Powerhouse Parramatta

I object to the Powerhouse Museum being moved to Parramatta under its current plan.

My main reason for objecting is:

I believe Willow Grove should be preserved.

This is an important place, because it was a maternity hospital, and therefore has a greater significance than other historical buildings of this era. There are living Australians who can trace their ancestry to this building, and it is a physical location that they can go and visit to get a sense of their past. But also, a maternity ward reflects the nursing history of Australia, and women's working history, which is just as important. On top of that, it is a beautiful building that should be made available to the public.

There is an even older historical parallel with Willow Grove in Parramatta - as there was also a birthing area for Aboriginal women, near the Parramatta gaol by the river; and in a way, these two sites could easily be linked as part of a tour.

I understand why the State Government wants to move the Powerhouse to Parramatta, because they are acknowledging the large number of young families in the area who would benefit from a museum like what has been proposed.

But I actually feel that they should be keeping the Powerhouse where it is – and instead, looking at creating something that is specifically linked to the history of Parramatta. A museum that is dedicated to social history, and all the threads that make up modern Australia.

The reason I say this, is that Parramatta as a whole, is not only the geographical centre of Sydney (a fact that was recognized in newspapers back in the 1850s) – but so many 'firsts' also happened in Parramatta connected with modern Australia history. For instance, it is the site of the first 'settler' market place (near the Town Hall) and also the first farm in the domain of Parramatta Park, the train to Parramatta was the first state-owned railway in the British Empire, and St. Patricks is Australia's first Catholic cemetery.

Also, more people lived in Parramatta (1, 970) in the first four years of settlement, than in Sydney city (1,170) itself. There are heritage buildings all over North Parramatta that are testament to this, as well as the Female Factory in Fleet Street, which in all honesty, should be receiving World Heritage listing, as the condition of it, compared to other former colonial factories around Australia, is nearly pristine.

The Aboriginal history is also very significant. Spear heads and flints that have been found in Parramatta Park dating back 4000 years. And in the CBD, fire cinders have been found that date even further back to 30 000 years. And these are only what has been discovered so far; who knows what will be unearthed in the future!

Also, Parramatta is significant for multicultural Australia, including very recent history. If you look at Harris Park, it reflects the Indian migrants who came as students in the 1990s, renting flats in the area because of their affordability. But in a span of 30 years, they have transformed Harris Park into a vibrant area, that is well loved and much acknowledged by the rest of Sydney.

My feeling is that some kind of museum needs to be carefully considered, that incorporates all of these wonderful threads that make Parramatta a special place – not only to NSW history, but the wider Australian history. And I think this can be achieved without having to destroy elements of Parramatta's heritage, like Willow Grove, and also St. Georges Terrace, as has been proposed in the design of the relocated Powerhouse.

I feel that the State Government has not properly consulted with the local community in planning this. There are a number of groups in Parramatta, who care about the history of the area, that the State Government could have easily worked with – as well as community groups too, to create something that would reflect the character of the area, in a way that could also be appealing to tourists, school student tours, and families that might visit the area.

So these are the main reasons why I object to the Powerhouse Museum being moved to Parramatta.

Thanks for reading this,
Iain Wilson.

I write this submission on behalf of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP). The Parramatta Powerhouse Museum project has our strong support and endorsement.

Located in the heart of culturally diverse Western Sydney, the Diocese of Parramatta supports communities in one of the fastest growing areas of New South Wales. It is made up of 80 vibrant school communities that extend from Dundas Valley, north to Richmond, west to Katoomba and south to Luddenham. There are 58 primary schools and 22 secondary schools, two trade pathway campuses, four Catholic Early Learning Centres, 25 Catholic Out of School Hours Care Centres and two high support needs facilities. There are around 43,000 students and almost 5,000 staff.

CEDP's intent is to transform the learning of each student and enrich the professional lives of staff. We believe that the creation of a world-class education and cultural precinct like the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum, as well as enhancements to the existing facility at Castle Hill, will help us to achieve this aim by providing unique learning experiences for the young people of Western Sydney.

