Heritage Study 2020 – Extent Heritage Pty Ltd

Heritage Inventory Sheet

Recommended Name ‘The Towers’ – Federation Shopfronts

Site Image

Address 111-117 Auburn Road, Auburn NSW 2144

Lot/Section/DP A - 441129

B - 318620

1003 - 1166744

Part 1 - 111762

Heritage Study ID HS6

LEP ID Not currently included on the Cumberland LEP

Heritage

Conservation Area

Not included

Date Updated January 2021

Significance Level LOCAL

Site Type Level 1 Built

Level 2 Commercial

Heritage Study 2020 – Extent Heritage Pty Ltd

Curtilage Map

Statement of Significance

The set of four commercial shopfronts at 111-117 Auburn Road known as The Towers are locally significant for their historic, aesthetic and representative heritage values. Built in c.1901, the building is located on Thomas Bates’ 80-acre land grants and is historically associated with the commercial development of the Auburn township in the early Twentieth Century. The building is of aesthetic significance as an intact Federation Free Style commercial building. Key aesthetic attributes include decorative parapet, arched balconies, and paint scheme. The shopfronts demonstrate representative qualities of an intact Federation commercial building designed in the Federation Free Style, built in Auburn.

Criteria Assessment

a) Historic Built in c.1901, the building is located on Thomas Bates’ 80-acre land grants and is historically associated with the commercial development of the Auburn township in the early Twentieth Century.

b) Associative The item does not meet this criterion.

c) Aesthetic/Technical The building is of aesthetic significance as an intact Federation Free Style commercial building. Key aesthetic attributes include decorative parapet, arched balconies, and paint scheme.

d) Social The item does not meet this criterion.

e) Scientific The item does not meet this criterion.

f) Rarity The item does not meet this criterion.

g) Representativeness The shopfronts demonstrate representative qualities of an intact Federation commercial building designed in the Federation Free Style, built in Auburn.

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Physical Description

The Towers are a set of four two-storey shops along Auburn Road which are characteristic of the Federation Free Style architectural style. The buildings each have a corrugated metal skillion roof concealed by a decorative parapet. There are seven face-brick chimneys to the rear of the building which feature rough cast render and brick dentils. The shop fronts share similar façade decoration with some differences, notably the paint scheme and number of windows. They have a symmetrical façade design with the outer two shopfronts and central two shopfronts being identical in design above the awning. The front elevation exhibits a masonry façade embellished with an eclectic combination of elements characteristic of the Federation Free Style. The two outermost shopfronts (No. 111 and No. 117) have two brick piers with cornices and dentils which project above the parapet and flank a central gabled motif constructed of brick and concrete with a central oval-shaped louvered vent. The words ‘1901’ have been moulded inside the triangular motif at No.111. The decoration of the upper façade is further defined by horizontal courses of expressed brick and a brick-arched balcony with metal balustrade. The verandah at No.111 has been obscured by a modern timber screen. No. 111 features two prominent skyline features in the form of metal poles. The two innermost shops (No.113 and No.115) have a decorated parapet design that features a louvered vent decorated with a cross-shaped motif and horizontal courses of expressed brick that sit atop short vertical pilasters of expressed brick. Beneath this detailed brickwork is a double arched verandah which has been infilled with later windows and doors at both No.113 and No.115. The double arch features an expressed brick string course which has been rendered at No.113. A modern cantilevered awning is fixed to the shops by tensile bracing. Below the awning, the lower façade features highly modified spaces for the inclusion of contemporary window shopfronts and signage. The buildings have been re-roofed and extended to the rear. There is a substantial multi-storey development directly to the north of the shops which is encroaching and impacting the heritage values of the item. Overall, the condition of the shopfronts is good.

Condition Good Fair Poor

Alterations and Additions

No. 111

▪ No. 111 is currently occupied by the Bukhari House Islamic bookstore ▪ Contemporary timber panelled screen* ▪ Modern signage* ▪ Highly modified lower façade*

No.113

▪ No. 113 is currently occupied by the Ottoman Haus Café ▪ Openings on the second storey are infilled with an early timber panelled door and window* ▪ Modern signage* ▪ Highly modified lower façade*

No.115 –

▪ No. 115 is currently occupied by a Pizza Hut ▪ Openings on the second storey are infilled with two contemporary glazed single paned windows* ▪ Three air conditioning units have been installed on the upper façade. ▪ Modern signage* ▪ Highly modified lower façade*

Heritage Study 2020 – Extent Heritage Pty Ltd

No. 117

▪ No. 117 is currently occupied by Dominos Pizza ▪ Modern signage* ▪ Highly modified lower façade*

The shops are mostly intact in the upper façade, although have many intrusive elements included an infilled arched balcony, and modern timber panelled screen. The shops have been heavily modified on the lower façade beneath the awning. The modern high-rise development to the north of the building is also considered intrusive. The item is considered to have a moderate integrity.

