THE PADDINGTONPADDINGTON PEOPLE PASSIONATE FOR PADDINGTON paperVOL 1 | ISSUE 161 | APRIL 2009 About The Paddington Society In this edition... The Paddington Society is a not-for-profi t community organisation formed in 1964 in response to a government inspired plan to fl atten large parts of Paddington by building a freeway through it. We are • Paddington Gardens all volunteers. Talented, dedicated people who live here and want to preserve the unique architectural opens! and historical character, and build a lifestyle for current and future generations in a sustainable and human way. We are Australia’s oldest urban activist group. We hope you will join us to defend constant • Air-conditioning a terrace challenges to this unique village. Enjoy the information in this newsletter and visit our website for the house latest www.paddingtonsociety.org.au. • St John’s Oxford Street The offi cial newsletter of The Paddington Society. Registered by Australia Post Publication No NBG 1470.

and are awaiting a meeting with the Minister Over the Palisade Current Issues for Lands and MP who supports our opposition to any change to, &Now that the eyesore loading zone at Selling off the farm or transfer of land into the lease. Fiveways has been removed, let’s have more outdoor dining to add to the atmosphere. The Paddington Bowling Club, near the Loss of access to Fiveways Lord Dudley Hotel off Quarry Street, has &Who would have thought that a applied for a 50 year Commercial lease The application to close to the public the supermarket could have such an impact? for the site. We ask why? We presume pedestrian passageway linking Glenmore But Thomas Dux has helped to transform for commercial development. Previous Road and Cooper Street is ongoing. This Fiveways to a more lively , active and applications by the Club to convert the land right-of-way, on private title, has been used pleasant place , and people are responding to freehold had been rejected. continuously for over 125 years and is a vital to its friendly ambience and quality produce. The current lease from the Department link for hundreds of people to the Five Ways Well done Thomas. of Lands is ‘in perpetuity’ as a recreation shops and public transport; it’s part of our )For those deprived of early morning facility. It is Crown Land for the benefi t of intricate network of pedestrian laneways. coffee from the mobile cart on the Benevolent the community. We have mapped all the laneways and made Society forecourt, Kalki, the friendly barista But, even more disturbing is the inclusion strong representation to Council to ensure it has moved to Goody’s convenience store of the adjacent roadway into the new lease. remains open. Council is currently seeking on Oxford Street near B&O. This roadway is held in trust by Woollahra legal advice and making enquiries into the Council who has been maintaining it for over feasibility and cost of acquiring the laneway We are bemused by some of the ' 100 years. The road is used by the public to so that it remains as public access. spelling on new street signs erected by access Trumper Park, the Edgecliff shops This is at the same time as City of , Woollahra Council such as “St Georges and trains, the Paddington Community our other Council area is selling our dunny Angl Church” surely there is a National Garden (under construction), the Council lanes - one off Church Street for $15,000 Standard for this stuff? plant nursery and parking for Palms Tennis and another off Regent Street near Oxford 'And whilst we promote the use of Courts and commuters. Street for $73,000… to which we have also bicycles do we need a special sign system We have met with the Mayor of Woollahra, objected. to direct bicycles to the City and ? How much signage is too much?

From Cooper Street. From Glenmore Road

Paddington Society/BIKEast bike ride at Darling Point )Relish on the corner of Regent and Stuart Streets underwent its transformation a few years ago and now the whisper is that the busy coffee shop on the corner of Selwyn and Albion Avenue, known as The Shop is going to put some of the ‘corner shop’ back into its space where locals already pick up their papers, bread and milk.

email your tidbits to [email protected] Two sketches of the Glenmore Road to Cooper Street passageway by Graham Stewart 2009. On The Streets Feature Story Half full or Half empty? At last the Gardens has opened

vaulted structures, The Gardens set a new standard in public area design. Set across two levels, The Gardens incorporate the original Walter Read At the wheel Reserve, the two reservoir chambers, and An advisory committee of Woollahra Introducing an extraordinarily vivid the John Thompson Reserve on the corner Council has been reconvened for 2009 to combination of gardens, spaces, ruins and of Oatley Road. The western chamber consider solutions to specifi c traffi c pressures. new structures, The Paddington Reservoir which suffered the greater structural The committee comprises representatives Gardens was opened by Clover Moore MP, collapse, has been carefully converted to a from Woollahra Council, RTA, Sydney Lord Mayor of Sydney on Sunday 29 March sunken garden, whilst the eastern Chamber Buses, NSW Police Department, The Offi ce 2009. has been made good and available for a of the Member for Bligh, BIKEast and The The Reservoir, which had remained a ruin possible future use. Paddington Society. since 1993 when parts of the supporting As an item of State Heritage Signifi cance structure collapsed on cars stored in the it was encumbent upon Council to take What price 40 kph? western chamber now presents an exciting appropriate measures to conserve the relic. The introduction of 40 kph to support the facility which, together with the Town This work commenced in 2002 when South roll out of pedestrian crossings has proved to Hall, Post Offi ce, Juniper Hall, and the Sydney City Council commissioned the be problematic. The RTA wants to introduce Imperial Hotel completes the Civic heart of preparation of a Feasibility Study, a Plan of speed humps into Hargrave Street, Cascade Paddington. With a deft approach to heritage Management and a Masterplan to guide the Street and Nield Avenue/Brown Street to conservation and interpretation, and the work. It was during this phase that extensive ensure the speed limit is self monitoring. We introduction of new structures, fi nishes and consultation with the community, including have objected to speed humps – they create landscapes which sit comfortably with the the Paddington Society took place to noise and vibration effects. Footpath for foot traffi c The ambience of Fiveways’ wider footpaths, complete with planter boxes can now be enjoyed without the intrusion of parked vehicles on the so seriously fl awed loading bay. Loading is now conducted from the northern loading zone with extended hours to satisfy newspaper deliveries. Success at Nield Avenue

