Dear Madam/Sir,

Please find attached, below, my submission and thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.

I strongly OBJECT to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project and the, proposed, concealed, joint demolition of historic Willow Grove and nearby historic St Georges Terraces.

How does the irony of destroying historic heritage buildings in order to build a museum, to display historic arts, crafts, sciences, and engineering, that once occupied a place of importance in similar historic heritage buildings, make any sense?

Parramatta is an historic city, being our second oldest city having been founded in 1788, the same year as old Sydney town! Accordingly, there is an expectation to be able to see a wide representative range of, heritage buildings.

We cannot afford to lose any further heritage buildings. Surely, it was inconceivable to learn that it was the NSW government itself that had wantonly destroyed Parramatta’s historic 200 year old Royal Oak Inn, in the early hours of the morning? How could any reasonable and responsible government perform such an act of wanton vandalism of our built history? Surely, instead, it is the expected role of government to be both the protector and custodian of the environment and our heritage.

Moreover, such vandalism has created the need and expectation to preserve what is left of the representative examples of our early built environment, which sadly, are now fewer in number.
Willow Grove, a once private home, from around the 1870’s is a fine example of a Victorian era, Italianate family Villa, that I first observed on a family excursion, that later served as women’s hospital and the nearby companion, St Georges Terrace, plays a significant supporting role anchoring this historic precinct.

These two unique heritage buildings are fine, rare, representative examples of architecture that no longer exists in Parramatta, today, and, accordingly, it is all the more important for our sense of place, in our social history, and in the fabric of the City of Parramatta, that these buildings be preserved.

Both Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces must be preserved for posterity!

To whom it may concern

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse Project.

I wish to make a submission to oppose the demolition of Willow Grove and St George's Terrace to construct the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta.

I do not support the move of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta.

However if this the Powerhouse Museum is relocated to Parramatta please find an alternative site.

Willow Grove and St George's Terrace have unique and irreplaceable heritage and cultural value.

Please do not destroy any more of our history.

I have not made any reportable political donations.

'I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project' and I feel strongly that Willowgrove and St Georges Terraces should not be demolished.

I am a school counsellor, employed by the NSW Department of Education. Prior to this role, I was a secondary History and English teacher. As a former History teacher, and a psychologist, I believe it would be highly hypocritical to take students to a modern building, such as the planned Powerhouse Parramatta, and for students to be aware of the fact that our generation allowed the demolition of buildings of local significance to be bulldozed like so many other significant buildings from the period of Colonial New South Wales.

A museum is defined as 'A building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.' It is ironic that the accepted design for the Powerhouse Museum Parramatta actually sets out to destroy objects, namely buildings, of historic, artistic and cultural interest.

During a recent trip to Malaysia, we visited George Town, Penang. The oldest portion of the city centre has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2008. George Town was established by the British East India Company in 1786 as the first British settlement in South East Asia. Expected tourist arrivals during 2020 (prior to the Covid pandemic), were 8.3 million.

Parramatta was founded by the British in 1788 and is the oldest inland European settlement in Australia. It makes no sense whatsoever to demolish buildings which attest to the history of the oldest inland European settlement in this country. This buildings are the legacy for future generations.

I recently wrote a piece for a local history competition run by Bayside Council about the history of North Botany / Mascot but have realised, in the process of my research, that an incredibly high number of buildings of historical value, have been demolished, often to make way for unsightly modern buildings.
Fortunately, the house my great great grandfather built in 1895 has been heritage listed by the local government, however, that does not guarantee that it too may be demolished one day.

Teaching students history via images of what once stood in a spot, is very different to taking students to actually see a building or monument first hand. I for one, would boycott an excursion to the Parramatta Powerhouse with students, based on the current design, as a result of my disappointment with a government (for whom I am employed), allowing the destruction of historic buildings in order to build a museum.

It is true that many modern buildings are functional and efficient. They are not always as aesthetically pleasing as the craftsmanship of historic buildings. I acknowledge that progress will occur but truly hope that this will not be at the cost of history, which belongs to the people (the voters and taxpayers).

I am not a resident of Parramatta but am a resident of Sydney and as a psychologist and a former History teacher, I appeal to the Planning Department to consider alternative designs which allow for Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces to be incorporated into the current design for the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum.

Please note: I have not made any reportable political donations. I give consent for my name to be published.

Kind regards,

Kim Pastor

I object to the demolition of the historic buildings 'Willow Grove'and 'St George's Terrace' to make way for the current MAAS Powerhouse proposal on the Southern bank of the Riverbank site, between Lennox Bridge and Barry Wilde Bridge Parramatta.

