Michael Houlahan
Object
Michael Houlahan
Object
Parramatta
,
New South Wales
Message
Objections as per attachment
Elaine Lowrey
Object
Elaine Lowrey
Object
Mark Turnbull
Object
Mark Turnbull
Object
Not provided
,
New South Wales
Message
To all sensible people, Willow Grove was designed by Sydney Moore Green, eminent architect for Thomas Francis Gallagher Esq as a family home and completed in 1891..St George's Terrace at Phillip street Parramatta was built for George Coates and family in 1881. They are standing they are a valuable part of the history of Parramatta and Sydney. They should remain for past present and future generations..The proposed Powerhouse museum additional to that at Ultimo can be built anywhere more suitable. What is the troubled background to this state of affairs. Get 'real' politicians understand your responsibility to all citizens..not just for some sleazy? money deal. Think about your legacy. Get sage advice and do the right thing....property development can happen with due respect for the best of our environment.
Lyn Stapley
Object
Lyn Stapley
Object
Not provided
,
New South Wales
Message
I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA BECAUSE
I was born in that building in 1944 when it was known as “Aloha” so have a personal interest in its survival. I also reside in an 1895 heritage building and am aware of the amount of care/maintenance/repair work involved, not to mention the costs expended, to maintain such a building in good condition. To waste all that past work is unforgivable.
This current government is not at all interested in anything heritage – it is only concerned with making money regardless of the interests and concerns of the communities involved. I have become exceedingly disappointed and disgusted with decisions made by the N.S.W. Government in recent months.
To consider moving all the contents of the current Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta is impossible – there is no reason Parramatta cannot have a new Museum somewhere else using items, some of which are in storage at Castle Hill Museum. As mentioned before, this is all about money grabbing.
There will be many unhappy voters when the next elections are on. People need to be happy living in their chosen environment, not driven out by the greed and decisions of Government in cahoots with developers and Councils.
In complete disgust and exasperation, please record my strong objection to this heritage building.
Dear Sirs, Madam,
I am delighted to hear/read that the planned closure of Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo has been dumped.
My fear is that there will be no change to the plans of constructing the ugly building, now maybe re-named a cultural centre (which is all it was going to be in the first place).
Following my previous correspondence, please reconsider the plans of this proposed new building. The Heritage house “Willow Grove” and grounds could be a part of a new centre, also the Georges Terraces become specialty shops/businesses - which would add authenticity to the original history of Parramatta. A new cultural centre should be located in a larger, open space – maybe the old hospital cite as suggested by Elizabeth Farrelly.
Please don’t allow “Willow Grove” to be vandalised.
I was born in that building in 1944 when it was known as “Aloha” so have a personal interest in its survival. I also reside in an 1895 heritage building and am aware of the amount of care/maintenance/repair work involved, not to mention the costs expended, to maintain such a building in good condition. To waste all that past work is unforgivable.
This current government is not at all interested in anything heritage – it is only concerned with making money regardless of the interests and concerns of the communities involved. I have become exceedingly disappointed and disgusted with decisions made by the N.S.W. Government in recent months.
To consider moving all the contents of the current Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta is impossible – there is no reason Parramatta cannot have a new Museum somewhere else using items, some of which are in storage at Castle Hill Museum. As mentioned before, this is all about money grabbing.
There will be many unhappy voters when the next elections are on. People need to be happy living in their chosen environment, not driven out by the greed and decisions of Government in cahoots with developers and Councils.
In complete disgust and exasperation, please record my strong objection to this heritage building.
Dear Sirs, Madam,
I am delighted to hear/read that the planned closure of Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo has been dumped.
My fear is that there will be no change to the plans of constructing the ugly building, now maybe re-named a cultural centre (which is all it was going to be in the first place).
