Site Activities at The Canberra Brickworks

You may have noticed increased activity at the Canberra Brickworks recently, including more people visiting the site.  

Prior to the redevelopment to be undertaken by Doma, the site is being managed by Suburban Land Agency (SLA).

The SLA undertakes maintenance activities such as site security and vegetation control as well as authorising investigations being undertaken by Doma. 

On site planning and design investigations have started and this will inform detailed design and future development applications for the site. Doma have been permitted access to the site to undertake this work.  

Doma’s authorised contractors and consultants will be undertaking investigations including structural assessment of heritage buildings to inform the adaptive reuse of the Brickworks heritage buildings. 

What’s happening next?

A revised Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was submitted to the Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate in March 2022. A draft Estate Development Plan (EDP) is currently being prepared for ACT Government approving agencies’ review. A public presentation by Doma is planned for July 2022 where the EDP and Heritage Core Area Development will be presented, prior to being submitted as Development Applications to the Planning Authority for assessment. Doma continue to liaise with the Canberra Brickworks Community Panel to ensure the success of the development. 

Want to know more?

Please reach out and contact us at the Suburban Land Agency on (02) 6205 0600. If your question relates to security please call our Place Management Team on (02) 6205 4016 (24 hour) or email  SLAPlaceManagment@act.gov.au

Canberra Brickworks Precinct one step closer – Conservation Management Plan approved

The ACT Heritage Council has approved the new Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Canberra Brickworks Precinct. DOMA’s heritage consultants prepared the CMP in consultation with the ACT Heritage Council over a period of 18 months. 

The approved CMP provides for conservation and management of the Yarralumla Brickworks and the Yarralumla Brickworks Railway Remnants for the next 5 years.

The approved CMP presents an assessment of the heritage significance of the place against contemporary Heritage Act 2004 criteria, a conservation policy and management framework, an implementation schedule and an inventory of individual historic elements.

Approval of the CMP is a significant heritage milestone for the redevelopment of the Precinct, as it will inform detailed design by Doma. 

DOMA’s proposed design for the adapted heritage core area as a wellness precinct has been progressing in parallel with the development of the CMP. Engagement for the precinct’s redevelopment is ongoing, including regular meetings with the Community Panel. 

The latest design proposals for the draft Estate Development Plan (EDP) and Heritage Core Area Development were presented to the public in late March 2021. In due course the final EDP and Core Area Development will be presented to the public prior to submitting the Development Application to the Planning Authority for assessment. 

To see the approved CMP:

• Canberra Brickworks Precinct CMP - Volume 1 (PDF 19.8MB)
• Canberra Brickworks Precinct CMP - Volume 2 (PDF 84.6MB)

To see the Yarralumla Brickworks Railway remnants listed on the ACT Heritage Register please visit: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage_register/register-by-place/y

New Access Road named Brickworks Way

In July 2021 ACT Place Names notified that the new access road to connect the Canberra Brickworks Precinct to Dudley Street will be named Brickworks Way. The name Brickworks Way relates to the Brickworks and its significant 20th century industrial use. 

For more information, visit https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2021-195/     

Access Road (Brickworks Way) and Dudley Street Upgrade 

The ACT Government (Transport Canberra and City Services) is constructing the Canberra Brickworks access road and upgrade of Dudley Street in Yarralumla. 

For more information, visit: https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/Infrastructure-Projects/city-inner-north-and-inner-south/canberra-brickworks 

Landscape Management Plan 

Block 21 Section 102 Yarralumla is located at the head of the Lane Poole Place cul-de-sac. Block 21 is adjacent to the Canberra Brickworks Precinct (Blocks 1, 7 and 20 Section 102). Block 21 serves several functional purposes such as land management access, public pedestrian access and service infrastructure accommodation.

Encroachments and interferences exist on the site that limit future site access. These encroachments will require rectification with the sale and development of the Canberra Brickworks Precinct. 

The SLA have engaged a landscape architect to prepare a Landscape Management Plan (LMP) that details the rectification works. The SLA is working with neighbouring residents and stakeholders to prepare the LMP and agree the rectification works. 

The LMP will reflect the option for least impact on neighbouring residents allowing the minimization of tree and landscape mound removal, thus maximising the privacy and amenity to existing residents.  

The following information has been made available for the preparation of the LMP.

• Information regarding Block 21 Section 102

• Survey - Block 20 Section 102 Yarralumla adjacent Lane-Poole Place

Canberra Brickworks Precinct – Background   

A two-stage public tender process was undertaken by the Suburban Land Agency during 2016/2017.

