80-602: The Chief Secretary's Building (originally and still commonly known as the Colonial Secretary's Building ) is a heritage-listed state government administration building of the Victorian Free Classical architectural style located at 121 Macquarie Street , 65 Bridge Street , and at 44–50 Phillip Street in the Sydney central business district of New South Wales , Australia . The ornate five-storey public building
160-815: A Dollar) was issued to commemorate the coronation of King George VI . This coin proved unpopular in circulation and was discontinued shortly after being reissued in 1938. In 1946, the fineness of Australian silver sixpences, shillings, and florins was reduced to .500, a quarter of a century after the same change had been made in Britain. In New Zealand and the United Kingdom, silver was soon abandoned completely in everyday coinage, but Australian .500 silver coins continued to be minted until after decimalisation. Examples of private issue paper currency in New South Wales, denominated in sterling, exist from 1814 (and may date back to
240-524: A changing pattern with the workforce that serviced the departments. The period of the 1920s was the most active in terms of work carried out on the building. Plans were prepared for a private stair for the Minister for Health in 1920, for a roof over the bridge connecting the old and new buildings in 1924, extensions to the ladies room on the ground floor in 1927 as well as several other minor conversions and alterations. After World War II improvements were made to
320-463: A focus for specific agendas. Each, including Federation, was achieved through the work of several key individuals and work, forums and conventions in several places throughout Australia. It was the workings of this office and its connections that made those agendas possible. This building is historically significance because it demonstrates through its location, size and lavish treatment the evolution in importance of this particular department and that of
400-623: A large studio in Balmain . The interior features Australian Red Cedar and ornate tiles, plaster ceilings and cornices . The building's design and furnishings reflect in large part the taste of the first Colonial Secretary, Sir Henry Parkes . The Executive Council Chamber (originally known as the Cabinet Room) was the venue for several meetings that led to Federation, including the Australasian Federal Convention of 1891. The room
480-533: A ministerial department and supported by several agencies. There are also a number of independent agencies that fall under a portfolio but remain at arms-length for political reasons, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Electoral Commission . The state Executive Council , consisting of the governor and senior ministers, exercises the executive authority through the relevant portfolio. The legislative branch includes
560-453: A number of new portfolios requiring new office space as well as a greater need for the departmental head and his staff to be located in approximately the same space. At this time the several departments were located in a number of buildings some hired and some still housed in the domestic buildings constructed in the earliest days of the colony. During the later years of the nineteenth century, while some former responsibilities were removed from
640-609: A pledge of loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales instead of swearing allegiance to the Queen her heirs and successors, and to revise the oaths taken by Executive Councillors. The Act was assented to by the Queen on 3 April 2006. On 5 June 2012 the Constitution Amendment (Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance) Act 2012 No 33 was assented to and made a further amendment to the Constitution Act 1902 , by restoring
720-590: A select committee of the House of Representatives , chaired by George Edwards , had recommended that Australia adopt a decimal currency with the florin (two shillings) as its base. In February 1959 the Commonwealth Government appointed a Decimal Currency Committee to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of a decimal currency, and, if a decimal currency was favoured, the unit of account and denominations of subsidiary currency most appropriate for Australia,
800-508: A separate Australian currency was contemplated by section 51(xii) of the Constitution of Australia , which gave Federal Parliament the right to legislate with respect to "currency, coinage, and legal tender". The Deakin government 's Coinage Act 1909 distinguished between "British coin" and "Australian coin", giving both status as legal tender of equal value. The Act gave the Treasurer
880-532: A shilling was equal to twelve pence, a new cent was worth slightly more than a penny. In 1855, gold full and half sovereigns (worth, respectively, £1 and 10/– sterling) were first minted by the Sydney Mint. These coins were the only non-Imperial denominations issued by any of the Australian mints until after Federation (the Sydney Mint struck Imperial gold sovereigns and half sovereigns starting in 1871, and
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#1732886760100960-474: A sketch of a proposed extension to the existing Chief Secretary's Building. It encompassed a building of six storeys fronting Phillip Street to 18 metres (60 ft) with a depth of 31 metres (102 ft) and a lane at the back. The building was designed to house the Railway Commissioners and the clerical staff of the public Works Department on the ground and first floors. The principal consideration for
1040-469: A third extension to the south of the new wing or, more precisely, what measures could be taken to avoid this additional project. This was investigated by Vernon because even with the additional work the Public Works Department could not be accommodated in the building. To avoid a costly solution, Vernon proposed raising the height of the existing building to create virtually two new floors. Vernon
