FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
FAQ
Hostel Accommodation
The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre
Construction
Design Principles
Operational Questions
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Hostel Accommodation
How can I book a room?
Online on yha.com.au or by phone on 02 8272 0900.
Does the YHA have harbour views?
Yes, a balcony and common area (with BBQ facilities) with views overlooking Sydney Harbour is accessible to all guests. Some double rooms on the second and third levels also have views of Sydney Harbour.
What are the room configurations in the hostel?
| Room Type | Number of Rooms |
|---|---|
| Double/Twin En-suite | 46 |
| 4-bed En-suite | 49 |
| 6-bed En-suite | 11 |
| Total | 106 |
When is reception open?
The reception is open 24 hours.
Does the rooms have en-suites?
Yes, all rooms (dormitory and double rooms) have an en-suite. Six-bed share rooms and some four-bed share rooms have a sink, toilet and shower in separate cubicles. On each level there is also one separate toilet and shower available for guests.
Are there Internet facilities?
Internet stations are available for guests. There is also wireless Internet available for guests travelling with a laptop computer.
Is there a self-catering kitchen?
Yes. There is a self-catering kitchen and dining room available to individual guests. Cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery are provided.
Are there common areas available for all guests?
Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen and dining area; lounge room, TV common room, Internet stations, and a third-floor common room and outdoor terrace (with BBQ facilities and views of Sydney Harbour).
Groups have exclusive access to a buffet-style servery for meals, a dining area, groups lounge and TV common room.
Who stays at the YHA?
Sydney Harbour YHA is one of the very few establishments offering low cost accommodation in The Rocks; most accommodation is 4 or 5 star and demand for low-cost accommodation is not largely met.
Sydney Harbour YHA is YHA’s flagship property. It has facilities currently not provided at other YHAs such as all en-suite bedrooms, a separate groups’ area for school groups and a terrace with harbour views.
Sydney Harbour YHA accommodates domestic and international independent travellers. The historical significance of the site and programs run from The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre also attracts regional education groups – from school-children through to university students. There is an area exclusively for groups’ use, which is separate from the individual travellers’ common areas.
Am I able to view the remains?
The ground-floor foyer looks straight onto the remains and a grid walkway allows guests to see down to some remains when they first enter the hostel. Also, there are two open voids in the hostel providing all guests the opportunity to view the remains from above.
The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre
How can I book The Big Dig?
Bookings from February 2010 can be made via email on sydharbourgroups@yha.com.au or telephone 02 8272 0910.
What facilities does The Big Dig have?
The Big Dig includes two classrooms (each seating 30 students), a simulated ‘dig’ with storage facilities, access to the observation areas within the dig site, male and female toilets, and an area to place school bags.
The classrooms is fitted with stackable chairs, tables, DVD/VHS player, digital projector and screen, whiteboard and laptop (with Internet access).
Who uses The Big Dig?
The Big Dig is used by domestic and international education groups – ranging from primary and high school through to tertiary education and archaeological/heritage groups. Sydney Learning Adventures and the Historic Houses Trust facilitate bookings and the programs.
Why is it called ‘The Big Dig’?
The Big Dig was the name originally used for the major archaeological dig on the site in 1994. The name has been carried forward for the Archaeology Education Centre.
Construction
When will construction conclude?
Construction has been completed with the YHA hostel opening on 31 October 2009.
Design Principles
Why a modern building?
Modern building structures may be considered out of character with The Rocks area, however this has been done to avoid confusion of the old and the new. Metal-mesh façade screening (indicative of the original buildings on the site) is placed over the modern building to clearly show visitors that this is a modern development with heritage significance.
The new buildings, while substantially different in form, bulk and scale from the former historic neighborhood, will provide a new chapter in The Rocks history.
How are the remains interpreted?
YHA has worked with heritage consultants, Godden Mackay Logan, Sydney Learning Adventures and the Historic Houses Trust to interpret the archaeology of this site and the best means for reconstructing the site’s look and feel to create a meaningful and engaging historical experience for visitors.
The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre
The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre is used by education groups interested in learning about the archaeological and historical significance of the site. The centre facilitates experiential learning through hands-on activities and learning through historical interpretation.
Educational programs concentrate on the history of the Cumberland/Gloucester Street neighbourhood in the wider context of The Rocks as well as the 1994 Big Dig and archaeological excavation methods.
Innovative site presentation, audio tour and observation area
Some artefacts have been placed in the interpretive screens that adjoin the streets and lanes. Signs and photos provide historical interpretation of findings discovered on the site and direct visitors’ eyes to significant and interesting site remains.
It is envisaged an audio tour will be available for download onto personal MP3 players and audio devices will be available for hire from the YHA reception. The audio tour will be downloadable from yha.com.au, which will be accessible through the YHA’s Internet terminals.
The Sydney Harbour YHA
Interpretive elements have been incorporated into the interior design of the YHA to ensure guests are aware of the history and significance of where they are staying. Bedrooms have been named after people who lived on the site and there are information panels in the bedrooms, common areas and reception of the YHA. The building was designed so that all bedrooms lead out to an open corridor that allows guests to see down onto the archaeological remains.
Is the development sustainable?