Following my previous correspondence, please reconsider the plans of this proposed new building. The Heritage house “Willow Grove” and grounds could be a part of a new centre, also the Georges Terraces become specialty shops/businesses - which would add authenticity to the original history of Parramatta. A new cultural centre should be located in a larger, open space – maybe the old hospital cite as suggested by Elizabeth Farrelly.
Please don’t allow “Willow Grove” to be vandalised.
Marina Garlick
Object
Marina Garlick
Object
Balmain
,
New South Wales
Message
The " milk crate" building proposed for the flood prone site of the former
David Jones car park and adjacent buildings in Parramatta is not suitable for any sort of museum. The EIS lacks credibility from the start
when it claims that the real Powerhouse Museum dates from 1988. In fact, the Museum's origins go back to 1879 and many of its key exhibits such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine ( one of only three in the world) were acquired in the late nineteenth century. The EIS consultants go to great lengths to hide these facts but they presumably have to find what their client wants.
While it is claimed that wide consultation took place, the people of Parramatta have never been asked what sort of cultural facility they want. There is strong anecdotal evidence that they want a museum of
the history and migration of the area or a facility that can network with other cultural institutions to share their collections. They certainly don't want a second hand Powerhouse nor a Parramatta Carriageworks which
the current proposal presents. The consultation was desultory and it is significant that the sale of this flood prone site to the State Government
took place one week before Parramatta Council which was under an administrator went into caretaker period before the council elections. The transparency claimed is therefore spurious.
The EIS claim that the "Parramatta Powerhouse" will reflect the cultural diversity of the population and will recognise the value of strengthening cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not substantiated in any way. Nor are the claims for so- called
" Productivity". And as for " sustainability", this is ridiculous given that the demolition of two of Parramatta's rare heritage buildings is involved.
Further claims that it is in the public interest to build the "Parramatta
Powerhouse" handle the truth carelessly.
Again, claims of job creation by the proposal are also misleading. While
some jobs may be created in the construction phase, there will be very
few once this is completed.
Exhibition spaces:
There are to be no permanent exhibition spaces and only a small percentage of the impermanent (" flexible"!) ones are of Museum standard. Indeed the real Powerhouse would not lend its collection to the proposed one as these standards are not met. Given ongoing government cutbacks of cultural institutions, there will be insufficient
staff to mount changing exhibitions, particularly as items to be displayed will need to be transported from the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill or elsewhere. It would appear therefore that the intention is to create a Parramatta Carriageworks not Powerhouse.
The site:
The site is flood prone as demonstrated dramatically in February, 2020, when the first floor of the former David Jones car park, a key part of the site, was flooded. The EIS claims that this was a 1:100 occurrence but they appear not to have heard of climate change. It is widely recognised that severe weather events are increasing world wide and 1:10 year flooding or greater frequency is inevitable. This is not only dangerous for any exhibits but also for human occupation. Hydrologist
John Macintosh has said that to put a public building on such a site is a " crazy proposal". The government has chosen to ignore all such warnings among others.
Objects:
Treasures such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine, Locomotive 1 the Catalina Flying boat or the Strasburg Clock will not be able to be displayed in the " milk crate" building, partly because there is no permanent display space but also because they wouldn't fit into the goods lift. The floor loadings may also not be adequate. The Premier has refused to guarantee that these will remain at Ultimo and the loss of these irreplaceable treasures is incalculable. In any case, moving them anywhere at all will result in irreparable damage.
Storage and conservation:
There is no provision for these in the proposed " milk crate" building and it is not known whether these functions will be retained at Ultimo. While 95% of the Powerhouse Museum collection is stored at the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill, these areas are full. There appears to be no funding for any additional buildings at Castle Hill, nor land to put them on.
Heritage:
Construction of the proposed " Parramatta Powerhouse" in its current form requires the demolition of two heritage listed buildings, Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. The EIS glosses over the significance of these but as Parramatta has very few remaining such buildings in spite of its rich history, the destruction of these would be unconscionable.
