{{Short description|Apartment complex in Sydney, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox building | name = Sirius | status = completed | image = Sirius Sydney 04.jpg | image_size = 230 | image_alt = | caption = Sirius | building_type = Housing | architectural_style = Brutalist | structural_system = Concrete frame & precast concrete sections | client = Housing Commission of NSW | owner = Property NSW | location = 38 to 70 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney | location_country = Australia | coordinates = {{coord|-33.8577|151.2079|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Australia NSW metro Sydney | completion_date = 1980 | opened_date = 16 May 1981 | namesake = Sirius<br/>HMS Sirius | renovation_date = 2022–2024 | number_of_units = {{Unbulleted list|Total 79 (49 in High Rise, 30 in Low Rise)|28 x 1 Bedroom| 24 x 2 Bedroom Split Level | 14 x 2 Bedroom Single Level | 8 x 3 Bedroom Split Level | 5 x 4 Bedroom Split Level }} | architect = Theodorus (Tao) Gofers | height = varies from one to twelve storeys | awards = New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2018 | url = }} The '''Sirius Building''' is an apartment complex in The Rocks district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Designed for the Housing Commission of New South Wales in 1978–1979 by commission architect Tao Gofers, the building is a prominent example of Brutalist architecture in Australia. It also has striking repetitive geometries in reaction to the Japanese metabolist architecture movement. Notable for being the only high rise development in The Rocks, Sirius housed 79 apartments with one, two, three or four bedrooms, generally with single storey apartments to two and three storey walk ups.<ref name=":2" /> The complex was built to rehouse displaced public tenants after a controversial redevelopment of the Rocks during the 1960s and 70s.
From 2015, the Sirius building was at the centre of controversy over plans to remove the residents, sell off the building and possibly redevelop the site, with opponents of the plans seeking to secure its protection as a heritage building. Following the NSW Government's decision to refuse heritage listing in 2017, against the advice of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, the building was put up for sale.
In 2018, the building won the Enduring Architecture Award from NSW Australian Institute of Architects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://saveoursirius.org/blog/2018/07/08/sirius-wins-2018-enduring-architecture-award-from-nsw-australian-institute-of-architects/|title=Sirius Wins 2018 Enduring Architecture Award from NSW Australian Institute of Architects|website=Save Our Sirius|date=8 July 2018 }} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/907801937 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/907801148 cite #24 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. User:GreenC_bot/Job_18}}</ref>
== Design == thumb|Sirius Sydney. Exterior from shared courtyard
The complex was built to rehouse public tenants who had been displaced after a controversial redevelopment of the historic Rocks suburb during the 1960s and 70s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sirius on The Rocks|url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/insidethecollection/2013/05/sirius-on-the-rocks/|first=Charles|last=Pickett|work=Inside the collection - Powerhouse Museum |date=8 May 2013|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref> The building housed many of the original residents who fought for their right to remain in the area during the famous Green bans, whose purpose was not to retain heritage buildings but rather to retain the working class community in The Rocks. Many of the buildings remain, but the majority of the residents were moved into the Sirius apartments in the so-called 'people's plan'. The terraces and town houses they used to call home are owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), who receive rent from the tenants living in the building.{{cn|date=September 2025}}
Sirius is among the few quality examples of the Brutalism style in Australia, demonstrating the style's objective of ethical design based on social concerns, as well as its focus on the truthful expression of materials, function and structure.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/for-lovers-of-sydney-disappointments-are-coming-thick-and-fast-20160804-gqkqyp.html|title=The brutal truth: we're trashing Sydney's heritage|last=Farrelly|first=Elizabeth|date=6 August 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> Designed by Housing Commission architect, Tao Gofers, Sirius was based on Gofer's other major project for the Housing Commission: The Laurels, a public housing development in southern Sydney's Sans Souci. Like that development, Gofers’ original plan was to finish the building in a white colour to match the nearby Sydney Opera House, but due to budget constraints, the building was finished unpainted.<ref name="gofers">{{cite news|last1=Bleby|first1=Michael|title=Tao Gofers, the closet showman behind Sydney's Sirius building|url=http://www.afr.com/leadership/tao-gofers-the-closet-showman-behind-sydneys-sirius-building-20161007-grx54i|access-date=13 April 2018|agency=Australian Financial Review|date=11 November 2016}}</ref>
Anecdotally, unit 74 of the Sirius building became somewhat of an unofficial Sydney landmark; its sign displaying ‘One Way! Jesus’ clearly visible to Harbour Bridge commuters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/the-man-behind-the-most-famous-sign-seen-from-sydney-harbour-bridge|title=The man behind the most famous sign seen from Sydney's Harbour Bridge|last=Brewster|first=Anthony|date=8 May 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> The sign was in place for around 10 years, although the owner of the sign, Owen McAloon, and his motivations to spread a Christian message remained generally unknown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://precinctnews.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/looking-for-the-man-behind-the-sign/|title=Looking for the man behind the sign|last=Dawson|first=Matt|date=11 October 2013|website=Precinct News|publisher=UTS Graduate School of Journalism|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref>
The Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in Frankfurt has included Sirius in #SOSBrutalism, a growing database that currently contains over 700 Brutalist buildings. Importantly, #SOSBrutalism is a platform for a large campaign ‘to save our beloved concrete monsters’. The buildings in the database marked red are in particular jeopardy. There are few Australian entries in the project, but Sirius is at the top of the list of the world's endangered Brutalist buildings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sosbrutalism.org/cms/15802395#gallery|title=#SOSBrutalism|website=#SOSBRUTALISM|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-07}}</ref>
== Decisions about the building's future == A decision to sell the building was made in 2015 by the Baird Coalition government, thereby placing it under risk of demolition due to a lack of any heritage protection.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Nathan|date=2 August 2016|title=Gone: Sydney's Sirius apartments face demolition after heritage push fails|url=http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/gone-sydney-s-sirius-apartments-face-demolition-af|journal=Architecture & Design}}</ref> The NSW Heritage Council recommended heritage listing for the building in 2016, but this was denied by the Heritage Minister, Mark Speakman.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-19/nsw-minister-to-consider-calls-to-protect-sirius-brutalism/7183256|title=Heritage listing push for Sydney's iconic Sirius building|last1=McNally|first1=Lucy|date=19 February 2016|work=ABC News|last2=Code|first2=Bill|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/no-heritage-listing-for-sirius-building|title=No heritage listing for Sirius Building|date=31 July 2016|website=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=NSW Government|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref> The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales was advised in a hearing that redevelopment would affect views of the Sydney Opera House, a World Heritage Site, as well as "impinge on the Rocks' low-rise heritage, wharves, sandstone buildings and Victorian terraces".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sirius-redevelopment-would-put-opera-house-views-at-risk-architects-say-20161102-gsgchm.html|title=Sirius redevelopment would put Opera House views at risk, architects say|last=Robertson|first=James|date=2 November 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref>
In July 2016 Speakman announced that the building would not be heritage listed "despite a unanimous recommendation by the Heritage Council", citing the loss of financial return as a consequence of listing as the reason.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/were-very-lucky-here-inside-sydneys-sirius-building-20160917-grikju.html|title='We're very lucky here': Inside Sydney's Sirius Building|last=Kembrey|first=Melanie|date=18 September 2016|work=The Sun-Herald|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/unions-block-sirius-demolition-as-protests-ramp-up/news-story/3c73073e88499b16b7c90ade8bc9321c|title=Unions block Sirius demolition as protests ramp up|last=Keoghan|first=Sarah|date=14 September 2016|website=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref> The Sirius building is included on the World Monuments Fund's 2018 list of monuments at risk, with the listing calling "on the government of New South Wales to respect the recommendation of its heritage experts and allow its citizens to maintain an important social legacy".<ref>{{cite web|title=Sirius Building|url=https://www.wmf.org/project/sirius-building|website=2018 World Monuments Watch|publisher=World Monuments Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=AAP|title=Sydney's Sirius building recognised by World Monuments Fund|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydneys-sirius-building-recognised-by-world-monuments-fund-20171017-gz2uc1.html|access-date=13 April 2018|agency=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 October 2017}}</ref>
In July 2017, the Land and Environment Court ruled the decision by the state’s then-heritage minister Mark Speakman not to place the Sirius public housing complex on the State Heritage Register was “invalid and of no legal effect.” The court determined the government’s claim of financial loss did not constitute “financial hardship” and that the minister failed to consider the building’s heritage significance in his decision. The court ordered the Minister for Heritage (Gabrielle Upton at the time of the ruling) “to make a decision either to direct or not to direct the listing of the Sirius Apartment Building [...] according to the law".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-sirius-building-to-remain-standing-after-court-rules-against-nsw-government-20170725-gxibsq.html|title=The Sirius building to remain standing after court rules against NSW government|last=Saulwick|first=Jacob|date=25 July 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=NSW Caselaw|title=Millers Point Community Assoc. Incorporated v Property NSW [2017] NSWLEC 92|url=https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5976c0a7e4b074a7c6e176a0|website=NSW Caselaw|access-date=27 July 2017}}</ref> In October 2017, Upton again refused to list Sirius on the state heritage register, noting "In my view, [Sirius] is not a landmark worthy of State heritage protection."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cheng|first1=Linda|title=Sirius denied heritage protection, again|url=https://architectureau.com/articles/sirius-denied-heritage-protection-again/|access-date=13 April 2018|agency=ArchitectureAU|date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Robertson|first1=James|title=Sirius demolition one step closer as state government declines to grant heritage status|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sirius-demolition-one-step-closer-as-state-government-declines-to-grant-heritage-status-20171025-gz7u90.html|access-date=13 April 2018|agency=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
