Finger Wharf: Difference between revisions
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The '''Finger Wharf''' or '''Woolloomooloo Wharf''' is a [[wharf]] in [[Woolloomooloo, New South Wales|Woolloomooloo]] Bay, [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. The structure is the largest timbered-piled building in the world{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} and was completed in 1915. During its working life for around 70 years it mainly handled the export of wool, but also acted as a staging point for troop deployment to the [[World War]]s as well as a disembarking point for new migrants arriving in Australia. |
The '''Finger Wharf''' or '''Woolloomooloo Wharf''' is a [[wharf]] in [[Woolloomooloo, New South Wales|Woolloomooloo]] Bay, [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. The structure is the largest timbered-piled building in the world{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} and was completed in 1915. During its working life for around 70 years it mainly handled the export of wool, but also acted as a staging point for troop deployment to the [[World War]]s as well as a disembarking point for new migrants arriving in Australia. |
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Today it has been redeveloped as a fashionable complex housing a hotel, restaurants and residential apartments. |
Today it has been redeveloped as a fashionable complex housing a hotel, restaurants and residential apartments. |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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A new marina and resort complex was approved to replace the wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, but when demolition work was due to begin in January 1991, locals blocked entrance to the site.<ref name=smh1991>{{Cite news |title=Live and let lie policy for wharf |first=Anne |last=Susskind |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=1991-01-15 |page=2 |id=ISSN 0312-6315}}</ref> Unions imposed a [[Green ban]] which stopped demolition crews from undertaking work.<ref name=smh1991/> |
A new marina and resort complex was approved to replace the wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, but when demolition work was due to begin in January 1991, locals blocked entrance to the site.<ref name=smh1991>{{Cite news |title=Live and let lie policy for wharf |first=Anne |last=Susskind |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=1991-01-15 |page=2 |id=ISSN 0312-6315}}</ref> Unions imposed a [[Green ban]] which stopped demolition crews from undertaking work.<ref name=smh1991/> |
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Due to such a strong public outcry it was decided that the existing wharf would instead be renovated into a boutique hotel, featuring 104 guestrooms, loft-style suites and private residencies. The hotel also features several restaurants and bars, including the Water Bar. The hotel was officially launched as "W Sydney - Woolloomooloo" and it was [[W Hotels]]' first property to be launched outside of the United States. The hotel's licensing to [[Starwood Hotels & Resorts]] expired in 2007 and re-branded as "Blue Hotel", managed by [[Taj Hotels & Resorts]]. Notable residents include actor [[Russell Crowe]] and |
Due to such a strong public outcry it was decided that the existing wharf would instead be renovated into a boutique hotel, featuring 104 guestrooms, loft-style suites and private residencies. The hotel also features several restaurants and bars, including the popular Water Bar, frequented by many visiting local and international celebrities. The hotel was officially launched as "W Sydney - Woolloomooloo" and it was [[W Hotels]]' first property to be launched outside of the United States. The hotel's licensing to [[Starwood Hotels & Resorts]] expired in 2007 and re-branded as "Blue Hotel", managed by [[Taj Hotels & Resorts]]. Notable residents include actor [[Russell Crowe]] and media personality [[John Laws]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Christine |last=Sams |title=On the move with Russell and Danielle |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/31/1054177765250.html |work=[[Sun-Herald]] |date=2003-06-01 |accessdate=2006-10-22 }}</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 10:14, 24 October 2011
| Finger Wharf | |
|---|---|
 The Finger Wharf and marina in Woolloomooloo Bay | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Woolloomooloo, Sydney |
| Country | Australia |
| Construction started | 1911 |
| Completed | 1915 |
| Client | Sydney Harbour Trust |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Timber |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Henry Walsh |
The Finger Wharf or Woolloomooloo Wharf is a wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, Sydney, Australia. The structure is the largest timbered-piled building in the world[citation needed] and was completed in 1915. During its working life for around 70 years it mainly handled the export of wool, but also acted as a staging point for troop deployment to the World Wars as well as a disembarking point for new migrants arriving in Australia.
Today it has been redeveloped as a fashionable complex housing a hotel, restaurants and residential apartments.
Description
The wharf, with a length of 410 metres (1,345 ft) and width of 64 m (210 ft), is composed of two side sheds running almost the length of the jetty, connected by a covered roadway between. The roofline is three parallel gable roofs and the external elevations are distinguished by a repetitive gridded structure.
At the northern end a carpenter's workshop used to exist, it has now been replaced by a concrete and steel apartment building detached from the main wharf building. On the western side is a promenade running the length of the wharf with a marina on the waterfront and restaurants at the southern end. On the eastern side is a roadway for vehicular access to a carpark for residents.
The Blue hotel (formerly the W hotel) occupies most of the southern part of the wharf building while apartments mainly make up the rest of the structure.
History
The wharf was built by the Sydney Harbour Trust between 1911 and 1915 with the charter to bring order to Sydney Harbour's foreshore facilities.[1] The Trust's Engineer-In-Chief, Henry Walsh, designed the massive waterfront building.[2]
The Finger Wharf was an operational working wharf for much of the 20th century. But by the 1970s, new container ports with larger wharfing facilities and cruise liner terminals around the city meant the usage of the wharf declined. By the 1980s the wharf lay derelict and empty and in 1987, the state government decided to demolish the Wharf.[2]
A new marina and resort complex was approved to replace the wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, but when demolition work was due to begin in January 1991, locals blocked entrance to the site.[3] Unions imposed a Green ban which stopped demolition crews from undertaking work.[3]
Due to such a strong public outcry it was decided that the existing wharf would instead be renovated into a boutique hotel, featuring 104 guestrooms, loft-style suites and private residencies. The hotel also features several restaurants and bars, including the popular Water Bar, frequented by many visiting local and international celebrities. The hotel was officially launched as "W Sydney - Woolloomooloo" and it was W Hotels' first property to be launched outside of the United States. The hotel's licensing to Starwood Hotels & Resorts expired in 2007 and re-branded as "Blue Hotel", managed by Taj Hotels & Resorts. Notable residents include actor Russell Crowe and media personality John Laws.[4]
Notes
- ^ MacMahon, Bill (2001). The Architecture of East Australia. Edition Axel Menges. p. 49. ISBN 3-930698-90-0.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "The Finger Wharf History". Maju Sequence. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
- ^ a b Susskind, Anne (1991-01-15). "Live and let lie policy for wharf". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. ISSN 0312-6315.
- ^ Sams, Christine (2003-06-01). "On the move with Russell and Danielle". Sun-Herald. Retrieved 2006-10-22.