Powerhouse Parramatta

Dear Marcus,
I am writing in the hope that the proposed fate of Willow Grove being demolished (even if the idea is rto ebuilt in a different location) can be reversed. Last year I had the privilege of going on an historical walking tour of Parramatta led by a member of the NSW Historical Society. The tour highlighted the significance of indigenous culture and and interactions in the Parramatta at the time of the early settlers as well as providing insight into life of the early settlers and the developing story of Australia. During the walk it also became apparent that Parramatta has a rich history that is under threat and needs to be preserved.

As someone who has travelled extensively I have taken a keen interest in learning about the history of the countries I have visited. Other countries preserve and celebrate their historical buildings and they are promoted as an attraction for local and international tourist alike. I cannot understand why this is not the case in Australia. Our history goes beyond the Rocks. It is hard to understand why early buildings, such as the Women's Factory, can be discarded with little thought to their importance in the telling of the Australian story in order to cater for the "needs" of a growing populations. Other countries with vastly bigger populations manage to accommodate the needs of the people and still maintain their history. At the moment Phillip Street is one of the few streets in Parramatta that still partially have a streetscape that includes historical buildings with a row of old terraces and also the beautiful Willow Grove with it garden oasis. It is steeped in history that is important to the community so it is beyond belief that there is a proposal to destroy this history in order to make way for a modern museum that will store history. It doesn't make sense. You only need to look at the terraces saved in the Rocks area when Barrangaroo was built to see that it is possible to develop with some sympathy for history. Those terraces have become a feature to be admired.

People love the Powerhouse Museum in its current location and it is conveniently located for tourist at Pyrmont. Whilst the argument that they need greater space to store and exhibit their artifacts may well be valid there must be solutions other than destroying history in Parramatta. It has been so sad to see the decimation of very old trees and green space in historical areas to make way for the light rail in Parramatta and it simply seems wreckless to continue the destruction in Phillip Street for a New Powerhouse Museum. If a new museum must be built why does it need to be built so close to the city centre. Please find another solution and save Willow Grove and save what remains of the history of Phillip Street.

Regards,
Narelle Turner

Dear Marcus,

SAVE WILLOW GROVE!

By all means, build a new museum in Parramatta but please leave Willow Grove where it is. First of all this beautiful villa was going to be demolished, now the plan is to relocate it. The Government seems to have such little regard for our heritage. Surely Willow Grove can be included in the new museum’s design and put to good use, as an historical building in its own right. I’d like to see St George’s Terrace refurbished and it too incorporated in the design.

Willow Grove must remain in Phillip Street where it was built 140 years ago. The villa’s social history significance will be lost should the building be taken apart and re-built in North Parramatta – and how much of the original building will remain?

From a person who loves Australian history and heritage my simple message is: SAVE WILLOW GROVE!

Thank you for taking the time to read my submission.

Yours sincerely,

Gina Dolphin

Dear Sir,

I am writing to lodge an objection to the proposed demolition/removal of Willow Grove. It is an absolute necessity that this building be retained as it is and where it is now. Parramatta always prided itself on being the “Cradle or Foundation City’ with its long history back to the very beginnings of this great country. Its historic buildings were lauded as being important and something to cherish and celebrate. This would seem to be laughable and upsetting now when you realise what heritage items in Parramatta have been destroyed in recent years.

How shameful is the situation now with the proposed destruction of another of these once cherished historic buildings. My mother used to lament over the loss of a beautiful, old building in Parramatta called ‘Hiawatha’ which was bulldozed in the late 50’s/early 60’s to make way for of all things, a building with totally no character, style or beauty at all, a daggy, boring bowling alley. This itself, has also now been demolished to make way for something else.

When are those people who, unfortunately, have the power to make decisions about historic buildings wake up to the fact that the PEOPLE of Parramatta and the whole of Australia do value history and heritage items and want them retained for future generations IN SITU. They DO NOT have the right to decide to remove these and deprive future generations of the knowledge and joy that visiting and enjoying old buildings provides for people.

