Heritage proposal submitted
A heritage assessment found the building to be “one of the most architecturally distinguished religious chambers of the immediate post-war period in NSW."
Waverley Council has submitted a proposal to heritage list the Harry Seidler-designed synagogue in Bondi and is inviting the community to provide feedback.
The site of the former Yeshiva College on Flood Street is owned by billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff, who put in a rezoning request to Waverley Council last year to permit a low-rise apartment building. That prompted the Seidler family to convince council to place an interim heritage order on the building in February to protect it from demolition.
The synagogue was designed by architect Seidler in the 1950s and is his only religious building. It is recognised as a ground-breaking building for its time and displays Seidler’s interpretation of the Bauhaus style. The building also has strong historical significance for the Jewish community because it is the first Talmudic school with integral synagogue.
Seidler’s wife Penelope told The AJN she has no problem with Triguboff’s rezoning application, but said demolishing the building would be a “real tragedy”.
“I remember it being designed and I remember being at the opening in 1961,” she said.
“In fact, I arranged for my uncle (Australia’s one-time foreign minister) Dr Herb Evatt to open it. I hadn’t been back until recently and I was delighted when I walked inside – it’s a great space.”
A heritage assessment carried out by Hector Abrahams Architects found the site to be “a seminal work in the civic and sculptural concrete architecture of the pre-eminent Australian modern architect Harry Seidler, displaying the application of Bauhaus principles for which he is known.”
The building is also “the largest and best example of thin concrete shell technology of the 1950s in NSW,” the heritage assessment report stated, and it is also “one of the most architecturally distinguished religious chambers of the immediate post-war period in NSW and one of the finest synagogues of the period”.
The heritage assessment also found it met several criteria for state heritage listing.
“This is the cherished home of a local religious community and we need to prioritise that among other priorities,” said Waverley Council mayor Paula Masselos.
“The building also represents the history of a migrant and religious community and so it’s vital that the building be preserved.”
The planning proposal is on public exhibition until September 14. Once it closes, a report will be prepared for council for its consideration later in the year. The NSW Department of Planning and Environment will then consider decide whether to list the building.
View the proposal at haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au
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