Powerhouse Parramatta

I am writing to oppose the proposed siting of the Powerhouse museum intended for Parramatta. Not only is the site unsuitable for the placement of this building for environmental reasons but it will require the destruction of rare heritage. The Willow Grove Villa and St George's Terraces are vital elements of the social history of Parramatta and are required to maintain a sense of place and the memory and historic context of this core area. Parramatta deserves its own Powerhouse museum but not at the expense of destroying important heritage. Our suburbs are under pressure and changing rapidly in spite of community preference, both locally and across Sydney, for retaining and respecting our past and our built heritage. Please ensure these valued heritage buildings are protected into the future and an alternative site is found for the museum.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project in the strongest possible terms. I am writing as a citizen of New South Wales, a long-time former resident of Parramatta and a museum and heritage conservation professional with postgraduate qualifications in museum studies. I started my museum career at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and I feel very strongly about the need for its ongoing funding and for the maintenance of its proud history of curatorship, research, materials conservation and excellence in display and public programs. I am not a member of any political party and am not writing on behalf of any association but as a private individual concerned for the conservation of Parramatta’s historic heritage.
While I applaud the NSW Government’s very sensible but long-overdue back-flip on the decision to close the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo, I deplore the decision to still proceed with the demolition of ‘Willow Grove’ and ‘St George Terrace’ and to construct a new building which was never fit for purpose and is even less fit for purpose now. When the Chairman of the Trustees of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and the Director of the Powerhouse Museum were interviewed recently on ABC Radio Sydney, they were hard put to articulate just what the proposed museum at Parramatta would be, other than saying it would be state-of-the-art and would showcase cutting-edge science and technology. Now that the Powerhouse, and presumably many of its iconic large objects, are to stay at Ultimo, it is obvious that there is no clear vision of just what the Parramatta building will be and what it will house. To proceed with the current design would be ill-judged and morally irresponsible in the current economic climate when there are so many other deserving projects.
Many supporters of the Powerhouse Parramatta project, including a slim majority of Parramatta City Council councillors seem to label all objectors as people not wanting Parramatta and the Western Suburbs to have a world-class museum. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone I have spoken to agrees that Parramatta deserves a world-class museum, but preferably one that showcases its rich environmental past, its Aboriginal cultural heritage and its modern history from first European settlement in 1788 to the multicultural metropolis it is today. And not at the expense of two fine local heritage items which help to tell the story of Parramatta’s evolution from the alternative seat of colonial government to thriving town and Sydney’s second CBD. Parramatta can ill afford to lose two more of its historic buildings for the sake of an ill-conceived museum relocation plan. Now that the main Powerhouse Museum facility is staying in Ultimo and a large part of the collection is housed at the Museums Discovery Centre at Castle Hill, the misnamed Powerhouse Parramatta can be seen for what it really is – a multi-purpose, exhibits and events centre – not a museum! Parramatta still has other significant historic buildings, particularly in the Parramatta North Historic Sites, which could be sympathetically adapted for new uses including museum uses, with sympathetic new infill development to support them.
Parramatta City Council seems to be worried that if they don’t support the current project, they will lose the Government’s arts and culture investment funding at a time of economic downturn and uncertain future. I can see no feasible reason why the Government couldn’t reallocate those funds to more rational and well-considered arts and cultural developments elsewhere in Parramatta rather than on the flood-prone chosen site on the bank of the Parramatta River. There still seems to be considerable concern about the flood risk of that site and building a new building raised on a plinth or with an undercroft to reduce the risk, only increases the cost of the development. I was born in ‘Willow Grove’ and grew up in Parramatta – I know how that site floods and how recently the former David Jones carpark has been flooded and the Parramatta ferry wharf put out of action. I can remember David Jones having flood sales when its basement stock were damaged by flooding. Even the new 3PS tower in Macquarie Street, three blocks south of the river has an automatic flood barrier to protect its underground carpark.
The NSW Government bowed to well-informed community opinion and public pressure and did a back-flip on closing the Ultimo site. They now need to do a back-flip on building Powerhouse Parramatta on the ‘Willow Grove’ site. If they don’t, they should change the slogan adorning NSW Government projects in Sydney to “We’re building tomorrow’s Sydney – and destroying its past!”
Chris Betteridge BSc (Sydney), MSc (Museum Studies) (Leicester), AMA (London), M.ICOMOS

