Powerhouse Parramatta

I object to Willow Grove being dismantled and relocated because it would be far served being absorbed into the Powerhouse Parramatta (which, incidentally, is on a flood plain with no adequate solutions in place in case of flood). You use taxpayer's money to dismantle heritage that cannot be replaced.

Dear Marcus,

I object to Willowgrove being dismantled and relocated as it is being moved from its original and rightful site. It is being replaced with a soulless building that changes the area for the worse.

Future generations will not look back with pride on this project as we currently do on heritage sites like The Rocks. This will be the Blues Point Tower of the west and we will wonder how we could let the NSW Liberal Government wreck such a beautiful building that is rich with history. Relocating it is a regretful decision.

I have little faith that the building will be successfully relocated. I do not trust the NSW Government's words, you might recall we are still waiting for out public pool that was torn down for bankwest stadium.

Please stop and actually think about the irreversible destruction you are causing. Willowgrove must remain where it stands.

Kind regards,
Neil Donovan

RTS Submission attached

Dear Mr Jennejohn,

Please find attached a submission from the National Trust relating to the relocation of Willow Grove.

Regards,

David

Dear Marcus Jennejohn,

I oppose the removal of Willow Grove from Phillip St Parramatta and the construction of a replica beside Parramatta Goal.
What you are proposing regarding Willow Grove in Parramatta is to destroy another beautiful Heritage Building. It cannot be replicated. Once destroyed it no longer will be recognised as part pf Parramatta's heritage. We must preserve what little remains of our historical buildings.

The CFMEU, in placing green bans on this heritage building, are showing strong support for this piece of Australian history.
I support the CFMEU in this action.

The history of such a house is integral to the social history of the community and must remain in it's present setting to maintain the integrity of the building and the grounds in which it is located.

I oppose the design and effect of the Powerhouse building on St George's Terrace. The development is unsympathetic to the heritage area.

I am making comments on two issues , relating to Willow Grove, and to proposed design of the Powerhouse location to St George’s Terrace.

Willow Grove
I OPPOSE the removal of Willow Grove from Phillip Street to the North Parramatta precint.
The heritage significance is related to the existing site. Historically this building is significant to the community, having been built by locals, and operated as a community maternity hospital.
This building cannot be moved without damaging the existing structure. Restoring the building will do no more than create a replica. It is not feasible to move a rendered brick building with plaster interior without substantially destroying the original fabric of the building.
The existing gardens significant to the historical context of the building.
I support the CFMEU Greenban to save Willow Grove.


Powerhouse design affecting St George’s Terrace
I OPPOSE the concept and design of a Powerhouse building and it’s effect on the St George’s Terrace
The proposals for the Powerhouse design and it’s effect on St George’s Terrace are detrimental. The development is unsympathetic to the heritage area. The location remains a flood prone area. The interior design is not related to a museum of quality, and offers little as a museum related to the historical purpose of the Powerhouse artifacts.

Laurie O’Brien

To Whom It May Concern,

Please consider this my objection to the current plans to destroy the abovementioned heritage buildings in Parramatta.

I urge you to look at a better solution than destroying buildings of public significant and importance. The proposal to ‘move’ Willowgrove is ludicrous, moving the building totally diminishes the building and is a slap in the face to every person who can see the historic significance of the building. The building then becomes a reproduction, not historic. This will lead to future arguments about its cultural significant being ‘it is not even the original building, but a reconstruction’ to justify its total removal. Likewise, the proposal to overshadow and totally dominate the St Georges Terraces also is a slap in the face. Call me cynical but this is what will happen to St Georges Terrace under the current proposal:

1. Feasibility study stating buildings will be protected and committee installed.
2. New building erected, while the Terraces and locked behind a fence as part of the precinct. No access due to safety etc.
3. New building will open upon completion.
4. After fighting the government to be allowed access it will be discovered that St Georges Terraces have suffered from cracking and sub-structural damage.
5. Government will then appoint a report into the damage.
6. After two years the report will be finalised and released with some scapegoat taking the fall.
7. Findings will indicate that buildings are unstable and unable to preserved as the damage too great and the expenditure too expensive.
8. Court cases will ensue.
9. Eventually it will be dismissed.
10. Government will demolish the buildings.

So, what right do you have to destroy history that belongs to future generations for a short sighted plan that at the end of the day obliterates what is seeks to promote? Although we are young (in terms of white history) compared to places in Europe, it does not make our history less significant. We have lost too much already and Parramatta being the second oldest settlement is just as important as what is in the CBD. I am sure there would be a national outcry if we decided to bulldoze The Rocks for the sake of ‘progress’.

Save our history for our children’s future.

Lynette Giglio

Dear Marcus,

Please find attached a submission on behalf of the National Trust Parramatta Regional Branch in response to the Ethos Urban and Infrastructure NSW report to the Powerhouse Parramatta EIS submissions.

