sorts of problems with it, but it is considered a fine example.”
Mayor Sue Heins agreed that the building was loved and hated at the same time.
“These types of buildings are known for their certain defects that those in here know, including it’s own internal sprinkler system every time it rains,” she said.
“But it is what it is.”
Click here to have your say on the Heritage listing.
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