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UNE research centre completes social plan for Tamworth regionTwo Armidale icons placed on State Heritage Register
November 08, 2006
Two of Armidale’s best-known buildings – the C.B. Newling Building and “Booloominbah” – have been placed on the State Heritage Register.
The new heritage status of the buildings was formally recognised last Friday during a two-day visit of the Heritage Council of New South Wales to Armidale.
In a special ceremony at “Booloominbah” – the historic house at the heart of The University of New England – the Chair of the Heritage Council, Mr Mike Collins, presented certificates to the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, marking the inclusion of the two buildings in the Register. Mr Collins said the buildings, with their strong educational and pastoral associations, were “very representative of what New England means to NSW”.
The Minister for Planning, the Hon. Frank Sartor MP, signed the authorisation last week for the two buildings to be placed on the Register. During the presentation ceremony, Mr Collins, on behalf of the Minister, congratulated the University on its custodianship of the buildings. “UNE has demonstrated, through its refurbishment program, that it understands the importance of its custodianship role,” he said.
Professor Pettigrew said UNE was “very proud” of the two buildings – “their historic value to the community, and their role as the centrepieces of the University”. He paid tribute to the work of Michael Quinlan, Director of Facilities Management Services at UNE, who has managed the program of maintenance, conservation and productive re-use of the buildings.
The photograph displayed here shows Mr Quinlan (left) and Mr Collins at the C.B. Newling Building.
Mr Quinlan, in introducing the Heritage Council members to “Booloominbah”, explained that the University’s aim in the refurbishment program had been to create a working environment within a building that, after restoration, retained much of its original, late 19th century character – including features such as paint colours, wallpaper and carpets.
John Carr, the heritage conservation architect from Tamworth who planned the restoration work on “Booloominbah”, was an honoured guest at the presentation ceremony. All 15 members of the Heritage Council, accompanied by eight staff members, travelled to Armidale.
“Booloominbah”, built as a home for the pastoralist Frederick White and his family in 1888, became a university college in 1937 and now forms the administrative nucleus of UNE. The C.B. Newling Building, completed in 1929, is still commonly referred to as “the Old Teachers’ College”. UNE is now the Reserve Trust Manager of the C.B. Newling Building which, as an educational and cultural centre for the region, houses the New England Conservatorium of Music, UNE Music, TAFE film and television schools, and UNE Partnerships.