A team effort from Riverlee, Freyssinet Australia and Mann Group has seen over 2,000 items from the original shed salvaged, all of which will find a new home at Seafarers.

Residents of Seafarers will be able to experience the Goods Shed No.5 right at their doorstep as it is rebuilt and transformed into a ground floor hospitality destination encompassing 1 Hotel Melbourne’s lobby, lounge, bar, meeting rooms and signature restaurants.

The works involved individual components of the shed being cautiously dismantled and catalogued in a true testament to conservation. The next steps will see further assessment of the retained items to determine origin, species and age.

The salvaged items encompass 1,944 bluestone pavers, 20 timber sliding doors, 40 steel trusses and 105 steel window frames which will be used in the reconstruction of the Goods Shed. Approximately 2km worth of timber purlins will be integrated throughout Seafarers including in the interiors of the 1 Hotel Melbourne, tying in with its ethos of sustainable luxury. Weaving together the past and the future, the works ensure the origins of the site will always endure at Seafarers.

Riverlee development director David Lee says this is an important step in the progress of Seafarers and the next chapter of the Goods Shed’s life.

Read more: https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/riverlee-seafarers-site-retention-works#

“This process has been far from simple and we commend our engineers, historians and design team who have made it possible to preserve elements of this iconic Melbourne building,” he says.

Historian Emma Russell from HistoryAtWork is leading the historical studies at Seafarers, ensuring as much of the original building and site’s origins will be incorporated into the new development.

“Retaining and repurposing the century-old timbers, bluestones and trusses, combined with innovative ways to integrate Seafarers’ social history, ensures the long memory of this fascinating corner of the CBD will be shared with visitors and residents alike in an authentic rather than manufactured manner,” she says.

The heritage retention works at the Goods Shed No.5 complement the earlier restoration of Melbourne’s first electric crane, bringing it back to its former glory on the Seafarers site.

 Read more https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/riverlee-seafarers-site-retention-works#