Roofing refresh for the Old Wollongong Courthouse

After about 86 years in the summer sun, the time has come to replace the roof of the Old Wollongong Courthouse.

The current roofing, which includes some asbestos sheeting and some sections of galvanised iron sheeting is believed to date from around 1938, will be replaced as part of a broader range of building works. The project also includes essential upgrades to the guttering and downpipes to ensure this building is able to withstand significant weather events.

“This is such a well-loved heritage building in Wollongong. It has been a part of our community since 1858 and is the oldest surviving civic building in the city,’’ Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“The roof is really showing its age and the harsh beachside environment the building is located in has really had an impact on it. Plus, we’ve seen some pretty significant weather events in recent years that have demonstrated the building’s guttering and downpipes need to be improved to better manage the impacts of an East Coast low event. By upgrading these now we’re able to ensure the building can be enjoyed by our community as part of this heritage precinct for many years to come.’’

The brick and stone Old Courthouse and weatherboard Customs Office date back to 1858 and are both part of the Wollongong Harbour Precinct that’s listed on the NSW State Heritage register. Other important items in this precinct are the 1872 Breakwater lighthouse, one of the earliest lighthouses in NSW and one of only two wrought iron lighthouses in the state, the remains of the 1891 Flagstaff Hill Fort, the Nuns’ Pool/Chain Baths, which date from the 1830s, and the Mt Keira and Mt Pleasant tramway alignment which is marked along the Blue Mile tramway shared path.

The works are expected to take about 10 weeks to complete, provided we get good weather. In addition to the roof replacement, the project also includes;

• A structural assessment of the roof structure
• Replacing lead flashings with metal flashings
• Removal and replacement of asbestos roof sheeting
• Installing and upgrading guttering and downpipes
• Installing roof insulation and roof battens
• Minor repairs to the existing slate roof

“We’re committed to looking after heritage items in our city and there has been a lot of work happening behind-the-scenes to get this project to the point that it is at now, including gaining all the necessary approvals for this essential work from Heritage NSW,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“We really appreciate the support and involvement of the Old Courthouse Management Committee who’ve worked with us to get this work locked in. It’s essential the roof replacement and upgrades to the guttering and downpipes are carried out to ensure this building is able to withstand significant weather events.

“We’ve seen a number of East Coast low weather events in recent years and periods of extended and heavy downpours. We know that the current gutters and downpipes do not have the capacity to manage such conditions. In 2022 the timber cladded ceilings within the Courthouse building were damaged by water from one of the weather events. While this damage has been repaired, replacing the stormwater guttering will allow the building to better manage the impacts of heavy rainfall in the future.’’

The works are jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and Wollongong City Council.