The Leeton District Lands Office is a heritage-listed administration office located at Chelmsford Place, Leeton in the

Leeton Shire Leeton Shire is a local government area in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Murrumbidgee River and falls within the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The Shire includes the town of Leeton a ...

local government area of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia. It was designed by J. M. S. Woore of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission and built in 1937. It is also known as the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission. The property is owned by Department of Planning and Infrastructure, a

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

of the

Government of New South Wales The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of New South Wales. It is currently held by a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Governmen ...

. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

History

The building was built to provide offices for the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission at Leeton in 1937. It was designed by J. M. S. Woore, an engineer under the Chief Engineer, F. Brewster, of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission.

Description

Leeton DLWC District Office is situated opposite the famous historic Leeton

Hydro Hotel The Hydro Hotel is a heritage-listed hotel located at Chelmsford Place, Leeton in the Leeton Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. History ...

on the high ground of Leeton city. The building is part single- and part two-storey high, with a basement level on the south-western side. There is a new extension at the north-western corner. The building is of the

Art-deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the United ...

style, with symmetrical front elevation in stepped silhouette. The front facade features emphatic vertical

piers Piers may refer to: * Pier, a raised structure over a body of water * Pier (architecture), an architectural support * Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name) * Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...

and horizontal parallel lines, with concentration of ornament on upper part of the building. The monumental entrance is of textured face brickwork, with double sets of ornate double doors. The external windows are metal-framed. Internally, many of the original joinery and ornamental features remain intact. There is a central stairway with terrazo steps leading up to the upper floor. The rendered walls and ceiling are ornamented with stylised low-relief motif which is typical of the Art Deco style building. Many of the glazed office partition walls and doors appear to be original.

Condition

As at 8 December 2000, the building is in good condition generally.

Modifications and dates

, the north-western section of the building was extended and refurbished.

Further information

Seek heritage advice prior to planning any future work or development. Preparation of a Conservation Plan and Maintenance Plan should form part of conveyancing document in case of future disposal of the property.

Heritage listing

As at 6 December 2000, the former Leeton Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission Office is associated with the historical development of Leeton township, and the administration of the Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission. It is a good example of an Art Deco Office building and contributes to the streetscapes and townscapes of Leeton. The building is held in esteem by local community for its link with the provision of irrigation water and of employment.DLWC S170 Register. The Leeton District Lands Office was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

References

Bibliography

Attribution

{{NSW-SHR-CC, name=Leeton District Lands Office, dno=5012087, id=00965, year=2018, accessdate=2 June 2018 New South Wales State Heritage Register Leeton, New South Wales Office buildings in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register Government buildings completed in 1937 1937 establishments in Australia Art Deco architecture in New South Wales Water management in New South Wales