THE NORTH PARRAMATTA RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP has lobbied for the museum to be built in North Parramatta’s Fleet St heritage precinct instead of the flood-prone riverbank site …
THAT is practical … it’s ‘commonsense’ … why invite problems … and waste funding to have to retrieve contents and the structure of a Powerhouse Museum from a flood prone area?
IS the Agenda of this NSW Coalition Government to remove from the records any references to Our Past? Our Australian Heritage … ?
Having demolished the projects of the 30-year-old Bicentennial project south of Cockle Bay including the monorail, the award-winning Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre and IMAX cinema …
Yes, a mere 30 years old! To remove all records of Our Australian History, Culture …
Why? Because this government can … how nasty …
DOES Gladys live in the Willoughby LGA? Artarmon?
NOTE … 0 NEW DWELLINGS FOR ARTARMON …. Even Hunters Hill will have 150 new dwellings; Mosman 300 and Woollahara 300 ‘new homes’
ONLY 260 NEW DWELLINGS PER YEAR ARE PLANNED FOR THE ENTIRE WILLOUGHBY LGA including Chatswood and St Leonards … lobbying by North Shore media/lobby group
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS FOR RYDE LGA!
ALERT! Currently there are less than 1 per cent of Heritage Homes remaining in the RYDE LGA! DESPITE THIS ‘small family developers’ have disrupted Council meetings protesting against the proposed Heritage Listing on the eve of the MEDIUM-DENSITY HOUSING CODE …
PLEASE SHARE: HERITAGE LISTING WILL REDUCE HOUSE PRICES DOES NOT CHECK OUT!
Willow Grove heritage building to be destroyed for Powerhouse Museum
A grand, Victorian-era building in Parramatta is to be destroyed to make way for the Powerhouse Museum.
Joanne Vella,
Parramatta Advertiser
December 6, 2019
Bulldozers are soon expected to obliterate the state heritage-listed Willow Grove after Premier Gladys Berejiklian reversed her decision to preserve it for the construction of the $767 million Powerhouse Museum.
The North Parramatta Residents’ Action Group (NPRAG) has said multiple sources and leaked government documents show Ms Berejiklian has opted to demolish the 1870s-built
Italianate villa at Phillip St.
St George’s Terrace, on the corner of Wilde Ave and Phillip St, could also be demolished for the museum, which is expected to be completed by December 2022.
NPRAG spokeswoman Suzette Meade said the decision came after the museum’s final six architects had an option to retain the former maternity hospital but were planning to announce its demise soon.
“We’ve been told that this decision has already been made, no doubt to be dropped out as people enter their Christmas breaks in the hope of avoiding scrutiny,’’ Ms Meade said.
“If this is true, it’s a disgrace.
“Clearly, it’s a big concern for the people of Parramatta that our heritage is being disrespected.
“Western Sydney heritage seems to be second rate and I think they should expect quite a kickback from the community.’’
The group has lobbied for the museum to be built in North Parramatta’s Fleet St heritage precinct instead of the flood-prone riverbank site when then premier Mike Baird announced the museum for Parramatta in 2015.
A spokesman for Arts Minister Don Harwin said the government would not respond to any of the Parramatta Advertiser’s questions.
Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee did not comment on heritage concerns but said he understood the winning design for the museum would be announced shortly.
“I look forward to seeing the final design,’’ he said.
“Parramatta deserves world class arts and cultural institutions and that’s what the NSW Government is delivering.”
A Parramatta Council spokesman said it had previously written to the State Government requesting the heritage significance of Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace was considered in the museum’s development process.
“Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace are important local heritage sites and our community feels strongly about protecting them,’’ the spokesman said.
Last year, the Parramatta Advertiser reported that the government would save $43 million by demolishing Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace.
Willow Grove was used as a maternity hospital and the state-listed St George’s Terrace is considered historically and aesthetically significant as an example of modest Victorian period terraces.
The group is calling on the premier to reverse her decision.
“If Willow Grove was in Willoughby there is no way this would be happening,’’ Ms Meade said.
“This is an appalling start to what was promised as a move towards cultural funding equality; another bonus for developers.”
National Trust of Australia’s Parramatta branch president Cheryl Bates said demolishing Willow Grove would mean Parramatta lost another link to its important historical past.
“The National Trust does not understand how a building considered worthy of a heritage listing, using the accepted criteria for listing, can now simply be disregarded because a new use is considered more appropriate,’’ she said.
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