Greater Western Sydney is the geographical centre of the city. With a rapidly expanding population, it is critical that the cultural and education facilities that sit at the heart of a vibrant city are embedded in a coordinated planning process for the region that includes major infrastructure projects such as Badgerys Creek Airport, WestConnex, the Sydney Metro and the Parramatta Light Rail.

The Land and its People
CEDP acknowledges the history, stories, and Dreaming of the Darug and Gundungurra people. We are delighted that the authentic telling of the story of Australia will be the mandate of the Powerhouse.

The museum could work with students to undertake a longitudinal project that explores the land and the people of Western Sydney. This work would seek to draw in the diversity and long history of this extraordinary place and be a standing feature where students from Western Sydney schools tell the evolving story of Parramatta and its surrounds.

Student Learning
There is an opportunity for students to serve as docents and tour guides for the Parramatta Powerhouse. They might be attached to a specific exhibit or be part of the core experience of the museum. Older students might be able to conduct experiments or support other learning opportunities for younger students. The chance for the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum to introduce the Australian Space Agency to schools and university communities will have long-term benefits for the strengthening of STEM-based learning. There is scope for student internships, work programs and research projects. The inclusion of working rooftop garden is strongly supported.

Co-design of Student Learning Initiatives
We see many opportunities for CEDP teachers to work with Parramatta Powerhouse Museum educators on powerful learning sequences. The museum’s collections could be mapped to NSW syllabus outcomes, and through a collaboration between schools and the museum, high-quality learning experiences will emerge. Rather than an excursion complementing the unit studied at school, the museum would become the unit, and rather than a single excursion, there could be ongoing physical as well as virtual connections between students and museum educators (For example, Harvard Project Zero’s ProjectMUSE. Likewise the work of Veronica Boix-Mansilla around global competencies and engaging the world through museums).

Further, school staff could serve as valued contributors to the development of virtual resources. These could be made available not only to CEDP teachers, but to teachers around Australia.

Teacher Learning
CEDP and Parramatta Powerhouse Museum could partner to provide a range of teacher professional learning in the areas of science, technology and engineering (and any other relevant areas). The museum could provide subject matter expertise with CEDP offering expertise in professional learning design. These experiences could be made available beyond our own system of schools. The opportunities for collaboration and engagement with schools, universities, training institutions and workplaces are significant. Initiatives such as having a visiting research fellow(s) reside and work at the Parramatta Powerhouse are particularly exciting.

Residential programs for teachers could run on weekends and during school holidays, and focus on particular curriculum areas. These could be modelled on the Harvard Summer School program for teachers and potentially earn micro-credentials from a university.

Teachers could apply for a scholarship to be embedded in the Powerhouse for a term or a semester where they would be immersed in a particular area of significance to schools. This teacher would undertake research or project work at the museum, but be paid by CEDP through this time. The teacher might run educational programs at the museum, or co-develop resources, complete research or supervise other school-related projects.

Project Based Learning for Stage 5 (Year 9 and 10) Students
Students could apply to be embedded at the museum for a term or a semester. They would attend “school” at the museum immersed in the project they are working on and earn credit for their learning. It could be backward-mapped to particular courses to earn curriculum credit. Other subjects could be compacted and delivered remotely via our recently launched virtual school - 'The School of Now'.

Museum School
CEDP could establish a “school” within the museum that specifically valued curiosity and inventiveness. It could be accessed in different ways. Students could enrol directly into this school or there could be discrete courses or experiences offered through the school that other schools could also tap into. It would be based on the strong experiential inquiry pedagogy that already underpins high quality learning, but the school would not conform to the traditional structures of school. This model could be transformative for schools and generate new and exciting pathways to post school learning and work.

