Balmain Rowing Club Refurbishment
Client:
Balmain Rowing Club
Location:
Balmain, NSW
The Balmain Rowing Club, formed in 1882, is the oldest surviving rowing shed of its type in Australia.
What we did
In 2021 Tonkin was engaged to design the refurbishment of the Balmain Rowing Club – a much-loved heritage building in the heart of Sydney.
Due to its age and rising sea levels, the heritage timber structure and piers on which it sat were deteriorating, putting the building and the club’s long-term viability at risk. Over the past 15 years, Tonkin, under the former TLB Engineers banner, assisted the club with a series of stopgap improvements to protect the structure, as well as extensions to the facility.
Due to its age and rising sea levels, the heritage timber structure and piers on which it sat were deteriorating, putting the building and the club’s long-term viability at risk. Over the past 15 years, Tonkin, under the former TLB Engineers banner, assisted the club with a series of stopgap improvements to protect the structure, as well as extensions to the facility.
More recently, the club was successful in obtaining a $1 million allocation in the State Government Greater Cities Sports Facilities Fund, which allowed the major restoration project to begin. Drawing on our deep knowledge of the condition of the structure and our understanding of the club’s goals for the facility, Tonkin provided all structural designs and a single unified drawing set for the full refurbishment of the facility.
What we achieved
In addition to concerns about the structural integrity of the facility, there were several other safety and accessibility issues that needed resolving. This included the facility’s stairs not meeting Australian safety standards, in addition to the site being non-DDA compliant.
The improvements at the facility included:
- Raising the whole boat shed by 800mm
- Replacing all supporting piles
- Building a new floor
- Redesigning supporting structures for the upper floor
- Inclusion of a wheelchair lift to enable disability access
- Reinstating the aesthetic heritage features of the building.
The restoration of the Balmain Rowing club was completed and opened to the public in 2023.
How we made a difference
Our team, under the former TLB banner, worked on the Balmain Rowing Club since 2003, designing various repair works. This meant we had a deep understanding of the structural challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Our team worked closely with the architect to overcome unique challenges on this project, while also retaining key heritage features of the building. The internal floor was lifted by 800mm to protect the club against rising sea levels and provide additional height downstairs for increased boat storage and safer handling for members. This corrected a 140-year problem of storage capacity and access.