$8 million Dawn Fraser Baths restoration wins NSW construction award
Image: The Dawn Fraser Baths were recognised at the awards. Photo: Belmadar.
By PATRICK MCKENZIE
Three major Inner West Council infrastructure projects have been recognised at the Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards.
Haberfield Library, Ashfield Aquatic Centre and the historic redevelopment of Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain received awards in assorted categories that recognised everything from their complexity, care and management within a tight timeframe.
The Haberfield Library project involved an upgrade and partial demolition while retaining the heritage Haberfield School of Arts section of the building. It is the first major expansion of the site in 30 years.
Meanwhile, Ashfield Aquatic Centre was completely redeveloped in a $44.7 million project spanning from July 2019 until the Centre’s reopening in October 2020.
Extensive asbestos removal was required prior to the construction of a number of new amenities, including a new outdoor 50-metre pool and a new spa, sauna and steam room. The rebuilding is the largest community infrastructure in Council history.
Naremburn-based construction company Belmadar won the ‘Restoration/Adaptive Re-use of an Historic Building’ award for their complete restoration of Dawn Fraser Baths, an $8 million project that involved a complete deconstruction to raise the concourse level by 1.25 metres to account for rising sea levels.
“Most people wouldn’t have known that the building had been completely deconstructed and reconstructed. I think it goes to show the job was very successful,” Belmadar Managing Director Alf Marrocco said.
“We enjoy being able to bring something that has been neglected back to life … the reception from the local community was very positive.”
The baths, originally built in 1882, are Sydney’s oldest remaining enclosed tidal pool and were renamed after the local Olympian in 1964.
The Master Builders Association of NSW Excellence in Construction Awards is considered the hallmark annual event for the commercial, industrial and civil engineering sectors.
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