Finance
It is by no means clear how the government proposes to fund the new building whatever its purpose. Some $600 million was allocated but any move of the real Powerhouse and its contents as well as additions at Castle Hill would cost up to $2 billion. The $600 million would build a museum in Parramatta that the residents there might actually want. This is of particular importance at this time of inevitable budget deficits.
Given that most government projects run massively over budget, we are likely to be left with a hole in the ground like the Sydney Stadium and no cultural facility of any sort. The government has already wasted some $45 million on consultants etc for this ill considered project.
The above are only some of the reasons that the " milk crate" building proposed for the "Parramatta Powerhouse" should not proceed. It is totally unsuitable for any sort of museum. The citizens of Parramatta
deserve a proper museum not a Parramatta Carriageworks, and they might actually want as described above.
I strongly object to this travesty of a proposal.
Marina Garlick
21/7/20
David Jones car park and adjacent buildings in Parramatta is not suitable for any sort of museum. The EIS lacks credibility from the start
when it claims that the real Powerhouse Museum dates from 1988. In fact, the Museum's origins go back to 1879 and many of its key exhibits such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine ( one of only three in the world) were acquired in the late nineteenth century. The EIS consultants go to great lengths to hide these facts but they presumably have to find what their client wants.
While it is claimed that wide consultation took place, the people of Parramatta have never been asked what sort of cultural facility they want. There is strong anecdotal evidence that they want a museum of
the history and migration of the area or a facility that can network with other cultural institutions to share their collections. They certainly don't want a second hand Powerhouse nor a Parramatta Carriageworks which
the current proposal presents. The consultation was desultory and it is significant that the sale of this flood prone site to the State Government
took place one week before Parramatta Council which was under an administrator went into caretaker period before the council elections. The transparency claimed is therefore spurious.
The EIS claim that the "Parramatta Powerhouse" will reflect the cultural diversity of the population and will recognise the value of strengthening cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not substantiated in any way. Nor are the claims for so- called
" Productivity". And as for " sustainability", this is ridiculous given that the demolition of two of Parramatta's rare heritage buildings is involved.
Further claims that it is in the public interest to build the "Parramatta
Powerhouse" handle the truth carelessly.
Again, claims of job creation by the proposal are also misleading. While
some jobs may be created in the construction phase, there will be very
few once this is completed.
Exhibition spaces:
There are to be no permanent exhibition spaces and only a small percentage of the impermanent (" flexible"!) ones are of Museum standard. Indeed the real Powerhouse would not lend its collection to the proposed one as these standards are not met. Given ongoing government cutbacks of cultural institutions, there will be insufficient
staff to mount changing exhibitions, particularly as items to be displayed will need to be transported from the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill or elsewhere. It would appear therefore that the intention is to create a Parramatta Carriageworks not Powerhouse.
The site:
The site is flood prone as demonstrated dramatically in February, 2020, when the first floor of the former David Jones car park, a key part of the site, was flooded. The EIS claims that this was a 1:100 occurrence but they appear not to have heard of climate change. It is widely recognised that severe weather events are increasing world wide and 1:10 year flooding or greater frequency is inevitable. This is not only dangerous for any exhibits but also for human occupation. Hydrologist
John Macintosh has said that to put a public building on such a site is a " crazy proposal". The government has chosen to ignore all such warnings among others.
Objects:
Treasures such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine, Locomotive 1 the Catalina Flying boat or the Strasburg Clock will not be able to be displayed in the " milk crate" building, partly because there is no permanent display space but also because they wouldn't fit into the goods lift. The floor loadings may also not be adequate. The Premier has refused to guarantee that these will remain at Ultimo and the loss of these irreplaceable treasures is incalculable. In any case, moving them anywhere at all will result in irreparable damage.
Storage and conservation:
There is no provision for these in the proposed " milk crate" building and it is not known whether these functions will be retained at Ultimo. While 95% of the Powerhouse Museum collection is stored at the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill, these areas are full. There appears to be no funding for any additional buildings at Castle Hill, nor land to put them on.
