Julian Ashton Art School, at 117-119 George Street in The Rocks, was constructed between 1840-1914 and is listed as a building of State Heritage significance. In 2020 our project team worked with NSW Government and heritage consultants to undertake an end of tenancy make-good and BCA compliance works.

The scope of works included complete strip out of internal elements, electrical upgrade works, fire upgrades, hydraulic alterations, construction of an ambulant bathroom and a new fire rated ceiling throughout.

There was a requirement to remove obsolete heritage timber, which was utilised to create a feature ceiling.

We removed each piece of ceiling lining, labelled them and re-installed the boards below the new fire rated ceiling to accentuate the heritage of the building.

The building is significant as the historic home of the Australian arm of the Women’s League of Health, which had the tagline “Movement is Life”. The League, founded in the 1930s, is seen as a driving force in the growth of the modern exercise industry as we see it today.

Access to the building was modified, with improvements to the stairs and installation of new handrails, and tactile indicators in accordance with AS1428.1 (2009), in preparation for a new tenancy.