Residential Programs
With the inclusion of the 60-bed dormitory, schools could arrange to have students on site for residential programs instead of running a traditional school camp or retreat. This could also be opportunities for students from all schools and from all sectors to work together in specialised programs to extend their thinking in areas of particular strength or interest.

Partnerships with CEDP, Business and the World of Work
CEDP will commit resources and time to support the mission of the Powerhouse. Through engagement with the museum, we seek to build multi-dimensional long-term partnerships with government agencies, business groups and employers that create benefits for everyone. It will be our intention to have any programs we are supporting operational at the museum from day one.

We believe that the Powerhouse will provide career pathways for learning experiences for everyone. The exhibitions, facilities and learning programs will connect industry and business with with skills acquisition and education. The direct employment of 140+ staff, as well as the associated indirect employment opportunities, will be a major benefit for the people of Western Sydney. The exhibition spaces will also make the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum a major tourism destination.

Reference Group
We understand that a Community Reference Group will be established. CEDP would welcome the opportunity to participate as a member of this group.

In conclusion, we believe strongly that the people of Western Sydney have a right to a world-class educational and cultural facility like the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum. The project has our strong support.

I have provided my submission in the attached document.

I OBJECT to the Powerhouse Parramatta project, in both its original and recently revised form.

In particular, I find it objectionable in the extreme that the proposal includes demolition of Willow Grove and St George's Terrace, a pair of heritage structures of considerable significance to Parramatta. The fact that Willow Grove is a free-standing Victorian gentleman's residence that retains most of its curtilage within the Parramatta CBD means that it is exceptional, not common; the assertion that “There are 1000s of other buildings like Willow Grove. It’s not unique”, espoused by the Member for Parramatta, is quite wrong.

Although I currently reside in the adjoining City of Ryde, my family has been a part of the Parramatta community since 1835; my daughter, godmother and stepmother are all current residents of the municipality. Indeed, my late maternal uncle John Robert 'Jack' Sharpe was born – in May 1928 – in the private hospital that formerly occupied Willow Grove. I can well remember my grandmother Thelma Sharpe fondly pointing the building out to me in the 1970s, on the walk home from the Roxy cinema (where my grandfather had a weekend job).

The 'bald-faced' St George's Terrace is no less remarkable than Willow Grove, having retained its simple facade, something entirely and distinctly emblematic of an architectural style that is very rare in Sydney – let alone Parramatta.

The City of Parramatta has an attractive, pre-existing proposal for the precinct from the Roxy to the River via Willow Grove: this is what we should be supporting – not an entirely irrelevant and unsympathetic structure whose main purpose is to provide accommodation and retail facilities to a much greater extent than a museum space.

I support the new Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta for the following reasons:
1. The Western suburbs of Sydney needs a Museum where families can easily attend, the trip into Sydney can be too much with kids under 5, having a great venue within Parramatta will be great for the millions of people living in Western Sydney.
2. The design is great, as you are keeping the Ultimo site and the large display items, please try to re-configure the design to keep the hertitage Willow Grove and St George Terraces, I have seen many designs around the world incorporating existing buildings, this way the outcome will be a win win for everybody.
3. Parramatta needs a signature landmark that will draw people.
4. The last NSW election was held fairly, this was a policy of NSW Liberal party, they won and we expect the project to be delivered.
5. There is enough already to do in Sydney for families, share the infrastructure spend around.
6. Australia needs to become better at science & technology, this museum will inspire kids to invent and make australia better.
7. I love Questacon in Canberra, if you create something like that, people will love it!
8. This will create much needed employment.
9. Parramatta has great current / future transport.
10. More people will visit other sites in Parramatta such as Government House, Bankwest Stadium and Parramatta Park.

