the Newssheet of the Balmain Association PO Box 57•Balmain•NSW•2041 www.balmainassociation.org.au

Vol 52 No 2 Issue 343 Founded November 1965 June 2017 Balmain Speaks Out National Trust Heriatge Festival 2017 Having a Voice he Balmain Association presented building placed in their hands to Tthis exhibition about the protests restore and use as headquarters. and struggles that helped to preserve The Police Department were our heritage, our history and our reluctant to lease to a community community and continue to do so group who may disband after today. Also the protest and advocacy a couple of years but at John’s by people such as Maybanke instigation the property was ceded Anderson who lived in Wharf Rd and to the National Trust who then later produced a fortnightly paper, leased to the Balmain Association Woman’s Voice, in 1890s. on condition that it be conserved The exhibition opened on Saturday 8th and maintained. This has been April. John Morris reminded us of the achieved by much effort and time in 1965 when the newly formed continues today. Balmain Association was looking for Our thanks to the many people headquarters and the Watch House who contributed stories, photos John Morris reminds us of 1965 was under threat of demolition. He and memorabilia to the exhibition: Kath Hacking, Jan Wood, Amie Zar was Assistant Director of the National Cathy and Richard McCabe, Friends (Local History and Archives IWC) Trust and with the enthusiasm of the of White Bay, Save Baileys Group, and a special thanks to Elliot Nolan members of the Balmain Association Elizabeth Stamaolis, John Stamolis, for his presentation about Maybanke was urged to negotiate to have the Friends of Callan Park, Michele and Anderson (see her story pages 4 and 5) Balmain Speaks Out - My Impressions - Jan Wood few years ago a friend visited Sadly, in these days of Neo development with little open space. me. “I’ve been for a walk around Liberalism, many have the attitude “Balmain Speaks Out” documents ABalmain” she said. “How lucky you “What’s in it for me? How much can the social, political and technological are to live here! The streetscapes are I make on my capital investment?” change of the past 60 years as well as so delightful. Where I live in North The Balmain Association archives the evolution of Balmain’s waterfront, Sydney all the old cottages have been group including June Lunsmann, industrial working harbour to the demolished and replaced by high-rise.” community worker, since she moved highly gentrified suburb that it is I felt very cross. Luck? “It’s not luck” here in the mid sixties must be today. We tend to forget that white I said. “It’s been a long, hard, bitter congratulated on “Balmain Speaks settlement in Australia began in 1788, struggle!” Out”. Can you imagine the enormity which is only 229 years ago. So the 50 The exhibition “Balmain Speaks Out” of encapsulating 50 – 60 years of the - 60 years of Balmain history covered honours our political activists; their countless struggles? Although the in this exhibition is basically a quarter passion, vision, tenacity and courage. exhibition focuses on the Five Sites of this time. (contd page 3) “People Before Profit” became the catch (Caltex, Unilever, Ampol, Monsanto cry of the time as developers circled Balmain Power Station), Mort Bay, IN THIS ISSUE vacant industrial land. Colgate/Palmolive, Clontarf Cottage, P. 1 Launch of Balmain Speaks Out and One of the activists featured in the and today’s struggles: the White Impressions Bay Cruise Terminal, forced council P. 2 Planning Matters exhibition, Maybanke Anderson, P. 3 Planning Matters and Impressions contd campaigned for Women’s Rights and amalgamations, Callan Park, there P. 4 & 5 Maybanke Anderson Suffrage. A Birchgrove resident, she were many, many more struggles. P. 6 Macquarie’s Mausoleum on the Isle Of epitomises the spirit of our local heroes Some of the battles were lost but some Mull, Scotland P. 7 What are Council’s prioities? today. The catch cry of these early 20th were won. The fabulous Ballast Point Park would have been hundreds of P.8 What’s on at the Watch House, Century women “For the Betterment of History Council Week POP in All”, I think expresses beautifully the million dollar townhouses. Mort Bay September 2017 motivation of our activists. would have been a massive housing Planning Matters - John Stamolis Fenwick’s Store (Weston Street) – Council welcomed the concept plans. Council is still reviewing tenders and subject to that, have approved Telstra’s DA to demolish expect that works will commence in July the front of the building but there are a 2017 and will continue for 22 weeks. The number of things that Telstra needs to do nature of the works will include an internal before demolition can commence, such fit-out, a kitchen, electrical works and a as: the remaining building must satisfy new floor. This will make it ready for the fire regulations, new entry and exit points intended use as a café. New public toilets to the building must meet standards and will be provided behind the café. External there needs to be internal reorganisation to the building, a lift will be built. Council of the building. All of this needs to be intends to run an Expression of Interest done as part of the demolition and before (EOI) process for potential operators of the work on the civic space can take place. café once the contractor for the works has Council are moving