Could I add my voice to the tidal wave of objections regarding the moving of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta.
This is such a vandalism of our culture and heritage and I cannot believe it is still being considered despite the overwhelming rejection of the idea by the vast majority of Sydneysiders.
By all means build a museum or cultural centre in Parramatta but PLEASE leave the majestic Powerhouse Museum where it is.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta.
Firstly I would like to state I have not made a political donation. I do consent to my name being used in the support to keep this historical icon on Parramatta soil.

I lived in the Parramatta district for 10 years as a university student and worker. When I first arrived I was told the city was derelict and full of crime (2010) by my father who grew up in the city in the 60s, 70s and 80s. However every trip I made into Parramatta felt like a less crowded version of Sydney city - for me an outsider at the time that was a win, my dad was wrong about Parramatta, at least in 2010 (and obviously in 2020).
The city has it's own set of highrises, office complexes, fountains and public spaces, art galleries and theatres and community events like Parramasala. It truly does have it all. But it was Parramatta Lanes festival (my favourite event) that first introduced me to WillowGrove. This building looks like it belongs in a fairytale book, and the surreal feelings I had when walking into the building during the Parramatta Lanes festival will very much stay with me for the rest of my life.
I don't see buildings like this much anymore and it would be a shame if my children would in turn be denied the right all together to experience a Victorian building in it's standing glory. Can we keep the city unique? Can we keep the city fun to explore, full of mysterious history alongside the new?

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project because I am TIRED of seeing unique legacy buildings being torn down across the city and state. I am tired of culturally significant icons with a long history that in itself stands as a museum (ironically).

Thanks for the platform to express my objection. Let us find a way to make Parramatta historical and contemporary.

I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA due to its impact on heritage buildings.

I am proudly Australian and I believe that our heritage should be PROTECTED.

We have little enough history as it is, to destroy it is not what the public wants and is an irresponsible use of power.

There are many development sites but not many heritage sites – please do not destroy our heritage for the sake of a multi-million-dollar sale.

I am unconvinced that we need a new Powerhouse Museum at all but if we did, it would be logical to move it out, not into Parramatta.

Please ensure that our history remains for future generations.

Please note that I have not made any reportable political donations in the past 50 years.

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project in its current form. My family has a long history in the Parramatta area being one of the original significant families who settled in the area. Many of my ancestors were married in St John’s, many are buried in the cemeteries that surround the Parramatta CBD.

My mother spent her childhood in Parramatta, living in many houses throughout the area with her widowed mother. I myself started my married life living in Parramatta and I worked there for many years. Willow Grove and the St Georges Terraces, along with buildings like the Roxy Theatre, the Female Factory and Parramatta Jail are all historically significant buildings within Parramatta which should be protected by our State Government, not destroyed.

These buildings and the stories of the people who occupied them represent our heritage. Imagine if these stories are lost to future generations what a travesty that would be. My 4th Great Grandfather was William Mobbs, a convict who by 1802 had already acquired his first grant of land. It was a 30 acre grant in the Field of Mars, of which 26 acres had already been cleared, even and a half acres where under wheat and maize and the family owned 44 sheep, 19 horned cattle, 15 goats and 2 hogs. Not only was William Mobbs successful with his cattle and orchard, he also excelled at growing wheat. It would seem from the types of things people wrote about William Mobbs and his land, he could do no wrong. He grew from strength to strength and after 40 years in the colony of New South Wales he was a well-respected citizen with his past faults forgotten.

William Mobbs died at Pennant Hills on the 25th September 1839 aged 76. He was buried on the 28th September 1839 at St Johns Parramatta.

The continual removal of historically significant buildings within the Parramatta area is very distressing. Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are buildings which have cultural and historical significance and which should be preserved, not demolished.

I am not opposed to the museum moving to Parramatta, however, I think there could be a much more historically sensitive design that embraces and a celebrates the past by incorporating these properties within the design and acknowledging their significance. Whilst not the subject of this submission, the fact that the state government has recently demolished the Royal Oak Hotel which existed in the time of my 4th Great Grandfather is nothing short of a disgrace. Please do not continue to remove our heritage and history for the sake of building “new shiny things”.

Incorporating historical buildings in new buildings, for example, the Westin Hotel in Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD, can product amazing and beautiful results and would satisfy both the need to provide new facilities whilst acknowledging and protecting the heritage of our past.

I have not made any reportable political donations.

I wish to object in the strongest terms to the proposed closure of the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo and the construction of the proposed new facility at Parramatta.
During my 40 year career with the NSW Public Works Department I had the privilege of being part of the team that documented and built the Powerhouse and for two years I was one of many that put our hearts and souls into the project. The highlight of my input was, without doubt, project managing the display and installation of the Boulton Watt engine. I can still recall the day that the installation was complete, the new high tech boiler installed remotely to provide steam to this engine and others in the collection was fired up, and the Boulton Watt came to life.
For 122 years the citizens of our great city have found entertainment, enlightenment and education at this iconic institution in Harris Street, Ultimo. Its vast holdings embrace science, technology, social history and an encyclopaedic collection of decorative arts and design, making it a cultural institution unique in Australia.
The Ultimo Power House was brilliantly repurposed just 30 years ago as a world class museum. Since it opened in 1988 the museum building and its exhibitions have won numerous awards. The project was a major investment for the people of New South Wales That investment will be squandered if the museum’s site is sold to developers.
The Powerhouse Museum is a vital part of the Ultimo education and innovation precinct. The new Goods Line walkway, light rail, and existing public transport ensure that the museum is easily accessed by visitors to Darling Harbour and the city.
We support the creation of a distinctive ‘cultural beacon’ in Parramatta, but to transport a pared-back, small scale Powerhouse would be folly.
Western Sydney deserves better – a unique institution shaped by community consultation, one that reflects the history, achievements and cultural diversity of the region and the aspirations of its people.
Nowhere else in the world are governments moving major museums away from the heart of their cities. Instead they are building satellite museums to display the collections of their great museums. The Powerhouse has the collections with which to create an original, exciting new museum for Western Sydney without abandoning its historic home.

