Old Bushells Factory

About

The Old Bushells Factory is a heritage-listed former Bushells Tea factory and warehouse, now used as shops, offices and an art gallery, located at 86–88 George Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. No. 86 was designed by Walter Liberty Vernon; and both buildings were built from 1886 to 1912. It is also known as the Old Bushells Factory and Warehouse; Bushells Place; Bushells Warehouse and Bushells Offices; and Health Commission Building (Bushell's). The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

In 1788 the subject site was leased to Captain Henry Waterhouse, in 1800 Robert Campbell took over the lease. There was no substantial building on the site in the first half of the 19th century because of its steep and rocky nature. In 1877 Robert Campbells land and wharfage facilities were sold to the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, (ASN Coy) the subject site may have been used as a rock quarry. Shortly after the ASN Coy purchased the land it was sold to Cliff and Clark who erected a number of small stores. They may not have lasted long on the land as the 1880 Percy Dove plans shows the site to be vacant.

The first building, No. 88, was built in 1886 by Virgoe Son and Chapman, Importers and Merchants. Originally of three floors and basement, No. 88 is a fine example of the late Victorian Free Classical style. In 1904 Bushells Ltd., tea merchants, leased the building.

In 1912 a taller brick building of six floors and basement was completed on the adjacent northern site. The new warehouse (No. 86) was designed by W. L. Vernon, the Government Architect, in the Federation Warehouse style, and built by the Public Works Department. Concurrently, the building at No. 88, was reduced in depth by 10 metres to make way for the construction of Hickson Road, and an extra floor was added. Vernon designed the reconstructed eastern façade (No. 88) to harmonize with its new neighbour (No. 86), while the western elevation of the extra storey retained the style of its lower levels. The two buildings were interconnected to accommodate Bushells, the single occupant.

Bushells later vacated the premises, and from 1924 the buildings were used as stores for the Departments of Education and Labour and Industry. Following renovation between 1948 and 1951, the premises were used as offices and laboratories by Government Departments, mainly by the Department of Public Health.

A new plaza was created at the corner of George Street and Hickson Road in 1976–77, with the help of a donation from the Bushells Group of Companies, in recognition of its long association with The Rocks. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on 26 January 1977.

The Health Commission of NSW vacated the building in 1980. During 1984–85, work was undertaken to adapt the building for commercial offices, with shops, cafe and gallery at ground level. Two additional floors were provided on the upper levels of 88 George Street, and the southern facade of this building was treated architecturally to be in sympathy with the eastern facade. Both buildings were structurally strengthened during the work. The café has outdoor seating on Bushells Place. Access to car parking for No. 88 George Street is under Bushells Place from Hickson Road.

In 2007–2008, the buildings at 86-88 George Street were refurbished and the building services upgraded, for continuing commercial uses. The works included reconfiguration of some basement areas; reconfiguration of layout, entry foyer and retail areas on the ground floor (including removal of ground floor toilets from 88 George Street); refurbishment of toilets (except on third floor); lift upgrade; upgrade of fire stairs; rooftop works; new environmental control systems; redesign of Bushells Place; new external colour scheme; and implementation of some heritage interpretation strategies. The works, based on environmental efficiency principles, achieved a 5-Star Green Star Office Design rating (Green Building Council Australia) for 86-88 George Street, the first for a heritage-listed office building in NSW.

No. 88 is in the Victorian Free Classical style with a decorative plaster painted finish. No. 86 is in the Federation Warehouse style, with traditional face brickwork, stone lintels and string courses. Vernon remodelled the eastern façade of No. 88 to aesthetically harmonise with the new building at No. 86.

No. 86 was designed to be used by Bushells in conjunction with the earlier building (No. 88). Floor levels were common between ground and third floors with load bearing brick external structure on sandstone bedrock. The internal structure was generally of heavy timber floors (with some concrete in service areas) on various combinations of steel I-beams, large hardwood beams and steel, cast iron and hardwood storey post columns. The additional floors gave a strong visual link between the buildings through the use of matching brickwork, and the continuation of the piers, parapet and window treatment to No 86. The building was one of the earliest in Sydney to employ a steel frame, the steel being supplied by Dorman Long & Co of Britain who would later build the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

- Style: No. 86: Federation Warehouse; No. 88: Late Victorian Free Classical;

- Storeys: No. 86: 7 floors; No. 88: 5 floors;

- Internal Structure: heavy timber floors on various combination of beams and steel, cast iron.

As at 27 April 2001, Archaeology Assessment Condition: Destroyed? Assessment Basis: Basements below George Street. Terraced into hill slope from Hickson Road.

- Between 1948 and 1951 the premises were renovated by the Public Works Department as offices and laboratories for various Government departments. The work included a new concrete stairway, some concrete flooring (but a large proportion of the original wooden floors were retained) and an electric lift was installed.

- During 1984–85, a comprehensive renovation and restoration program was undertaken to update the buildings for use as commercial offices. Two additional floors were provided on the upper levels of 88 George Street, and the southern facade of this building was treated architecturally to be in sympathy with the eastern facade. Both buildings were structurally strengthened during the work.

- 2007 – Complete refurbishment of the building. The works will include:

- Refurbishing each floor to premium-grade heritage commercial offices and retail space

- Upgrading fire protection, electrical, air-conditioning and other services

- Improving access and services for people with disabilities