Draft Conservation Management Plan for
Bigge Park, Liverpool

Prepared by

Chris & Margaret Betteridge,
(Betteridge Consulting Pty Ltd t/a MUSEcape),

for

Liverpool City Council

• Betteridge Consulting Pty Ltd t/a MUSEcape (ABN 15 602 062 297)
• 42 BOTANY STREET RANDWICK NSW 2031

Tel: (02) 9314 6642 Fax: (02) 9398 7086 Email: [email protected] Web: www.musecape.com.au
Mobile (Margaret Betteridge): 0419 238 996 Mobile (Chris Betteridge): 0419 011 347

SPECIALISTS IN THE IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

2

Final Draft, 2 April 2015

Table of Contents

Executive Summary...............................................................................................................5
Introduction........................................................................................................................5 History and main features ..................................................................................................5 Aboriginal land claims........................................................................................................5 Previous plans and proposals ............................................................................................5 The current urban design concept......................................................................................5 Investigation of significance ...............................................................................................6 Statement of cultural heritage significance .........................................................................6 Management of significance...............................................................................................6 Key recommendations .......................................................................................................6
1.0
1.1
Introduction................................................................................................................7
Background............................................................................................................7 What is a Conservation Management Plan.............................................................8 The purposes of this CMP......................................................................................8 The study area for the CMP ...................................................................................9 Current heritage listings ....................................................................................... 10 Guiding documents and methodology...................................................................11 Community consultation....................................................................................... 12 Authorship............................................................................................................ 12 Acknowledgments................................................................................................ 12
1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Terminology used.................................................................................................12 1.11 Abbreviations....................................................................................................... 13 1.12 Limitations............................................................................................................ 14 1.13 Disclaimer............................................................................................................ 14 1.14 Copyright, moral rights and right to use ................................................................ 14
2.0
2.1
Analysis of Documentary Evidence .......................................................................... 15
Narrative history of Bigge Park............................................................................. 15
2.1.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 15 2.1.2 The original natural landscape.......................................................................... 15 2.1.3 Cabrogal – Darug country................................................................................. 15 2.1.4 A new town on the edge of the wilderness........................................................ 18 2.1.5 A public market place and annual fair ground ................................................... 19 2.1.6 Bigge Park – dedicated for public recreation..................................................... 22 2.1.7 Park alienations for sectional sporting interests................................................. 26 2.1.8 Coping with the post-war ‘Baby Boom’.............................................................. 34 2.1.9 A place for memorials....................................................................................... 36 2.1.10 2.1.11
A focus for community events....................................................................... 48 Future directions for Bigge Park.................................................................... 51
2.2 2.6
Bigge Park timeline .............................................................................................. 52 Historical themes and how they are represented .................................................. 59
2.6.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 59 2.6.2 Historical themes.............................................................................................. 59

• Analysis of physical evidence................................................................................... 63
• 3.0

• 3.1
• Bigge Park & its setting ........................................................................................ 63

3.1.1 Topography...................................................................................................... 63 3.1.2 Geology & soils................................................................................................ 63 3.1.3 Views, vistas & visual absorption capacity ........................................................ 63 3.1.4 The park boundaries ........................................................................................ 66

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3.1.5 Access & circulation ......................................................................................... 66 3.1.6 Natural elements.............................................................................................. 66 3.1.7 Plantings.......................................................................................................... 66
3.2
4.0
4.1
Park elements and condition ................................................................................ 68
Comparative Analysis .............................................................................................. 73
Introduction.......................................................................................................... 73 Richmond Park, Richmond................................................................................... 73 Town Square, Wilberforce, NSW.......................................................................... 74 McQuade Park, Windsor ...................................................................................... 75 Thompson Square, Windsor, NSW....................................................................... 76 Regent Square, George Town, Tasmania............................................................. 79 Conclusion........................................................................................................... 81
Assessment of heritage values................................................................................. 81
Principles and Basis for Assessment.................................................................... 81 Assessment Methodology .................................................................................... 81 Review of Heritage Significance........................................................................... 82
4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7
5.0
5.1 5.2 5.3
5.3.1 Historical Significance (Criterion A)...................................................................82 5.3.2 Historical Associational Significance (Criterion B) ............................................. 82 5.3.3 Aesthetic Significance (Criterion C) ..................................................................83 5.3.4 Social Significance (Criterion D) ....................................................................... 83 5.3.5 Technical Significance and Research Potential (Criterion E)............................. 83 5.3.6 Rarity (Criterion F)............................................................................................ 83 5.3.7 Representativeness (Criterion G)...................................................................... 84 5.3.8 Integrity / intactness ......................................................................................... 84

