Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223:front:0:p70
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 206562–209725

interiors created within the building should have consideration for the original design intentions but may be a contemporary interpretation of that intent using compatible materials and sympathetic  design.

Floor Finishes
The RBA Head Office building contains a number of floor finishes, laid over a reinforced concrete substrate.  Original granite and  marble floor finishes have generally been retained in situ and repaired, however other original floor finishes have been replaced or covered since 1965.

Where possible new floor finishes should continue to reflect the hierarchy of spaces and finishes throughout the Head Office building as described in 1966:

Space                                                    1966 floor finish
Ground floor forecourt, entrance:                        Narrandera grey granite

Vestibule and lift lobby:                                Narrandera grey granite

Ground floor public space areas and Level 11 Boardroom:  Wombeyan grey marble

General office areas and executive areas:                Heavy duty Australian wool carpet

Vaults, basement areas, cafeteria and lounge areas:      Jackson River block parquetry

Policy 33  Granite and marble floor finishes installed on the ground floor vestibule, ground floor public spaces and Boardroom are to be retained in situ and conserved as evidence of the original architectural design intent.

Policy 34  Johnson River block parquetry located in the vaults is to be retained in situ and conserved as evidence of the original architectural design intent.  New floor finishes can be installed over original timber floor subject to an assessment of the likely impacts on heritage values, physical damage of the block parquetry and reversibility of the action.

Policy 35  Other floor finishes can be retained, adapted or replaced with new finishes compatible with the original design intent.  Fabric proposed for removal should be assessed, consistent with the process outlined in Significant Impact Guidelines 1.2 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2013) and the endorsed Reserve Bank of Australia Heritage Strategy 2019-2021, for likely impacts on Commonwealth Heritage values and photographed in place prior to its removal.  The design of replacement floor finishes should be selected to achieve a co-ordinated aesthetic result.

Walls
There are few areas of original wall finishes remaining within the building. Marble and granite wall finishes are significant and should be retained and conserved.  Wombeyan marble was used extensively for walls at the ground floor vestibule and lift lobby.  Walls of lift lobbies located from the Mezzanine to Level 16 were finished with Ulam (Rockhampton, Qld) marble.  Other areas of the building feature walls and counters of Footscray basalt and Gepps Cross slate.

Early descriptions of the finishes describe 'Demountable Timber Panelling' and 'Demountable Wall Linings' located between Levels 4 and 15 (inclusive),  to allow the areas to be re-configured periodically, and in the 1990s sections of demountable walls were removed to create large open-plan offices.[49]  Executive suites and the Boardroom were subdivided with brick