Originally constructed in 1821 as the Government Stables building, the structure that houses the Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the few surviving works of the convict architect, Francis Greenway. A dramatic gothic structure with turrets, the building was described as a ‘palace for horses’ and is a portrayal of the romantic vision of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and the British architectural trends of the time. The Stables building, located in close proximity to picturesque Sydney harbour, reflects the building techniques and the range of materials and skills employed during the early settlement era.

One of the oldest music schools in Australia, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has inhabited the Greenway Stables building since 1915. Before the Conservatorium took up residence in the building a number of alterations were made to the original structure to accommodate the music school. Most significant was the addition, in 1913, of a music auditorium, Verbrugghen Hall, which was constructed in the courtyard of the Stables building. This made a striking impact on the appearance of the original structure, with the new hall’s roof rising above the surrounding turrets. Further major additions and modifications were made to the Greenway building during the 1960s.

By the mid-1990s, the needs of the Conservatorium had outgrown the building. After investigating relocation options, attention was focused on redeveloping the site. The redevelopment project involved the design of a new building, connected to the original, which would house most of the music school’s requirements. At first the intention was to simply repaint the original Greenway Stables building but it was soon decided that the need to expand and upgrade the music school provided a unique opportunity to conserve and restore the building.

Because of the building’s location within the Sydney Botanic Gardens and the long history of the site, the redevelopment and conservation project was a controversial one. Concern was expressed about the visual impact of the development project on the surrounding gardens and about the management of the site’s archaeological features, such as the early roads and drains discovered during initial works. The project managers took these concerns into consideration when designing the new building and created an innovative structure, built into the landscape that does not substantially alter the overall appearance of the gardens and preserves and displays the historic features of the site.

Taking over five years from planning to completion, the project has been widely acclaimed as a great success. The historic building’s restoration and the ingenious architecture of the new building have been enjoyed by the students, staff and many visitors since its opening in August 2001.

In 1996, after over 150 years of alterations and additions, the historic Stables building exhibited an assortment of ad hoc modifications and was barely recognizable as a Greenway-designed structure. The conservation approach taken was to retain key additions, such as the Verbrugghen Hall, but to view the original Greenway fabric as the most significant layer and to restore as much as possible of the original form of the building.

A structured process of determining the extent of the remaining original fabric was established. The research team examined historical records and photos and made in situ investigations to build up a picture of the building in its earliest form and to establish how much of the original building fabric still existed. This picture formed the basis of comprehensive plans to guide the project.

Conservation of the Stables building involved works on the perimeter wall, reconstruction and restoration of the windows, and removal of inappropriate additions such as the 1913-15 awnings and the modern accretions, including the enlarged windows on the south side. Once the unsuitable additions had been removed the original features could be restored. For example, after the removal of twentieth century concrete awnings and in-fills the grand arched doorways to the stables central courtyard were reinstated to their original design.

During the conservation works a substantial amount of original fabric was discovered hidden behind additions, such as original Greenway windows which were revealed behind twentieth century plaster. These windows were restored to their original appearance, with sandstone reveals and timber frames. Similarly, the southern arcade of the Stables building which had led to the horse stalls was discovered beneath plaster. This arcade was left visible, displaying the original brickwork and flagstones and providing visitors to the building with an insight into the building’s history.

The historic features of Verbruggen Hall were retained and restored, such as the coved ceiling, decorative plasterwork and leadlight clerestory windows. At the same time, accessibility, acoustics and other important functional features of the building were improved.

Since its restoration and the reinstatement of its picturesque gothic character, the public can once again appreciate the fine proportions and rich contrasts of the Stables building.  Together with the other outstanding public buildings along Macquarie Street, such as the Sydney Opera House and the State Library, the restored Conservatorium in its charming setting now completes the grand procession of cultural institutions and reinstates a once forgotten chapter of Sydney’s early colonial settlement. 

The ambitious conservation and adaptive reuse of the landmark nineteenth century Gothic complex provides a new focal point for downtown Sydney while raising the standards for conservation in the region. The excellent documentation of the historic structures has been translated with great clarity in the conservation process, resulting in the rigorous restoration of the historic building fabric, the removal of unsympathetic additions, and the careful distinction between the new and the old. The conservation project has negotiated the considerable technical and structural challenges posed by 150 years of changes to the buildings with high technical accomplishment and great sensitivity, particularly in terms of material treatment. The project balances attention to detail with an urban-scale flair, showcasing archaeological finds on the one hand, while smoothly integrating the restored structures and contemporary buildings into the Botanic Gardens on the other.