As the former Historian of Telstra (the once owner of Willow Grove) and the descendant of two first Fleeters I am well aware of the destruction of Sydney and Parramatta's heritage in the name of progress by developers . There is virtually nothing left apart from street names of Parramatta, a city that is responsible for the survival of NSW. The state of NSW has many storage sites full of historic curiosities , many of which will never be seen by the public. In the fresh air and sunlight there however are several old buildings that give NSW residents and visitors a small insight into how it once looked. Curiosities do not do this on any level. Willow Grove for example has a history, having been part of the social fabric for nearly 150 years. The residence of Josephine Gallagher, a drapery store proprietor, and her Parramatta Council alderman. Later it was a maternity hospital. Before its construction it even had links to bush rangers. The other building targeted for demolition is a terrace that I am sure equally has great value to present and future Australians. When we travel overseas we are drawn to old world infrastructure. Why should Parramatta be any different? The Power House Museum should not be located on this flood plain. Why not elsewhere ie Campbelltown or near the Penrith Fire Musem. A grand building's garden where original roses grow , birds sing and the sunlight dapples through beautiful trees is more important to our society than glass , and cold bland architecture. I would like to believe that Australians in general and the NSW Government leaders are not the Philistines that some in the media are portraying them to be. Kind regards, Christopher Wood.

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project and the proposed destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces for reasons outlined below:
- For the hundreds and thousands of individuals who have grown up in Parramatta and the surrounding areas, protecting the history, heritage and memories of the area is paramount. I grew up in Granville in a heritage-listed home that was beautifully restored by my family. My mother worked as a local educator, attended OLMC in Parramatta and enrolled my siblings and I in various activities and after-school programs in the area. It is where we shopped (Westfield), where we performed (Riverside Theatre), where we learned to swim (Parramatta pool) and where we created our lifelong memories. The suburb has played a phenomenally important role in our upbringing and as an Australian family who regularly participated in the culture of the suburb, lived there, spent our money there and actively tried to better the area as much as possible, we are entitled to protect the past, present and future of Parramatta. Buildings like Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces were important to us then and they continue to be now.
- Willow Grove in particular is significant for the local area for historical, aesthetic, research, associative and representativeness values. As the residence was built c.1870-1880, it is an excellent representative example of a Victorian Italianate two-storey villa, readily identifiable as part of the historic building stock. It is a local landmark that strongly contributes to the streetscape and most importantly, it is a place of memories for a number of older residents of the area.
- The site grounds have the potential to contain archaeological material relating to European settlement prior to the construction of ‘Willow Grove’ and should not be paved over to create an unnecessary modern structure.
- Willow Grove is in excellent condition and there are no reasonable grounds to demolish such a wonderfully preserved building - one that is so strongly representative of its type, style and date of construction. It makes no logical sense to actively destroy one of the last remaining pieces of Parramatta's heritage to build a modern museum that aims to educate, teach and inspire visitors. What's more, the site was surveyed as part of the PHALMS (Parramatta Historical Archaeological Landscape Management) study and found to have a HIGH archaeological potential, and local significance. Willow Grove is also particularly important due to its location, as it demonstrates how the quality housing on George Street and in today’s Parramatta City Centre looked about the time of its creation.
- The loss of sense of place and character of Parramatta are important, and currently the potential impact of the destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces has not been adequately studied and reported on in the Environmental Impact Statement.
- The destruction of these sites also sets a horrific precedent for the future of Parramatta and our remaining heritage in the area that are already being negatively impacted on a daily basis.
- Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are rare examples of architecture that no longer exist in Parramatta CBD and need to be retained. There is no backtracking on a move like this and once it's gone, it's gone forever. Do not deprive the residents of Parramatta and Sydney the opportunity to see, enjoy and experience our beautiful heritage with their own eyes. It is a privilege to have these buildings still standing and we should be grateful they are still part of our lives.

