When ornate gas lamps were installed at the Sydney Cricket Ground Ladies Pavilion in the late 19th Century, they were a state-of-the-art improvement.
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They allowed for evening access to the 1896 pavilion for night events such as cycling, which was a popular attraction at the ground until 1920.
However, with the advent of electricity after the First World War, gas lamp and fittings across the city were removed and most were scrapped. The lamps at the SCG entrance disappeared.
Now, 100 years later a Ballarat firm has brought replicas of the original cast iron and copper post lamps back to the staircase.
Commissioned by the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, Ballarat‐based Heritage Metal craft and Lighting produced the lamps here in the city before transporting and fitting them on site.
“The replacement of the lamps is an important step in a wider commitment of celebrating our history by preserving it for future generations,” the SCG’s general manager of facilities Johnny Naofal said.
“Heritage Metal Craft and Lighting’s ability to custom‐create lights from original early drawings provided the ideal solution for period lighting design with a 21st Century lighting performance.”
Brandon Perrett from Heritage Metal Craft and Lighting says he was thrilled being given the opportunity to reproduce the lamps.
“The SCG were unsure about how to reinstate the lights,” he says.
Reproducing the design was difficult given the Trust’s heritage team had only two photographs featuring the original lights.
“They found our website and emailed us some pictures, which we used to make some designs they were pleased with. There were a few details we were not sure about but our experience in making these lamps came through.”
Mr Perrett has been a stock machinist and sheet metal worker making lamps and other lighting features for 30 years. Among his work is restorations of lighting for the Supreme Court in Melbourne, including the skylights in the Banco Court; and the installation of gasoliers in the historic Beechworth Court.
The small Ballarat‐based firm specialises in the development and manufacture of custom lighting and metal work.
“I am very pleased to be a part of maintaining the heritage of the SCG Ladies stand,” Mr Perrett says.
He says he relies on a vast array of contemporary catalogues, photographs and the knowledge of colleagues to make the reproduction lamps and lighting.
He says during the Victorian period, so many new products became available that the design range is astonishing.
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