Heritage:
Construction of the proposed " Parramatta Powerhouse" in its current form requires the demolition of two heritage listed buildings, Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. The EIS glosses over the significance of these but as Parramatta has very few remaining such buildings in spite of its rich history, the destruction of these would be unconscionable.
Finance
It is by no means clear how the government proposes to fund the new building whatever its purpose. Some $600 million was allocated but any move of the real Powerhouse and its contents as well as additions at Castle Hill would cost up to $2 billion. The $600 million would build a museum in Parramatta that the residents there might actually want. This is of particular importance at this time of inevitable budget deficits.
Given that most government projects run massively over budget, we are likely to be left with a hole in the ground like the Sydney Stadium and no cultural facility of any sort. The government has already wasted some $45 million on consultants etc for this ill considered project.
The above are only some of the reasons that the " milk crate" building proposed for the "Parramatta Powerhouse" should not proceed. It is totally unsuitable for any sort of museum. The citizens of Parramatta
deserve a proper museum not a Parramatta Carriageworks, and they might actually want as described above.
I strongly object to this travesty of a proposal.
Marina Garlick
21/7/20
Marina Garlick
Object
Marina Garlick
Object
not provided
,
New South Wales
Message
The " milk crate" building proposed for the flood prone site of the former
David Jones car park and adjacent buildings in Parramatta is not suitable for any sort of museum. The EIS lacks credibility from the start
when it claims that the real Powerhouse Museum dates from 1988. In fact, the Museum's origins go back to 1879 and many of its key exhibits such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine ( one of only three in the world) were acquired in the late nineteenth century. The EIS consultants go to great lengths to hide these facts but they presumably have to find what their client wants.
While it is claimed that wide consultation took place, the people of Parramatta have never been asked what sort of cultural facility they want. There is strong anecdotal evidence that they want a museum of
the history and migration of the area or a facility that can network with other cultural institutions to share their collections. They certainly don't want a second hand Powerhouse nor a Parramatta Carriageworks which
the current proposal presents. The consultation was desultory and it is significant that the sale of this flood prone site to the State Government
took place one week before Parramatta Council which was under an administrator went into caretaker period before the council elections. The transparency claimed is therefore spurious.
The EIS claim that the "Parramatta Powerhouse" will reflect the cultural diversity of the population and will recognise the value of strengthening cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not substantiated in any way. Nor are the claims for so- called
" Productivity". And as for " sustainability", this is ridiculous given that the demolition of two of Parramatta's rare heritage buildings is involved.
Further claims that it is in the public interest to build the "Parramatta
Powerhouse" handle the truth carelessly.
Again, claims of job creation by the proposal are also misleading. While
some jobs may be created in the construction phase, there will be very
few once this is completed.
Exhibition spaces:
There are to be no permanent exhibition spaces and only a small percentage of the impermanent (" flexible"!) ones are of Museum standard. Indeed the real Powerhouse would not lend its collection to the proposed one as these standards are not met. Given ongoing government cutbacks of cultural institutions, there will be insufficient
staff to mount changing exhibitions, particularly as items to be displayed will need to be transported from the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill or elsewhere. It would appear therefore that the intention is to create a Parramatta Carriageworks not Powerhouse.
The site:
The site is flood prone as demonstrated dramatically in February, 2020, when the first floor of the former David Jones car park, a key part of the site, was flooded. The EIS claims that this was a 1:100 occurrence but they appear not to have heard of climate change. It is widely recognised that severe weather events are increasing world wide and 1:10 year flooding or greater frequency is inevitable. This is not only dangerous for any exhibits but also for human occupation. Hydrologist
John Macintosh has said that to put a public building on such a site is a " crazy proposal". The government has chosen to ignore all such warnings among others.
