A significant heritage building in the historic Lock Up complex in the heart of Newcastle has been given a face-lift thanks to a $70,000 grant from the NSW Government.
Number 88, located on Hunter Street, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The historic, stone and painted masonry structure was first constructed in 1861 and served as a telegraph office, gaining a second storey in 1879.
New flooring was installed, replacing damaged carpet. As workers removed carpet tiles they discovered the original cedar staircase remained intact. The staircase was sanded, resealed and now takes pride of place as a central, period feature in the building.
Unoccupied since 2018 due to building deterioration and the COVID, the repairs have assisted the Newcastle Historic Reserve Land Manager to secure a new long-term tenant, which will help the reserve to fund maintenance and improvements in the future.
Buildings 74, 88 and 90 Hunter Street form a suite of three historic stone and painted masonry buildings. Building 74 was constructed in 1873 and was Newcastle's original post office. Number 90 was a police station built in 1861 and closed in 1982.
Building number 90 is known locally as 'The Lock-Up' and was originally built to support the Newcastle police station and was used from 1861 until its closure in 1982. The building has been re-imagined as an award-winning contemporary art space that showcases local, national and international artists. An artist in residency program invites artists to respond to the building's history. The Lock-Up's padded cell is acknowledged as one of the best preserved in Australia.
Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure funded the upgrade work through its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF).
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"The NSW Government is focused on building better communities, which is why we are committed to helping maintain these three beautiful heritage buildings in the heart of Newcastle's CBD.
"Our statewide investments in Crown reserves help ensure they can continue to serve their communities for many years to come."
Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said:
"This is fantastic news. These buildings have become an integral hub for our local artists and are an iconic piece of Newcastle's history dating all the way back to the 19th century.
"It is vital we continue to care for these buildings, which reflect important parts of our history here in Newcastle. I am very pleased Crown Lands has continued to fund this important maintenance work that will ensure our heritage buildings remain intact for future generations."
Newcastle Historic Reserve Land Manager Chairperson Gillean Shaw said:
"We are grateful to Crown Lands for their continued support in helping to protect these three historic buildings. This particular round of funding has helped upgrade number 88, keeping it consistent with its grand, mid 19th century character.
"Number 88 had been without a commercial tenant since 2018, due to the building's deterioration over recent years. As a direct result of these upgrades, NHRLM have attracted a long-term tenant, which will bring in a new revenue stream, allowing the land manager to continue to fund important maintenance to preserve these significant buildings for future generations."
