Fairground and cricket ground heritage wall rescued
- Sydney, NSW
The Brief
Restoring a Heritage Brick Wall with Structural Integrity
Erected more than 80 years ago, this heritage wall was initially the turnstile entry point to a fairground, which later became a cricket ground. Due to its age and exposure to multiple high-impact vehicle collisions and countless cricket ball thumps on test match days, the heritage wall was full of cracks and deemed extremely unsafe by the local council.
The local council was concerned that this historic masonry structure, a significant part of the area’s heritage architecture, could collapse at any moment. They sought a solution where the wall did not need to be completely torn down and rebuilt. They were looking for heritage wall restoration that adhered to correct heritage restoration practices, ensuring the wall could be preserved as part of the local heritage property.
The Challenge
Heritage Brickwork at Risk Due to Structural Failures
Upon assessment of the wall, our structural engineers identified a range of issues impacting its stability—beyond the obvious damage from high-impact vehicle collisions. Over the decades since its construction, large nearby trees had matured and their roots had shifted the foundation, leading to significant cracking in the heritage masonry.
Additionally, steel reinforcements had previously been added in an attempt to stabilise the structure. However, these were poorly suited for heritage restoration projects. Over time, the corroding steel expanded within the wall, exerting pressure that lifted and distorted the brickwork—ironically accelerating its deterioration. This highlighted the importance of applying correct heritage restoration practices rather than incompatible modern solutions.
The case also underscored the dangers of cement in heritage structures like this one. Cement-based fixes can trap moisture and cause further damage in many heritage walls, especially when used in place of traditional lime-based materials more suitable for heritage homes and limestone walls.
Our Solution
Heritage Building Restoration with Expert Mortar and Reinforcement
We took action quickly. By using a variety of techniques, we were able to save the wall from collapse. We started by removing the old corroded steel reinforcements as they were destroying the heritage wall from the inside-out. By replacing them with our own specialist structural steel rods we stopped the expanding, pulling and lifting happening from inside the wall.
For the multitude of cracks throughout the wall, we employed crack stitching techniques to fasten the walls back together and refilled the cracks with fresh mortar for an aesthetically pleasing finish. Large sections of the heritage wall were also completely re-pointed. Decades old cement and lime mortar was raked out from between the old bricks and again, replaced with fresh mortar to increase the strength of the wall. We completed the project by injecting geopolymer resins, GeoPoly™ , into the ground underneath the wall for extra stability.
The Outcome
Successful Restoration of a Historic Heritage Wall
Our methods saved the local council over $30,000 and preserved a heritage wall that held local and historical significance. The beautiful façade of the wall remains intact—a testament to applying correct heritage restoration practices in structurally sensitive projects.
While the roots from nearby trees had caused damage to the wall, they had also fully matured. There was no need to remove them and disturb the local environment. The wall stands firm and is no longer at risk of falling over.