Objects:
Treasures such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine, Locomotive 1 the Catalina Flying boat or the Strasburg Clock will not be able to be displayed in the " milk crate" building, partly because there is no permanent display space but also because they wouldn't fit into the goods lift. The floor loadings may also not be adequate. The Premier has refused to guarantee that these will remain at Ultimo and the loss of these irreplaceable treasures is incalculable. In any case, moving them anywhere at all will result in irreparable damage.
Storage and conservation:
There is no provision for these in the proposed " milk crate" building and it is not known whether these functions will be retained at Ultimo. While 95% of the Powerhouse Museum collection is stored at the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill, these areas are full. There appears to be no funding for any additional buildings at Castle Hill, nor land to put them on.
Heritage:
Construction of the proposed " Parramatta Powerhouse" in its current form requires the demolition of two heritage listed buildings, Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. The EIS glosses over the significance of these but as Parramatta has very few remaining such buildings in spite of its rich history, the destruction of these would be unconscionable.
Finance
It is by no means clear how the government proposes to fund the new building whatever its purpose. Some $600 million was allocated but any move of the real Powerhouse and its contents as well as additions at Castle Hill would cost up to $2 billion. The $600 million would build a museum in Parramatta that the residents there might actually want. This is of particular importance at this time of inevitable budget deficits.
Given that most government projects run massively over budget, we are likely to be left with a hole in the ground like the Sydney Stadium and no cultural facility of any sort. The government has already wasted some $45 million on consultants etc for this ill considered project.
The above are only some of the reasons that the " milk crate" building proposed for the "Parramatta Powerhouse" should not proceed. It is totally unsuitable for any sort of museum. The citizens of Parramatta
deserve a proper museum not a Parramatta Carriageworks, and they might actually want as described above.
I strongly object to this travesty of a proposal.
David Jones car park and adjacent buildings in Parramatta is not suitable for any sort of museum. The EIS lacks credibility from the start
when it claims that the real Powerhouse Museum dates from 1988. In fact, the Museum's origins go back to 1879 and many of its key exhibits such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine ( one of only three in the world) were acquired in the late nineteenth century. The EIS consultants go to great lengths to hide these facts but they presumably have to find what their client wants.
While it is claimed that wide consultation took place, the people of Parramatta have never been asked what sort of cultural facility they want. There is strong anecdotal evidence that they want a museum of
the history and migration of the area or a facility that can network with other cultural institutions to share their collections. They certainly don't want a second hand Powerhouse nor a Parramatta Carriageworks which
the current proposal presents. The consultation was desultory and it is significant that the sale of this flood prone site to the State Government
took place one week before Parramatta Council which was under an administrator went into caretaker period before the council elections. The transparency claimed is therefore spurious.
The EIS claim that the "Parramatta Powerhouse" will reflect the cultural diversity of the population and will recognise the value of strengthening cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not substantiated in any way. Nor are the claims for so- called
" Productivity". And as for " sustainability", this is ridiculous given that the demolition of two of Parramatta's rare heritage buildings is involved.
Further claims that it is in the public interest to build the "Parramatta
Powerhouse" handle the truth carelessly.
Again, claims of job creation by the proposal are also misleading. While
some jobs may be created in the construction phase, there will be very
few once this is completed.
Exhibition spaces:
There are to be no permanent exhibition spaces and only a small percentage of the impermanent (" flexible"!) ones are of Museum standard. Indeed the real Powerhouse would not lend its collection to the proposed one as these standards are not met. Given ongoing government cutbacks of cultural institutions, there will be insufficient
staff to mount changing exhibitions, particularly as items to be displayed will need to be transported from the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill or elsewhere. It would appear therefore that the intention is to create a Parramatta Carriageworks not Powerhouse.