I wish to strongly object to the proposed relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta. I am not a member of any political party, nor have I donated to any such party. Apart from the high cost of the proposed move there is the danger of causing damage to priceless objects such as the Boulton and Watt engine, unique in the world. This is especially ridiculous when the proposed new museum will have less exhibit space than the current one. The only people to benefit will be those living on the western line, all others will be disadvantaged. School excursions in particular will be affected. Central Station is within a short walk to the current museum and most railway lines run through Central. Thus it is easy for schools say on the Hornsby or Sutherland or Campbelltown line to plan an excursion to the current museum. If they have to travel to Central and then take a further journey to Parramatta they are unlikely to do so. Cruise liners berth at Circular Quay whence it is a short trip to the Powerhouse. Visitors to Sydney mostly stay in CBD hotels a short trip by public transport to the Powerhouse. Tourists prefer convenience and it is unlikely many will decide to travel to Parramatta to visit the proposed new site, particularly if some of the current displays are not available. Thus tourist visits can be expected to decline rather than increase.
Many have correctly pointed out that there are enough exhibits at the Discovery Centre at Castle Hill to fill a Powerhouse 2 as many overseas museums have done. However, there are other options to provide a cultural centre for Parramatta. Melbourne has an excellent Immigration Museum, Sydney has nothing similar. Parramatta would be an ideal site for such a museum as many migrants have settled in the western suburbs. There are many such ways to provide Parramatta with a cultural centre but not at the expense of destroying what already is a valuable asset to Sydney.

I object to the powerhouse Parramatta project.
To me there does not seem to me to be any benefit to the people of New South Wales or people in the Parramatta area.
The current powerhouse museum has beautiful exhibition spaces and is a place I love to visit.
Moving the museum to Parramatta to a flood plain makes no sense. It will not have space to exhibit everything that is on display in the city and it is likely the exhibits will get damaged when the area inevitably floods again.
It also makes no sense to demolish historic buildings such as Willow grove which there are no other examples of in Parramatta CBD. To replace with another boring modern building.
It appears the only reason the government is moving the Powerhouse museum is to sell the land in the city to private development.
This would destroy a wonderful museum and memory of my childhood I hope to share with my children. It is also a massive waste of taxpayers money.
Please reconsider the plan to move the powerhouse museum to Parramatta and keep it where it is!

I declare I have not made any reportable political donations.

Please listen to the people of New South Wales and don't waste taxpayers money on an unnecessary move.
Keep the Powerhouse Museum where it is.

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project for the following reasons -
1. The moving of the Powerhouse Museum is a ridiculous waste of money, especially in these uncertain times of the Covid 19 Pandemic;
2. The Powerhouse is in an excellent purpose built location and does not need to be moved;
3. the need to demolish heritage buildings Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces to build the ‘Powerhouse Parramatta’. Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are rare examples of architecture that no longer exist
in Parramatta CBD and should be retained. These buildings need to be saved and showcased rather than demolished;
4. Social history and the loss of sense of place and character of Parramatta
are important to raise as they have not been adequately studied and reported on in the Environmental Impact Statement.

I grew up in western Sydney and now work in Parramatta.

It is the home of some beautiful heritage building that are part of the history of our area and indeed our nation.

Willowgrove is one of these – please don’t let it be destroyed for the sake of a powerhouse museum. Preserve our history - it is vital for the future. There are many sites that can be used to build a new building for such a purpose.

Thanks

My name is Liam O'Donoghue. I am writing to state that I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta project.

The people of NSW deserve to have continued access to quality cultural facilities that showcase the skills and talents that can be found among the people and the industries of our state. We also deserve to have our historically significant public sites preserved, and our access to those sites maintained and expanded. The current plan fails on those measures, and will instead destroy important heritage sites such as the Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces in Parramatta.

The project as described does not take into consideration the heritage of either the Parramatta area, nor the Ultimo site. This ill-conceived proposal will in no serious sense increase access to, nor appreciation of, the vast holdings of the current Powerhouse museum. The project as described will see what is rightfully a beloved and valuable cultural asset degraded, while the proposed replacement will not fulfil its potential and will actively destroy heritage sites in Parramatta.

Instead of this poorly thought through plan, the Ultimo site should be renewed with greater investment and expansion. In addition to that, an entirely new facility should be conceived of for Parramatta that properly considers and responds to the area's unique and rich heritage. One which does not require the destruction of heritage to house new facilities. Parramatta deserves better than a second rate museum of convenience, and we deserve to have our heritage sites respected and preserved.

I have not made any reportable political donations.