The first stage involved a Request for Proposal (RFP) in April 2016 and five submissions were received.  The evaluation of all submissions resulted in two successful Proponents being shortlisted and announced on 26 August 2016.

Both proponents provided tender submissions for the second stage, Request for Tender (RFT) process with the preferred tenderer, Doma Group, announced on 11 April 2017. 

Local developer DOMA Group’s submission was selected due to its innovative design and adaptive re-use concept for the restoration and revitalisation of the heritage precinct. “The Brickworks site is an important piece of Canberra’s history,” DOMA’s Managing Director Jure Domazet said. “Our master plan preserves and respects the site’s heritage, while opening it up to the Canberra community once again.” 

The future design of the heritage core and surrounding new development is being designed by DOMAs consultant team including architecture and landscape architects.  The revitalised heritage core with the former kilns will house boutique-style commercial uses, including food and beverage outlets and wellness facilities that showcase the site’s history. Nestled within tranquil parkland surrounds of the Quarry and Railway Remnants will be 380 new dwellings with a mix of stand-alone houses, townhouses and low-rise apartments that will grow Yarralumla’s existing suburban community without losing its landscape character and historic charm. 

All new development will be certified as 5 Star Green Star Community.

“The redevelopment of the Canberra Brickworks Precinct is an iconic opportunity to engage in placemaking and storytelling to bring this much-loved precinct to life again,” says John Dietz, CEO of the Suburban Land Agency. 
The Suburban Land Agency has worked with a project-specific community panel since late 2015 to establish the Precinct Objectives and place vision for the 16-ha historic site. They are now collaborating with DOMA to ensure this vision comes to life. “In this case, new development and adaptive re-use go hand in hand and will restore and unlock one of our few industrial heritage precincts for the wider community to enjoy,” John Dietz says. 

For more information and to register your interest, visit www.brickworksyarralumla.com.au.

Site Specifics

• Block 1, Section 102 – 95,817m2 – CZ6 and RZ1
• Block 7, Section 102 – 59,756m2 – CZ6
• Block 20, Section 102 – 5,370m2 – CZ6
• Allows up to 380 residential dwellings

Working with the community

As part of their agreement with ACT Government, the successful tenderer, DOMA, will be fulfilling community engagement as the project evolves. For more information, to get involved and be kept updated, please go to http://brickworkscommunity.com.au 

The ACT Government has worked closely with the community over many years to refine plans for redevelopment of the Canberra Brickworks.  The outcomes of previous community engagement have informed the decision announced in late August 2015 to reduce the redevelopment area and focus on transforming the Brickworks and surrounding sites into a vibrant showcase of sustainable urbanism, benefiting Canberrans for generations to come.

History 

It has been more than 40 years since the kilns were fired one final time and the last bricks, colloquially known as the ‘Canberra Reds’, were manufactured on site in Yarralumla. Finally, a new chapter of the Brickworks’ story is about to begin. A revitalised heritage precinct that includes refurbished kilns and the former Quarry and Railway Remnants as public parklands is now on the horizon as a place to visit or call home.

Commencing production in 1916, the Brickworks operated until its closure in 1976. The Brickworks was the city’s first industrial manufacturing facility for the bricks used in the construction of early Canberra. 

From 1923 to 1927, the railway transported these bricks for the construction of many prominent buildings such as Old Parliament House, Hotel Canberra, East Block and Hotel Kurrajong. Today the Brickworks, its Quarry and Railway Remnants provide a window into Canberra’s industrial and social history, although the heritage site is currently fenced off and due to neglect no longer safe to use.

This project provides an opportunity to protect the history that’s already in place, but also an opportunity to restore it for all of Canberra and other visitors to discover a side of Canberra's history that many probably don’t realise existed.

Awards

We were proud to be recognised for the following award:

• Place Process Commendation for the Canberra Brickworks Delivery Strategy at the 2019 Place Leaders Awards. 

The development of the Canberra Brickworks showcased innovative methods for securing place outcomes for the community. It provided new ways for community to have ‘ownership’ of the re-development using a community panel and concept delivery deed. The Jury noted that too often the public realm value is managed out when it is coming to the end of its delivery. To have a process that locks the delivery of the public realm and place outcomes, and of the quality that is promised, then that is a great outcome. 

Contact

Please contact the Suburban Land Agency on suburbanland@act.gov.au or by calling (02) 6205 0600.

Site Access and Security

The Suburban Land Agency manages the Canberra Brickworks site including access and security. 
Please contact the SLA’s Place Management Team regarding site access and security. 
 
Suburban Land Agency
Telephone:  (02) 6205 4016 (24 Hour)
Email:  SLAPlaceManagment@act.gov.au