Powerhouse Parramatta

We have so little heritage in this country that I implore you not to demolish the two buildings to make way for another powerhouse museum. I have sat on the board of the Australian Institute of Architects and currently sit on the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust.

I strongly suggest that there are ways to preserve heritage with a reuse agenda and find alternative sites if necessary.

I wish to object in the strongest terms to the proposal to demolish the above ‘heritage’ buildings.
I severed as an Alderman on the former Parramatta City Council for 28 years and Mayor and Lord Mayor for 9 years.
When first elected to the office of Mayor in 1975 I had the honour and privilege to be joint chairman of the Joint Steering Committee, with the Chairman of the then Stata Planning Authority, of the Study which formulated plans to elevate Parramatta CBD to the status of the second CBD in the Sydney Region, ,the town planning guidelines, and the necessary infrastructure to achieve the then proposed elevated status of the Parramatta CBD.
The aims and objectives of the Study included:
• The preservation, restoration and maintenance of buildings and places of historic and heritage significance.
• Protection of such items from adverse impact by surrounding development.
• Protection of the foreshores of the Parramatta River.
• Development of advanced town planning controls and measures to fulfill the role of the Parramatta CBD to become a modern city whilst protecting and preserving the many heritage and places therein.
• The design of building envelopes to ensure that new development did not adversely impact on the foregoing matters.
The Steering Committee was particularly mindful to ensure that the future development of the Parramatta CBD, unlike the development of the Sydney CBD, would not result in the demolition, destruction, and desecration of the many preserved heritage items therein.
As part of the Study, Helen Proudfoot, with Mark Horn, was commissioned to carry out a study to identify building and places worthy of protection and preservation. He3len Proudfoot was regarded as a pioneer in the study of the natural and built environment and founder of the Australian historic buildings movement. She was among the first female town planners in Sydney, and her publications remain important reference sources for student of Australian planning and heritage.
The introduction to the Proudfoot Study includes the following remarks:
‘In consideration of the unique qualities of Parramatta, the approach has been to endeavour to see the area as a whole, with specific qualities of its own, which if has inherited from its past.
This pas past has been so intimately bound up with the mainstream of Australian colonial development that it must command special attention and consideration in the planning of the Parramatta of the future.
It has not been considered sufficient merely to pick out a few notable buildings in the National Monument class and to make special recommendations about their enhancement though this has also been done.
It is this special quality of the place which should be recognised, retained and amplified during the City’s development so that the history and character of Parramatta since its foundation in 1788 may be seen by present and future generations.’
Both buildings were recommended to be scheduled under the Parramatta Planning Scheme as Key Buildings.
This recommendation was unanimously adopted by the Steering Committee and were incorporated in the Planning Scheme for the Parramatta CBD and its successors.
The citizens of Parramatta are extremely proud of its history and the heritage buildings therein.
Indeed, Parramatta has been recognised as one the most important heritage cities and towns in Australia. The Mayor and City Town Planner were invited to attend a national conference of such Cities and Towns in the Barossa Valley in 1977. It was ominous that the City of Sydney was not invited.
The following extracts from the poem by Greg Dunn titled “Parramatta” are representative of the feelings of Parramatta citizens to its heritage:
‘I have not scratched the surface of the heritage of the town
But what scares me most is those who’d want to tear our history down
Although we’re young, out heritage is embedded deep inside
The people west of Sydney share the birth place of the nation
The relics of our convict past have need of preservation
There are officials in high places who have deemed that they don’t matter
But they form a code of ethics for folks of Parramatta.’
During my terms as, Alderman, Councillor, Mayor and Lord Mayor of Parramatta no heritage items were lost.
“Willow Grove” nestled on the banks of the Parramatta River has always been regarded as one of the City’s prize items of heritage and has withstood several attempts to have it demolished.
“St George’s Terrace” was restored and refurbished in the mid 1970s and was successfully used for commercial purposes since then. I had the honour and privilege of officiating at the opening.
It was regarded as one of the many successes in the quest to save heritage building for prosperity.
An example of the strong feelings and concern of the citizens of Parramatta towards the preservation of heritage items was the loss, in an election about 30 years ago, of the Stata seat of Parramatta by the sitting MP who publicly supported the proposed demolition of an item of heritage in the CBD.
The proposal was subsequently abandoned.
If the Government wishes to retain the respect and support of the people of Parramatta these two heritage building must be preserved at all costs.

I strongly object to the demolition of these sites.
We have little enough history left in this area. We need to preserve what we have.
Please, pay attention to those of us who respect the past and respect these iconic buildings.
Thank you

I object to the destruction of Willow Grove & the Fleet St houses because of the following:
We need to keep our heritage buildings.
The area is a well known flood area.
State government basically stole both the above in a behind closed doors deal before their Administrator was replaced by an elected Council.

