O’CONNELL STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL formerly Old Kings College Parramatta

Project Location: Parramatta NSW

Project Duration: 2017

Scope of Contracting Works: 

Restoration, new Die manufacture and installation of pressed metal ceiling panels, cornice, beams and battens to match intricate designs of the heritage listed building

Project Description: 

Old Kings College Parramatta, now O’Connell Street Public School is Australia’s oldest independent school dating back to the early 1830’s. The site is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register and is of exceptional heritage significance. The experienced team at Sydney Pressed Metal undertook a major pressed metal ceiling restoration project requiring superior skill and attention to detail to restore and exactly replicate an intricate combination of multiple patterns and architectural features in extraordinary detail. New dies were cast by Australian Pressed Metal of a 2ft panel (approximately 600mm x 600mm) which was named Kings Panel in honour of the original school and an extension panel (450mm x 600mm) to match the existing heritage designs. The Sydney Pressed Metal Team worked at a ceiling height of over 30ft high installing the panels, cornice and battens as well as over 3000 individual dental blocks the size of a matchbox across 8 ceiling bays. To achieve the intricate design of the coffered ceiling bays an MDF substrate was used to create a hanging pelmet to fix the separate pressed metal elements to, achieving a perfect seamless finish. While some new dies were needed for the restoration 3 of the original designs were already in production, Diamonds cladding the beams and Aztec, Ripple and Candy Stripe Ripple cladding bulkheads. The Australian Pressed Metal Group carry the largest pressed metal range in Australia and our premium products are of heritage grade. Designs used in this extremely detailed project are: Kings Panel 600mm x 600mm (New) Kings Extension Panel 450mm x 600mm (New) Aztec Border & Cap (New) Diamonds, Ripple & Candy Stripe Ripple, Cornice 1&2 (piece cornice incorporating multiple cornices together) and 3000 individual dental blocks (matchbox size).