1120-473: A transitional measure lasting three years, blank note forms of 16 banks were supplied to the government in 1911 to be overprinted as redeemable in gold and issued as the first Commonwealth notes. Some of these banknotes were overprinted by the Treasury, and circulated as Australian banknotes until new designs were ready for Australia's first federal government-issued banknotes, which commenced in 1913. In May 2015,
1200-549: Is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. The Chief Secretary's Building is of aesthetic significance because its primary contribution to the surviving Victorian era streetscapes in Phillip Street, Macquarie Street and, in particular Bridge Street. It remains a dominant building in the pre-eminent administrative and political quarter of Sydney. The finishes and artworks purposely bought for
1280-437: Is very well preserved, with period furniture, paintings of a young Queen Victoria and James Cook , and bronzes of several British Prime Ministers including Palmerston . Some of the objects on display were acquired from the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition . Extensive restorations between 1988 and 2005 were performed with a degree of care that set new standards. It is open to the public; several historical displays interpret
1360-545: The British Empire , Australia and the world. In 1929, as an emergency measure during the Great Depression , Australia left the gold standard, resulting in a devaluation relative to sterling. A variety of pegs to sterling applied until December 1931, when the government devalued the local unit by 20%, making one Australian pound equal to 16 shillings sterling and one pound sterling equal to 25 Australian shillings. Coins of
1440-656: The Commonwealth Treasury ". It also prohibited the circulation of state notes and withdrew their status as legal tender. In the same year the Bank Notes Tax Act 1910 was passed imposing a prohibitive tax of 10% per annum on "all bank notes issued or re-issued by any bank in the Commonwealth after the commencement of this Act, and not redeemed", which effectively ended the use of private currency in Australia. As
1520-524: The Empire of Japan produced currency notes denominated in the Australian pound for use in Pacific island countries intended for occupation. Since mainland Australia was never occupied or intended to be occupied , the occupation currency was not used there, but it was used in the captured parts of the then-Australian territories of Papua and New Guinea . In 1949, when the United Kingdom devalued sterling against
1600-742: The High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution. In 2006, the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in New South Wales, the Constitution Amendment Pledge of Loyalty Act 2006 No. 6 was enacted to amend the Constitution Act 1902 to require Members of the New South Wales Parliament and its Ministers to take
1680-477: The National Library of Australia announced that it had discovered the first £A 1 banknote printed by the Commonwealth of Australia, among a collection of specimen banknotes . This uncirculated Australian pound note, with the serial number (red-ink) P000001, was the first piece of currency to carry the coat of arms of Australia . The Australian currency was fixed in value to sterling. As such Australia
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#17328867601001760-524: The New South Wales Labor Party . Australian pound The pound ( sign : £ , £A for distinction) was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 14 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar . Like other £sd currencies, it was subdivided into 20 shillings (denoted by the symbol s or /– ), each of 12 pence (denoted by the symbol d ). The establishment of
1840-561: The Parliament of New South Wales website and were sworn on by the Governor with effect from 5 April 2023, while their opposition counterparts are listed to correspond with the government ministers. All Opposition counterparts are members of the Parliament of New South Wales. The full ministry was announced on 4 April 2023 and was sworn in the following day on 5 April. All Ministers are members of
1920-456: The US dollar , Australian Prime Minister and Treasurer Ben Chifley followed suit so the Australian pound would not become over-valued in sterling zone countries with which Australia did most of its external trade at the time. As one pound sterling went from US$ 4.03 to US$ 2.80, the Australian pound went from US$ 3.224 to US$ 2.24. Decimalisation had been proposed for Australian currency since 1902, when
2000-520: The state's Constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy. Its relationship with the federal government is regulated by the Australian Constitution . The current government is held by the state Labor Party , led by Premier Chris Minns . Minns succeeded Dominic Perrottet from the Liberal Party on 28 March 2023 following the state election . New South Wales is governed according to
2080-547: The 1790s). Denominated in sterling (and in some cases Spanish dollars ), these private banker and merchant scrip notes were used in Sydney and Hobart through 1829. Private issue banknotes were issued between 1817 and 1910 in denominations ranging from £1 to £100. In 1910, superscribed banknotes were used as the Commonwealth's first national paper currency until the Treasury began issuing Commonwealth banknotes in 1913. The Commonwealth Bank Act of 1920 gave note-issuing authority to
2160-512: The 1890s by Barnet's successor Walter Liberty Vernon in the Victorian Second Empire style , as well as an extension south at 50 Phillip Street. Barnet resented the additions, which lessened the resemblance to his model, the 16th-century Palazzo Farnese in Rome , completed by Michelangelo after Farnese became Pope Paul III . The dome was originally covered in aluminium in 1895–1896, one of
