The Mint -Sydney
History of The Mint
Rum Hospital 1811 - 1854
Constructed between 1811-1816, the building now known as The Mint was built as the southern wing of a three wing General Hospital and Dispensary. Initiated by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, the new hospital replaced the portable canvas building that had served the colony since 1789. To finance the construction of the General Hospital the authority to import 45 000 gallons of rum was granted to the contractors – Garnham Blaxcell, Alexander Riley and D’arcy Wentworth (the Principal Surgeon) – and as a result the buildings became known as the Rum Hospital.
Situated on the eastern ridgeline of the town of Sydney the hospital formed an imposing range of three colonnaded buildings. The architect is unknown. It was the most ambitious building project of the Macquarie period and on completion was described as 'elegant and Commodious'. Others were critical of the buildings, on both structural and aesthetic grounds. Francis Greenway, in one of his first duties as Civil Architect, reported on the buildings and described the columns of the verandahs that encircled each building as reflecting poorly on both the colony and the building’s architect – 'There is no Classical proportion in the Column…and [it]is of no description, ancient or modern.' He also, along with others, found serious structural faults with the buildings and extensive repairs were required in 1820 and 1826.
Following the discovery of gold in New South Wales in 1851, large quantities of unrefined gold began to be circulated as money. To control this “black market” and to protect the official currency the Government suggested to the British Colonial Secretary that a mint be established in Sydney. After some debate, the British Government gave approval in 1853. This was to be the first branch of the Royal Mint outside England and twenty British staff were appointed to establish the Royal Mint Sydney.
Captain Edward W. Ward was appointed Deputy Master (Deputy to the Master of the Royal Mint) in 1853. Ward immediately began preparing designs for The Mint coining factory and ordered prefabricated iron building materials – cast iron columns, girders, roof trusses, roofing materials, windows and floor panels - and commissioned the supply of equipment and mint machinery. He also selected a team of skilled men to enable a fully functioning mint to be constructed and commence operations on the other side of the world. Joseph Trickett, appointed Superintendent of the Coining Department, was to act as Clerk of Works supervising the construction of The Mint in Sydney, while Ward completed arrangements for the supply of machinery and equipment in England.
After considering several sites in Sydney, in March 1854 Trickett suggested the use of the south building of Macquarie’s General Hospital as the site for The Mint. The hospital wing was to be adapted to provide offices and, at the southern end, a residence for the Deputy Master, while the coining factory was to be constructed on the land at the rear. Trickett adapted Ward’s plans to the site and construction of the buildings using the prefabricated components was undertaken by a contingent of Sappers and Miners (later the Royal Engineers) who had been trained in England to assemble the building as well as to operate The Mint machinery. The Mint commenced operation in 14 May 1855 and the following October The Mint Assayer, W.S. Jevons wrote to his brother Herbert “The Mint is going at a rattling pace. 14,000 oz [ounces] last week’s receipts of gold”.
Source: Historic Houses Trust website
The Mint -Sydney
History of The Mint
Rum Hospital 1811 - 1854
Constructed between 1811-1816, the building now known as The Mint was built as the southern wing of a three wing General Hospital and Dispensary. Initiated by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, the new hospital replaced the portable canvas building that had served the colony since 1789. To finance the construction of the General Hospital the authority to import 45 000 gallons of rum was granted to the contractors – Garnham Blaxcell, Alexander Riley and D’arcy Wentworth (the Principal Surgeon) – and as a result the buildings became known as the Rum Hospital.
Situated on the eastern ridgeline of the town of Sydney the hospital formed an imposing range of three colonnaded buildings. The architect is unknown. It was the most ambitious building project of the Macquarie period and on completion was described as 'elegant and Commodious'. Others were critical of the buildings, on both structural and aesthetic grounds. Francis Greenway, in one of his first duties as Civil Architect, reported on the buildings and described the columns of the verandahs that encircled each building as reflecting poorly on both the colony and the building’s architect – 'There is no Classical proportion in the Column…and [it]is of no description, ancient or modern.' He also, along with others, found serious structural faults with the buildings and extensive repairs were required in 1820 and 1826.
Following the discovery of gold in New South Wales in 1851, large quantities of unrefined gold began to be circulated as money. To control this “black market” and to protect the official currency the Government suggested to the British Colonial Secretary that a mint be established in Sydney. After some debate, the British Government gave approval in 1853. This was to be the first branch of the Royal Mint outside England and twenty British staff were appointed to establish the Royal Mint Sydney.
Captain Edward W. Ward was appointed Deputy Master (Deputy to the Master of the Royal Mint) in 1853. Ward immediately began preparing designs for The Mint coining factory and ordered prefabricated iron building materials – cast iron columns, girders, roof trusses, roofing materials, windows and floor panels - and commissioned the supply of equipment and mint machinery. He also selected a team of skilled men to enable a fully functioning mint to be constructed and commence operations on the other side of the world. Joseph Trickett, appointed Superintendent of the Coining Department, was to act as Clerk of Works supervising the construction of The Mint in Sydney, while Ward completed arrangements for the supply of machinery and equipment in England.
After considering several sites in Sydney, in March 1854 Trickett suggested the use of the south building of Macquarie’s General Hospital as the site for The Mint. The hospital wing was to be adapted to provide offices and, at the southern end, a residence for the Deputy Master, while the coining factory was to be constructed on the land at the rear. Trickett adapted Ward’s plans to the site and construction of the buildings using the prefabricated components was undertaken by a contingent of Sappers and Miners (later the Royal Engineers) who had been trained in England to assemble the building as well as to operate The Mint machinery. The Mint commenced operation in 14 May 1855 and the following October The Mint Assayer, W.S. Jevons wrote to his brother Herbert “The Mint is going at a rattling pace. 14,000 oz [ounces] last week’s receipts of gold”.
Source: Historic Houses Trust website