AGY-5467 | Building Construction Branch (1912-1941) / Building Maintenance Branch (1942-1943) / Building Construction Branch (1943-1944) / Building Construction and Maintenance Branch (1945-1986) (BC&M Branch) [Department of Public Works]

Full description

The Building Construction Branch was established on 6 May 1912 when W. Bruce took over as Constructor of Building Works from the Acting-Director of Works. Until the end of 1912 the superintendents and clerical staff of the Branch were located at the Government Architect's Yard. (1)

'Prior to 1912, when all major building work of the Government was let by public tender, there was attached to the Public Works Department a small building branch known as the Government Architect's Yard which carried out repairs and minor building operations by day labour. The Building Construction Branch grew from this nucleus, the functions of the Government Architect's Yard having been extended about the year 1912 to the building of cottages at Daceyville and other major works. In 1913, the Branch was gazetted as an industrial undertaking, thus permitting of its being financed through a Special Deposits Account and of the accounts being kept as a branch of the Public Works Department. Under a Government carrying out a vigorous day labour policy, its operations became very extensive, embracing the construction of all buildings paid for from public funds.' (2)

The Building Construction Branch was gazetted on 24 September 1913 as an Industrial Undertaking under section 2 of the Special Deposits (Industrial Undertakings) Act, 1912 (Act No. 22, 1912) and operated as such from 1 October 1913. (3)

In 1942 the Branch became the Building Maintenance Branch. In 1943 it again became the Building Construction Branch.

Following on the appointment on 7 May 1945 of Mr G. Laws as Manager, Building Construction and Maintenance Branch [BC&M Branch] the administration of the maintenance section of the Government Architect's Branch passed to his control. (4) The annual report stated that 'the ultimate ideal was the assembling under one authority of all maintenance works upon public buildings and the construction under day labour conditions of new buildings or extensions as required from time to time. (5)

The functions of the Building Construction and Maintenance Branch in 1984 were:

maintenance, additions, renovations, alterations and remodelling of State Government public buildings such as government offices, police stations, court houses, hospitals and other institutions including buildings of historical importance;
maintenance, additions and remodelling of schools, transfer and erection of prefabricated "demountable" buildings, ground works and tar paving;
construction of new buildings for Infants and Primary Schools, Preschool Centres and special building construction as required;
inspection and treatment of termites, borers and other pest infestations in government public buildings, schools and institutions;
provision of emergency services during and after normal working hours for plumbing, building and electrical services in State Government public buildings, schools and institutions. (6)


References
Public Service List, 1919-1960.
Reports of the Department of Public Works, 1919-1986.

Endnote
1. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June, 1913, pp.38-39 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1913 Vol. 2, pp.870-871.
2. NRS 12613, Papers concerning Industrial Undertakings generally, 1933-34 [4/7409.4] Minute for Cabinet, 20th March, 1933.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.153, 24 September 1913, p.5822; Report of the Auditor-General for 1913-1914 under the "Special Deposits (Industrial Undertakings) Act 1912", pp.1, 14-16 in NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1914-15 Vol.5, pp.897, 910-912.
4. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June, 1945, p.8 [NUA 197, not printed in Parliamentary Papers].
5. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June, 1946, p.37 [NUA 197].
6. Public Works Department, Annual Report 1983-84, p.95.