2240-523: The Australian pound also circulated freely in New Zealand, although they were never legal tender. By 1931, Australian coins made up approximately 30% of the total circulation in New Zealand. The devaluation of Australian and New Zealand exchange rates relative to the pound sterling led to New Zealand's Coinage Act 1933 and the issuing of the first coinage of the New Zealand pound . During World War II,
2320-473: The Chief Secretary's Building was confined to altering and adding as the need arose. There were no planned programs of extension or renovation. The interiors of the building began to reflect this ad hoc approach to office accommodation which in turn illustrate the changing roles of the various departments housed within the building. Minor alterations, particularly the provision of ladies lavatories, demonstrate
2400-470: The Colonial, later Chief Secretary. The position of Chief Secretary was one of the most enduring political and administrative institutions in the country. The earliest incumbent of the office, or the position that would evolve into that office, was appointed in 1788. Through its expansion and growing politicisation during the first half of the nineteenth century, it achieved the most far reaching powers of any of
2480-402: The Colonial, later Chief Secretary. This most enduring of political and administrative institutions achieved, through its expansion and growing politicisation, the most far reaching powers of any of the administrative departments of the Colonial bureaucracy. The decisions made in this department affected every level of society in the colony. After the institution of responsible government in 1856
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2560-648: The Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of New South Wales and the cabinet. The Premier and ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of New South Wales and a system of subordinate courts, but
2640-630: The Divorce Courts, including accommodation for judges, the Opera House Trust, the Commissioner for Western Lands and the Valuer General's Department. By the 1980s the value of the building had come to be appreciated as a significant item of the city's environmental and historic landscape. To this end, as a bicentennial project, a million dollar project was set in motion to restore the stonework of
2720-472: The Melbourne Mint starting in 1872). In 1910, .925 fineness sterling silver coins were minted in denominations of 3d, 6d, 1/– and 2/– (known as a Trey, Zac, Deena, and Florin respectively). Unusually no half crown (worth 2/6) was ever issued. Bronze ½d and 1d coins followed in 1911. Production of half sovereigns ceased in 1916, followed by that of sovereigns in 1931. In 1937 a crown (5/– piece, known as
2800-445: The Public Works Department. It replaced a two-storey essentially domestic structure which had housed those two departments since 1813. The magnitude of the building, particularly in comparison to its predecessor, illustrates not only the growth of the department but also the prestige attached to it. The location of the building is historically significant. It forms a particularly important component in an area that, since its election for
2880-664: The Treasury Building and other major departmental offices symbolises the relationship to the office to both political and public offices. Chief Secretary's Building was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. The building embodies, by its construction for and association with, pre-eminently important office and department of
2960-417: The administrative departments of the colonial bureaucracy. The decisions made in this department affected every level of society in this colony. The importance of the office is emphasised by the almost continuous responsibility for this portfolio taken by successive Premiers of NSW after the institution of responsible government in 1856. This link between the chief political office and administrative department
3040-531: The authority of the Colonial Secretary, it remained a pre-eminently prestigious and important political position. The Premier and the Colonial Secretary were usually one or, in coalition governments where the Premier chose another portfolio, such as Lands, the post of Colonial Secretary usually was held by the head of the coalition party. It was against this high-profile role of the Colonial Secretary as well as
3120-530: The bicameral state parliament , which includes the monarchy as represented by the governor , the Legislative Assembly , and Legislative Council . The judicial branch consists of three general courts ( Local , District and Supreme Court ), and several specialist courts such as the Children's Court or Coroner's Court . New South Wales received statehood upon the federation of Australia in 1901, with
3200-598: The bridge Street elevation on levels 2 and 3. Decreasing ornateness was given to the spaces along the Bridge Street elevation, between principal rooms on levels 2 and 3. Austere, simple decoration was given to the range of rooms facing south into the Phillip Lane courtyard . Constructed 1873–1880, the building was designed by colonial architect James Barnet. Its style has been called "Venetian Renaissance" as well as Victorian Free Classical. A fifth floor and dome were added in
3280-407: The building to a cost of £ 992. It is clear that, as the various officials and their departments took possession of their new quarters, a period of settling in and adjustment was required for the building. More alterations were required in 1883 at a cost of £ 11,037 and in 1884 for £ 760. From 1885 to 1888 repairs of apparently a minor nature were required. The modifications made to the building in