The last remaining resident was Myra Demetriou, who in 2017 was 90 and legally blind.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/push-to-save-sirius-sydneys-controversial-brutalist-landmark-20170607-gwlyoo/|title=Push to save Sirius, Sydney's controversial brutalist landmark|last=Sanda|first=Dominica|date=7 June 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref> Efforts to move the last residents were made to accommodation described as "unsuitable".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Last residents hold firm in brutal world|date=7 May 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=10}}</ref> Demetriou moved out as the last resident on 1 February 2018.<ref name=colau>{{cite news|last1=Cockburn|first1=Paige|last2=Laurence|first2=Emily|title=Sirius building: Last resident Myra Demetriou farewelled, campaigners to make bid to buy|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-27/farewelling-sirius-buildings-last-resident-myra-demetriou/9366942|access-date=13 April 2018|agency=ABC News|date=27 January 2018}}</ref> The Sirius building is set to welcome new residents in July 2024, five years after its contentious sale and subsequent redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-18 |title=Iconic building to reopen to new residents, five years after controversial sale |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/sale-of-sirius-five-years-on/3911459b-f9f0-4096-bcea-8faa1883d2ec |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=www.9news.com.au}}</ref>
== Public support == The S.O.S. (Save Our Sirius Foundation)<ref>{{cite web |title=SAVE OUR SIRIUS |url=http://saveoursirius.org/}}</ref> was formed by people and organisations campaigning to save Sirius and its residents and is supported by the National Trust of Australia, the Australian Institute of Architects, the Millers Point Residents Action Group, Friends of Millers Point, Millers Point Public Housing Tenants Group, Unions NSW, CFMEU, and Jack Mundey, the Green Ban campaigner who helped save The Rocks from redevelopment in the 1970s. Previous NSW chapter president of the Australian Institute of Architects, Shaun Carter, is chairman of the Save Our Sirius Foundation. Carter has argued that any decision about the building should take account of its social, cultural and environmental significance.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-01/artist-outrage-after-sirius-building-denied-heritage-listing/7677850|title=Sirius building's denial of heritage listing, proposed demolition a 'cultural tragedy', artist says|last=Hoh|first=Amanda|date=1 August 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>
A set of "S.O.S." lights flashed over The Rocks and Circular Quay from the top floor of Sirius when they were first installed to coincide with the exhibition S.O.S. Save our Sirius on 2 November 2014.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://millerspointcommunity.com.au/the-place/sirius/|title=Sirius|website=Millers Point|publisher=Millers Point Newsletter}}</ref> Resident McAloon's sign was briefly replaced by lights flashing S.O.S. to the Harbour Bridge traffic, but this was soon 'confiscated' by Housing NSW and McAloon 'relocated' by Housing NSW.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/the-man-behind-the-most-famous-sign-seen-from-sydney-harbour-bridge|title=The man behind the most famous sign seen from the Sydney Harbour Bridge|last=Brewster|first=Anthony|date=8 May 2014|publisher=The Guardian Australia|access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>
Other supporters of the building include Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, state member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, and the Australian Labor Party. Anthony Albanese described the Sirius building as "not just a place people call home, but a symbol of inclusion", while the local member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek called the government's decision to sell "heartless".<ref name=":3" /><ref name=colau/> The S.O.S Foundation suggested that Sirius could be saved if Lendlease were to purchase the building and develop some of its apartments for social and affordable housing.<ref name=":6" /> When Lendlease announced they would not be making a bid for the building, the foundation announced its intention to assemble a bid.<ref name=colau/>
Various public protests supported the inclusion of the building on the State heritage Register, including a petition, a crowd funded legal challenge, whose organisers aim to have the Minister's decision annulled;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saveoursirius.org|title=Save Our Sirius|date=27 August 2016|work=Save Our Sirius.org|access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startsomegood.com/saveoursirius|title=Save Our Sirius|date=23 August 2016|work=Save Our Sirius Foundation|access-date=23 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Fuary-Wagner">{{Cite news|url=http://www.domain.com.au/news/hundreds-of-supporters-show-up-in-fresh-bid-to-save-sydneys-famous-brutalist-building-sirius-20160820-gqxc5z/title=Hundreds/|title=Hundreds of supporters gather in fresh bid to save Sydney's famous Brutalist building Sirius|last=Fuary-Wagner|first=Ingrid|date=20 August 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald (Domain)|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> a rally;<ref name=":4" /> and a green ban announced by the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), under which no company associated with union will be involved with any proposed demolition of the building.<ref name=":4" />
