Sydney Customs House.
Source: NSW Heritage Office, Department of Finance. Date unknown.
Finance ID
Number
CHL Place ID
Number
Current Status
Ownership
Location
DFD-61093
105436
Sydney Customs House is included on the Commonwealth Heritage List (Site ID:
105436 )
Sydney Customs House is owned by the Department of Finance on behalf of the
Commonwealth. It is subject to a lease with Council of the City of Sydney.
Sydney Customs House is at 31 Alfred St, Sydney, NSW.
Record last updated 15 January 2015
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Description
Location of Customs House, Source: Google maps
The original customs house was built on this site in 1844, designed by Colonial
Architect, Mr Mortimer Lewis. The building is a composite load-bearing and framed structure. The external masonry walls range from 680mm to 750mm thick with internal walls about 200mm. Internal beams vary in fabric from wood to steel. The load-bearing masonry on the perimeter of the building and the steel-framed structure in the core are readily separable in the upper reaches of the building, though the edges of concrete floors do bear on the earlier masonry at the perimeter of the framed structure of the core. The panel walls contained in the 1917 frame are of brick.
Floors in the perimeter building are generally suspended timber, joisted with added steel beams, while the framed core has reinforced concrete two-way slabs.
Lift shafts exist on the central axis of the building. The roof is a pitched roof on king post trusses finished with Marseilles tiles of Australian make. Extensive box-gutters run around the perimeter of the 1903 roofs. Internal walls are finished with lime plaster, repaired with cement render. Some areas have significant plaster mouldings. Ceiling types are mixed. Window joinery, doors and architraves are generally French polished or varnished. Windows are timber, of French door and vertical sliding sash types, where overlooking the street.
External and internal views of Customs House
Source: Department of Finance, date unknown
Record last updated 15 January 2015
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Landscape Setting Sydney Customs House is located close to the central business district of Sydney and sits across from Circular Quay.
Customs House.
Source: Australian Photographic Library, 1996, Barcode Number: rt48918
Not applicable. Heritage Objects and Collections
History and
Summary of Uses
Sydney Customs House is located in the traditional ands of the Inner City Region, the Gadigal Clan of the larger Eora Group.
The site of the Customs House is the presumed spot of the landing and official flag raising on the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. This event marked the foundation of the colony of New South Wales. The site has been occupied by buildings since
1843. The site at Circular Quay was chosen in 1843 to house the Customs Service for the rapidly growing colony. They were responsible for all imports and exports, exise on locally manufactured goods, immigration control, and control of narcotic substances and morally corrupt goods such as books and films.
During the war years, this included items of enemy origin, or having socialistic or communistic tendencies. Accordingly, areas for storage, administration and public business were included in the original design of the building. As trade increased, so did pressures on space within the Customs House and two new wings were constructed between 1883 and 1889. These wings provided accommodation for the Shipping Office and Maritime Board. These demands increased again with the approach of Federation.
Custom's roles of immigration control and administration of tariffs were major reasons for Federation. They became, at this time, the major revenue raiser for the Commonwealth Government. Extensions were timed to coincide with the change in government. Additional floors were added to assist with new and expanding duties brought about by the massive political change. Further revisions were made between 1915 and 1917 to further accommodate these changes and pressures brought about by the war. Few major structural changes have occurred between 1917 and 1995. This reflects the movement of international shipping away from Circular Quay to other areas of the City and the
State. In June 1990, operations of the Customs Service were relocated. The building underwent refurbishment and reopened in June 1997 as a combined commercial, performance, tourism and museum space.
Record last updated 15 January 2015
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Customs House is significant for role in customs collection, 1984.
Source: Australian Heritage Photographic Library. The Department of Environment,
Barcode number: 297_007
Statutory Heritage Values
Gazetted
Statement of
Significance -
Commonwealth
Heritage List
The Customs House is historically highly significant for its lengthy association with the important task of customs collection, firstly by the NSW colonial government and later by the Commonwealth following Federation. With
Federation, inter-colonial customs were abolished and the federal government took over the role of collecting customs duties on goods imported from overseas.
