North Sydney Sewer Vent
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| North Sydney Sewer Vent | |
|---|---|
 North Sydney Sewer Vent, Corner Falcon Street and Warringah Freeway, North Sydney, New South Wales | |
| Location | Falcon Street, North Sydney, North Sydney Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°49′48″S 151°12′47″E / 33.8299°S 151.2130°E |
| Built | c. 1899 |
| Built for | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
| Architect | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
| Owner | Sydney Water |
| Official name | Sewer Vent; North Sydney Sewer Vent; Alfred St Sewer Vent |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 15 November 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1641 |
| Type | Other - Utilities - Sewerage |
| Category | Utilities - Sewerage |
| Builders | Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage |
  Location of North Sydney Sewer Vent in Sydney  North Sydney Sewer Vent (Australia) | |
The North Sydney Sewer Vent is a heritage-listed sewer ventilation stack located at the corner of Falcon Street and Warringah Freeway, North Sydney, North Sydney Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage. It is also known as North Sydney Sewer Vent and Alfred St Sewer Vent. The property is owned by Sydney Water, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 November 2002.[1]
Part of the original North Sydney sewerage system built by the government between 1891 and 1898. Oral history sources have revealed that prior to the construction of the Bradfield Highway, foul odours permeated the area. Successive complaints may have led to the removal of the dome which is no longer in situ. Odours are still detectable under certain climatic conditions. Expressway construction in the 1960s may have been responsible for severe movement in the shaft of the structure which may have caused cracking. Stabilisation has been undertaken, involving the introduction of steel hoops around the brickwork. The stack was originally wholly within St Leonards Park, however as this was reclaimed by the Highway, the vent now stands on an island separate to the Park.[1]
Description
A brick ventilation stack built 30 metres (98 ft) high, and a diameter at internal base of 1.70 metres (5 ft 7 in), tapering to 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) at the top of the structure. The original design included a pagoda-like dome at the apex of the structure, however the top is currently defined by a cement rendered parapet. The base of the structure contains an iron inspection hatch into which is engraved, "Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage 1899". Brickwork is slightly ornamental but is more austere than that of similar stacks built earlier on the southern side of the harbour. Parallel steel bands now encircle the structure, introduced during the 1960s as a stabilisation device.[1]
The vent is considerably intact.[1]
Modifications and dates
The ventshaft is located alongside the Cahill Expressway. Some of the cracks that are present along the length of the ventshaft may be the result of earth movements during the construction of the expressway in the 1960s. As such, a series of circular steel bands have been applied to the exterior of the Vent, at evenly spaced intervals, as a stabilisation measure.[1]
Further information
Refer to other inventory listings for Lewisham Sewer Vent, Bellevue Hill Sewer Ventshaft, Glebe Sewer Ventshaft, Marrickville Sewer Ventshaft.[1]