== Purchase == On 28 June 2019, the NSW government announced that Sirius would be refurbished rather than demolished. The NSW Housing Minister, Melinda Pavey, announced that the building had been sold for A$150 million to Sirius Developments Pty Ltd, which was owned by private investment firm JDH Capital, subsequently identified as a shell company for Sirius Developments, set up for the deal by Jean-Dominique Huynh, and apparently without the requisite experience delivering a project "of a similar scale".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fellner|first=Carrie|date=5 July 2020|title=Sirius Building's $150m mystery buyer linked to Vietnamese billionaires|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sirius-building-s-150m-mystery-buyer-linked-to-vietnamese-billionaires-20200625-p5566s.html?btis#comments}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Fellner|first=Carrie|date=6 July 2020|title='Fraud and forgery': Fireworks over Sirius buyer's development attempt|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/fraud-and-forgery-fireworks-over-sirius-buyer-s-development-attempt-20200705-p5595z.html?btis}}</ref> It is intended that the building will be redeveloped into 76 apartments, plus retail and commercial spaces.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Visentin|first=Lisa|date=28 June 2019|title=Sirius building to be refurbished as NSW government nets $150 million in sell-off|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/sirius-building-to-be-refurbished-as-nsw-government-nets-150-million-in-sell-off-20190628-p5228v.html?btis#comments|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> The proceeds of the sale are expected to provide social housing for around 630 people.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kontominas|first=Belinda|date=28 June 2019|title=Sydney's iconic Sirius building sold to developers for $150 million|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-28/sirius-building-sold-to-developers-for-150-million-dollars/11262638}}</ref> On release $435 million worth of apartments were sold by developer JDH Capital in one weekend at a rate of $118,000 per square metre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Sirius |url=https://hoyne.com.au/work/sirius/ |access-date=12 October 2023 |website=Hoyne}}</ref>
==Redevelopment== The major 2022–2023 refurbishment and significant changes to the built form are being undertaken by JDH Capital, BVN Architecture (architecture and interiors), 360 Degrees Landscape Architects and Kelly Hoppen (penthouse and lobby interiors) with construction by Richard Crookes Construction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Sirius Sydney Harbour Team |url=https://siriussydneyharbour.com.au/team/ |access-date=12 October 2023 |website=Sirius Sydney Harbour}}</ref> Branding and marketing collateral was prepared by Hoyne.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Sirius |url=https://hoyne.com.au/work/sirius/ |access-date=12 October 2023 |website=Hoyne}}</ref>
== Book == thumb|Image of Sirius facade at sunset used on the cover of Dunn, Peake, Piscopo ''Sirius'' (2017), Piper Press. In 2017, [https://piperpress.com.au/products/sirius SIRIUS the book] was released. Written by John Dunn, Ben Peake and Amiera Piscopo, the book documents the story of the building and its residents. Published and reprinted by Piper Press, the cover features an image of the building's facade at sunset by Katherine Lu<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Dunn|first1=John|title=Sirius|last2=Peake|first2=Ben|last3=Piscopo|first3=Amiera|publisher=Piper Press|year=2017|isbn=978-0-9808347-5-8|location=Sydney}}</ref> and images taken by many of the people who were involved in the protests and efforts to save Sirius and its community, with support coordinated under the [http://saveoursirius.org/ Save Our Sirius] Foundation.
The book won the 2020 Adrian Ashton Prize for Architectural Culture and Literature from the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. SIRIUS was also a Finalist for the National Gallery of Victoria's International Cornish Family Prize for Art and Design Publishing.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Sirius' has won the 2020 Adrian Ashton Prize for Architectural Culture and Literature! |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CHy96c_FBkb/}}</ref>
==Gallery== {{gallery |align = centre |File:Sirius Sydney 03.jpg|Sirius western elevation viewed from Cumberland St |File:Sirius Sydney 01.jpg|Sirius shared courtyard |File:Sirius Sydney 02.jpg|Sirius low rise entry |File:‘SIRIUS’ Residential development for Sydney Housing Commission of NSW (1).jpg|From Circular Quay |File:‘SIRIUS’ Residential development for Sydney Housing Commission of NSW (2).jpg|From Avery Terrace |File:‘SIRIUS’ Residential development for Sydney Housing Commission of NSW (3).jpg|From East |File:‘SIRIUS’ Residential development for Sydney Housing Commission of NSW (5).jpg| |File:‘SIRIUS’ Residential development for Sydney Housing Commission of NSW (8).jpg|Building signage |}}
==See also== * Architecture of Sydney * Millers Point, New South Wales * List of brutalist structures
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Architecture of Sydney |state=autocollapse}}
Category:Brutalist architecture in Australia Category:Apartment buildings in Sydney Category:Residential buildings completed in 1980 Category:1980 establishments in Australia Category:The Rocks, New South Wales