As a Gastronomer and Food Culture Tourism Professional, I am delighted that there will be a roof top garden and Power Lab Kitchen in the new Powerhouse.
My business helps government, non-government, social enterprises and private food and beverage businesses leverage food and culinary tourism trends into activities and events that create a sense of 'place' and 'destination,'foster social and community cohesion, support economic development and generate profits.

I am also pleased that there will be emphasis on engaging the public in the evening hours as Parramatta is has a strong Night Time Food and Drink Economy.
Night time food and drink offerings in a museum are a powerful way to communicate that we are open for business and safe, welcome all-comers and create an emotional
link to memorable experiences for locals, visitors and tourists.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has found that 88.2% of all travel has food exploration as either a primary, secondary or tertiary motivation. This would indicate that there is an overwhelming and past due need for Parramatta to showcase its diverse and distinctive food offerings as it take its place as the central CBD.

Amongst those living above Sydney's 'latte line' there is the misconception that at (Parramatta) and below the 'latte line' there is a 'gastronomic wilderness.' This project with its attention to food culture and exciting programming around food and drink, provides an opportunity to develop a brand image and reinforce Parramatta and Western Sydney as a the multi-cultural 'gastronomic wonderland' it is.

Academic research has shown: food culture activities are socio-culturally strategic resonating with a broad cross section of people; provide social cohesion and local pride; contribute happiness and satisfaction in the community; mesh with the identity of the community in which it takes place fostering social integration and community; transforms and constructs ‘place’ and identity helping define a regions’ distinctiveness. What better way to intellectually and emotionally connect communities and drive repeat visitation than through Parramatta and Western Sydney’s foodscape? Perhaps a campaign highlighting the perfect marriage of food, art and culture - “Parramatta Plated and Curated.”

Just as the Powerhouse project is ambitious, dynamic and constantly changing, so is Western Sydney’s food culture. There is an important new and more honest story to tell around our First Nations ancient food culture (Bruce Pascoe’s ‘Dark Emu’) and how the First Nations sustained and contributed to European settlers’ food ways, (Jacqui Newling’s ‘Eat Your History’).

I have attached some ideas I have been collecting since being a part of the consultation group of this project. It includes design and programming insights on things that we might include at the Powerhouse :
what dedicated food museums and pop ups are doing- like the MOFAD in Brookly NY, London Food and Drink Museum: Bompas and Parr, The Smithsonian Food History Project at the National Museum of American History and pop ups
Examples of Restaurants in Museums and how food is the new battlefield for world class museum marketing
Ideas for a Sourdough (and other types of food) Library
Ideas for exhibits
Ideas for mechandise
Ideas for integrating art into the surrounding businesses and enviroment through indoor and outdoor mural and installations
Showcasing locals, Nonna's, local, national and international chefs, emerging chefs presenting live cooking or cooking videos of their own cuisines/dishes
Idea for a "Dish/Menu/Cuisine Back Story Binder"
Idea for classic food film nights with dining experiences to match (Babette's Feast, the Lunchbox, Tampopo,Big Night, 100 Foot Journey, Food Chains, Food Inc)
Ticketed events that recreated great eating occasions - Multi-Course Dining on the Titantic, 1901 Federation Banquet at Sydney Town Hall, Dining on the Railways etc.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project. This estate is a local and natural treasure that illustrates our brief history.

It’s an architectural beauty that deserves to be treasured and not torn down.

A city’s culture is layered and complex combining the past, present and vision for the future. Removing this structure is removing our city’s culture.

I support the Heritage Council of NSW's input to the SEARs, particularly the suggestion to include in the EIS "any designs that could facilitate the retention of Willow Grove and the St George’s Terrace" as I believe it is important to retain heritage. An architectural design encompassing the original buildings would be beneficial to the character of the new museum site without subscribing to the needless destruction of heritage buildings.

