Making-safe Sydney’s sandstone buildings within accepted conservation guidelines

Many of Sydney’s early public, private and ecclesiastical buildings were constructed from the abundant local sandstone. The use of the material reached its peak in the late 19th century with the discovery of Pyrmont ‘Yellowblock’ sandstone. The majority of Sydney’s prominent public buildings were constructed from this particular sandstone, characterized by its warm, honey-coloured appearance which has helped to establish the material as a quintessential determinant of the city’s historic fabric and architectural character. The use of the material has played a critical phase of the city’s architectural and urban development. Many of these buildings have associative significance with prominent architects of the day, but it is just as much their architectural aesthetic that comprises their significance. The appropriate care and conservation of Sydney sandstone in this context is therefore necessary to protect the historic built character of the city.