Time-worn clock tower restoration begins
The heritage-listed circa 1941 Gladesville Clock Tower is being restored.
Work is already underway on the monument, which has also been referred to as the Sheridan Memorial Clock, located at the junction of Victoria and Wharf Roads in Gladesville, New South Wales.
Council engineers originally designed the structure, which characterised the Inter-War Functionalist Style, in 1940.
Ryde Mayor Cr. Bill Pickering said the clock tower held both architectural and historical significance and represented the way each generation has been able to preserve and integrate heritage items with new developments.
He said restoration works to be carried out include the replacement of corroded steel lintels and damaged bricks, removal of outmoded lighting elements, repairs to the concrete base and new landscaping.
As part of the restoration process, Council staff researched history books, old postcards and other information to find out more about the clock tower.
The result, Pickering said, saw a simple conservation process be replaced with a more involved project that required specialist materials and skills. He explained:
He added that tasks such as matching damaged bricks had at first been considered a major challenge, but further investigation had led them to a Taree specialist brickyard where an ideal match was found.
Work is already underway on the monument, which has also been referred to as the Sheridan Memorial Clock, located at the junction of Victoria and Wharf Roads in Gladesville, New South Wales.
Council engineers originally designed the structure, which characterised the Inter-War Functionalist Style, in 1940.
Ryde Mayor Cr. Bill Pickering said the clock tower held both architectural and historical significance and represented the way each generation has been able to preserve and integrate heritage items with new developments.
He said restoration works to be carried out include the replacement of corroded steel lintels and damaged bricks, removal of outmoded lighting elements, repairs to the concrete base and new landscaping.
As part of the restoration process, Council staff researched history books, old postcards and other information to find out more about the clock tower.
The result, Pickering said, saw a simple conservation process be replaced with a more involved project that required specialist materials and skills. He explained:
“We took a careful approach to save as much of the original fabric as possible and to ensure the work had the least impact to the clock tower.”
He added that tasks such as matching damaged bricks had at first been considered a major challenge, but further investigation had led them to a Taree specialist brickyard where an ideal match was found.