As for the past 20 years being a proud member supporter, and also my grandchildren, of the historical long-standing Powerhouse Museum (now Museum Of Applied Arts & Sciences) situated in our city of Sydney, which is familiarly visited and recognised by the many locals and the overseas traveler who come for sightseeing and to admire (including myself) the various interesting collections displayed and exhibited held within the Powerhouse Museum.
Regrettably and sadly the Powerhouse Museum has now been planned for moving out to Parramatta (to my knowledge without any discussions or views were taken into for consideration planned by the appropriate project management for the supportive members)
Naturally I strongly object to this unnecessary wasteful expensive project to take place out Parramatta, and assume that the local residents living out there are quite happy with what they already have and hope to live in the future without any noisy disruptions to occur in their area with any unwanted construction developments and, where the huge costs are involved could be better spent/used for more important issues, at this present time that is, to assist with the sick, unemployed, the homeless,etc., caused by COVID-19 Virus.
So I truly hope my participation of one submission will count with many more will assist and support together with those who are struggling to help SAVE by strongly oppose to having our wonderful longtime family Powerhouse Museum shifted away (for what serious matter?..greedy developers?) from its longtime popular standing location in Harris Street, Ultimo..(thus causing more havoc, congestion in the city with ongoing construction road works, extra detours, etc.)..inconveniently way out to Parramatta (where for some it’s not wanted.)
Regards
Alice Dudgeon

The Powerhouse Museum has held a leadership role for the State’s professional and volunteer run museums and galleries for many years. Museums & Galleries of NSW (M&G NSW) acknowledges that role and we congratulate the NSW Government on its recent announcement confirming the Parramatta development and its decision to keep the museum's Ultimo site. With MAAS in Ultimo being maintained and the ability for the museum to shine brightest in Parramatta affirmed, we support the development as outlined and the commitment it makes to ensure world class cultural institution access and parity for Western Sydney and beyond. When completed, it will signify the importance of equitable community connected opportunity to cultural programming and collections.
We acknowledge and are excited that Powerhouse Parramatta will:
• reflect the communities and cultures of Sydney’s diverse heart, in Western Sydney
• hold First Nations culture at its core
• create a world-class education, research and community Academy in Parramatta, with a particular focus on the establishment of learning opportunities for regional students and young people from throughout NSW
• include further development of offsite store capacity at the Museum Discovery Centre
• maintain and develop programs at Ultimo
M&G NSW looks forward to continuing to support the development of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and in Parramatta. We are also excited to assist with the project’s ambition to renew the effectiveness of the museum’s regional connections and outreach support.
The challenge associated with this project is not just about embracing change. Being future focussed, Powerhouse Parramatta is also about reimagining the way a contemporary museum can work. The project as outlined in the EOI does this. By clearly signposting Sydney’s western centre as the city’s future, it will inject Western Sydney placemaking with the relevance and breadth of its programs.
New audiences, visitor, knowledge and creative economy benefits, striking architecture, innovative ways of working and sharpened cultural leadership will be the result.

Please find attached the Save the Powerhouse campaign submision

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse because St Georges Terrace & Willowgrove will be demolished to make way for this building.

My heritage is constantly being destroyed in Parramatta, the second most significant settlement in Sydney, we have lost heritage buildings to make way for progress but this now needs to STOP, we will have nothing left.

I feel a strong connection with Parramatta’s history in particular it’s heritage buildings, my descendants lived in George Street, Parramatta. My 4th Great Grandfather Samuel Barber and his family made significant contributions to the Parramatta area during the 1800’s.

St Georges Terrace & Willowgrove are the last Parramatta CBD examples of such architecture. I am absolutely distraught that my heritage is being treated in such an insignificant manner. I request these buildings are kept intact & in good condition for future generations education.


I have not made any reportable political donations.
I request my name not be published.

Please understand, I am not against the establishment of a world class museum in Western Sydney.
I and many others have just spent the past 5+ years trying to save the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. It appears that this fight was succeeded.
Unfortunately collateral damage remains.
So far this government has not shifted from its determination to:-
Retain the current flood prone location for the New Museum
The destruction of the Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace
Still insisting that the New Museum will be called the Powerhouse Museum
None of the above makes sense.
But surely that now the Bolton & Watt steam engine, Loco 1 and the Catalina Flying Boat do not need to be shifted,
the current design can be re jigged and the heritage buildings saved.
To name the New Museum , “Powerhouse” defies common sense.
The mantra that the Powerhouse Museum was moving to Parramatta was one of the biggest furphies.
You cannot simply transfer a historic site with its historic buildings to another location.
MAAS has enough capital items in current storage to fill any New Museum.