• 5.4
• Curtilage Considerations...................................................................................... 84

5.4.1 Some Definitions.............................................................................................. 84 5.4.2 Recommended Curtilage.................................................................................. 85
5.5 5.6 5.7
State Heritage Inventory statement of significance................................................ 85 New statement of significance.............................................................................. 85 Significance of elements ...................................................................................... 87
5.7.1 Grades of significance...................................................................................... 87 5.10.2 Grading individual elements.......................................................................... 88
6.0
6.1
Issues, opportunities & constraints........................................................................... 89
Introduction.......................................................................................................... 89 Constraints and opportunities arising from significance......................................... 89 Liverpool City Council’s requirements...................................................................90
6.2 6.3
6.3.1 Current proposals............................................................................................. 90
6.4 6.5
Constraints arising from condition & use............................................................... 91 Constraints and opportunities arising from statutory requirements ........................ 91
6.5.1 Role of Liverpool City Council........................................................................... 91 6.5.2 NSW Heritage Act............................................................................................ 92 6.5.3 Aboriginal Land Claims..................................................................................... 94 6.5.4 Archaeological Requirements........................................................................... 94

• 6.6
• Constraints arising from Non-Statutory Listings .................................................... 95

6.6.1 National Trust of Australia (NSW) Register....................................................... 95 6.6.2 Register of Significant Buildings in NSW........................................................... 95
6.7 6.8 6.9
Opportunities for heritage interpretation................................................................ 95 Constraints arising from Community Expectations................................................ 96 Constraints arising from access and other building requirements.......................... 96
6.9.1 Building Code...................................................................................................96 6.9.2 Universal access.............................................................................................. 97
6.10 Landscape management and maintenance issues................................................ 97

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6.11 Appropriate structures in Bigge Park .................................................................... 98

• 7.0
• Conservation Policies .............................................................................................. 98

Conservation Principles........................................................................................ 98 General statement of conservation policy ............................................................. 98 Individual Policies.................................................................................................99
7.1 7.2 7.3
7.3.1 Conservation philosophy .................................................................................. 99 7.3.2 Interpretation.................................................................................................. 100 7.3.3 Use of significant spaces, features and fabric ................................................. 102 7.3.4 Public access and safety................................................................................ 102 7.3.5 Conservation of significant features, spaces and fabric................................... 103 7.3.6 Intervention in the fabric ................................................................................. 103 7.3.7 Alterations and additions to significant fabric and spaces................................ 104 7.3.8 Detailed policies on conservation of significant fabric...................................... 106 7.3.9 Archaeology................................................................................................... 108 7.3.10 7.3.11 7.3.12 7.3.13 7.3.14 7.3.15 7.3.16 7.3.17 7.3.18 7.3.19 7.3.20 7.3.21 7.3.22
Compliance with building regulations.......................................................... 109 Installation of services ................................................................................ 110 Maintenance and Repair............................................................................. 110 Maintaining Bigge Park as public open space ............................................. 111 Conservation of significant views and vistas ............................................... 112 ‘Good housekeeping’.................................................................................. 112 Landscape conservation............................................................................. 113 Need for a Landscape Master Plan............................................................. 114 Protection of setting & control of development of adjoining lands ................ 114 Amendment to SHI listing & nomination for SHR listing............................... 115 Preparation of Heritage Impact Statements................................................. 115 Endorsement and dissemination of this CMP.............................................. 115 Archival recording....................................................................................... 116
8.0
8.1 8.2
9.0
Heritage Conservation Guidelines.......................................................................... 116
Introduction........................................................................................................ 116 Specific Element Conservation Guidelines ......................................................... 117
Interpretation Strategy for Bigge Park..................................................................... 128
The need for an Interpretation Plan .................................................................... 128 Suggested approach and methodology .............................................................. 129 A suggested framework...................................................................................... 132
9.1 9.2 9.3
10.0 This CMP and the new Landscape Masterplan....................................................... 133 11.0 Implementation of this CMP ................................................................................... 134
11.1 General comments............................................................................................. 134 11.2 Timing of actions................................................................................................ 134 11.3 Program for implementation of policies............................................................... 135
12.0 Sources Consulted & Useful References................................................................ 139
12.1 Books and consultant reports............................................................................. 139 12.2 Maps.................................................................................................................. 145 12.3 Newspaper articles............................................................................................. 145
13.0 Appendices............................................................................................................ 146
13.1 Burra Charter..................................................................................................... 146 13.2 State Heritage Inventory database entry............................................................. 146 13.3 Assessment of the likely impacts and appropriateness of proposed planting schemes on the heritage values, elements and vistas of Bigge Park, Liverpool .............. 146