Eveleigh Chief Mechanical Engineer's office

The Chief Mechanical Engineers Office was constructed in as part of the expansion of the Eveleigh Workshops. The building was extended to the east in c.1900, almost doubling in size. A small extension was carried out to the southern side . Although it has stood empty for a decade, the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office is to undergo specialist heritage restoration as part of a key heritage project, the Central to Eveleigh Urban Transformation and Transport program. Works will see the building be made secure, with external restoration of the balcony, paintwork, windows, latticework and connection to utilities. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2017, in the meantime the site will be enclosed with safety mesh and scaffolding. == Description ==

Garden Once famous for its extensive and elaborate grounds, these have been neglected and comprise chiefly now of open space, unkept grass and a row of mature, formerly-pollarded London or hybrid plane trees (Platanus x hybrida) lining Wilson Street, Redfern. An interpretive sign adjacent to the main pedestrian stairway entrance to Carriage Works, to the west, has a copy of a photograph of the elaborate Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office gardens at their peak. Exterior The CME's office is a large two-storey building constructed of brick. Externally, the building is almost unaltered since the 1920s. It includes the original 1887, 1900 and 1920 stages, all of which stylistically harmonise to create one overall composition. There is a central entry portico with a pointed arch pediment with the letters "NSWGR" above the doorway. The roof is hipped and clad in corrugated iron with brick corbelled chimneys. The eaves feature a dentilled cornice. The two-storey bullnose verandah runs the length of the building with cast iron columns and decorative iron brackets and balustrade. The front door features an arched fanlight. The ground floor features timber double-hung sash windows (mostly boarded up). The first floor features timber French doors. A modern steel picket fence on concrete plinth fronts on to Wilson St. There are two stone posts supporting which appear original and support a modern iron picket gate. A number of mature trees are located in the front garden along Wilson Street. Interior Internally the building has been largely altered with later office partitioning and modern ceilings. However, a number of original features remain including the central timber staircase, marble mantelpieces, decorative plaster cornices and archways, tiled bathrooms, tessellated tiles to entry and bathrooms, timber panelled doors, "mini-orb" and "lath and plaster" ceilings. Moveable items Moveable items include a toilet bowl with counterweight seat, (AA24); a wall mirror timber frame, 0.6/1.0, (AM06); and a timber plan cabinet, 6 draws, 1.5/0.9/0.9, (PA08). Condition As at 4 September 2013, the exterior was moderate to poor condition; and the interior was poor to very poor condition. Modifications and dates • 1900–1920 – Additions == Heritage listing ==

As at 4 September 2013, the building is a very fine late Victorian railways office on a scale above all other such structures in the State. The building reflects the importance of the railway engineers in the development of the State and its closeness to the Eveleigh workshops (mainly under the control of the Mechanical Branch) indicates the confidence in railway construction. The building is in a style not often seen in Sydney and is a rare survivor. More often this form of building is in evidence in the country where the pressure of development is less. It is an important element in the town and streetscape of Wilson St, Redfern, particularly its close proximity to the railway workshops. Eveleigh Chief Mechanical Engineers office was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. The Chief Mechanical Engineers Building, is perhaps the grandest building of the workshops group and provides a fine example of a late Victorian railway office building. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as scientifically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare. == See also ==