Surely it is time to put politics aside and to ask museum experts to unite and come up with something truly great
that will compliment not supplement the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo.

Thank you

Garry Horvai

I am delighted that Parramatta is to be the home of a wonderful new cultural facility and equally delighted it will not be at the expense of another. It builds the State cultural infrastructure and I think gives us an opportunity to pause and review what is currently being considered.
I believe wedging this building into downtown Parramatta misses out on the opportunity of using the new venue to create new economic development around it as it is all developed today.
I believe building this new venue at the expense of some very significant heritage property is short sighted and contradictory to the purpose of a Museum.
I believe the notion today that a significant environmental threat such as a 100 year flood should be reviewed in the light of major environmental events in the last decade.
So three reasons to relocate - how about the Parramatta Jail site! Or in the grounds near the Parramatta Stadium?
I also think the model of all temporary exhibitions will be a costly exercise and while the arguments are for great attendance and repeat visitation this will come from dynamic public programs rather than increased turnover of exhibitions as they are very costly to do at the standard expected - of course unless it is digital and if that is the model why collect objects??
So lets use this opportunity with the decision to maintain Ultimo to review not the notion of a major cultural investment in Parramatta but its location and operation to best meet a sustainable and economically impactful model.

FORM Dance Projects supports the MAAS Powerhouse in Parramatta plan. We find the vision for a world-class cultural institution in the heart of Western Sydney to be a necessity. In Parramatta, rapidly transforming into Sydney's central city, we work in an environment reflective of a future Australia. There has been substantial development in business, corporate, health and transport in Parramatta and Western Sydney recently. We need significant investment in arts and cultural infrastructure development which has been lacking for too long in our city and region. The Powerhouse plan is an ambitious contemporary vision, the architectural design by Moreau Kusunoki and Genton is inspirational and breath taking, and will have the impact of a major global institution supported by, what will be, no doubt, an outstanding Museum program of exhibitions, installations, residencies, research and education fostering innovation and excellence in applied arts and sciences including history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music and transport-space exploration. The building will reflect what it contains and aims to achieve, an "Australian institution that embodies the best of design ingenuity and innovation and reflects the growth, changing shape and future of Sydney." Led by the highly respected and committed Australian arts leader, Lisa Havilah, we can expect this unique, successful, greatly informed and considered strategy across all areas of the Powerhouse Plan from the building to the curated content and audience engagement and education outreach. FORM was delighted to hear about developing fresh and new program partnerships with local Western Sydney arts and cultural organisations, including the small-medium arts organisations. We positively envisage a future with the Powerhouse in Parramatta, and look forward to developing a partnership, which reflects an engagement with the independent artists and communities we have been working with in Western Sydney over the last 20 years. We believe and trust that Lisa Havilah, with her extensive expertise and experience, and knowledge of Western Sydney Arts and Culture, will deliver the Powerhouse project for the NSW Government with sensitivity and best practice in community cultural development and consultation. We look forward to a future Parramatta Powerhouse where First Nations, local, national and international people gather to celebrate, share, learn, explore, be adventurous and inspired.

I strongly object to this project. It was always unnecessary. Now that the Powerhouse collection at Ultimo is not to be moved, a complete rethink is necessary.
The project should not go ahead in its present form anyway because:
- It involves the demolition of heritage buildings - Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. (It is almost beyond belief that tenderers were actively encouraged to consider such demolition in their proposals.) Far too many heritage buildings in Parramatta have already been destroyed. There was no good reason of any sort that this project could not have accommodated retention of the heritage buildings, if indeed the site is suitable in other respects.
- The site is flood prone
- The box like structures are not sympathetic and do not have any particular resonance with the city of Parramatta.
Western Sydney should certainly have a cultural centre, but not in this form.

Please refer to attached letter.

I am a Town Planner and have worked in the State Planning Authority of NSW, in local government and as a consultant, including to Councils of LGAs in NSW. In this latter role, I completed Heritage Studies for LGAs close to Parramatta. As a child, I visited the old Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (opened in 1892), and I have been a visitor to the Powerhouse Museum (opened in 1988) as an adult and as a parent.

