Transport for NSW has commenced
a Registration of Interest (RoI) process for prospective tenants of the Chief
Mechanical Engineers (CME) building on Wilson Street Eveleigh. TfNSW is
proposing changes to the CME’s building to re-furbish this unused heritage
asset as a new commercial space potentially for innovative or creative
industries. The proposed renovations will create over 1,000 square metres
of commercial space with modern fixtures and finishes, and accessibility
improvements.
REDWatch has long supported the
CME’s building being renovated and bought to a use independent of the North
Eveleigh redevelopment. For years the building suffered from neglect while
plans for North Eveleigh changed. The building was deteriorating until
Urbangrowth NSW undertook restoration work to the exterior of the building. At
the time the inside of the building was not restored.
This is a very important site
for NSW Railways as it was the office where design work for bridges across the
state, including work on Sydney Harbour Bridge was undertaken. The site was
also very closely connected to Sydney University’s School of Mechanical
Engineering. As a result the refurbishment needs to be closely monitored to
maintain as much as possible of the heritage fabric and to allow the building
to be open to heritage tours at least as part of Heritage and History weeks
rather than totally closed off from the community.