Most special attraction places are in the city. Parramatta is more central to most of the Sydney dwellers and much easier to get to. I believe there should be more museums, places of interest here in the west and especially the Powerhouse. Australia is now a multicultural society and I am also an immigrant. I fully understand the limitations placed on many older ethnic community members, who do not make their way to the city easily. The Powerhouse museum is a perfect place for grandparents to take their grandchildren to. I know of many ethnic grandparents who do not go to the city or do not even know what the current Powerhouse Museum is. This is a missed opportunity. Parramatta is an easy location to get to and everyone knows it. Having it at the proposed site would definitely attract families from the west and south west, where the need for science and technology education is great. Its potential closeness to the university of Western Sydney and the local schools are an asset. I can't wait to see it in our area. The city dwellers and the North Shore folks have it all. We want one too, especially because we have more children out here. I would love to see something similar to the Questacon with many interactive science based games for all. The current city Powerhouse Museum is too dark and too old. I have just visited it and will not go again. Some things to look at but nothing for the children to do with the hands. I would like to see the Willow Grove house saved. The building is too special to lose. I know that the Premier now decided for the current Powerhouse to stay where it is. I sincerely do hope that this decision does not slow things down for Parramatta. It may happen that renovation of the old place will take years away from the new build. I still want to take my children to the new Powerhouse museum and not wait for decades as some projects take. I hope to see the new Powerhouse Museum in my lifetime, but I am afraid that with the constant changes it might be the next generation taking their children to the opening. That would be be heart breaking. So many families in the suburbs would love to have this new place.Having the new Powerhouse in the west would crate jobs, boost the local economy, attract people to the Riverside Theatre and Parramatta Park. It would certainly be easier for families from suburbs such as Penrith, Blacktown, Bankstown. Young teenage boys who roam the streets of Parramatta and the western suburbs would never visit the current city Powerhouse Museum, but I am certain that the new place at Parramatta would be an attractive place to visit even for teenage cool dudes. I can confidently say it as a high school teacher. Parramatta is the center of Sydney now, please bring it in.
City dwellers are not Liberal voters and the lefties pressuring the Premier to leave the current Powerhouse in the city would never vote for the Liberal Party even if the Premier gives in to their wishes. Liberal Party should focus on their base out in the west, who are more likely to vote for them. Keep us happy or we will go with our votes somewhere else.

This is a flood prone site. There are are better sites to build a museum. Parramatta deserves it's own unique museum. I object to the demolition of Willow Grove and St George's Terrace, knocking down historic buildings to store historic items is stupid.

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse because its current design will destroy the heritage buildings Willowgrove and St George’s Terrace. This is not an acceptable design when buildings from the 1880s need to be demolished. It is essential that these buildings are retained, not removed, demolished or destroyed. They need to be completely retained, incorporated into any proposed future re-design for a museum on this site, or left as is, for adaptive community reuse. Both heritage buildings are part of the social fabric and narrative of colonial Parramatta, and represent architectural styles that no longer exist in Parramatta.
Willowgrove 1880 tells women’s stories of the birth of three decades of NSW citizens born under its roof, with an unique architectural style which should be honoured and preserved. It has established trees and front garden, which should also be retained in western Sydney as we seek to increase shade canopy and lessen urban heat island effect, not increase it. Festivals, events and celebrations in its gardens over the last few years have been an honour and bring back memories of joy, music and celebration- how special it is to have such a lovely place in the middle of our city!
St George’s Terrace 1881, is the only remaining intact terrace row of this architectural style in the region, and is an important part of the story of the growth and development of Parramatta as a regional centre, and celebrates the Coates family, built by master builder George Coats, merchant, upstanding citizen, Freemason and community member of Parramatta’s celebrated past.
The significance of these buildings have not been adequately studied in the Environmental Impact Statement, nor the importance of these buildings to locals of the area, and citizens of NSW. It is obvious from increasing media attention and the CFMEUs Declaration of a Green Ban on the demolition of these buildings and associated works is an indication of the unpopularity of the proposed demolition of these buildings, and must be taken as a sign that their demolition is not the correct path of action, and must be halted immediately, and retained and preserved for all perpetuity.