The site:
The site is flood prone as demonstrated dramatically in February, 2020, when the first floor of the former David Jones car park, a key part of the site, was flooded. The EIS claims that this was a 1:100 occurrence but they appear not to have heard of climate change. It is widely recognised that severe weather events are increasing world wide and 1:10 year flooding or greater frequency is inevitable. This is not only dangerous for any exhibits but also for human occupation. Hydrologist
John Macintosh has said that to put a public building on such a site is a " crazy proposal". The government has chosen to ignore all such warnings among others.
Objects:
Treasures such as the Boulton and Watts Steam Engine, Locomotive 1 the Catalina Flying boat or the Strasburg Clock will not be able to be displayed in the " milk crate" building, partly because there is no permanent display space but also because they wouldn't fit into the goods lift. The floor loadings may also not be adequate. The Premier has refused to guarantee that these will remain at Ultimo and the loss of these irreplaceable treasures is incalculable. In any case, moving them anywhere at all will result in irreparable damage.
Storage and conservation:
There is no provision for these in the proposed " milk crate" building and it is not known whether these functions will be retained at Ultimo. While 95% of the Powerhouse Museum collection is stored at the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill, these areas are full. There appears to be no funding for any additional buildings at Castle Hill, nor land to put them on.
Heritage:
Construction of the proposed " Parramatta Powerhouse" in its current form requires the demolition of two heritage listed buildings, Willow Grove and St George's Terrace. The EIS glosses over the significance of these but as Parramatta has very few remaining such buildings in spite of its rich history, the destruction of these would be unconscionable.
Finance
It is by no means clear how the government proposes to fund the new building whatever its purpose. Some $600 million was allocated but any move of the real Powerhouse and its contents as well as additions at Castle Hill would cost up to $2 billion. The $600 million would build a museum in Parramatta that the residents there might actually want. This is of particular importance at this time of inevitable budget deficits.
Given that most government projects run massively over budget, we are likely to be left with a hole in the ground like the Sydney Stadium and no cultural facility of any sort. The government has already wasted some $45 million on consultants etc for this ill considered project.
The above are only some of the reasons that the " milk crate" building proposed for the "Parramatta Powerhouse" should not proceed. It is totally unsuitable for any sort of museum. The citizens of Parramatta
deserve a proper museum not a Parramatta Carriageworks, and they might actually want as described above.
I strongly object to this travesty of a proposal.
Miranda Korzy
Object
Miranda Korzy
Object
CLAREVILLE
,
New South Wales
Message
I am writing to let you know about my:
·objections to removing any of the Powerhouse Museum's major objects relating to industrial technology from its Ultimo site.
·objections to the demolition of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces in Parramatta to accommodate a new museum.
·suggestions for a new museum/s instead at Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta and
·suggestions for types of museums.
The Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo
I welcome the NSW government's decision to leave The Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo. However, I am concerned that the government has not committed to leaving the museum intact - and has indicated it could become a centre for fashion and design. (See The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5, 2020 HYPERLINK "https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/berejiklian-s-powerhouse-backflip-a-crowd-pleaser-for-east-and-west-20200703-p558zg.html" https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/berejiklian-s-powerhouse-backflip-a-crowd-pleaser-for-east-and-west-20200703-p558zg.html).
With multiple engineers in my family, I’ve grown up with and always loved the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) – and particularly the Powerhouse Museum. The museum and its storage facilities are an enormously valuable repository of Australia’s old industrial technology. For engineers, the Boulton and Watt steam engine is priceless and its current position at the Powerhouse ideal – enabling it to be run for all to see. It would be a great shame for the NSW government to risk moving it from its specially built home along with Locomotive Number 1. Similarly, for the aircraft suspended in the Heritage Hall.
I believe the permanent collection at The Powerhouse should remain essentially as is because the site complements its collection. The museum is located both within the old tramways power station - an industrial artefact itself – and within an engineering precinct. The original plans for the museum envisaged it on Harris Street, where it would be close to the then Sydney Technical College, one of the city’s oldest training grounds for engineers, as a source of inspiration for students. That connection remains and it is now also near the University of Technology, a modern centre for engineering education.