I am a Year One teacher in the Parramatta vicinity and for the last six months my class has been studying the history of their suburb. Thankfully, even though the school sits in the Parramatta LGA, there are still some heritage items remaining in situ. My class has looked at old photos and books about the suburb and just last week we were able to visit a nearby cemetery where many members of the first families of the district are buried. The students thoroughly enjoyed the visit, interested in actually seeing the names of people from old local families on headstones and the variety of headstone structures. When it was time to leave, they wanted to stay longer and said that they would ask their parents to bring them back for another look. History is of great interest in our classroom and even today one of them noticed a large book of old photos I had on my desk. They called out the word , HISTORY, and everyone wanted to have a look at it. I showed them that it was a book called “PANORAMAS of LOST LONDON’ and they wanted to know what that meant. I told them that they were very old photos of London and the buildings shown were unfortunately no longer standing. They seemed sad about this as I showed through the book. What a pity it would be if the only record we had in the future of old buildings from Parramatta was a book called ‘PANORAMAS of LOST PARRAMATTA”.

I implore the NSW Government NOT TO demolish/remove historic Willow Grove as it is a very significant heritage item for the people of Parramatta and Australia. More than enough damage has been done to the heritage fabric of Parramatta and it need to STOP NOW!!!!!!!!

We already have a Powerhouse Museum, actually two, and the last thing we need in Parramatta is another one destroying the heritage of Parramatta. Once again, PLEASE DO NOT DEMOLISH OR REMOVE WILLOW GROVE!

Yours Sincerely
Dianne Rayner

Please record my strong objection to the proposed relocation of Willow Grove from its present site.

Willow Grove must be left where it is and totally intact. There is absolutely no reason for it to be removed or otherwise dealt with including the preposterous proposal to demolish it bit by bit and replicate it somewhere in North Parramatta.

What has happened to us as a society where we no longer value our heritage especially heritage some 140 years old located in our second city founded in November 1788.

There are plenty of creative uses that Willow Grove as currently constructed and located can be an integral part of – including the claytons Museum ( the Museum you’re having when you’re not having a Museum) proposed for the city.

It really isn’t that hard to think of a 21 Century community use for Willow Grove that doesn’t adversely affect its heritage value. How about marketing it as a heritage tourist attraction?

As it stands our heritage consists of buildings footings and pictures of what used to be on the site – weirdly under the name of Phillip Ruddock who spent about 5 minutes in the city 40 years ago.

And in future we can appreciate passing over the former site of the 19th Century Royal Oak Hotel on our shiny new light rail to nowhere.

Please leave Willow Grove alone and where it is currently located.

Thank you.

Dear Marcus,
I object to the demolition of Willow Grove in order to build a replica of it at Parramatta Gaol.

The idea that this could in any way be a meaningful solution to the vexed problem of the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum is laughable.

This new museum at Parramatta is apparently having no permanent exhibits and was only offered to Parramatta because a deal must have been made to some developers to develop the Ultimo site.

Just as the new Parramatta Stadium is less about a sports venue but more about being a function centre for Venues NSW, this new museum will be a white elephant which will have destroyed some of the last heritage in Parramatta and all for nothing.

We still have no swimming pool, having lost one the State government demolished but would not pay to replace. What guarantee would we have that a replica would even be built?

Parramatta has already lost much of its charm with the construction of the multiple high rise towers. The light rail construction has ripped through North Parramatta heritage precinct, destroyed trees and the amenity of many areas of the city.

Building a replica of a valued heritage item is a joke. Once it is gone, it is gone and our urban areas all begin to look the same.

Yours faithfully,

Evelyn O'Donoghue

Please save this beautiful home!!!
I grew up in Parramatta and it is
shameful how our history is being
destroyed by developers.
Please do the right thing !!!
The destruction of Windsor square went ahead and what destruction it was😡😡
Please do not do the same to Willow Grove.
Regards
Ann McKinnon

I wish to object to any proposal to move or destroy Willow Grove from its rightful location.