I also object to the current design plans of the Powerhouse Parramatta, as it is not in an appropriate location for a museum for Parramatta, due to regular and torrential high velocity flooding of the Parramatta River, putting collections, and access to the building at risk. I object to the current architectural design of the Parramatta Powerhouse as it does not allow enough room for permanent arts and applied science exhibition spaces, which the people of Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney deserve in a museum of this magnitude. It also has too many spaces dedicated to non permanent exhibitions, retail and commercial. This location and design is not befitting a world class quality museum, deserved by the people of NSW.

I would much prefer that a new museum, exhibition and/or art space for Parramatta, of a world class standard, is instead located within the North Parramatta Heritage Precinct in Fleet Street Parramatta. This large versatile space would allow public access via the new light rail, would ensure sympathetic adaptive reuse of the buildings of the precinct and retain the parkland area for public, rather private use. It will invigorate the area and it’s outstanding heritage values work well in the museum context. The site has significant values for Aboriginal peoples, built heritage values, Colonial architectural values and significant and serious narrative of ongoing institutional internment from 1790s through to the 1970s. A museum in this location could be a joint project under management of the five pillars agencies of NSW arts and heritage portfolios, bringing together Aboriginal culture, colonial stories, art and culture in one fine location.
A new museum for the people, in this location could be an institution of which all of NSW could be proud, innovative, in an authentic location, benefitting the local area, businesses and existing precinct reuse.
I urge you to reject the Parramatta Powerhouse proposal as it currently stands and to SAVE Willowgrove and St George’s Terrace’s.

We have a love/hate relationship with Powerhouse Parramatta and as such are not in a position to definitively support or object the EIS as it stands.

We love that by having a Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta, with mostly free access to the exhibits, thousands of families will be able to much more easily experience the wander and learning the museum will provide. We love the economic, educational and cultural value and benefits having the Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta will also bring. And we're excited by the proposed transformation of the Powerhouse Museum into a more engaging, dynamic and accessible museum.

But we don't like that places of historical significance will be destroyed to make way for a new museum that promotes the value of preserving and appreciating history. And we don't like the impact the new museum will have on the river and it's social and cultural disconnect from the Parramatta community.

Yes this is a museum of international standing, but one located in Parramatta - but sadly not one born of the region it will be based in. Rather it feels like an imposition from the east of Sydney on the west. There is no denying that families in Western Sydney are excited by the Powerhouse Museum coming to Parramatta. But so many of us struggle with the costs associated with this happening.

My comments are contained in the attached submission

I object to the demolition of Australian heritage in any way, shape, or form. There has already been so much lost, countless historic buildings levelled for development and tunnel construction. None of it can be replaced. Willow Grove House and the St Georges Terraces are a wonderful part of Western Sydney history, as proud as Elizabeth Farm and certainly as beautiful. Willow Grove House in particular has always stood as an icon of Parramatta for me, something to be enjoyed as much as the Riverside Theatre. Their loss would be a knife in the heart of Western Sydney identity.
The demolition of the gorgeous Willow Grove House and the St Georges Terraces would further be a stain on NSW's pride as the 'First State' - How can we hold ourselves to a historical legacy if we keep destroying it? The irony is all the more bitter if we are destroying our history in order to build a place to exhibit our history. There are MANY deep issues with the proposed new Powerhouse Museum, from lack of permanent exhibition and archival storage (i.e. what makes a museum a museum), to an overwhelming focus on the commercial aspects of a theoretically cultural institution. But the fundamental issue remains that even if you design the most perfect a museum, it will still be on the vandalised bones of Australian history. More museums are wonderful, but never at the cost of our heritage (and existing wonderful museums).

Attention: Marcus Jennejohn
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Dear Mr Jennejohn,

RE: NSW Government proposal for the Powerhouse Parramatta project

I write to express my objection to the NSW Government’s proposal for the Powerhouse Museum to be located on Phillip Street, Parramatta NSW.
I have thoroughly reviewed the information available online and attended an Infrastructure NSW webinar and do not agree with the Government’s proposal if it means that destroying the historical and culturally significant sites of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces is required.