I'm sure that you will be as concerned as I am about the proposed demolition of historic buildings at Parramatta: Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace.


While I am in favour of good development of the Parramatta area, I am deeply shocked that NSW authorities would allow the destruction of these historic buildings. As you will be aware,
in all parts of Sydney the beautiful architecture that made Sydney an elegant Victorian city in the 19th century is becoming increasingly rare and endangered.


I encourage you to do all that is within your power to stop this vandalism of the Parramatta urban environment. Future generations will not be forgiving of this destruction.

I write this email to formally object to the destruction of Willow Grove.

Removing this house would be a great loss to the heritage of the Parramatta area. Surely this building is heritage listed?.

This is VANDALISM on the grandest scale, if I defaced a heritage listed building i would be prosecuted.

I object to the destruction of these buildings

I would like to voice my objection to the impending destruction of Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace at Parramatta.

The fact that this is at all being considered in 2020 defies belief.

As a NSW resident and tax payer, my family would the NSW government to put an immediate stop to this as soon as possible.

Rather than loose an irreplaceable part of Parramatta’s history.

Please reconsider your decision to demolish Willow Grove/St. Georges Terrace and preserve a part of Parramatta's history.

Please do not allow this fantastic historic buildings to be demolished.
Sydney has lost enough of its history to development and short-term profit and while I realise that there is always a need for progress but I don’t think ridding ourselves of these beautiful buildings represents that. If anything it’s a backwards step, there must be a way of catering for the needs a vibrant modern city whilst maintaining important parts of our history.

shame on you if you let Willlow Grove and saint George Terrace get destroyed: annihilate your heritage for some hideous high rise building to try and pretend that Parramatta is becoming a megalopolis. It won't: you are transforming it into a ghetto, and an ugly one at that.
Very short sighted.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.

Firstly, I have not made any reportable donation, or have any affiliation to any political party.

My reason for my objection is I understand that it will involve the destruction and or the demolition of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces.

Parramatta is home to some of the most historical buildings and precincts of European settlement in Australia and this will be lost because of this short sighted Government planning. Why do you think Australians travel to Europe? It’s not only the scenery but the history of the place, seen through their buildings. Sure, although we are an old country by evidence of our indigenous brothers and sisters, but we’re only a young country in regard to white settlement.

As a nation we have made a lot of progress, and like every where else have made a lot of mistakes, let this not be another mistake. Leave our old buildings so that those that follow us will appreciate and have a better understanding of the way we lived by having our old buildings as evidence. To quote C.S. Lewis “You can’t change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Willow Grive, along with any other house of heritage value deserves to stay. Please don’t allow it to be bulldozed. With regards to the Powerhouse Museum being moved from the CBD to Parramatta - not one single person I have spoken to thinks it is a merit worthy idea. I speak to a LOT of people. Furthermore, to destroy architectural heritage to make way for it, it’s going to be a blemish in the mark sheet for NSW.

You’re acting in an official capacity but I genuinely feel sorry for you as you have to stand up and voice support for such projects. It must be soul destroying having to compromise your own integrity. I am sure you can’t be in favour and know what is being planned is wrong on so many levels.

Good morning,

Please, please, please abandon the decision to demolish historic Willow Grove in Parramatta.
If we keep doing this there will be few like her....

Our heritage IS of value & meaning for many, as well as going into the future.
Thankyou

Do not destroy history. Keep the buildings, for goodness sake.

I am writing to protest at the planned destruction of Willow Grove in Parramatta. To destroy heritage buildings, as is proposed, is short sighted and irreversible. These buildings must stay, for future generations to enjoy. They are part of our story and our history. There are other sites for a western Sydney Powerhouse; but bulldozing history for a museum celebrating history is wanton and inexplicable.

I’m writing to you to object to the demolition of Willow Grove and the St George Terraces due to the proposed development of the Powerhouse Museum.

The buildings of this type and heritage must remain as part of our state and our national heritage. The heritage is a link to the past and provides an appreciation of the architecture of the time. These types of building are to readily demolished to make way for modern boxes that replace them.

Surely these buildings can be incorporated into the design of the proposed building for the site. If a museum is constructed on the site then surely theses building can be incorporated into the design as an example of days and architecture gone by..

I strongly object to the destruction of the above historical building.

We need to be proud of the architecture of our early settlers.

The building should remain as we have become too complacent when decisions are made to destroy our early history.

It is soul destroying to see the historical buildings and homes that have been destroyed already.