Kind regards,

Cheryl Bates
Branch President

To : The Planning Department NSW

I am emailing the department to please leave Willow Grove where it is , where it belongs.
This beautiful heritage building is part of the wonderful history of Parramatta and the surrounding area and should be left where it is for the future.
Relocating it is ridiculous, how can you move a rendered brick building with plaster walls on the inside. The move and rebuild will be a mockery to Annie Gallagher the business woman who built the premises.
It isn't just the architectural heritage building it is the location too, if it is moved the building WON'T look the same and the move will lose the significance of the history behind it.
I am not a union person but I support the CFMEU on this occasion, good on them for supporting our heritage.

From : Eleanor Goodman


I have sent an email earlier and meant to mention the proposed site for the Power House Museum.
My first comment is the design of the building in question, oh my goodness who approved this ugly building, surely there were better designs!
The other issue with the site is St George Terrace. Once again so much heritage that will be hidden by this overbearing building , there must be somewhere else to put the museum .
A suggestion, down the now vacant golf course, you could make a beautiful area there with the right designed building.


From : Eleanor Goodman

To the Planning Department,
N.S.W. Government.
I wish to register my objection to the proposed removal of the historic building WILLOW GROVE from it’s present site in Phillip Street, Parramatta.
To demolish and endeavour to recreate such an aged brick building would remove any architectural and historical significance completely. It should be left where it belongs.
So much of the heritage of Parramatta has already been lost and now there is a danger of losing more as well as the pleasant atmosphere Parramatta once had.
Willow Grove has played an important part in history and I support the CFMEU in the stand to retain the building and also as a member of National Trust of New South Wales.
I am sure that a much better and suitable site could be found for the Powerhouse Museum.

The historic St. Georges Terrace is also in danger of being wrecked by developers who do not seem to have any concern about heritage only about how many hi-rise developments can be built.
I have been a frequent visitor to Parramatta for over 47 years and I do not like some of the changes that I see now. At least some of our past should be kept and cherished for our children. It is where our future has come from.

My name is Wendy Walker

Dear Sir,

I wish to protest regarding the removal of Willow Grove from its original site. Willow Grove should be retained as is, to move it to another site would negate its integrity and heritage. Please listen to the people of Sydney, too much Parramatta heritage is being lost to developers.
Regards
Mrs Lyn Tod

Dear Marcus,

Today I saw an artist's impression of the "expo building" planned to replace the Willow Grove on Phillip Street, Parramatta; I almost faint, what an ugly design, really it looks like an oversized show-box, it has no architectural features making it attractive, when we want to destroy a heritage listed building like Willow Grove at least do that with a construction adding value to the suburb, something like an oversized box fails to achieve, this idea is offensive, and those architects behind this design lack lots of things to be appointed to replace beauty with rubbish, I apologize about my last statement, the new design is rubbish, I won't pay a cent to build such an abhorrent structure.

Hoping this letter assist you in understanding this "expo building" idea is not good.

Thanks for your time.
Arnaldo Sandoval

Dear Marcus Jennejohn,

I oppose the removal of both Willow Grove and St George's Terrace, Parramatta.

With Parramatta founded in 1788, the same year as Sydney, it is the oldest European settlement in Australia as well as the economic capital of Greater Western Sydney and commonly referred to as the 'cradle city' due to its significant farming which contributed to feeding the whole colony. As such we need to retain historical buildings to keep the soul of Parramatta alive. Already way too many such buildings have been needlessly obliterated.

WILLOW GROVE

According to the State Heritage Register, Willow Grove "is of significance for the local area for its historical, aesthetic and representativeness reasons".

Built in the c.1870s by the successful local businesswoman Annie Gallagher, whose husband Thomas Gallagher was a Parramatta City Alderman, it is a good example of a Victorian Italianate two-storey villa. and is highly significant to the local community.

Further relevance to Parramatta is that it was later used as a maternity hospital named "Estella" or "Nurse Davidson's Private Hospital" which gives it exceptional social and architectural heritage.

If taken apart and moved as a replica down beside Parramatta Goal it will not only lose its significance but the building will be destroyed in the move.

The location of Willow Grove close to the riverbank is also significant to its heritage listing as are its gardens.

I STRONGLY support the CFMEU Green-ban to save Willow Grove.

ST GEORGE'S TERRACE

With the original Parramatta Powerhouse proposal, total demolition of St George's Terrace was called for with no respect for heritage to be considered. Since then three design options have been considered which would see the retention of St George's Terrace. Option two, if selected, would provide a greater setback between the Parramatta Powerhouse and St George's Terrance and is consistent with the objectives of the development and the flood constraints of the site. This option, which includes demolition of the intrusive brick rear addition and demolition of approximately 1,688 metres of the original brick structure is considered to maximise the retention of the core significance of St George's Terrace as well as meeting functional and design requirements of the Parramatta Powerhouse.

