Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Customs House Pretty Good - 1,889 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

Heritage Assignment, Topic: Customs House, Circular Quay (Sydney, Australia) Circular Quays Customs House that is occupied at Sydney, Australia is very well known for its ancient heritage and significance in the whole state history. A former Customs House has been renovated and rebuild and is currently a very nice beauty of the region. In order to identify the heritage significance of the House we may take a closer look into the historical p revalue of the sight. It used to be a formal Customs House that opened the Australian gates to the people that were first settling in the Australia. The refurbishment of Customs House converted one of Sydney's best-loved heritage buildings into an exciting new cultural venue for the city. Located at Circular Quay, Customs House is one of the most significant buildings in the history of European settlement in Australia.

Therefore we can definitely state that this building is one of the most significant buildings in the Australian history in terms of heritage. This can be figured because of the fact that Europeans had a great impact upon the development of the Australian culture and economy throught years. Built in 1845 on the site of the First Fleet landing, the building was home to the Australian Custom Service for 145 years. During those years new people were coming to Australia and the greatest part of them was using the Circular Quay area as the primary gate for the entrance to the territory.

Originally two-storeys high, Customs House was designed by Colonial architect Mortimer Lewis in the Greek Revival style. If we look to some pictures representing the building that are currently available in numerous kinds, we may notice the notion that that was a pretty nice architecturally designed building and after all renovations it still is now. Over the years the building has been subject to several major additions that resulted in changes to Classical Italianate and later French Neoclassical style. (Moorhouse, 59) Concerning the present heritage status of the building we may state that this is the status of the building that has very important historical impact upon the overall historical background of the area. This was possible due to the flow of various kinds of people that were all experiencing the transitional period when they were moving into the Australian territory. We need to notice in this essay some facts about the rebuilding of the building that took place during resent past years. At a cost of $ 24 million, the City of Sydney transformed Customs House into a major cultural centre.

The refurbishment received the Australian Property Institute (NSW) 1999 Excellence in Property Development Award. (Ross, 112) It involved: a complete transformation f the buildings interior and careful restrain f its exterior within the strict parameters f the buildings Permanent Conservation re; a design that conserved elements f the buildings varius architectural styles, resulting in an attractive contrast f the ld and new; the creating f a unifying central atrium, six strey's high, enabling visitors t appreciate all activities within the building frm all levels and providing primum levels f natural light; and the reinstatement f Customs Square as the fre curt t Customs Huse, with the paving designed t reflect the regional fresh f Sydney Cve, as it was in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived. (Moorhouse, 126) In order to consider the future of the facility in terms of its heritage and the surrounding facilities we need to mention again the renovation that happened to the building and overall geographical occupation of the place. It has a very positive placement because this is a gate position for the Australian bank. There are many various facilities surrounding the place that correspond to the heritage of the Customs House. Having considered that we may state that we are evaluating a beautifully refurbished heritage building with stunning contemporary architecture and design. The central feature is a glass atrium which rises the full six storeys of the building and is topped with a glass roof. Customs House features a choice of venues suitable for a variety of events including exhibitions, conferences and dinners.

Actually currently the old Sydney Customs House is no longer an official customs house. The building has been refurbished and now houses such establishments as art galleries, a restaurant and a cafe. The building fronts the Circular Quay train station and ferry wharves. (Norris, 74) Talking about the existing places of peoples rest we need to notice that located at Circular Quay, beautifully restored heritage building Customs House has become one of Sydney's leading venues for functions and special events. Home to restaurants, bars, cafes, exhibitions and two specialty stores, Customs House features a choice of venues - from elegant private dining rooms and sandstone balconies to modern galleries and restaurants with breathtaking harbour views. Contemporary interior design featuring a magnificent, light-filled central glass atrium provides a stunning backdrop for any occassion. (Ross, 68) From the conceptual standpoint I would suggest not changing the current heritage status of the facility due to several reasons. First of all why change something if it currently is doing its job pretty well and people are ending it?

Second of all some great funds were spend in order to get what we actually got right now. Plans t pen up the elegant ld Customs Huse at Circular Quay have raised the perennial problem f hw t preserve heritage buildings while fitting them fr new uses. James Barnet's 1880 s sandstone building at the Quay has get through numerous addition, subtracting and refurbishments in its century-plus life, the mst recent being in 1994 when the Keating government brought it int play as part f a deal t lower the height f the Taster at East Circular Quay. (Marshall, 29) Under that scheme, the city was given Customs Huse, as well as $ 24 million fr its refurbishment, while the Taster developers acquired the roadway in from f the development at a cut-price rate t all them t widen the building ver the colonnade. At least 70 per cent f Customs Huse was t be given ver t public uses.