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3360-553: The building to bring it in line with modern standards and requirements. The construction of the State Office Block in the 1960s and the subsequent relocation of the Public Works Departments there allowed the Chief Secretary's Building to be renovated and re-used for several new purposes. Through the later 1960s and to 1971 the Chief Secretary's Building underwent major changes to accommodate new occupants principally
3440-422: The building's history, and the glass lift shafts allow archaeological viewing of the construction. As at 30 October 1997, Physical condition is good. Archaeological evidence of the most eastern extension of First Government House may be located under the street and footpath to the west of the Chief Secretary's Building. The original building comprises levels 1 to 4 was constructed between 1873 and 1881. In 1894-96
3520-673: The building, many from the Sydney International Exhibition and some commissioned in London, are of the highest quality and lavishness. They not only demonstrate the prestige of the department but are exemplars of late nineteenth century public taste and refinement. Government of New South Wales The Government of New South Wales , also known as the NSW Government , is the governing body of New South Wales , Australia. The executive government comprises 11 portfolios, led by
3600-523: The building. The tender for what became known as the first contract, the six storey building, was let in April 1890. By mid-1890 the expenditure on the new building amounted to £ 15,603 while alterations and repairs in the existing structure came to over £ 877. In July 1890, while work continued on the first extension to the Chief Secretary's Building, approval was given for the construction of an extension to this only partially constructed building. This extension
3680-451: The building. This work was completed in 1990 at a cost of approximately A$ 2 million. In its existing configuration the Chief Secretary's Building consists of two major directly linked components. At Macquarie, Bridge and Phillip Streets – a four-storey sandstone building, with a copper and slate roof mansard and a copper clad dome . At Phillip Street – a five-storey sandstone building with copper roofed mansards. The original building
3760-470: The change. On 7 April 1963 the Commonwealth Government announced that a system of decimal currency was to be introduced into Australia at the earliest practicable date, and gave February 1966, as the tentative change-over date. On 14 February 1966, a decimal currency, the dollar of one hundred cents , was introduced. Under the implementation conversion rate, £A1 was set as the equivalent of $ 2. Thus, ten shillings became $ 1 and one shilling became 10¢. As
3840-409: The chief characteristics of which can be seen in the iron crested mansard roofs and the pavilion dome. Barnet adopted a scheme of decoration that involved variations from floor to floor and a further variation within each floor. The most ornate decoration was given to all corridors and entrances, principal room located at the four corners of the building on levels 2 and 3, large rooms at the centre of
3920-521: The colony as well as providing offices for the Works Department. James Barnet, the Colonial Architect, designed an impressive multi-storied building to occupy the six lots in an L-shaped portion of the block fronting bridge Street in the period. The drawings were prepared in the period of July 1869 to mid 1870. For this work Barnet was paid nineteen pounds and ten shillings. The first tender for
4000-412: The completion of the finishing trades. In 1880 it was reported that work on the Colonial Secretary's Building was completed at a final cost of £ 81,558/19/1 It was noted, though, that the finishing trades were still ongoing at that time, having spent over 42,620 pounds upon them. These works were completed the following year. As early as 1882 alterations, their extant and nature unknown, were carried out in
4080-753: The earliest such uses of this metal in the world. The building features nine life-size statues (six external and three internal) placed according to the administrative function of three parts of the building. The entrances on three streets are labelled in sandstone, directing visitors to the appropriate section. The internal Carrara marble statues are by Giovanni Giuseppe Fontana . He was born in Italy (1821) but lived and worked in England, dying in London in December 1893. The external sandstone statues are by Achille Simonetti ( Rome 1838 – Birchgrove 1900), who in 1874 established
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#17328867601004160-599: The expansion of that and several other departments and the escalating costs of rental properties such as those in Phillip and Young Streets and that the construction proposal and plans were formed for the new building for the Chief Secretary . The site of the building was highly symbolic of the elevation in status of the office. Further up Bridge Street, it formed a significant element of the most important political and administrative offices. In close proximity to Government House ,
4240-456: The first years of its existence suggest that the original plan was not comprehensive in addressing the needs of the various departments that were to occupy it. By the end of the 1880s space within the building was at a premium. Several of the occupants complained to the effect that, despite the construction of the building, they were in little better situation than had been the case prior to its existence. The Commissioner for Roads complained that he
