Final Heritage Study Amended Oct 2010 (PDF 3.54MB)
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COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 Black Mountain Projects Heritage-Architecture-Archaeology Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd ABN 80 002 762 629 Reg. NSW #5853 ACT #737 5 Wangara St Aranda ACT 2614 [email protected] 02 6251 2356, m 0403 727 805 www.blackmountainprojects.com Peter Kabaila, Architect NSW Reg 5853 Amanda Gaunt, Architect ACT Reg 737 Heidi Belbin, Archaeologist REPORT TO COUNCIL AND THEMATIC HISTORY Local Government Area Community Based Heritage Study Cootamundra Shire, NSW Prepared by Dr Peter Kabaila Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd For Cootamundra Shire and Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning October 2010 Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report, thematic history and State Heritage Inventory database were commissioned by Cootamundra Shire Council and Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning. It was prepared during 2008 by the study co-ordinator, Dr Peter Kabaila, and community volunteers drawn from the people of Cootamundra Shire. This report to Council is the result of a community-based heritage study, in accordance with the Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning guidelines. The study revealed that Cootamundra Shire retains rich physical heritage that reflects many of the key phases and themes associated with the history of New South Wales. Over a hundred items or precincts were identified and assessed. Some places are recommended for entry in the Heritage Schedule of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP), with a handful being also recommended for nomination to the State Heritage Register. Many of the dwellings inside identified Conservation Areas are thought to have sufficient protection and are therefore not nominated for listing in the Heritage Schedule of the LEP (unless they have been previously listed or have been nominated by owners). Historic streetscape precincts have had boundaries fine-tuned and are recommended for continued inclusion in the Heritage Schedule of the LEP to be managed as Heritage Conservation Areas. While heritage items and conservation areas have been identified, arguably the whole local government area should be managed for its heritage values and associated character. Places recommended for listing are diverse in character and include archaeological sites, public edifices, parks, cemeteries, bridges, railway structures, moveable artefacts and cultural landscapes. During the course of the study it became apparent that the community generally values heritage, although some concern was raised at the implications arising from formal listing. Particular concerns were with the additional cost and paperwork when applying for works approval, and possible restrictions on further development of properties. The report emphasises the need for Council to work in a positive manner with the community, and to minimise any impost on private property owners. Heritage places enhance the character and appeal of an area, translating into a better way of life. They may also translate into economic benefit for owners through increased tourism, local commercial opportunities and property resale values. Good planning management - such as freeing up restrictions on dual occupancy development on heritage-listed properties - can provide further economic incentive for owners to nominate their own heritage properties for listing. Cootamundra Shire is particularly vulnerable to poorly managed developments impacting on the physical setting of nearby historic structures. The report encourages Council to require developers to take into account the impact of their proposals on heritage places when submitting development applications. It also contains a series of recommendations arising from the study. The Federation Period, the most important period for NSW and it could be argued, for Australia, is outstandingly well represented in Cootamundra, Stockinbingal and Wallendbeen. There are a few examples of Art Deco and later styles, but the much-loved Federation Style is most notable. In Sydney, Cootamundra is widely known for its historic and attractive streetscapes. The Federation period streets of the town and villages should not be taken for granted, as they are a precious and valuable (and diminishing) resource. Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com 2 REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PART 1: REPORT TO COUNCIL 1. Introduction 2. Assessing significance 3. Local nominations 4. Managing Conservation Areas 5. Recommendations arising from the study 6. Strategy and implementation PART 2: THEMATIC HISTORY Introduction and sources Timeline The first people Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls Home Pastoral stations (1840 - 1870s) Outsider groups and ethnic influences Bushranging (1860s) Environmental change Experiments and new technologies Gold rush and mining Free selection through the Robertson Land Acts (1860s - 1880s) Wire fencing (1866 -) Railways (1880s -) Schooling Religion, social life, and growth of entertainment Growth of towns and villages (1880–1915) Remembering the Great War (1914-1918) Growth and soldier settlement in the 1920s Great Depression and recovery (1930s) Expansion of motor vehicle transport and decline of railways Dealing with the Second World War (1939-1945) Consolidation in the post-Second World War period Water, electricity and sewerage Roads Coming of age as a nation Present day snapshot of typical heritage items Role of heritage in future economic development Bibliography Appendix 1 European settlement of Cootamundra according to Ken Loiterton & Jeff Evans. Heritage working group Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com 3 REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 AKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful to the heritage study working group volunteers. They were local people, who worked as volunteers, going out into their communities, researching places, taking photographs, contributing stories and other historical information: Pat Caskie, local author and history society; Betti Punnett, local history society; Bob Glanville, Aboriginal Elder; Bruce Ward; Dr George Main, ACT National Museum, natural heritage; Don Elliott, rural properties, dairy farms; Norma Clarke, local history society; Marcia Thorburn, Village of Wallendbeen; Rae Webber, Village of Stockinbingal prog assoc ;Gwen Smith (holder of many Stockinbingal records); Allison Aspden (CSC Librarian); Cr Marie Holt; Cr Doug Phillips, past dep mayor; Cr Alan Smith, Yvonne Forsyth; John Foley, photographer; Beryl Ingold, elder informant, and Ken Loiterton. My firm’s staff, Amanda Gaunt and Heidi Belbin, also put a lot of additional voluntary effort to make the study a success. I am particularly indebted to Samir Philips of Cootamundra Shire Council and council secretary: Mrs Nicole Ricketts. Also to other Council staff for their community consultation, meetings, catering, publicity and mapping. - Peter Kabaila, heritage study co-ordinator Heritage Study Working Group monthly workshop. Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com 4 REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 HERITAGE STUDY WORKING GROUP VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF Allison Aspden Marie Holt Marcia Thorburn Peter Kabaila (Black Mountain Projects P/L) Pat Caskie Yvonne Forsyth Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com 5 REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 Don Elliot Norma Clarke Gwen Smith Samir Philips Amanda Gaunt (Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd) Heidi Belbin (Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd) Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com 6 REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 Sharon Atkinson Betti Punnett Bob Glanville Rae Webber Beryl Ingold Ken Loiterton and John Foley not photographed Black Mountain Projects Pty Ltd www.blackmountainprojects.com 7 REPORT & THEMATIC HISTORY COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COMMUNITY-BASED HERITAGE STUDY ● 2010 REPORT TO COUNCIL 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background and study area This study has been prepared for Cootamundra Shire Council with assistance from the Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning. It was undertaken over the 2009 calendar year, and focuses on the whole LGA rather than only on the settlements. 1.2 The structure of the study. The heritage study is presented in three parts. Part 1 Comprises the report to Council. It includes an executive summary, introduction, summary list of locally significant places (heritage places), precincts and recommendations arising from the study. Its structure is based on recent heritage studies (eg Giovanelli and McCann 2002). Part 2 Is a thematic history. It locates the heritage places in an historical framework. Its structure draws directly on national and State themes listed in the Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning web site at www.nsw.heritage.gov.au . Appendices to the thematic history provide additional historical notes from local sources, particularly those contributed by local historians, organised into subject areas. Part 3 Comprises the Places Inventory, which is a heritage assessment of each place. It is organised as a database, which should be made available to local ratepayers at the Cootamundra Shire Council Office and Library. It will become included