Royal Hospital for Women chimney: Proposal to reduce height of landmark by 7m
A striking symbol of an inner Sydney suburb’s past may be removed from the skyline, as a result of a proposal to cut down one of the last remaining fixtures of a historic women’s hospital.
Wentworth Courier
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A striking symbol of an inner Sydney suburb’s past may be removed from the skyline as a result of a proposal to cut down one of the last remaining fixtures of a historic women’s hospital.
The height of the landmark chimney at the heritage-listed and now defunct Royal Hospital for Women site at Paddington is at risk of being slashed by 7.9m as a result of degradation and age which has rendered the structure uninsurable, according to heritage experts representing the owner.
A development application lodged by the body corporate behind the luxury Royal Hospital for Women heritage conversion apartments to Woollahra Council has outlined plans to demolish a significant portion of the upper brickwork of the chimney.
The works would also include upgrades to conserve the remainder of the chimney, including cleaning, the removal of metal fixings and overall strengthening of the structure.
The chimney is a remnant of the former Paddington Women’s Hospital, which was constructed in 1904 and opened to the public in 1946.
However after the hospital moved to a new location next to the Prince of Wales Hospital at Randwick in 1997, the site was redeveloped as luxury apartments, many of which have sold for eye watering sums.
The site’s penthouse apartment broke the suburb’s previous record of $14m when it was purchased for a sale price understood to have topped $20m in July.
A heritage assessment report submitted by Paul Davies Architects and Heritage Consultants outlined degradation, including degraded brickwork and deteriorated steel within the chimney.
It states that updated building codes meant the tower no longer complied and risked collapse under stress from wind or an earthquake.
In a letter to the council’s director of planning, the architecture firm’s director Paul Davies acknowledged the proposal was likely to face opposition.
“I have no doubt that the proposal will attract some controversy as it proposes some demolition,” Mr Davies wrote.
However he said the cost of “retaining the full height” of the tower amounted to $2m compared with a cost of about $1m to undertake the works proposed in the plans, which would retain 39m of the original tower.
Paddington resident Michael Combley said the reduction of this Paddington landmark and the loss of the RHW logo on the chimney would profoundly change the local skyline
“The chimney is a very distinct and unique local feature,” he said.
“A lot of local residents were born at the hospital and I sense that the existence of this remarkable chimney is a very significant touchstone for a lot of people”.
The Paddington Society president Will Mrongovius said the heritage group did not support the plans, in a submission to the council.
“Approval of the proposal would set an unacceptable precedent, whereby financial considerations for owners takes precedence over their ongoing obligations for retention of highly significant structures,” Mr Mrongovius said.
Mr Davies’ letter states the issues involved were “very clear”.
“There is only one proposal that can actually be achieved due to costs, insurance requirements and the increasingly urgent need to undertake works,” Mr Davies wrote.
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