HELP!!

We learned yesterday that  the residence designed to be built on the convict lumber yard immediately adjacent (and I mean IMMEDIATELY adjacent) to Coutts, has been allowed  by NSW Heritage to progress to the next stage of the process (an Integrated Development Application) with only minor conditions.

The amended design will now be on display in Newcastle for 30 days to give chance for further public comment. It will then be assessed by Newcastle City Council and resubmitted to NSW Heritage to gain a Section 60 approval.

This means that some construction is almost certain to be allowed on the Lumber Yard Site, covering the Heritage listed site, its history and artefacts. We find that terribly disappointing.

It also means that if this development goes ahead, the only views of Coutts that will be available to the public is of the north face of the building, from the road (unless you value glimpses of the top of the roof and the chimneys).

The bulky wall adjoining the lumber yard has been reduced to some extent, but the bulk of the building remains, and the topography of the land is such that Coutts will virtually invisible.  The Grand Vista will disappear.

The east side of Coutts is already almost entirely blocked from sunlight, this new building as it is planned would block almost all light from the west. Unfortunately it also means that we will probably need to leave the building without its verandah and balcony to avoid further shading.

The building next door as planned is set to dominate the streetscape. The lack of a verandah on Coutts will make it even more dominant, and change the heritage nature of the precinct forever. (Sigh of sadness)

This picture is provided in favour of the development, demonstrating that Coutts can still be seen.
This is from the best possible viewing angle to the west, on the edge of the road,

If there was no verandah...?

You decide.



We are disappointed that after putting heart and soul (not to mention lots of cash) breathing new life into a once derelict building, if this development goes ahead as planned,  the community of Newcastle and the visitors attracted to the area by the heritage nature will be not be able to see it in all its glory, and make best sense of the maritime history of Newcastle.

We are still hopeful that the next stage of the process ensures that the development is subject to modifications which will make it better suited to preserve the setting and views of Coutts in line with the Burra Charter to which Newcastle is a signatory.

Moving downstairs sort of

Carl the builder tells me they are moving downstairs...not that upstairs is finished, there's lots of stuff still to do up there, but it is taking shape!

At the end of last week they were fitting the door catches, so now the doors can actually be closed (and even locked).

It looks very different to when we first saw it, now there are floors where there weren't any - but now also no floor where there was one - the downstairs corridor is floorless (certainly not flawless) and the staircase is jacked up.

The termite treatment we had done was shown to be more than necessary, but a few extra supports here and there should do the job.

We have taken over one of the bedrooms to store the light fittings out of harm's way, though there's still a few other things being stored in there too.

This is one of the rooms that has changed dramatically over the last week as the fireplace and marble mantel went in, so now we can keep warm in winter -as long as we manage to get the gas supply sorted - that's just another hiccup!!





The numerous packages of cabinetry that were in the garage are slowly making their way into the house, and being put together...it is almost like a giant jigsaw puzzle with a few picture clues...the labelling on the packages can be rather misleading - for example all the bathroom vanity cabinets were in a large number of packages all labelled kitchen 4!!



A number of packages are in the master suite, trying to fathom what's what - and here there is one package of the built in wardrobe (it belongs here) but also a package of bookcase (which belongs in the study) and another for the sideboard!

 

...and in the sitting area of the master suite there is a door jamb and a few windows - not sure where they need to go!

Just down a few stairs (on what we like to pretentiously call the mezzanine level, the shower room and the bath house have finally had their render finished.
Looks pretty awful at the moment!


Next step is to do the few stairs and the landing so we have levels right...and then we can start plumbing and tiling. How exciting its that??

The junk room off the rear verandah (affectionately termed the Theatre on the plans) is ready for the floor to be levelled too.







So to downstairs - still a big mess....

 

but the lounge walls no longer have big holes in them,

the kitchen/meals/family area has a floor

and the dining room is now the wood workshop.


The gyprock which will separate the dining room from the guest bedroom will finally be in place this week (cross your fingers) as will the downstairs ceilings, which will make a huge difference.

and a few nice touches as the glaziers moved in to install the bevelled glass around the front door.







...and today a very sweet moment as we learned that our plans have been approved by heritage and we can now move forward on some of those areas that we have been circling around just in case!!!