Integrity High Moderate Low

* element detracts from the overall cultural significance of the place

Historical Notes

Construction years 1901

Auburn The land which forms part of the modern suburb of Auburn was first developed the 1790s when a track from Sydney to Parramatta was first developed and early land grants were given to free settlers and ex-convicts in the area. Most early land grants were small, measuring between 30-100 acres and were awarded to people such as Edward Gould, Henry Marr, Thomas Bates and John O’Donnell. Larger grants were given to established merchants and officials, such as James Chisholm, a merchant, who received a 600-acre grant, and Joseph Hyde Pots, who was given 410 acres. In 1855, the first railway line from Sydney to Parramatta Junction allowed for suburban development around the area. The suburb of Auburn developed in the 1860s-80s from the subdivisions by John Yelverton Mills near the railway station. Mills named the suburb after the village in Oliver Goldsmith’s poem ‘The Deserted Village’. During this period, several main roads were built through the area and by 1880 it was reported that there were about 40 residences and a population of 200 people living in Auburn. By 1912–13, Auburn had established itself as suburb with the 11th largest number of new buildings in the metropolitan area for that year, with 268 approvals. The Towers The first auction of the Auburn Township was made on 1 June 1878 and although sales were successful development was slow. It covered the section of Turner's grant to the east of Auburn Road extending to Percy Street, known as Auburn East, being sections 12 to 22 of the subdivision (DP 1389). The subject site was located in Section 13. Auburn Road initially developed as residential streetscape with several cottages owned by prominent locals, and in 1887 gas mains were laid as Auburn met the number of houses required by the government to justify the installation. The residential core of Auburn was at first developed closer to the railway, however by the late 1880s Auburn Road had the basis of a retail street. Auburn Road is now considered the one of the high streets in Auburn. Turners 80-acre land grant was purchased by John Yelverton Mills for £15 per acre from William McMillan in October 1876. This land as well as Bates neighbouring land grant was purchased and planned for the subdivision of the Auburn Township. The Auburn Township was laid out on a traditional north south grid with back­ to-back allotments with 40' frontages (12.192 m) as was the norm of the day although the streets were a generous 66 feet (20.117 m) wide. The land on which the item is located formed part of Thomas Turners 80-acre land grant. Auburn Road was formed by the early subdivisions of Auburns town centre, along the boundaries of Thomas Turner and Thomas Bates land grant. Auburn Road was significant passage that connected Auburn Station to Woodville Road. The group of shops along Auburn Road known as The Towers was constructed in 1901 and relate to development of the Auburn township in the early Twentieth Century. The building first appears in the

Heritage Study 2020 – Extent Heritage Pty Ltd

Sands Directory in 1906 and was occupied by an ironmonger confectioner, furniture mart and grocer. Samuel Oliver as a grocer and produce store from c.1906. By 1910 The Towers was occupied by an iron monger, boot importer, stationer and grocer. In 1915, there was an ironmonger, mercer, fancy goods store, and grocer. Oliver Samuel appears to be the longest early occupant of The Towers, occupying his grocer and produce store from c.1905 until 1920. The building has continued in its use as a group of commercial shops.

Recommendations

Heritage Management Existing Built and Landscape Elements

Future Development and Planning

1. Include this item as a new heritage listing on the LEP.

X 6. Original fabric is highly significant and should be maintained.

X

12. Alterations and additions should respond to the existing pattern of development, with careful consideration of the setting (form, scale, bulk, setback and height).

X

2. Include this item’s listing as part of or as a Heritage Conservation Area.

7. Unsympathetic alterations that detract from the cultural significance of the item should be removed.

X

13. New alterations and additions should respect the historic aesthetic/character of the item and area (e.g. paint scheme, materiality, style, landscape elements).

X

3. Consider additional research to nominate this item for the State Heritage Register.

8. Maintain heritage landscape elements and schemes.

14. Future uses for this item should be compatible with its historical functions/ associations.

X

4. The heritage curtilage for this item should be revised/reduced.

9. Maintain the existing setting of the heritage item, informed by the historic pattern of neighbouring development (form, scale, bulk, setback and height).

5. Not recommended for inclusion on the LEP.

10. Maintain the historic aesthetic/character of the item and area (e.g. paint scheme, materiality, style, landscape elements).

X

11. The condition of this item is poor. Condition and maintenance should be monitored.

Other recommendations and/or comments:

▪ Should the opportunity arise it is highly recommended that intrusive elements on the upper façade of the shopfronts be removed and the original façade be reinstated.

▪ Should the opportunity arise, a more sympathetic and heritage appropriate paint scheme should be investigated for these buildings.

Heritage Study 2020 – Extent Heritage Pty Ltd

Listings

Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number

Heritage Act – State Heritage Register N/A -

Local Environmental Plan N/A -

Cumberland Heritage Study ‘The Towers’ – Commercial Shops

HS6

National Trust Australia Register N/A -

Other References

▪ Kass, T 1996, Auburn Heritage Study Draft Final Report. Volume 2 Historical Context Report. Sydney: Auburn Council.

▪ Kass, T 2008, Auburn, retrieved 27 March 2019, https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/auburn

▪ Jervis, J 1933, The story of Parramatta and district, Sydney.

▪ Auburn News ad Granville Electorate Gazetteer, 1905 ‘Parramatta Licensing Court’, 8 July 1905.

Limitations

1. Access to all heritage items was limited to a visual inspection from the public domain. The interiors of buildings and inaccessible areas such as rear gardens were not assessed as part of this heritage study.

2. Condition and site modification assessment was limited to a visual inspection undertaken from the public domain.

3. Unless additional research was required, historical research for all heritage items was based on existing information in the Cumberland Heritage Study Stage 1 2019 prepared by Extent Heritage.

Additional Images

Overview of The Towers showing encroaching high rise development.

Rear of shops from Harrow Road.

Heritage Study 2020 – Extent Heritage Pty Ltd

No. 111

No. 113

No. 115

No. 117

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Photograph of Auburn Road showing The Towers c.1900-1910. (Source: State Libreary of NSW Call No. 170085)