I have assessed the above EIS and wish to make the following objections to the proposed construction of the Powerhouse Parramatta.

1. Proposal and EIS no longer appropriate

On Friday night 3 July 2020, the State Government announced it would retain the existing Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and continue with the proposal to develop the new museum in Parramatta, which is the subject of the current exhibition. However, the EIS as it stands does not address this new strategy. The proposal should be withdrawn and a new EIS submitted.

2. Relationship to Powerhouse Ultimo

The proposed Powerhouse Parramatta can make a major contribution to the western Sydney region, as a companion to the Powerhouse at Ultimo. The objectives, functions and services of the two museums need to be considered as complementing each other and the proposal for the Powerhouse Parramatta revised in the context of this relationship. The new museum could be reduced in size now that Powerhouse Ultimo is to be retained. The scope and scale of the museum as set out in the current proposal needs to be reconsidered.

3. Poor transport connections

For a cultural institution which it is claimed by proponents will attract large numbers of people, the site has poor access to car parking and public transport. There is no car parking on the site and it is 30 minutes by train from the Sydney CBD, then a further bus trip or a long walk from the station. It is not well connected to other parts of Sydney either. In my view, this poor accessibility will deter potential visitors, especially from regional New South Wales, interstate and overseas. Alternative sites with better transport options should be considered.

4. Unsuitable location

The proposed site adjoining the Parramatta River has potential for flooding. Emergency exit from the site will be constrained. It is not an appropriate location to house the rare and precious artefacts of the collection, nor for a facility which is intended to attract large numbers of people. This is further exacerbated by the multi-storey design which must rely on lifts and/or staircases up to 17 levels for egress.

Alternative sites in Parramatta or adjoining LGAs such as Bankstown, Blacktown or Penrith should be considered and included in a revised EIS.

5. Loss of Heritage buildings on the proposed site

The proposal includes the removal of ‘Willow Grove’, a late Victorian villa, and ‘St George’s Terraces’, a two-storey Victorian terrace of seven houses. These buildings are heritage items of significance to Parramatta and should be retained. One of the architectural proposals was to keep these historic buildings and this approach should be further considered in reviewing the proposal for this site.

6. Uncertainty about the future of the Powerhouse Ultimo

The original proposal for the Powerhouse Parramatta entailed the closure of the Powerhouse Ultimo, and the dispersal of valuable and rare item to the new museum, to other collections that might not be equipped to care for them, or into storage. Even though the Powerhouse Ultimo is to remain, it is unclear what form it will take and what will happen to the collections in the future. The proposal should include plans for the Powerhouse Ultimo as well as the new museum in Parramatta.

Conclusion and recommendation

The EIS in its current form is not acceptable for the following reasons:

• It is no longer appropriate because it does not take account of the Government’s decision on 3 July 2020 to retain the existing Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo; it does not consider how the two museums will complement each other; and it sheds no light on what form the existing museum will take or the fate of its collections. See points 1, 2 & 6 above.

• The proposed site has no car parking and is poorly served by public transport. See point 3 above.

• The proposed site is unsuitable because it is flood-prone. See point 4 above.

• The proposal will result in the demolition of items of heritage significance to Parramatta. See point 5 above.

This EIS should therefore be withdrawn or rejected and a revised proposal for the Powerhouse Parramatta developed.

Yours faithfully,




Jonathan Falk
BTP Hons, M Eng. Sc. (Transportation & Traffic), NSW Local Government Town and Country Planner’s Certificate, Fellow Planning Institute of Australia
Member, PIA (NSW) Transport Network
Jonathan Falk Planning Consultants

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta development that will see important historical sites destroyed to accommodate the new development. Willow Grove & St George’s Terrace are part of the history of Parramatta and should not be destroyed due to their cultural importance. Any development of the area should work around leaving these culturally important buildings intact. We owe it to future generations to preserve our history and it would be a travesty to build an educational facility whilst destroying educationally important buildings.

Please see attached.

Willow Grove needs to be saved as it is a part of parramatta heritage