Heritage Impact Statement Marrickville

Trace Heritage prepared a Statement of Heritage Impact for proposed alterations and additions to a property forming part of a heritage-listed Victorian Italianate terrace group in Marrickville. The property is individually listed as a heritage item rather than simply contributing to a conservation area, placing a higher level of scrutiny on any proposed changes.

The Property and Its Heritage Context

The heritage-listed terrace group is a row of Victorian Italianate corner shops and terrace houses dating to the 1880s, listed under Schedule 5 of the Inner West LEP 2022. The listing encompasses the exterior and interiors of the group, recognising the buildings' collective significance as an intact example of Victorian-era commercial and residential development in Marrickville.

The Proposal

The owners proposed modifications primarily concentrated in the rear, including alterations to the existing rear wing with new rear extensions at ground floor level, replacement of a non-original side balcony with Victorian-style detailing, new timber-framed window openings, and construction of a rear garage with loft structure.

Our Heritage Assessment

Trace Heritage's Statement of Heritage Impact assessed the proposal against the heritage provisions of the Inner West LEP 2022, relevant DCP controls, and the principles of the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter. Our analysis confirmed that the proposed works were largely restricted to the rear wing — an area that had already undergone modification and retained less heritage significance than the principal form.

The replacement of the non-original side balcony with detailing informed by the Victorian character of the building was assessed as a positive intervention, improving the coherence of the building's presentation.

Outcome

The Statement of Heritage Impact concluded that the proposed works retained and respected the significance of the subject property and would not diminish the significance of the terrace group as a locally significant heritage item. The report recommended that the proposal be approved on heritage grounds by Council.

This outcome demonstrated that meaningful improvements to a heritage-listed property are achievable when the design process is informed by a thorough understanding of what makes the building significant and where the opportunities for change lie.