Parramatta is at risk of losing more of its historical identity and it is devastating to see that the proposal will demolish these two unique sites instead of preserving and encompassing them into the space of the proposed development. There are many examples across Australia, including in Parramatta where historical buildings have been preserved and utilised within the context of modern developments.

I advocate for greater community engagement and consultation by the NSW Government that will identify other suitable locations for this development and ensuring the preservation all places of historical significance.

I ask that you take into consideration the points I raise as a concerned resident of Parramatta LGA who wishes to see the NSW Government preserve Parramatta’s precious history and utilise Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces instead of erasing them from our history.

Thank you for your time.

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse because building it will result in the destruction of historic Willowgrove and St George’s Terraces, Phillip street Parramatta. These are important culturally, socially and architecturally to Parramatta. The proposed building of MAAS on the river frontage at Parramatta should be halted and re-designed to include the historic buildings listed above or scrapped all together.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project as it would be detrimental to the social history of the area to demolish Willow Grove. Demolishing this property would be a huge loss to the area as it is incredibly historically significant.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project. I object because 1/ We need to retain our historical buildings, not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also so we can educate future generations on what life was like in historic Parramatta. It is better to learn from an actual piece of history, as opposed from learning about it from a book. 2/ Cities are often cold places filled with towering office blocks, and other generic buildings, that cast shadows and create wind tunnels. We need to keep these older buildings because they break up the typical city skyline with their classical architecture and gardens. 3/ I don't think enough time has been given to considering the loss to our local history if these buildings are removed 4/It seems hypercritical to me to destroy a historical building, which is a museum in it's own right, so that another type of museum can be built in its place. If done properly there is nothing wrong with having a museum in Parramatta, but not at the expense of our fast disappearing local, history. Please do not allow the destruction of any more of our local history.

See attachment

HC comment

Attached please find Council’s letter and 3 attachments to provide comment on the Environmental Impact Statement for the Powerhouse Parramatta, dated 2 June 2020. Council supports the Powerhouse Parramatta and asks that it work collaboratively with the NSW Government in resolution of the design of the museum and requests that the NSW Government consier further the matters detailed in the attached submission.

Please acknowledge receipt of the submission to Jennifer Concato, Executive Director City Planning and Design by returning email [email protected]

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because this is a piece of heritage that must be preserved. Our governments, for some reason, don't seem put the same value on its heritage as other parts of the world. Actually, the NSW Government doesn't seem to put any value on the heritage of the Western suburbs of Sydney. This would not happen in any historic site east of Ryde. There is so much objection to this in the community with minimal or no consultancy over the impact and the design of the new museum. I am perplexed as to why the NSW Government would want to progress this at the risk of its own potential demise. The people of Parramatta do not want the Powerhouse museum built on a site that ironically is meant to honour the past.
This will forever be a black day for NSW if Willowgrove is destroyed.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because I do not believe that the proposed museum and the Parramatta Powerhouse precinct vision - in its current form and at the intended site - is sound and worthy of approval. Specifically, the riverbank site is unsuitable for a museum given the flood risks and probability of more frequent floods as a result of climate change. Additionally, it appears that there are no museum-specific exhibition spaces in the development. Commercial activity is seemingly more important than museology.
I also object to the proposed development as I want Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace to be preserved. I believe that these heritage buildings are an important part of Parramatta's rich social and architectural history.
Parramatta requires and deserves a world-class museum however what is being proposed for the riverbank site needs to be totally reviewed. I would like the Fleet St precinct in North Parramatta to be considered as a flood-free site offering the space and accessibility that is lacking at the riverbank site. Fleet St could accommodate a truly unique and distinctive museum that forms part of a broader heritage, arts and culture precinct in Parramatta.

I have not made any reportable political donations.