Despite claims that speeds in Nield The new gardens Robyn Attuell, Clover and Peter Moore Avenue continue to be unacceptable, the RTA’s traffi c counts reveal that footpath widening (and road narrowing) carried out by the RTA as part of the amelioration works, has, in fact resulted in a signifi cant speed reduction from 55 kph to 48 kph. Why not elsewhere if we are serious about reducing speeds. A concept always promoted by The Paddington Society. Before

It’s a gas (near Greens Road). By the mid eighties, The trenching for new gas mains to serve Did You Know? by which time the horse drawn omnibus Darling Point has caused lengthy disruptions had given way to the steam train as the for residents in Glenmore Road, Cascade ...that Oxford Street was most probably principal form of public transport, the toll and Windsor Streets. Council assures us one of many pathways of the indigenous houses were removed and a government that road surfaces will be returned to their Gadigal people, used frequently for subsidy granted to the Trust (a familiar original condition by the contractor after journeys to South Head and . story?). In 1891 wood-blocking of the road completion of the works. Providing easy foot travel, the pathway was commenced. soon adopted by early settlers for horse and In 1811 land to the south of Old South Going underground buggy access to South Head. In 1791 it was Head Road was set aside as the Sydney It may be a pipe dream but wouldn’t recorded as a ‘15 foot track to South Head’, Common. It quickly proved an important it be good to coordinate the efforts of and subsequently (1803-1811) developed resource and the Lachlan Swamps (now Energy Australia and Woollahra Council? into Old South Head Road under the control part of ) established Independently they are doing a sound job of the South Head Roads Trust. The Trust as the Reserve to serve bundling overhead wires and upgrading relied, unsuccessfully it would seem, on Sydney’s water supply from 1837-58. footpaths but we can’t lose sight of the long toll revenue for repairs and maintenance Part of the Common was selected as a term objective, to underground power - take of what was still a dirt track. The toll booth strategic location for the Military Barracks, a look at the benefi ts at Fiveways. was located outside Victoria Barracks constructed between 1840-48. Construction Another Viewpoint

What is happening on the St John’s Church site? d. It’s been a long time between drinks!!

determine the community’s preferences for to emerge. By world standards this park will the development and future use of the site, be up there. And if you have the opportunity and the structure was secured to prevent to venture into the sunken garden in further collapse by propping the beams and the western chamber, experience being arches and removing the debris. transported from the hustle and bustle of After being taken over by the City of Oxford Street into a tranquil world far from Sydney, the project was picked up by the care. This is a great asset for the community. Lord Mayor Clover Moore and funded to It is worth the wait to see a job so well done allow what could be considered to be a - Thank you to Clover and team. unique industrial park of the 21st Century

St John’s site Now perched precariously on an island of rock is the St John’s Presbyterian Old Manse, which originally housed one of the fi rst schools in Paddington and possibly in south-east Sydney. It was built in the 1840s reputedly using surplus stone from the construction of the nearby Victoria Barracks. The east chamber Walter Read Reserve. Alongside this building is the 1850s Church, one of the earliest Presbyterian churches in Australia and further to the east is the New Manse, built in 1904. What’s in store for the site? The Church is to be converted into shops and a restaurant; the Old Manse also for shops with a forecourt outdoor café, hence the major excavation for the kitchen and lift; the new Manse will be residential. Along Renny Lane to the south there are to be 7 new apartments in a 3 storey plus attic building with parking in another deep excavation. For 20 years various development applications, refused due to over- development and scant regard for the site’s heritage buildings, have raised many objections from neighbours and the Society. The decisions were fi nally made in the Land and Environment Court for this complex project. We will all be relieved to see these heritage buildings restored and in use.