Please save Willow Grove at the location it is in Philip Street, Parramatta.
It cannot be moved. Cost factor to take down brick by brick is ridiculous to even consider.
The site being considered for the new Museum is in a flood zone and another ridiculous consideration.
NSW Government please reconsider the thought that either of these things are should be considered.

I was a long term resident in North Parramatta from 1976 and often stood at the gate of Willow Grove to admire its glory and heritage. PLEASE SAVE WILLOW GROVE.

Sincerely
Rhonda Castle

Submission
Willow Grove

It is unacceptable to the wider community that this building and grounds will be removed for the museum

I strongly object to this vandalism which has been going on for too long in Sydney

It is not in the public interest, it is a direct attack on the area’s heritage and smells of corruption

Maria Bradley

Mr Marcus,

I object to Willow Grove being moved; due to the fact that it would be irrational madness.

Parramatta was once a beautiful colonial city of stone and wrought iron; it is being destroyed with modern towers intended for “modern cities” (which obviously have no place in parramatta.) For heaven sake, leave Willow Grove alone and let us appreciate what little heritage that has left in parramatta.

Parramatta has a proud history as one of the country’s earliest white settlements. Parramatta wants to keep every remaining example of heritage it has!
If you take away the historic buildings of Parramatta: Parramatta Looses its very claim to fame and it’s fundamental backbone of history and community.

Above all : a museum is meant to protect and preserve heritage; not destroy It!
Heritage buildings should never never ever pay the price for a museum!

Please do not let Australia down!

Extremely sincerely:
Cody Newnham
Member of the Australian National Trust.

P.S. (absolute shame on you for allowing the destruction of the Royal Oak Hotel of Parramatta built in 1813. What a sickening and disgustingly deplorable tragedy.)

Dear Sir …

My wife and I are North Parramatta residents living in a heritage listed property.

Please retain heritage where it was built.

We strongly object to the destruction of Willow Grove and the ridiculous idea of relocating it.

The Powerhouse Museum is about heritage. Incorporate Willow Grove into the Powerhouse like the old administration building at Homebush Saleyards was incorporated into the Olympic precinct in its original location.

Graeme & Anne Forsythe

Dear Mr Jennejohn,

I would like to present my objection to the demolition of Willow Grove and a replacement of an imitation somewhere else. Pardon me for being doubtful and not believing... but if you people in the decision committee approve such a scheme I will definitely say that you are JOKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF SYDNEY!! it is like replacing Willow Grove for a cardboard imitation!!!! what a joke!!!!! and placing this imitation somewhere else???? Are the decision makers and politicians giving so little value to the people and the way of thinking of the people to even offer such a thing??

Willow Grove should stay where it is and in the form that it is now!!! the value of that property is not on the land that the developers are so eager to gain, the value is historical and aesthetically beautiful! Willow Grove is a beautiful place and we want it to continue where it is and how it is currently.

Your sincerely

Gloria De Alkstrand

Please think about keeping the Power House museum where it is and let Willow Grove rest in peace.
Regards,
Barbara Mann

Dear Sir,

As a long term resident of North Parramatta, I wish to object to the notion of demolishing the Victorian Villa Willow Grove, on Phillip Street, Parramatta.

The idea that a brick rendered house can be dismantled and re-erected at another location is quite bizarre! The result would not be "Willow Grove", but some pale imitation of no historic or cultural significance at all!

Willow Grove may not be a rare example of an Victorian Italianate Villa in respect of the whole of the Sydney region, but it is the last of many that once graced what is now the C.B.D. of Parramatta and is thus a rare survivor! Added to this is the setting, which still has remnants of its historic garden curtilage with large old trees and space, again increasingly rare in Parramatta's C.B.D.

Willow Grove is a building that has great significance for many people of Parramatta, especially from its time as a maternity hospital. However, the retention of Willow Grove has also drawn community support more recently as the community has begun to count the cost to Parramatta's heritage through other government projects such as the Light Rail and other developer driven projects.

