Public buildings in NSW
Architecture around NSW
This photo album (NRS-4346) of public buildings in New South Wales dates from c1880 to c1940. It was created by the Government Architect's office and includes a diverse array of important public and institutional structures such as:
- Departmental buildings, for example the Lands Office in Sydney and Government House
- Court houses
- General hospitals and state hospitals
- Post and telegraph offices
- Police stations and barracks
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Mothers and babies welfare centres
- Government shipbuilding yards, Newcastle
Each of these types of buildings serves a crucial role in public administration, health, and safety, reflecting the Government Architect's office's broad mandate to design and oversee the construction of essential infrastructure.
Related
Plans of public buildings
A sample of digitised building plans showing gaols, hospitals, pilot stations, post and telegraph offices, schools and tramways
Published on
Architecture & design
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The Wasmuth Portfolio
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wasmuth Portfolio, is regarded as one of the most influential architectural treatises of the 20th century
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Sydney Opera House: inspired design
Kieran Larkin, Senior 3D Designer at Museums of History NSW, talked to us about some of the highlights and challenges of designing the landmark exhibition The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50, on display at the Museum of Sydney until March 2024
The coolest room in the house
What practical techniques can we learn from historical building design to minimise heat and energy consumption in our homes today?
The Astor, 1923–2023
Upon completion in 1923, The Astor in Sydney's Macquarie Stree twas the largest reinforced concrete building in Australia, the tallest residential block, and this country’s first company title residences
Photo collections
Electricity Commission
These photos record the power generation and transmission assets of the organisation and document the working conditions and social events of its employees
Maritime Services Board
A sample of the 4000+ digitised glass plate negatives from the Maritime Services Board
Purging pestilence – plague!
The Bubonic Plague hit Sydney in January 1900. Spreading from the waterfront, the rats carried the plague throughout the city. Within eight months 303 cases were reported and 103 people were dead
Sydney Harbour Bridge
This photo series captures the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, from turning the first sod to completion, including the official opening and its initial use by the public
Royal National Park
Many of the photos in this series depict recreational activities around Audley, showcasing people boating, playing sports, bushwalking, picnicking, and taking part in ceremonies
Scheyville Training Farm
Scheyville was a training farm for young men selected from the Sydney area and those arriving under various British immigration schemes
WWI: Sydney Harbour Trust remembers
A photo series of portraits of Sydney Harbour Trust employees who died while on active military service with the AIF during World War I
Fire Commissioners travels
This photo series offers a visual record of the Commissioners' travels across NSW, as well as parts of Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. The two albums span the years 1928 to 1935