4320-462: The gates to that residence being across the road, it was in close to Parliament House and overlooked the Treasury Building . Its position halfway between Parliament and Government House, was both practical and illustrative of the respective relationships of those offices. By 1869 sufficient finance had been raised to construct a new and worthy building for the office of the Chief Secretary of
4400-471: The importance of the departments that were housed there, the social hierarchy of its occupants as well as the practical workings of the fully developed late nineteenth century bureaucracy. The interior finish demonstrates refinement of public taste. Its continual occupation as government offices through to the twentieth century make it possible to demonstrate, through changes made to the fabric, changing community practices such as greater opportunities for women in
4480-426: The inadequacy of the original design to meet theses needs, but the increasing expansion and prominence of the public service. The continuous association of the building with government uses and the changes made to the building during the twentieth century, even in minor ways, have the ability to demonstrate important new conditions in the wider community such as increased employment opportunities for women. The place
4560-471: The lane of 10 by 6 metres (32 ft × 20 ft). The cost of this new work was estimated to be £ 14,136 and it involved the resumption and demolition of more terraces along Phillip Street. The tender for the second contract was let in September 1890. A further modification to the work was the decision to link the new (and extended) building to the existing building by means of a more substantial link than
4640-419: The mansard at level 5 and the dome were added. The Phillip Street additions were built in four major stages over the period 1890–1893. Other alterations included: The Chief Secretary's Building is of national significance by reason of its historic, social, architectural, aesthetic and scientific values. It embodies, by its construction for and association with, pre-eminently important office and department of
4720-502: The method of introduction and the cost involved. The committee presented its report in August 1960. It recommended the introduction of the new system on the second Monday in February 1963. In July 1961 the Commonwealth Government confirmed its support of a decimal currency system, but considered it undesirable to make final decisions on the detailed arrangement that would be necessary to effect
4800-471: The new building was economy. The Acting Engineer-in-Chief pointed out that the work was to be done quickly, the tenders let as soon as possible and the project to be kept under £ 20,000. By February 1890 an estimate of just over £ 18,000 had been prepared for the work. Tenders were called in March of the same year for the resumption of the terrace houses and yards that occupied the site of the proposed extension to
4880-533: The office of the Governor of New South Wales . Its main occupant is the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales ; several of the larger rooms are now courtrooms. ...(this) pile of a building like a veritable 'poem in stone' adorns the northern portion of Macquarie Street. In 1856 New South Wales was a granted responsible government . This important step in self government brought with it
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#17328867601004960-528: The office of the Chief Secretary was almost continuously held until the twentieth century by the Premier of NSW further underlining its important role. Several outstanding figures in NSW political life held this office and through it, and the role of the Premier, were able to campaign for the most important political agendas of the time, including, but not exclusively, economic and land reform and Federation . The locations, size and lavish treatment graphically demonstrate
5040-495: The option of taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen, her heirs and successors, in addition to the option of taking the pledge of loyalty. The change applies to members of Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council. The following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of the King, represented by the Governor of New South Wales. The government ministers are listed in order of seniority as listed on
5120-413: The originally designed iron footbridges. Eventually it would be a five-storey addition. By mid-1891 the land required to be resumed for the new work had been bought at a cost of £ 25,725 and expenditure on the additions under construction amounted to £ 14,869. As well, over £ 1,000 had been spent on alterations and repairs in the existing building. Despite this massive outlay consideration was given to yet
5200-674: The power to issue silver, bronze and nickel coins, with the dimensions, size, denominations, weight and fineness to be determined by proclamation of the Governor-General . The first coins were issued in 1910, produced by the Royal Mint in London. The Fisher Government 's Australian Notes Act 1910 gave the Governor-General the power to authorise the Treasurer to issue "Australian notes" as legal tender, "payable in gold coin on demand at
5280-469: The practical workings of that bureaucracy. The internal plan layout, individual spaces and degree of elaboration of finishes demonstrate the dual hierarchy of its users as well as the specific departmental organisation. It is a rare, though not unique, example of such offices on this scale. The additions made to the building in the 1890s for Public Works not only demonstrate the increasing needs and specialisation of that department after its reorganisation, and
5360-693: The principles of the Westminster system , a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom . Legislative power formally rests with the King, acting with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly —together known as the Parliament of New South Wales . Executive power is exercised by the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. The Governor, as representative of
