Jury Citation
The buildings that comprise the Woodford Academy may be understood today as a series of historical reference documents. They now communicate the story of a nineteenth century travellers’ stop, and its subsequent uses over the years, to a twenty-first century society audience. This is a wellresearched piece of work that demonstrates the skill and care of the architects in telling such a story.
There was a strong determination to preserve the building as much as possible, and to retain for visitors a glimpse of how things used to be.
The architects have adopted an active, interpretive role rather than trying to freeze the buildings’ history to a particular point in time.
This is neither restoration nor recreation. Instead it represents a concerted, informed approach to preservation. Care, love and great effort have gone into preserving the “gentle decay” into which the building had fallen over the generations. In taking this care the architects have made the social and architectural history of this complex, from the 1840s until today, legible and vital.
Project Credits
Woodford Academy, Blue Mountains
Project Architect William Blackledge.
Project Team Alan Croker, Robert Gasiarini. Project Manager Debra Schlegar, National Trust of NSW.
Structural Consultant Hughes Trueman.
Landscape Architect Michael Lehany.
Conservator, Paint Analyst Julie Whittlam.
Builder Sydney Colonial Building.
Photographer Ray Joyce.
