Driver 1 – enhancing the campus environment > >

[ objective ] [ planning principles ]

1.1 To acknowledge and protect the legacy of earlier campus planning on the Camperdown 1.1.1 Identifying and protecting the built and landscape heritage of the University that demonstrates the
Campus. influence of Wilkinson’s 1920 Master Plan on its development.

Plan illustrates the influence of the 1920 Master

Plan that is still evident on the campus in 2003
Earlier campus development (pre-1920’s) that was
acknowledged by Wilkinson and incorporated in the 1920
Master Plan.
The University of Sydney has a distinguished heritage of earlier master planning that provides much of
what, in this century, is valued as the amenity of the University of Sydney. Campus development directly attributed to or influenced
by Professor Wilkinson. This includes inter-war and post
World War II periods of building expansion.
Professor Wilkinson’s 1920 Master Plan for the University is considered to be a milestone in terms of
Contemporary development that has been sited or
the physical development of the campus, and an influence that has continued to guide development developed within reference or acknowledgement of the
and renewal projects within the Camperdown Campus. 1920 Master Plan.

Planning axes or view corridors established by Wilkinson

The value of this master plan was that it acknowledged and successfully incorporated features of that have survived and that are still recognisable within
the contemporary campus.
earlier development, in particular, recognition of the site’s topography and dominance within the emerging
cityscape. On to this existing fabric Wilkinson proposed, and in part implemented through his design, Major public domain spaces established by the 1920
Master Plan that have also survived and are still
a strong sense of order and legibility that is still evident today. recognisable within the contemporary campus

Victoria Park.
Wilkinson’s plan established a series of planning axes and organisational principles that explored the
site’s topography and, through the strategic placement of built and landscape elements, provided
reference points and sight lines through the campus to assist in negotiating the environment. These 1920 Master Plan for the University of Sydney – Professor Wilkinson’s vision.
devices were equally successful in linking the campus to its surroundings, both visually as well as
physically, with the notion of “borrowed” landscape amenity from Victoria Park and the Residential
Colleges a feature of Wilkinson’s plan. Today, thanks to Wilkinson’s planning, many of what people
would consider to be the “archetypal” images of the University of Sydney were created.

The Campus continued to benefit from Wilkinson’s influence although many features were eroded
during the period of rapid expansion of the University during the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Contemporary
pressures for the continued development and renewal of facilities, as well as the demands for modern
transport, servicing and communication, have the potential to threaten what remains. It has therefore
been recognised that, without intervention, physical reference to the University’s rich heritage and
amenity will be lost.

Reference: Sydney University Archive, Group G.074 - Series 1 Folder 2.

campus planning srategy - facilities management office 8

[[ planning principles ]
1.1.2 Opportunities to reinstate the relationship between the Campus and Victoria Park to borrow the
landscape and recreational amenity of this public domain space for the Campus.
Impact of contemporary development
Buildings sited on the prominent ridgeline that originally
addressed Victoria Park and provided the “face” for the
University to the wider community.
Contemporary development that compromised the
transition between the Campus and the adjacent public
space. These buildings turned their back to the
community and screened views of the heritage buildings
designed to present a quality façade to Victoria Park.
Wilkinson vista along University Avenue. Recent co-
operation between the Local Government Authority
(South Sydney City Council) and the University has
allowed the visual and physical connections between
Victoria Park and the Campus to be reinstated.
Victoria Park
Edgeworth David / Stephen Roberts Site:
Future development site that offers the University the
opportunity to address the impact of contemporary
development and allow a quality façade presentation to
once again be made to Victoria Park. Opportunity is also
afforded to physically re-connect the campus to this
valued public domain space using the development of
this site, and overcome the dramatic level change
between Eastern Avenue and Barff Road.
Upgrading the presentation of the boundary of the
Campus with Victoria Park and removing barriers to
movement and visual connections between campus
facilities and the Park. This may include the relocation
or concealing of unsightly services or loading dock areas
from along Barff Road, removing parts of the boundary
fencing or providing an alternative method of marking
the boundary, upgrading of façade treatments and the
provision of new entrances to existing buildings that will
be retained along this boundary.
Potential for the University to continue to work co-operatively with the Local Government Authority (now Sydney City Council) to complete the pathway
system and more formalised landscaping treatments within Victoria Park and as proposed by the 1920 Master Plan to provide a central connection
between the Park and the Campus. This would complete the heritage restoration of the Park that was commenced with the upgrading of University
Avenue.
Original planning axis established by Wilkinson. The Anderson Stuart Building, although never completed, demonstrates and marks this organisational
device within the Campus. While it may not be feasible to reinstate the axis, there is a desire to interpret this axis and, in particular, feature the façade
presentation and entrance of this important “sandstone” building.
Potential to extend this new connection through the Campus to reinforce the existing east-west link between Eastern Avenue and Fisher Road.
campus planning srategy - facilities management office
[ planning principles ]
1.1.3 Re-establishing the Wilkinson vista / planning axis along Western Avenue between Carillion Avenue
and Paramatta Road to expose the amenity of the grand ovals and promote access to these valued
recreational assets of the University.
Original Wilkinson vista / planning axis to the grand oval.
Proposed future development sites that will allow the
visual and physical connections to the public open space
A
to be realised, in particular, demolition of existing
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structures that either detract from or obscure the lines of
sight from Western Avenue.
C 2 A. Ross Street Site
B. Bosch Site
C. HK Ward Site (speculative)
3 Recent demolition of the Birdcage at the Ross Street
B
Entrance and recovery this important open space to
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expose views of Oval No. 2.
Proposed relocation of activities to more appropriate
locations and the demolition of structures to re-capture
views and access to the ovals.
1. Wallace Lecture Theatre
2. Ancillary buildings along Grose Farm Lane
3. QE II / Victor Coppleson Building and Dangerous
Goods Store.
4. Bosch Theatres (within the development site B).
1.1.4 Strengthening the geometry of The Square and Oval 1, conceived in relation to Wilkinson’s
Central Planning Axis, to accentuate the importance of these elements to the public domain
and amenity of the campus environment.
Wilkinson Central Planning Axis originally built on the
Anderson Stuart Building and a projected alignment to
St John’s College.
Formal public domain spaces created by Wilkinson’s
Master Plan – The Square, Lawn Tennis Courts, Grand
Oval (Oval No. 1)
Address the edge treatments to define the geometry and
public access to The Square and the lawn tennis courts.
Opportunities in the future to redevelop the Arena Sports
Centre Building to provide a more generous and public
edge to Hockey Square, and a more transparent
connection along the alignment of the original axis to Oval
No. 1.
Upgrade the cross Campus pedestrian connections
between Physics Road and Manning Road and
Veterinary Science and Medicine precincts.
Contemporary development within the Royal Prince Alfred Site that disregards the original planning axis and obstructs access / views
between the Campus and the landscape features of St. John’s College. This development is outside the control of the University. Edge
treatment to Oval No. 1 should acknowledge this constraint and be designed to minimise this impact.
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