With the redevelopment of Sydney CBD’s oldest public building and historic coining factory, past and present truly co-exist. Facing Macquarie Street, the elegant colonnaded building once formed the southern wing of Governor Macquarie’s notorious Rum Hospital and later part of the first overseas branch of London’s Royal Mint. The coining factory behind, shipped in pieces from England during the height of the gold rushes, contained the most cutting-edge technology in the colony.

Integrating new and heritage buildings, historic structures and archaeological elements, the site today houses, the head office and verandah café, while the central courtyard provides a tranquil oasis on Sydney’s busy Macquarie Street. The Mint is also home to the Caroline Simpson Library, which holds the only public research collection in Australia dedicated to the history of the home and garden.

Alland Group was contracted by Sydney Living Museums to upgrade the lighting in the forecourt and courtyard

The lighting will give improved visibility for night access and also provides dramatic lighting of the buildings for evening events.
The fittings installed are a line of LED’s that up-light the facades of the original Mint buildings.
Another series of LED lights are mounted to the underside of the courtyard plinth to provide wash light across the footpaths and flagstones.

The challenge of the project was to bring power to light fittings, but the beautiful result speaks for all the hard work to.