According to the State Heritage Register, St George's Terrace, which is reported to have been built by George Coates & Son in 1881, is a "significant example of modest Victorian period terraces". As such St George's Terrace should most definitely be retained as part of the relevant history of Parramatta. It is imperative that Parramatta's heritage is respected and not trashed as unworthy in the 21st century.

To close, the retention of both Willow Grove and St George's Terrace is essential to protecting the sense of who we are, our connections to the past, to social values, customs and traditions which helps us to identify ourselves with others and deepen our sense of unity, belonging and national pride.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to state my feelings in this regard.

With best wishes,
Michelle

Dear Marcus Jennejohn,

I write in response to Infrastructure NSW’s plan to remove Willow Grove and build a replica beside Parramatta Gaol.

Willow Grove is an integral part of Parramatta’s heritage and the notion of demolishing it to rebuild a replica completely annihilates history. I submit it should remain on Phillip Street for future generations to appreciate.

I also write to protest against the grotesque juxtaposition of the modestly lovely St George’s Terraces against the extraordinarily ugly new Powerhouse block, which towers over them and is an unfortunate metaphor for crass commercialism over history and heritage. That this is even being contemplated is bizarre.

There needs to be a redesign to accommodate these two invaluable examples of Parramatta’s early history.

Kind regards
Alison Stewart

I would like to make a submission against the proposed taking down and rebuilding of WILLOW GROVE in Parramatta.
This is a historic building built out of bricks and rendered walls and in Australia or the UK any person who has had experience with this types of construction will inform you they cannot be rebuilt like stone buildings.
What you are intending building will just be a copy of the original Willow Grove.
Another point is part of the significance of Willow Grove is where it is in Phillip St Parramatta on the banks of the Parramatta River..
What is the use of a museum if we have to lose our heritage to build it.
Maybe someone should look at cities like Quebec Canada where the tourists come to see the buildings of the past .
This was a building built by a local business woman Annie Gallagher who must have had to fight hard in that male dominated era to rise to the position in society which she did , maybe this destruction of what she built is a move against recognising the part women played in the development in the colony.
I think it is wonderful that the CFMEU are supporting the people fighting this wilful destruction of Willow Grove and that they have placed a green ban on any work.
I think the proposed powerhouse building would look beautiful located at North Parramatta. I have visited many museums all over the world and I have found the ones that are surrounded by gardens the most “user friendly” .
I trust you will read and take my points on board before making any decisions that will effect generations to come.

Margaret Calver Neyle

To whom it may concern:

Please DO NOT demolish the beautiful Willow Grove historic homestead in order to build a useless museum/convention centre. Parramatta is a disgrace, hot, bland & full of horrible high rise apartments & offices. Where no one wants to live or work. No one wants to visit and there’s no decent parking. The community pool is gone and Parramatta has become a playground for cowboy developers who do not care for history, beauty, gardens or trees....all they care about is money & so does the NSW state govt.

You’d need to have rocks in your head if you think the community will stand for the demolition of one its last remaining beautiful historic buildings. Please preserve this piece of green beauty in the heart of the concrete & tar heat island that is Parramatta CBD.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Susan Young

Dear Macrus,

I write to object to destroying the heritage of Parramatta and moving of the Terrace houses and more so Willow Grove home.

The impact of the looming out of place musuem has on Willow Grove means that Willow Grove must stay on Phillip Street.

I would like to see the Willow Grove home retained as part of the new Powerhouse musuem extension due to the Ulitmo site being planned for demolition.

Regards

Phil Buckley

To whom it may concern,

I would lile to explain to you why Willow Grove must remain on Phillip Street.

Firstly, it would be silly, if the museum was to be built in a flood zone, as if (heaven forbid) a flood were to happen it would cost the government millions of dollars to repair the damages.

It would also put many other buildings (houses and businesses) in close proximity to the museum at risk of being completely demolished beyond repair at the hands of floating or falling debris from the museum, which in turn would cost the government even more money to repair and replenish the damage.

Secondly, the museum from a business standpoint would be better off being built next to Parramatta Gaol than on Phillip Street, as it will be accessible along the Parramatta Light Rail, which will bring more people in to see the museum, which means more money in the long term.

Finally, Willow Grove is something more than a heritage building, it's one Parramatta's Crown Jewels that define Parramatta as a city, with heritage and culture and it shouldn't be compromised whatsoever, especially as there are plenty of alternatives to put the museum, hence mentioned earlier.

I would like to thank you, for taking the time for me to explain why, from a safety, business and cultural standpoint, Willow Grove must remain on Phillip Street.

Yours Faithfully

Banjo Piggott Wright