YHA and The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority are committed to best practice management and dedicated to playing an active role in environmental conservation.
Sustainability has been a primary prerogative in the finalising of this building’s design and considerable attention has been paid to reducing the potential energy use of the building. The building has the following implemented:
- Air-conditioning for each bedroom is only be available upon guests’ request at reception. Even then, the system is only be available for heating or cooling until 10am the next day as the air-conditioning will be controlled by timing units that will cut-off at 10am daily.
- Rooms have been designed to be naturally ventilated for the most part of the year. There are large external shades on all bedroom windows which guests are able to move. Reed systems (installed on all windows) automatically cut-off the air-conditioning to that particular room when a window is opened.
- Energy-efficient lighting (fluorescent lamps, tubelights and incandescent lights) are supported by a key card cut-off system for access to private rooms.
- A solar-panelled DHW hot water system supported by a natural gas water heater.
- During peak demand periods the hostel uses a gas-powered generator, which has the capability of producing 25% of the hostel’s power requirements.
- Water usage is reduced by the use of 3A or greater WELS rated products for taps, showerheads and WCs.
- Water meters are specified to monitor major water use end-users. Guest rooms water use, laundry water use and the common area water usage are monitored separately.
- The roof areas are used to collect rainwater and an 80,000 litre rainwater collection tank harvests water for flushing toilets.
Guests are provided with recycling facilities and made aware (through signage) of environmental issues affecting Australia, including the need to conserve water due to drought.
What accessibility is included?
The foyer provides disabled access to adjacent lane-ways and The Big Dig. From the lobby there is disabled access to the lower level of the south wing of the YHA and to all three levels of the north wing as well as access to all common areas, including the reception, kitchen and staff areas.
Operational Questions
How does YHA operate and manage its hostels?
YHA is aware of the potential for impacts on residential neighbours and independently implements Management Plans for the appropriate management of guests.
There are over 140 YHA youth hostels in Australia. Between them, they cater for over one million guest-nights each year. YHA operates six major YHAs within NSW providing accommodation for 1450 people. The Sydney Harbour YHA is owned and operated by YHA. Staff will be employed by YHA NSW and be under the direction of the NSW state office at Kent Street.
YHA, as a community conscious organisation, has a concern for proper management of its facilities, a desire for appropriately trained staff, a desire for a safe and neighbour-friendly environment and a desire for a well-managed and well-maintained facility as a long-term investment. YHA’s Operational Management Plan includes:
- Security, inclusive of on-site 24 hour staffing, swipe pass access, contracted security guards and in-house closed circuit security television to protect tenants and nearby properties.
- Behaviour standards for guests and appropriate actions required to maintain amenity levels.
- Fire safety procedures, both in emergency situations and general maintenance.
- Training measures for staff in security, fire situations, emergency services and customer/guest control.
- Maintenance measures for all operations of the hostel.
Has YHA considered and dealt with possible noise impacts on surrounding neighbours?
Acoustic consultants, Acoustic Logic Consultancy, assessed noise impacts found that appropriate measures can be taken to ensure minimal noise impacts on surrounding neighbours. In addition, YHA employs the following methods to prevent noise impacting on neighbours:
- The Level 1 terrace is closed at 10pm.
- The Level 3 terrace is closed at 10pm. The balustrade around the terrace is 1 metre high and imperforate (eg glass/Perspex) to reduce noise.
- Hostel management supervises use of the terraces to prevent noisy behaviour.
- Bottle/garbage collection will be done on Cumberland Street.
Does the YHA generate extra traffic and parking?
Guests staying at YHAs are typically visitors to Sydney who use public transport. Individuals largely arrive at the YHA on foot having caught a train, bus or airport shuttle to Circular Quay, while school groups use chartered coaches.
A Traffic and Parking Implications Report prepared by Terraffic Pty Ltd recommended some changes to ensure reasonable preservation of local amenity and include:
- Five additional parking spaces on Gloucester Street just south of the site.
- An 18m long No Parking Zone – Buses Excepted (15 minute limit) on Cumberland Street. This zone facilitates access to the Education Centre for school groups that arrive by coach and serve as a drop-off/pick-up point for guests travelling by taxi. This type of No Parking Zone is found throughout The Rocks area and generally serves local hotels such as the Shangri-La Hotel, Quay West Apartments and the Four Seasons Hotel.
- A further 13m No Parking Zone – Buses Excepted (15 minute limit) on Cumberland Street between 7am and 6pm, reverting to 1 hour parking outside those hours.
- A kerb re-alignment in the vicinity of the proposed stairs connecting the hostel to the Cumberland Street footpath.
- Retention of 2 x 4 hour parking zone.
- A 12m long loading zone in Cumberland Street located adjacent to the garbage/service area in the north-western corner of the site. The proposed Loading Zone will apply between 7.00am and 10.00pm, Monday to Saturday and can accommodate 1 x heavy rigid vehicle or 2 x small rigid vehicles/vans.
- A kerb re-alignment in the vicinity of the stairs connecting the hostel to the Gloucester Street footpath.
- The kerb re-alignments and parking restrictions reduce the on-street parking capacity by a total of 3 car spaces – loss of 6 on Cumberland Street but a gain of 3 on Gloucester Street.
