Fatin Aminuddin (fatin@ghazia.com) cc. Jakub Urge (jakub@ghazia.com) Client: YG Investment Pty Ltd c/- Ghazi Al Ali Architect Pty Ltd.

23 September 2019

Dear Fatin

HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT LETTER - 421 Liverpool Road, Strathfield, NSW I’m writing to provide you with a Heritage Impact Statement Letter in support of the proposed works at the subject site, 421 Liverpool Road, Strathfield. We understand that the proposal is to demolish the existing dwelling on the site and construct a contemporary style boarding house. The site is not an item of heritage significance, however, is within the vicinity of two items of local heritage significance identified in Schedule 5, Strathfield Local Environmental Plan 2012 (LEP):

• Former Leigh College including E Vickery Memorial Hall – 416 – 420 Liverpool Road (I228);

• “Brundah” – Victorian Italianate villa – 416-420 Liverpool Road (I229).

The Site The subject site is located at 421 Liverpool Road, Strathfield, Lot 1 DP119223. The site is level and is an irregular shaped allotment. The existing dwelling on the site is orientated south-east towards Liverpool Road. The total area of the site is approximately 594.3m2. The site currently contains a modest Federation Style dwelling c1910. The principal section of the dwelling is masonry, with timber framed double-hung windows, it has a tiled hipped roof with front gable. The rear section of the house, a modified area, contains a covered alcove and has a corrugated metal skillion roof. The front verandah contains timber/masonry columns and damaged/missing tessellated tiles. The building is in very poor condition, with visible masonry cracking and bulging. There is considerable damage to the brickwork, internal plaster and flooring due to water leakage and associated movement.

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Figure 1 – Site Location (red). Source: Six Maps.

Figure 2 – View of front facade (east elevation) of dwelling. Note considerable masonry damage above left

window lintel and within the verandah. Source: Domain.

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Figure 3 – View looking north of rear yard. Source: Domain

Figure 4 – View within living room, showing considerable water damage and associated masonry cracking. Source: Domain

The Proposal It is proposed the demolish the existing dwelling and construct a masonry and metal contemporary style boarding accommodation building. The proposed boarding house includes three storeys and two basement levels. The north and south elevations have a

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centre articulation, providing reduced bulk and presenting the building as two linked pavilions. This is further enhanced, with the top floor being setback, designed in lightweight materials and a reduced usable floorplate.

Figure 5 – East Elevation. Source: Ghazi Al Ali Architect.

Figure 6 – North Elevation. Source: Ghazi Al Ali Architect.

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Heritage Context and Assessment

Figure 7 – LEP Heritage Map, showing location of site (red) in relation to vicinity items opposite. Source: Strathfield LEP2012 Heritage Map HER_006.

The subject site is not heritage listed, nor is it in a Heritage Conservation Area. It is however, within the vicinity of two items of local heritage significance identified in Schedule 5, Strathfield Local Environmental Plan 2012 (LEP):

• Former Leigh College including E Vickery Memorial Hall – 416 – 420 Liverpool Road (I228);

• “Brundah” – Victorian Italianate villa – 416-420 Liverpool Road (I229). The following Statements of Significance have been extracted from the NSW Heritage Inventory for the vicinity sites:

• Former Leigh College including E Vickery Memorial Hall Constructed in 1952 this two storey symmetrical building is constructed of face brick. A tile hip roof has a square clock tower with a copper dome and features a stone porticoe, stone string course, brick voussoirs, stone sills, elaborate stone entablatures to central windows on the wings and simple brick detailing to the corners. The E. Vickery Memorial Hall is a single storey brick and tiled roof building. Elements include a flat roofed stone porticoe, round top stained glass windows,

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eave brackets and decorative timber detailing. Leigh Hall and the E. Vickery memorial Hall are screened from Liverpool Road by mature plantings and are of local significance for their architectural qualities and as a landmark along Liverpool Road.

• “Brundah” – Victorian Italianate villa Situated within Leigh College and on the crest this two storey Victorian Italianate villa has an asymmetrical facade with a projecting two storey bay. Features include arched top windows, tessellated tiles to the return verandah, masonry columns, eave brackets, cast iron brackets and balustrades, french doors, fan and side lights and a south facing bay. A slate hip roof features a cast iron widows walk. Masonry gate posts and a brick fence surround the college grounds. The villa has some remnant pine planting and other landscaping elements are formally placed to the driveway and the adjacent 1930's buildings. This Victorian villa is of local significance for its retention of architectural detail and its prominent location. Both the villa and planting schemes are important landmark elements along Liverpool Road.

Figure 8 – c1890 Subdivision advertisement, approximate location of vacant subject site indicated (in red). Source: Strathfield Heritage.

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Figure 9 – 1943 Aerial showing subject site (red). Source: Six Maps

Figure 10 – Contemporary Aerial image, showing subject site (red) Source: Six Maps

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Figure 11 – Detail contemporary aerial image, showing subject site (red) and heritage items (yellow). Source: Six Maps

Figure 12 – View across Liverpool Road to heritage items from subject site. Source: Google Maps

The items of significance are located south, across the six lane Liverpool Road, also known as the Hume Highway. Apart from the spatial separation, which is approximately 60m (at its closest) to the buildings themselves, the heritage items are heavily screened by both a masonry fence and substantial mature trees/vegetation. The six lane arterial road provides additional separation in a physical, visual and auditory sense. The Statement of

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Significance for the former Leigh College, which is the closest item to the subject site, states “Leigh Hall and the E. Vickery memorial Hall are screened from Liverpool Road by mature plantings….”. The plantings form part of the heritage curtilage for the site, that also provides a distinct boundary. Significant views to and from the heritage items are limited to this boundary, with glimpses available for road users and pedestrians on the south side of the highway. The area north of the highway, where the subject site is located, contains a mix of architectural styles, building heights and uses. The considered design of the three level proposal, with the top level set back and of lightweight materials, ensures that while the building has contemporary architectural features, it does not detract from or in any way reduce the heritage significance of either heritage items in the vicinity. The existing dwelling is in a dilapidated condition, externally and internally. The proposal will provide a contemporary building within a busy streetscape setting. The selected materials and colours (specifically grey brickwork, dark metal cladding and glazing) will continue the evolution of architectural styles and uses within this area of Liverpool Road.

Conclusion In conclusion, the replacement of the existing dilapidated dwelling with a contemporary boarding house will provide much needed additional accommodation within the area. The considered, compact design provides for three floors of accommodation, with the top floor set back. This setback, building articulation and the use of a mix of materials, ensures the scale and bulk of the building is reduced and is appropriate for the area. The design, along with the visual and physical separation, ensures the heritage items remain dominant within their landscape and when viewed from Liverpool Road. Overall, the proposed boarding house does not detrimentally impact the heritage significance of the items within the vicinity. The proposal is supported on heritage grounds. Yours sincerely,

Gavin Patton M HRM, Dip PM, M URP (Heritage) Heritage Consultant | WolfPeak