5440-439: The prominent incumbents of the office. Through the association of the office with these figures it has come to be associated with dominant political and social agendas of the nineteenth century. Federation, economic and land reforms may be counted amongst those. The position provided its occupant a prominent platform from which he could campaign for these and other issues although the office should not be misinterpreted as providing
5520-443: The site of First Government House , has been associated with the upper echelons of political and administrative life in the country. It has close physical proximity to (second) Government House, the NSW Parliamentary buildings and the principal offices of the main departments, Treasury, Lands and Education. The building is of historical importance because of its demonstration of the fully developed nineteenth century public service and
5600-403: The various works which were finally completed in 1893 for a total cost of £ 54,926/2/9. Fire had always been a constant worry and therefore an extensive Mansard roof and central dome was added providing additional accommodation and adding to the architectural completeness of the building. For the few final years of the nineteenth century and for most of the following twentieth century work within
5680-418: The work, excavation and masonry, was let in 1873 to the McCredie Brothers. However, by mid 1874, only a little over £ 3,000 had been spent out of an estimated £ 60,000 expenditure. By mid-1875 over £ 15,500 had been spent on the new building. By this time tenders had been let for marble and timber floors. By mid 1876 the expenditure on the building had risen to £ 33,128 and by mid-1877 to £ 52,424. By 1878 it
5760-536: The workforce. The building is one of the most significant late nineteenth century architectural works in Sydney. It embodies two of the most significant projects of Barnet and Vernon and was ranked, by contemporary accounts, with pre-eminent public works of the time such as the GPO . It remains a dominant element in the Victorian streetscapes of this part of Sydney. Its placement in relation to Government House, Parliament House,
5840-423: Was concerned that the vertical addition to the building would imbalance it in relation to the Bridge Street elevation. Vernon estimated would cost approximately £ 12,000 although savings were to be made by substituting a less expensive timber and slate roof for the concrete dome roof than in the contract. Fallick and Murgatroyd were contracted to carry out the new stage of work. By mid-1892 £ 45,097 had been spent on
5920-617: Was considered necessary largely because of the needs of the Public Works Department . The new building generally was designed to house that department and would free the Board room of the office which was then occupied by the Public Works Committee. The extensions comprised a new range that was to connect to the southern line of the new building having a frontage of 13 metres (43 ft) to Phillip Street and an eastern extension to
6000-498: Was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and built in two stages, the first stages being levels one to four completed between 1873 and 1881, with Walter Liberty Vernon completing the second stage between 1894 and 1896 when the mansard at level five and the dome were added. The sandstone building was the seat of colonial administration , has been used continuously by the Government of New South Wales , and even today holds
6080-514: Was designed by Barnet in what is now called the Victorian Free Classical style; characteristics of this style are the massive basement wall with superimposed classical orders and circular arched openings, wide arcaded balconies and balustraded parapets behind which are the barely visible low pitched hipped roofs. When Vernon added to and extended this building he chose the somewhat different, though related, Victorian Second Empire style,
6160-532: Was inconvenience having so many officers so far away. The Engineer-in-Chief for the Harbours and River complained that he had insufficient office accommodation and the Acting Engineer-in-Chief for Railways complained that he lost time because his staff were so widely distributed in various offices. The only option was to extend the ten-year-old building. In November 1889 the Acting Engineer-in-Chief prepared
6240-562: Was not to be broken until the middle years of the twentieth century. The office space afforded for ministerial occupation illustrates this link as does the Executive Council Chamber. Because of the dual political/administrative connections of this office it was associated with several outstanding and prominent figures in both the social and political life of NSW and, because of the significance of that state, Australia. Henry Parkes , Charles Cowper and John Robertson were some of
6320-436: Was obvious that the building was going to considerably exceed the original estimates for its construction costs. By June of that year over £ 76,000 had been spent, £ 16,000 above the original estimate. This figure did not encompass the thirty-five thousand pounds it was estimated would be required for the finishing trades. The last works on the buildings included the commissioning and erection of statues by Giovanni Fontana and
6400-453: Was on the gold standard so long as Britain was. In 1914, the British government removed sterling from the gold standard. When it was returned to the gold standard in 1925, the sudden increase in its value (imposed by the nominal gold price) unleashed crushing deflationary pressures. Both the initial 1914 inflation and the subsequent 1926 deflation had far-reaching economic effects throughout
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