PROJECT DETAILS
LOCATION: 9 Nicholson Street Carlton VIC 3078
CLIENT: Museums Victoria
COMMENCEMENT DATE: August 2018
COMPLETED: June 2020
The Royal Exhibition Building is a World Heritage-listed building located on Nicholson Street Carlton, Victoria. It opened in 1880 to host exhibitions and encourage innovative ways of thinking. The first exhibition to be held was the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880-81. The Royal Exhibition Building has continued its role over almost 140 years.
HBS Group were engaged to complete the capital works project which involved protecting and promoting the Royal Exhibition Building. The project involved façade conservation works, conservation repairs to the dome, cupola and drum, restoration of the 1880’s Dome Promenade, paint stripping and application, installation of a lift and stair access, basement works with a new public entry and various other works.
HIGHLIGHTS/SCOPE OF WORKS:
- Scaffold erected around the dome drum and to the top of the dome flagpole, with a 26-metre-tall Sylph of Spring adorning the scaffold over the front of the building for the duration of works.
- The dome slate roof, flagpole, cupola, and associate dormers repaired, repainted, and finished complete with a new flag rigging system.
- Installed 70 tonnes of structural steel between pavilion 2 and 3, which was all part of the lower promenade viewing area.
- Removed a 140-year-old roof, in one piece, and placed it on a stand at ground level to allow for repair and restoration without dismantling and affecting the structural integrity of the structure.
- Uncovered, during demolition, the original 1880 lift hydraulic shaft. An 18-metre deep excavation which has been incorporated into the floating stair system.
- Installed a precast concrete lift shaft panel without propping and placing additional stress on the building’s fabric.
- Installed an architecturally designed floating stair in 3 sections. Each section weighing between 9-15 tonnes with an internal tolerance of 30mm.
- All works were achieved whilst the Royal Exhibition Building remained fully operational.