Museums for Parramatta
However, it is time that Parramatta, as Sydney's demographic centre, should have at least one if not more major museums. And I believe it has the perfect place for such a heritage and cultural complex at the Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta. This beautiful area, adjacent to the Female Factory and former Catholic Orphanage, is already a heritage site, with a rich history. The location for close to 80 buildings with state heritage listing, the site could provide space for a range of museum and other educational institutions - along with opening up the beautiful grounds for the public to enjoy. It would lend itself to a long-term plan for developing a range of institutions and facilities in the historic buildings within the precinct.
Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace
By contrast, it would be a tragic irony if, instead, the government went ahead with plans to demolish Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace, historic buildings in the centre of Parramatta, to make way for the new museum. Such a move would destroy these precious buildings, loved by residents of Parramatta and elsewhere, in the centre of the city. The state government's own documentation says the site is significant:
"for the local area for historical, aesthetic, research, associative and representativeness values ... It is a local landmark, strongly contributing to the streetscape. It is a place of memories for a number of older residents of the area, from years when it operated as a maternity hospital. The site grounds may contain archaeological material relating to European settlement prior to the construction of ‘Willow Grove’. Albeit not rare, Willow Grove is representative of its type, style and date of construction."
(See https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240440 )
It would also be negligent to establish a museum on a site that experts say should be avoided because of the risk to artefacts of flooding - as occurred there in February this year. Hydrologist Dr John Macintosh wrote one of 17 submissions to the NSW Upper House inquiry into the proposed museum move that raised concerns about flooding - including the risk of deaths at the Willow Grove/St Georges Terrace site.
(See HYPERLINK "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-12/powerhouse-museum-location-crazy-deadly-flood-risk-expert-says/9644362" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-12/powerhouse-museum-location-crazy-deadly-flood-risk-expert-says/9644362 )
Type of Museum - art gallery, historical, or modern science and technology?
Regarding the type of museum to be set up at Parramatta, there are a number of suggestions - and the Cumberland Hospital Precinct could accommodate more than one. I'd support Parramatta residents' calls for an art gallery or history museum at the site.
However, if the government wants to pursue the idea of another branch of the MAAS, it would be great to see a museum that focuses on modern science and technology established - as opposed to the Powerhouse's old industrial technology. Australia leads the world in some of these areas – for example photovoltaic and other renewable engineering at UNSW; information technology with companies such as Atlassian; and biotechnology and medical engineering such as hearing implants (Cochlear) and ventilators for COVID-19 patients (produced at the Bella Vista factory of Australian company Resmed and sent all around the world in recent months).
Such a museum would be unique, exciting and important – and complement the existing MAAS without damaging the reputation of The Powerhouse. It could showcase the work of Australian technologists, show young people what modern (or "living") science and engineering are all about and encourage students to study STEM subjects - one of the federal government’s current objectives. It could also be set up at another site in Western Sydney that is close to a university campus - teaching science and technological degrees - to create a relationship between the museum and university promoting collaboration on research.
Hoping you will take these ideas into consideration during planning for the new museum at Parramatta.
·objections to removing any of the Powerhouse Museum's major objects relating to industrial technology from its Ultimo site.
·objections to the demolition of Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces in Parramatta to accommodate a new museum.
·suggestions for a new museum/s instead at Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta and
·suggestions for types of museums.
The Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo
I welcome the NSW government's decision to leave The Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo. However, I am concerned that the government has not committed to leaving the museum intact - and has indicated it could become a centre for fashion and design. (See The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5, 2020 HYPERLINK "https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/berejiklian-s-powerhouse-backflip-a-crowd-pleaser-for-east-and-west-20200703-p558zg.html" https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/berejiklian-s-powerhouse-backflip-a-crowd-pleaser-for-east-and-west-20200703-p558zg.html).