The sunken garden of the Victoria Barracks spawned the Village of Paddington across Old South Head Road Why I live here History for just $60. Buy now! on a subdivision of the 1840 grant of the Australian Subscription Library – and the Bruce Druery Paddington we know today had begun. Urban activist, surfer. I came to Paddington by happy fl uke 24 years ago and intend leaving in a box. It’s simply amazingly convenient to the city, the beach, art, View the beautiful watercolours food, parks, performances, the airport, the by John Haycraft published in the harbour, and with great people who value Paddington Society’s Paddington a village you can live in as a human. You Pictures or purchase a copy of can walk about on the small streets with the this fi ne gift-boxed limited edition kids, explore laneways, or be ‘cool’ on the collection by visiting the home page high street promenade. It’s leafy, quiet, yet www.paddingtonsociety.org.au. Busby’s Bore, Oxford Street outside the Barracks vibrant. Renovation Tips ESD in Paddington Events

Q. I am thinking of installing an air- Paddington wins on Coming up… come along! conditioning unit in my terrace house. sustainable development Can you give advice on where the units Wednesday May 6 – Sara Roney Gallery are best located? Sustainable development covers Exhibition - Karen Ball ‘The narrated self’ A. In these times of environmental minimising use of resources, implementing 104 Glenmore Road, Paddington sustainability and rising electricity prices it is energy conservation practices and • Opening drinks with the artist better to avoid air-conditioning installations greenhouse gas emission reduction. The 6:00 - 8:00 pm if at all possible. One of the remarkable key words are: reduce, reuse, recycle • Society members $12, Non–members $15 things about the terrace house is its ability and repair. This sits well with heritage Concession $8.50 to moderate the environment due to party conservation objectives. Wednesday August 5 walls and narrow frontages. The largest In the case of Paddington, the terrace is Annual Dinner at Victoria Barracks heat gain in summer is through the roof one of the best sustainable building forms • Special Guest speaker, don’t miss out, and west facing windows. You should fi rstly because the relatively small windows and book early! check whether your roof is insulated (the door openings and the masonry walls inhibit government is currently offering a hand-out heat gain and loss. Walls store energy that • Pre-dinner stroll – The Barracks under for roof insulation) and whether external keep rooms warm in winter and, conversely, the Star’s walk’. blinds or shutters could reduce the impact help cool rooms in summer. If substantially September 6 to 14 – History Week of the western sun. maintained as built, the terrace performs Scandals, Crime and Corruption Should you nonetheless wish to install air- extremely well under BASIX, particularly if • Sat 5 – Juniper Hall - Coffee in the old conditioning a Development Application will any under fl oor and roof areas are insulated. kitchen and guided Paddington walks: be required to Council detailing the exact Air-conditioning, or heating and cooling Colourful Paddington, Classic Paddington nature of the installation. The question requirements, are minimised. and South of the Border, The Migrants’ of where to place the unit is fraught. It is However, some of these intrinsic energy Culture Trail. unacceptable that the units are visible conservation and liveability qualities are Sun 13 – The Big Paddo Picnic from the public domain so placing them unwittingly lost during re-development. This • on front balconies or roofs is totally not is particularly so when the terrace is gutted For further information and bookings permitted. There may be scope on top of and new additions entail open-living areas contact the secretary Leone Morrison on low level roofs to the rear but they should with large window-walls and openings. The 9363 9572 or 9361 0864. be discrete. Be aware that air-conditioning resources and equipment then needed e: [email protected] units are noisy and can be a nuisance for to maintain a liveable environment are www.paddingtonsociety.org.au neighbours. They also over time develop considerable. People are generally not rattles so your comfort comes at a price for fully aware of the consequences of such the neighbourhood. adaptations in Paddington and the energy implication of such changes. They often buy Ron the Renovator. and develop without a full appreciation of an existing dwellings’ sustainable attributes and the heritage context of the place. Visit Living Heritage the website for more information. Treasures and Rubbish Going Out... The bulldozers are in and the Rose Terrace garden park has been scooped out clean for a complete renewal. Time Gentlemen Please... has worked with residents and landscape It’s worth trying the beers specialists to come up with a new look for at The Local Taphouse this park. The park is encircled by worker’s (previously the Palace cottages in three long terraces and a strong Hotel) on the corner of South community enjoys this space as both their Dowling Street and Flinders backyard and front garden. Show your support .Join the Street. A large variety of Pulling up the tar from the old road Paddington Society online . local and imported ales and surface has revealed treasures and rubbish. lagers including some very It seems 100 years ago, road base was just www.paddingtonsociety.org.au tasty brown ales. A concept small rocks and anything that would go on pub from Melbourne, The top of the sand. Digging struck treasure too. Taphouse has been brought The Paddington Society 2009 Committee The sandstone gutter that originally went up to date and has introduced Robyn Attuell President with the sandstone curb saw daylight for the some very intriguing interior treatments, Bill Morrison Vice President fi rst time in many years. The sympathetic perhaps just lacking in a little authenticity. Krystyna Luczak Vice President landscapers are preserving and re-seating But take in the view to Moore Park from the Francis Walsh Treasurer it ready to go along side the new tarred roof-top. Defi nitely worth a try! Leone Morrison Secretary surface. Adrian Boss Committee Bill Fraser Committee The Paddington Paper (formerly The Bulletin) is the offi cial newsletter of The Paddington Linda Gosling Committee Society, published quarterly to provide news and informed comment on local issues. Keri Huxley Committee Will Mrongovius Committee The Paddington Society | Juniper Hall Oxford Street Paddington NSW 2021 John Richardson Committee PO Box 99 Paddington NSW 2021 | T: 9360 6159 | e: [email protected] Graham Stewart Committee www.paddingtonsociety.org.au Michael Wilson Committee