A refurbishment by architects Tnkin Zulaikha cleared away the less significant addition in the buildings centre, pending up its full six-store height and inserting a spectacular system f escalators and bridges fr internal access. Nw the City f Sydney says the building has nt worked t its full potential and it is preparing t spend also $ 15 million n yet anther reworking. Sme people suspect that what the city really wants is a greater return frm the building. The council has never been able t rent all the grund flr which remains ne f the mst spectacular empty spaces in Sydney. Under the new scheme, the City Library will me frm Twn Hall Huse t three flr's f Customs Huse (a lng trek fr residents f Glebe, Will and the ther areas the Lrd Mayr wants t add t the city). (Finly, 145) The restaurant will remain n the tp, and tw flr's will be available fr commercial lease. This will involve using much f the Tnkin Zulaikha wrk - raising the issue f the architects may rights - as well as altering much f the heritage fabric, including repositioning the balustrade at the from and turning grund-flr windows int french drs in the hpe f making the building mre inviting t passers-by.

Internally, the bridge crossings will be enlarged t provide mre space fr the library and, importantly, mre let table flr space fr the commercial flr's. The NSW Heritage Council has approved the citys scheme, presumably in the hpe f giving the building a useful life. Certainly, application f the strictest heritage criteria can free dm a heritage building t demolition by neglect if n viable use can be fund fr it. But it is als true that the responsible fr such buildings need t exercise greater imagination and flexibility in finding uses fr them. They als need t accept that these buildings are valuable assets fr the city as a we, adding richness, texture and charm t the urban fabric. They should nt be required t turn a buck in the same way as their bland commercial neighbors. (Finly, 159) Taking into account all these renovations and assumptions I would suggest currently not to have much more renovations but rather to have some marketing research made concerning the issue of the improvement of the usefulness of the facility.

On the other hand this building can actually be considered as a historical monument and therefore all that is necessary has already been done to it. To my mind for the historical facility that currently supports some business activities this is a pretty good site. I would suggest all mentioned above uses to be allowed because to my mind this is always good to allow people use certain facilities for their pleasure. First of all these are all pretty important features that allow to make conferences and on those conferences it is usually some decisions are made as to the improvement of the overall situation in the state. That is usually a good usage of the space and time. It is one of the few public spaces in Central Sydney that enables visitors to experience contemporary Australian exhibitions at no cost.

Customs House has played host to many high profile cultural events and festivals, including the Biennale of Sydney, the Sydney Festival, the Olympic and Paralympic Arts festivals, the Sydney Writers Festival and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Customs House is open seven days from 10 am to 5 pm. Entry is free to all exhibitions and special events. (Norris, 88) In order to justify the assumptions presented we may take a shorter look into the facility's historical outlook. The five stages f the history f the Customs Huse site and buildings frm 1788 are presented, with an assessment f the sites significance. The report consider preservation f the mst significant part f the buildings, a five store U-shaped site construction, t be essential. It is als preferred that a 1917 framed structure contained within be retained.

A conservation policy and its implementation is presented and relates t foundations, structures, finishes, joinery and fittings, external paving, rfs, services and assets. A range f possible future uses which all free public access t the building are proposed. This is a pretty good example of the usages of the heritage facility in modern life of people with all the positive consequences of it. The core feature of the Customs House is the fact that people may get closer to some past events that have significance in the states history and they do not need to pay for it, because this possibility is provided by the state. Bibliography: Barnard Marjorie, A History of Australia, Angus & Robertson, 1980 reprint of 2 nd Edition Keith Norris, Australias Heritage, Sketchbook: Books for Pleasure, 1989 Bill Bryson, In a Sunburned Country, Broadway Books, 2001 Zoe Ross, Insight Guide Sydney (Insight City Guides), Insight Guides; 4 th Edition, 1999 Darroch Donald, Footprint Sydney, Footprint, 2003 Richard Marshall, Waterfronts in Post-Industrial Cities, Routledge mot E F & N Spon, 2001 Geoffrey Moorhouse, Sydney: The Story of a City, Harcourt Paperbacks; 1 st Edition 2000 Will Finly, Australian Heritage, New York: Viking Press, 2002


Free research essays on topics related to: customs house, customs, part f, pretty good, special events

Research essay sample on Customs House Pretty Good

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com