With multiple engineers in my family, I’ve grown up with and always loved the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) – and particularly the Powerhouse Museum. The museum and its storage facilities are an enormously valuable repository of Australia’s old industrial technology. For engineers, the Boulton and Watt steam engine is priceless and its current position at the Powerhouse ideal – enabling it to be run for all to see. It would be a great shame for the NSW government to risk moving it from its specially built home along with Locomotive Number 1. Similarly, for the aircraft suspended in the Heritage Hall.
I believe the permanent collection at The Powerhouse should remain essentially as is because the site complements its collection. The museum is located both within the old tramways power station - an industrial artefact itself – and within an engineering precinct. The original plans for the museum envisaged it on Harris Street, where it would be close to the then Sydney Technical College, one of the city’s oldest training grounds for engineers, as a source of inspiration for students. That connection remains and it is now also near the University of Technology, a modern centre for engineering education.
Museums for Parramatta
However, it is time that Parramatta, as Sydney's demographic centre, should have at least one if not more major museums. And I believe it has the perfect place for such a heritage and cultural complex at the Cumberland Hospital Precinct in North Parramatta. This beautiful area, adjacent to the Female Factory and former Catholic Orphanage, is already a heritage site, with a rich history. The location for close to 80 buildings with state heritage listing, the site could provide space for a range of museum and other educational institutions - along with opening up the beautiful grounds for the public to enjoy. It would lend itself to a long-term plan for developing a range of institutions and facilities in the historic buildings within the precinct.
Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace
By contrast, it would be a tragic irony if, instead, the government went ahead with plans to demolish Willow Grove and St Georges Terrace, historic buildings in the centre of Parramatta, to make way for the new museum. Such a move would destroy these precious buildings, loved by residents of Parramatta and elsewhere, in the centre of the city. The state government's own documentation says the site is significant:
"for the local area for historical, aesthetic, research, associative and representativeness values ... It is a local landmark, strongly contributing to the streetscape. It is a place of memories for a number of older residents of the area, from years when it operated as a maternity hospital. The site grounds may contain archaeological material relating to European settlement prior to the construction of ‘Willow Grove’. Albeit not rare, Willow Grove is representative of its type, style and date of construction."
(See https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240440 )
It would also be negligent to establish a museum on a site that experts say should be avoided because of the risk to artefacts of flooding - as occurred there in February this year. Hydrologist Dr John Macintosh wrote one of 17 submissions to the NSW Upper House inquiry into the proposed museum move that raised concerns about flooding - including the risk of deaths at the Willow Grove/St Georges Terrace site.
(See HYPERLINK "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-12/powerhouse-museum-location-crazy-deadly-flood-risk-expert-says/9644362" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-12/powerhouse-museum-location-crazy-deadly-flood-risk-expert-says/9644362 )
Type of Museum - art gallery, historical, or modern science and technology?
Regarding the type of museum to be set up at Parramatta, there are a number of suggestions - and the Cumberland Hospital Precinct could accommodate more than one. I'd support Parramatta residents' calls for an art gallery or history museum at the site.
However, if the government wants to pursue the idea of another branch of the MAAS, it would be great to see a museum that focuses on modern science and technology established - as opposed to the Powerhouse's old industrial technology. Australia leads the world in some of these areas – for example photovoltaic and other renewable engineering at UNSW; information technology with companies such as Atlassian; and biotechnology and medical engineering such as hearing implants (Cochlear) and ventilators for COVID-19 patients (produced at the Bella Vista factory of Australian company Resmed and sent all around the world in recent months).
Such a museum would be unique, exciting and important – and complement the existing MAAS without damaging the reputation of The Powerhouse. It could showcase the work of Australian technologists, show young people what modern (or "living") science and engineering are all about and encourage students to study STEM subjects - one of the federal government’s current objectives. It could also be set up at another site in Western Sydney that is close to a university campus - teaching science and technological degrees - to create a relationship between the museum and university promoting collaboration on research.
Hoping you will take these ideas into consideration during planning for the new museum at Parramatta.