News 
 Local News 
 News 
 General 
 Work resumes on $23.5m Newcastle Museum 

Work resumes on $23.5m Newcastle Museum

01 Jun, 2010 04:00 AM
WORK has resumed on the $23.5 million Newcastle Museum development after a week's stoppage to assess archaeological finds at the Honeysuckle site.

Developer Newcastle City Council ceased building early last week after making the discoveries.

The finds included parts of old railway lines and bricks, which had to be photographed, recorded and undergo an archaeologist's assessment.

Work halted until the NSW Department of Planning and Heritage Branch gave the all-clear at lunch yesterday.

The museum will be housed in three heritage railway workshops at Honeysuckle and is scheduled to open in May, 2011.

Building started in late April.

Museum redevelopment senior project manager Fiona Leatham said the heritage site had some sensitivities.

"We've called in an archaeologist to give us some advice," she said.

"In order to follow the process completely, we did cease work.

"Just to make sure, because it's a sensitive site."

Ms Leatham said the delay did not affect the project schedule.

June and July were expected to be busy months with visible progress, she said.

Sydney-based ISIS Group is undertaking the $10 million museum contract. Fit-outs of exhibition space and a cafe are scheduled in a separate project after the railway workshops' refurbishment was complete.

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size

comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Can someone advise just what is planned for the mine headframe (ex-Burwood Colliery) that was sited at the Parry St. and Stewart avenue intersection? My enquiries to those connected with the new "museum' have resulted in nothing more than vague waffle! I suspect the fate of the iconic structure includes 'Simsmetal" Answers please Mr Fry.
Posted by Realist, 1/06/2010 6:57:51 AM, on The Herald
having looked at the plans for these buildings i have to wonder whether or not the conservation foundation or the heritage council (or whoever the body is that is responsible for looking after and preserving our old buildings) has actually seen these plans. it is disgraceful what is happening to them and I'm really very surprised they are being allowed to do it. i also wonder what bang for our buck we would have got if we had spent the money we are outlaying here on the old brewery building where the museum was...... there is something very suspicious about this whole project. as I have said before, this new building is smaller, less accessible, with no parking for school buses and is costing a heap. there was absolutely no need to sell the old building to con constantine at a bargain price. there was no need to move the museum. i smell a rat.
Posted by judgedredd, 1/06/2010 7:43:45 AM, on The Herald
Why is a Sydney company doing the works? do we not have any locals capeable of building this?
Posted by Nafe, 1/06/2010 8:34:12 AM, on The Herald
"The finds included parts of old railway lines and bricks, which had to be photographed, recorded and undergo an archaeologist's assessment", I'm glad we have Fiona Leatham employed to perform such an important task on this 'sensitive site' , good to see all her years at university weren't wasted 20 years ago we took it to the dump & carried on with the job at hand. But then again, delays equal longer employment for all concerned and more time at the trough.
Posted by Terry Arki, 1/06/2010 8:58:17 AM, on The Herald
OMG !!! They found old railway lines in a railway workshed ???
Posted by Garry, 1/06/2010 9:10:37 AM, on The Herald
Yeah 'Gary' exactly my thoughts. Obviously a very slow news day.
Posted by thinkitthrough, 1/06/2010 11:12:03 AM, on The Herald
Don't worry about the school kids judgedredd, they will be able to get to the new museum via train to Civic..........err, or maybe not if Tate and co get their way.
Posted by Nudge, 1/06/2010 12:45:16 PM, on The Herald
Who would of thought that they would find old railway lines in the shed. They might be as old as the shed,? Bring in the consultants to confirm it.!!
Posted by other opinion, 1/06/2010 12:51:21 PM, on The Herald
I`m beside myself, what incredible "detective work". Who`d ever thought that there would be railway lines and bricks in this old railway workshop. It just goes to show that all the cop shows we`re forced to watch on tv are finally paying dividends.
Posted by yippy, 1/06/2010 1:15:15 PM, on The Herald
The museum sale went out to tender - Con offered the highest price - bargain or not. BHP left a fund to the council to develop the railway shed site as a musuem that's why it's there.
Posted by Nell, 1/06/2010 1:47:56 PM, on The Herald
1 | 2  |  next >

post a comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
 
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
STATE-OF-THE-ART: An artist's impression of the completed Newcastle Museum.
STATE-OF-THE-ART: An artist's impression of the completed Newcastle Museum.

Most popular articles


 
 
 


Newcastle Herald







Weather brought to you by:

Weatherzone

Classifieds

Front Page

Current Issue
Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Advertising Terms | Copyright © 2012. Fairfax Media.
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...