'Willow Grove’ was purchased by the City of Parramatta who recognised it's importance to the history of the City. Willow Grove was originally built as a private home between 1870 and 1880, its uses include a private hospital and maternity hospital, the building and its grounds have been preserved by a succession of owners who have recognised its importance as a representative example of a Victorian Italianate two-storey villa. It is a local landmark, strongly contributing to the streetscape of Phillip St Parramatta and as a landmark building at the intersection of Horwood Place and Phillip St Parrmatta.

'St George's Terrace' was purchased by the City Parramatta in regognition of their importance as being representative of a period of the City's growth. The Terraces are of historical and social significance as the last remaining row of terraces in the Parramatta CBD, representative examples of common modest Victorian period terraces constructed during early development in the area. The terraces retain a high degree of integrity when viewed from the street and present a gateway glimpse of the early character of the Parramatta township, when travelling South along Smith St. from Victoria Rd.

I object to the Parramatta Powerhouse Project for a number of reasons.

My main objection is in relation to the anticipated destruction of valuable heritage in the Parramatta CBD - Willow Grove and the St Georges Terraces. Both structures tell important stories of the local history of Parramatta and so should be cherished and, in the case of the Terraces, restored rather than bulldozed.

I feel that both structures are particularly valuable to hold onto and protect now, at a time of unprecedented development in the local area, to ensure that Parramatta is in a good place to tell stories of long ago. Particularly Willow Grove, which was a maternity hospital for over three decades. While photographs might do this too, nothing compares to bricks and mortar.

Historical relics and buildings in the Parramatta CBD are becoming increasingly rare, seen recently with the destruction of the Royal Oak Hotel to make way for the new tram line. As such, it's my belief that the State government should be working hard to keep buildings like Willow Grove and the St Georges Terraces.

Everyone I know locally is, quite frankly, outraged at the prospect of tearing these buildings down. It's, quite frankly, illogical in a suburb where history is a key part of its identity. There must be some way of ensuring these building survive a new museum being brought into the community.

I urge the NSW Government to protect these important buildings. Progress and history can coexist if the NSW Government is willing to make this happen.

Dear Sir,

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.
To wipe out gracious old buildings like WillowGrove and the St George's Terraces that hold so much history of Parramatta is an act of destruction that has relevance for us all today as well as for future generations.

So much heritage in Parramatta has been lost already. We need to preserve and respect our heritage not destroy it.

My family from both convict and pioneer heritage have had connections to Parramatta for hundreds of years. My ancestors are buried in st John's cemetery beside Rev Samuel Marsden who married them.
My great grandmother lived in Philip st Parramatta next door to a Chinese market gardener.

Their lives must be respected and their heritage protected.
Once a building is demolished it is gone for good. You cannot bring them back.
In causing their destruction you are robbing future generations of their history.

Please be a leader who preserves our past for our children's future

The Parramatta Powerhouse must be thoroughly reconsidered now that the large heritage objects will now be retained at Ultimo.
It should be obvious that the Parramatta building need not be as large as originally planned.
It should also be obvious that Wilow Grove and the Georgian terraces can now be considered for retention.

Dear Madam/Sir,

Please find attached, below, my submission

Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.

I strongly OBJECT to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project and the, proposed, concealed, joint demolition of historic Willow Grove and nearby historic St Georges Terraces.

How does the irony of destroying historic heritage buildings in order to build a museum, to display historic arts, crafts, sciences, and engineering, that once occupied a place of importance in similar historic heritage buildings, make any sense?

Parramatta is an historic city, being our second oldest city having been founded in 1788, the same year as olde Sydney town! Accordingly, there is an expectation to be able see a wide representative range of, heritage buildings.

We cannot afford to lose any further heritage buildings. Surely, it was inconceivable to learn that it was the NSW government itself that had wantonly destroyed Parramatta’s historic 200 year old Royal Oak Inn, in the early hours of the morning? How could any reasonable and responsible government perform such an act of wanton vandalism of our built history? Surely, instead, it is the expected role of government to be both the protector and custodian of the environment and our heritage.

Moreover, such vandalism has created the need and expectation to preserve what is left of the representative examples of our early built environment, which sadly, are now fewer in number.
Willow Grove, a once private home, from around the 1870’s is a fine example of a Victorian era, Italianate family Villa, that I first observed on a family excursion, that later served as women’s hospital and the nearby companion, St Georges Terrace, plays a significant supporting role anchoring this historic precinct.

These two unique heritage buildings are fine, rare, representative examples of architecture that no longer exists in Parramatta, today, and, accordingly, it is all the more important for our sense of place, in our social history, and in the fabric of the City of Parramatta, that these buildings be preserved.

Both Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces must be preserved for posterity!