The building contains parts of the oldest surviving building of its type in
Australia, and is physically located adjacent to the site of the landing of the First
Fleet in 1788.
Sydney Customs House exhibits various characteristics of Classical styling, including symmetry, pedimented entry, colonnaded verandahs and other features. Further, the building reflects considerable design achievement for the cohesive way in which the efforts of three major architects, their work separated by more than half a century, combines in a very successful creation.
The customs House is important for its direct connection with three NSW colonial architects, Mortimer Lewis, James Barnet and Walter Liberty Vernon.
Standing beyond an expansive forecourt, and located at Sydney's hallmark
Circular Quay, the building has been a landmark for many generations of Sydneysiders and it plays an important role in the harbour side cityscape.
Criterion A -
Processes
Criterion B –
The Customs House is historically highly significant for its lengthy association with the important task of customs collection, firstly by the NSW colonial government and later by the Commonwealth following Federation. With
Federation, inter-colonial customs were abolished and the federal government took over the role of collecting customs duties on goods imported from overseas.
The building contains parts of the oldest surviving building of its type in
Australia, and is physically located adjacent to the site of the landing of the First
Fleet in 1788.
Customs House does not fulfil this criterion.
Record last updated 15 January 2015
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Rarity
Criterion C –
Research
Criterion D –
Characteristic
Value
Criterion E –
Aesthetic characteristics
Customs House does not fulfil this criterion.
Sydney Customs House exhibits various characteristics of Classical styling, including symmetry, pedimented entry, colonnaded verandahs and other features.
Standing beyond an expansive forecourt, and located at Sydney's hallmark
Circular Quay, the building has been a landmark for many generations of Sydneysiders and it plays an important role in the harbourside cityscape.
Criterion F –
Technical achievement
The building reflects considerable design achievement for the cohesive way in which the efforts of three major architects, their work separated by more than half a century, combines in a very successful creation.
Criterion G – Social
Value
Customs House does not fulfil this criterion.
Criterion H –
Significant people
Criterion I -
Indigenous tradition
The customs house is important for its direct connection with three NSW colonial architects, Mortimer Lewis, James Barnet and Walter Liberty Vernon.
Customs House does not fulfil this criterion.
Non-Statutory Listings
Register of the
National Estate
(RNE)
NSW Heritage
Register
Customs House was included on the Register of the National Estate in 1991. In
February 2012, the RNE became a non-statutory archive.
Customs House is included in the NSW Heritage Register. As the site is located on
Commonwealth land the listing does not have legal effect.
City of Sydney
Local Environment
Plan
Customs House is included within Schedule 5 of the City of Sydney Local
Environment Plan 2011. As the site is located on Commonwealth land the listing does not have legal effect.
National Trust of
NSW Register of
Significant Places
Customs House is included in the NSW National Register of Significant Places.
Additional information
Property Access
Areas of the building are open to the public. Facilities include cafe, restaurants, and City of Sydney Library Network.
Consultation
For any proposed works to Sydney Customs House, consultation should be undertaken with the Compliance, Environment and Heritage team , Department of
Finance.
Conservation
Documents/
References
Apperly, Richard, et al (1989), A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian
Architecture, Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Bridges, P. & McDonald, D. James Barnet (1988), Colonial Architect. Hale &
Record last updated 15 January 2015
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Iremonger, Sydney.
Pearson, Mike, and O'Keefe, Brendan, Federation (1998), A national survey of heritage places. Australian Heritage Commission, Canberra.
Phillips, Peter and McCormack, Terri (1993), Conservation Report: Sydney
Customs House.
Hansford, Brian and McLean, Peter (1990), The Customs House Sydney 1845 –
1990: commemorating the final activity in the Customs House, Circular Quay,
Sydney.
More information For further information regarding Sydney Customs House, please contact the
Department of Finance .
Record last updated 15 January 2015
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