Locomotive Workshop

Opened in 1871, the Locomotive Workshops were dedicated to the servicing and manufacturing of locomotive and rolling stock to aid the expansion of the Australian railway network. Over the subsequent decades, the complex grew in scale encompassing the Carriage Works, Spring Shop and the Foundry. After over 100 years of continuous operation, The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops closed in 1988. The revitalisation of this entire precinct by Mirvac was an opportunity to reverse this trend. From the outset, our design approach was to remove these barriers, open the doors and reintegrate the ATP precinct into the surrounding neighbourhood.

The overall design intent of the development of the Locomotive Workshops is to remove all existing unsympathetic elements and provide a clear interpretation and expression of the industrial style and significant heritage fabric, including the existing moveable heritage collection. The redevelopment includes the Blacksmith and heritage interpretation spaces in Bays 1 and 2. The continuation of the Blacksmith Workshop preserves the tradition of a 130-year long blacksmithing trade in this same location. The adjacent Heritage Interpretation restaurant will be part of the heritage experience, allowing more people to understand the people, history and origins of the site.

The design philosophy is based upon lightweight interventions within the building envelope. All new elements are steel framed allowing for reversibility and differentiation with heritage fabric. A light touch is employed throughout and is especially evident wherever new and the old interface with one another. All original structure is to remain unchanged with its patina revealing the passage of time. The redevelopment aims to preserve, accentuate and emphasise the exceptional cultural and aesthetic heritage values of the building, its collections, stories and spaces within an operational framework that will secure the long-term economic viability and activation of the site.

The overall design intent of the development of the Locomotive Workshops is to remove all existing unsympathetic elements and provide a clear interpretation and expression of the industrial style and significant heritage fabric, including the existing moveable heritage collection. The redevelopment includes the Blacksmith and heritage interpretation spaces in Bays 1 and 2. The continuation of the Blacksmith Workshop preserves the tradition of a 130-year long blacksmithing trade in this same location. The adjacent Heritage Interpretation restaurant will be part of the heritage experience, allowing more people to understand the people, history and origins of the site. Retail spaces, including an event space, coffee roastery and a food market, are located in Bays 3-4a. New Grade-A workspaces are provided in Bays 4-15. The final bay also provides end-of-trip facilities and heritage storage and display spaces. New internal development has been restricted to a maximum of one mezzanine level, open to the heritage roof structure, to retain the views and vistas to and from key locations. This includes views of the volume of the building and its significant elements, such as the cast iron columns, roof trusses, steel girders and overhead cranes.