Dear Sir,

I respectfully, but strongly object to the plans to destroy Willow Grove and St. George Terraces to make way for the proposed relocation of the Powerhouse Museum.

It is a travesty and pure vandalism to continue to erase the history from Parramatta and NSW of such iconic buildings. Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are rare examples of architecture that could be lost to the community under the guise of ‘progress’

It is my belief the character of Parramatta could be irrevocably changed and this was not adequately addressed on the Environmental Impact Statement

I have not, ever, made any reportable political donations

Dear Sir,
I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA PROJECT
The Powerhouse Museum is currently ideally located in the same Ultimo precinct as its predecessor, the Museum of Arts and Sciences, which was established in 1893. As a child growing up in southern Sydney in the 1950s and 60s, a visit to the Museum was a thrilling part of a visit to the city.

The Powerhouse Museum must remain on its central site, to enable people from all over NSW and interstate to continue visiting this key scientific and cultural Museum. I currently live on the South Coast, travel to Sydney by train, and would be highly unlikely to make the additional journey to Parramatta. My interstate extended families ALWAYS visit the Powerhouse Museum on Sydney visits.
Parramatta has not been consulted about the imposition of the Powerhouse Museum; it is being foisted upon them. It is now quite clear that the proposed new building, on the flood plain, will not even house a museum. Its spaces will hold events rather than a contemporary Museum of Arts and Sciences. The proposed Director has art and event management experience and no museum or collections experience at all.
This is not the cultural institution Parramatta needs and wants. It does not meet the needs outlined in Parramatta Council’s plans. The State Government has ignored the City of Parramatta's own 2017 Cultural Plan key objectives.
The destruction of two of Parramatta’s most significant heritage buildings – Willow Grove Villa and St Georges Terraces – simply cannot be justified. They must not be pulled down to make way for a badly-conceived and unwanted building.
Why is the government ready to wilfully abandon a purpose-built museum just 30-years-old?

I object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project, for the following reasons:
• Willow Grove is a unique piece of architecture in the Parramatta area and needs to be preserved
• Too many historical sites have already been destroyed in the Parramatta area
• The site is vulnerable to flooding from the Parramatta River
• The proposed Powerhouse will not have enough display space
• It will be expensive to move exhibits from current location

I recently became aware that new Powerhouse museum is set to be relocated to Parramatta and built on a site that will require the demolition of important and unique heritage architecture namely; Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces and I am writing to you to express my objection to the demolition our history.

These buildings are unique to the local area and to Sydney. Parramatta is one of Australia’s oldest cities. It was founded the same year that Sydney was. Over time, much of the rich and unique historical architecture in the area has been demolished. Willow Grove and St Georges Terraces are rare examples of the early architecture in the area and both have played a critical role in our history, including as a maternity hospital for the people of Parramatta.

The destruction of these buildings with have a significant impact to the community and the preservation of our State’s heritage. Too many of these important examples of architecture and our early history are being demolished. What is the point of heritage listing in this State if it is not respected and upheld by everyone?

I also find it offensive that these historic buildings are being demolished to make way for a museum which by very definition is for the key purpose of collecting, preserving and displaying important historical artefacts. Nowhere else in the world would this be allowed to happen and the Trustees of the Powerhouse museum should be ashamed that they have allowed this to happen. In fact, they should all be called upon to resign because this demonstrates a profound lack of respect for the preservation of Australian history.

I request that you stop these plans and the demolition of these buildings.

Sincerely

Emma Rumble

I OBJECT TO THE POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA PROJECT!! Please for the love of humanity why on earth do we need another museum? People hardly visit the ones we have in Sydney. Please do not demolish our heritage and beautiful building in favour of disgusting monstrous eyesores called ‘contemporary'. We have plenty of awful buildings in Sydney due to the horrible vision the current architects have.

Save our beautiful heritage buildings. We don’t have much history in Sydney and it would be wonderful to save what buildings and heritage we have left. All the stunning buildings have been demolished to make way for other crap. Read about the stunning architecture we used to have around Sydney. We had many many beautiful homes, all destroyed.

Willow Grove is an important part to women’s history as a maternity hospital for over three decades for the people who resided in and around Parramatta in the early 1950s.
This is significant to Parramatta and historical preservation. Same goes with St George Terraces. These are unique and rare examples of beautiful architecture. Why would you want to destroy history?

My family have lived in Westmead since they moved here in 1963. Since then we have seen a dramatic change. There are the awful eyesores on Vernon Street. They are simply distasteful and smelly. Same goes with the football stadium renovation…. We just didn’t need it.

What about the Parramatta and Wentworthville pools, they were just fine where they were. Why do more apartment buildings need to go there. There are plenty of spaces around Sydney. We are losing our past and what we used to represent

As a lover of beautiful architecture and historical buildings, please don’t go ahead with this project.

"Our City is home to many historic sites of national and global significance. In the midst of a new contemporary, cosmopolitan City we need to anchor, promote and share this World Heritage for our local and national community. Our built environment features some of the Australia’s most important colonial buildings, peppered throughout our City’s changing landscape. More than the architecture, these heritage assets tell a story of the past and help us better understand our future."

I trust you will listen to the people and not the coloured pieces of laminated paper lining your pockets.

Thankyou
Kind Regards
Anastasia

Sir;
I object to the destruction of Willowgrove, Parramatta.
Remember;
“ The past should not be forgotten or forgiven only understood “
Mr. Martin

I strongly object to the Powerhouse Parramatta Project.
I declare that I have not made any political donations.
The Powerhouse Museum should remain where it is in Sydney for all to enjoy. Tourists will not travel to Parramatta to visit the Museum. The cost of 1.5 million dollars to the Berejiklian Government is absolutely ludicrous for this project.
The demolition of heritage buildings is disgraceful. Parramatta needs to keep the beautiful Victorian era Italianate Willow Grove and St George Terraces in order to keep their sense of place.
The Powerhouse Museum's proposed site is on a river that is known to flood!
Please listen to the objections and do not let this controversial project go ahead.

Yours Sincerely
Leonie Van der Meer