Willow Grove was intended to be part of a former Parramatta Council's vision for community access to the river. This was quashed by an unelected state government appointed bureaucrat without community consultation or indeed consideration. It is little wonder that there is great suspicion in the community regarding the demolition of Willow Grove for a museum that only certain politicians and corporate interests seem to desire.

Once again I wish to reiterate my belief that the proposed dismantling of Willow Grove is akin to its demolition, and I strongly object to any such action.

Dr Terrence Smith.

Hello Planning Department,

Please note I object to the Willow Groves demolition/relocation and believe we must protect our short history for all generations.

Phil Bunn JP

Dear Mr Jennejohn
Please find attached correspondence from the CFMEU in relation to Willow Grove.
Regards,
Rita


Rita Mallia
President

Just reaching out to say I support the New Power House

While it would have been nice (and in the spirt of the Powehouse) to incorporate Willow grove, I don’t want protest to delay what is an important and welcome development for western Sydney.

Thanks for all your hard work

Travers

Good Morning,
please find attached Dharug Strategic Management Group's letter of response to Submissions: Powerhouse Parramatta Environmental Impact Statement.

Michelle Locke
Secretary
Dharug Strategic Management Group Ltd

Further to my objection to the development of the Powerhouse in Parramatta, I wish to register my objection to the proposal that Willow Grove is to be removed from Phillip Street, Parramatta and transported as a replica, to a new location adjacent to Parramatta Gaol. Willow Grove’s social history significance will be totally lost once removed from where it was built.
This is an insane proposal by the NSW Government - and an absolute waste of taxpayer money - to remove Willow Grove from Phillip Street, brick by brick, and rebuild it in North Parramatta.
Willow Grove is an exceptional piece of our history and heritage - and its social history must remain in Phillip Street where it was built.
The National Trust and its heritage architects have condemned the proposal to relocate this 140-year old villa - so my viewpoint should not be discarded as merely frivolous and whimsical.
This removal of Willow Grove - to make way to build the Powerhouse Parramatta - should never have been proposed - the Premier had committed to protecting the heritage building earlier this year.
The removal and relocation of Willow Grove would result in the total irreversible loss of this historical building - destroying the ability to view and use this magnificent building - reminding us of past architecture, past uses, past lifestyles and significant heritage.
Willow Grove should be retained in situ - and could be open to the public - perhaps part café, part museum - reflecting its varied use in the past - including stories of Parramatta’s culture, history and lifestyle. (After all, Willow Grove is an 1870s heritage villa, becoming a maternity hospital for over three decades until the early 1950s).
Willow Grove is the only example of its type located in the core of the Parramatta CBD. The removal of this heritage item will eliminate and destroy the representation of its architectural style. Nothing will compensate for its removal – a casualty of this ridiculous and insensitive proposal.
Further heritage destruction in Parramatta is madness - and not acceptable.
A monster flexible event space with a residential level should not be built on the Parramatta River foreshore. And if this latest proposal regarding the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta was not so serious, it would be laughable - that the very idea being proposed to retain and show heritage - is actually destroying heritage - through the further removal of Parramatta’s already diminishing heritage assets and the decimation at Ultimo.
• Willow Grove should not be relocated
I trust that the NSW Government finally begins to listen to the numerous objections regarding the relocation / destruction of Willow Grove. The government should be spending taxpayer revenue on more important and discerning projects – such as on those suffering as a result of the well-documented on-going affordable housing crisis, both in the rental and owner occupier markets - and the coronavirus pandemic.
I look forward to Ms Berejiklian’s response to this ongoing issue that she has unnecessarily created.

I also ask that receipt of this email is provided. I want to ensure that it is received and my comments and feedback are considered.
Many thanks.
Kind regards,
Gillian Kirby

Dear Marcus

Please find attached my reply to the Response to Submissions – Parramatta Powerhouse (SSD-10416).

Kind regards


Councillor Donna Davis
Epping Ward | City of Parramatta