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Demolition of the tram shed at Bennelong Point, Fairfax Media, 30 December 1958.  Fairfax Syndication: FXJ171876. Supplied by www.fairfaxsyndication.com

Demolished Sydney

Museum of Sydney
This summer the Museum of Sydney will host Demolished Sydney, an exhibition exploring the buildings that once shaped the city’s skyline, from the convict built Commissariat Stores to the city's last island of industry, the Kent Brewery. 

Curated by Dr Nicola Teffer, the exhibition examines the histories of 13 sites and asks, what are the forces that have shaped our changing city and how do we value and preserve the heritage of the city we inherit?

Like its counterparts across the world, Sydney has been in a constant state of building, unbuilding and rebuilding as it has grown into the metropolis of today. The mix of Georgian, Victorian, Art Deco and modernist buildings that have formed the character of Sydney also tell the story of its changing fortunes, attitudes and needs. Demolished Sydney reveals this process of urban evolution through key buildings that have been demolished and replaced. Through fragments salvaged from theatres, hotels and office blocks, alongside stunning photography, artworks and film, Demolished Sydney brings back to life the heritage of a Sydney that is gone but not forgotten.

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19 November 2016 - 17 April 2017
16°  Sunny
Sydney Museums Map
Photo of street and buildings Past Event

Demolished Sydney Talks

Sunday 19 February – Sunday 2 April 2017
Museum of Sydney
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B&W image of a tram in front of the tram shed at Bennelong Point
Fort Macquarie tram depot
B&W image of U shape Commissariat building. Company signs appear on the walls of the building
West side of Circular Quay, looking south
B&W image of a building surrounded by a fence that borders the street. Some construction materials and tools are scattered at the site. Flags are flown on the turrets.
The Garden Palace
B&W image of a building approximately 12 storeys high, on a street corner. A flag is flying over the building. Cars and pedestrians appear in the streets.
The Head office of the Rural Bank of NSW
B&W image showing an aerial view of a skyscraper surrounded by smaller buildings on a street corner.
Aerial view of the State Office Block
B&W image of a church with steeple, several vehicles parked on the street in front.
St Stephen's Church, Phillip Street
B&W image of a 7 storey building. Balustrades and balconies feature on the building facade.
Hotel Australia
B&W image of incinerator that features a detailed design by Walter Burley Griffin
Exterior view of Pyrmont incinerator from south-west
B&W image of a group of engineering unit buildings that feature corrugated roofs and exterior walls. External stairs are attached to one of the buildings.
Char Towers
Sydney Living Museums Image
Pyrmont Power Station
Sydney Living Museums Image
Rowe Street
B&W image of theatre at night. An illuminated sign 'REGENT' hangs vertically at the front of the building.
Regent Theatre, George Street
B&W image of a 5 storey building with ‘Carlton’ sign and logo above the vehicle entry. Flags are flown on the building.
Carlton United Brewery, Broadway

RELATED STORIES

Painting of first Government House created by Jacob Janssen, 1850.

Demolished: First Government House

Built on a prominent rise overlooking Sydney Cove, first Government House served as the official residence and administrative office for the first nine governors of New South Wales. But less than 60 years after Governor Phillip ordered its construction, the future of the significant sandstone and brick structure was in jeopardy.

Colour photo of the State Office Block (now demolished)

Demolished: State Office Block

Constructed as part of the 1960s renewal and modernisation of Sydney, the State Office Block was an innovative and eye-catching addition to the city’s skyline. Fifty years later, discussion continues around the heritage value of the modernist skyscraper and the divisive decision to knock it down.
Painting of a view of Pyrmont from Observatory Hill created by Jane Bennett, 1989.

Painting Pyrmont

When artist Jane Bennett began capturing Pyrmont’s steel and concrete structures during the late 1980s, many considered them industrial eyesores rather than part of Sydney’s heritage landscape. Soon, these buildings faced demolition. Jane’s artworks, some of which feature in Demolished Sydney, help to tell the story of the bustling, smokestack-dotted harbour suburb and its transformation.

Sepia photograph of demolished buildings in Sydney during the 1930s.

Unlocked: Demolished Sydney

Like cities across the world, Sydney has been in a constant state of building development and urban change. Join Dr Nicola Teffer, guest curator of Demolished Sydney, as she explores how demolitions have shaped our dynamic city landscape.

black and white image of a worker demolishing a building

Watch: Demolished Sydney

The skyline of Sydney has undergone constant change as buildings rise and fall. Curator of Demolished Sydney, Dr Nicola Teffer, spoke with some of Sydney’s most notable architects, historians, artists, and social commentators to discover the role of heritage, both now and into the future.