along well with been appointed. In fact, Council has already consultation, reporting and exhibition of received contact from several interested plans so that all approvals are done in operators who will no doubt respond to the readiness for the works on the new square EOI. to commence when Telstra have finished Caretaker’s Cottage, Elkington Park their demolition and restoration works. – Council are looking to exhibit a draft Western Harbour Tunnel - this is at an transport projects, including Metro Rail, amended Plan of Management (PoM) early stage of planning. The announcement future Metro West, Inner West Light Rail with the amendment to the PoM being of this project in March 2017 included the and future White Bay / Balmain Light Rail; ‘to allow the option of using of the preferred route, the start of geotechnical • the project will accommodate buses and caretaker’s cottage as a café. The cottage drilling and the commencement of a market will create new bus links, but does not is currently occupied by a Council staff sounding process for delivery of the project. include dedicated bus lanes; member. There is an Administrator’s The tunnel will connect to the WestConnex • the project is intended to remove traffic determination to exhibit the draft amended M4-M5 Link at the Rozelle Interchange, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and PoM, with the proposed wording to go cross underneath Sydney Harbour between Military Road, creating opportunities first to the Local Representation Advisory the Birchgrove and Waverton and connect for additional bus capacity and other Committee (LRAC). As such, a report with the Warringah Freeway at North improvements along those corridors. will be prepared for the Inner West LRAC Sydney. If the project proceeds, Council would like June meeting to amend the PoM to allow Over the next six months, borehole sites to see a greater commitment to use of the a café as a permissible use and to request will be tested in suburbs on the north side motorway for public transport, including that this be publicly exhibited. The LRAC of the harbour and within the harbour. guided electric buses. consists of 28 ex-Councillors who will The borehole investigations will feed Community sessions were in Balmain on make recommendations on the proposed into engineering design, final costings 18th and 20th May. amendments. If the PoM is amended, and further route analysis. RMS will This next stage of work is expected to be after public exhibition and consultation commence consultation with property completed in mid-2018 and will include a has taken place, Council will investigate owners over possible acquisitions in the reference design; confirmed final project this use further and prepare a business northern suburban areas. Further work costings; funding strategy including plan. Normal community consultation over the coming months will include tolling options and private sector and a DA process would take place if detailed financial analysis, discussions involvement; and construction timeline Council decided to proceed with this. See with the private sector over funding including start and completion dates. comment on page7. options, community consultation, as Our thanks to John Stamolis who is Pellegrini (107 Elliott Street) – a report well as extensive field work such as keeping us up to date with current issues is being prepared and is expected to geotechnical studies, traffic analysis, noise during Christina Ritchie’s absence. ed. go to Council in July 2017 which will and air quality monitoring, and flora, outline future options for this site which fauna and marine ecology studies. was once a fish and seafood restaurant. On 27 April 2017, Roads & Maritime Services A large development is currently taking (RMS) staff briefed the Inner West Council on place next to the Pellegrini’s site (i.e. the the project. Key points discussed were: Nutrimetics/Roche development) where • though the tunnel would pass beneath Council will gain foreshore access for the Balmain, there would be no mid-tunnel community and this affects the Pellegrini construction dive site in Balmain and no site. Council has a number of options spoil trucks travelling through Balmain - such as building a new restaurant and spoil would be removed by barge at a mid- leasing this out or returning the land to tunnel site in Sydney Harbour; community open space. • commencement of the Western Harbour Civic Square (Telstra Building) – Tunnel would be after completion of Councils’ plans to remove the front part WestConnex M4-M5 Link; of the Telstra building to create a civic • RMS are involved in discussions with square fronting Darling Street are still in other parts of Transport for NSW to ensure progress. Councils’ recent community that the Western Harbour Tunnel does not The new spaghetti junction copied from Westconnex consultation showed that 85% of people interfere with or preclude future public M4-M5 Link Community Update May 2017 by J.L. 2 A disengaging “community engagement” for the Western Harbour Tunnel I attended this community feedback session p.2. This is all a concept design for the westconnext.com.au/subscribe or to find out at Balmain Town Hall Saturday 20th May. Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link what’s really going to affect you check out Q: Where are the exhaust stacks for the with more “detailed reference design” to be Rozelle Against Westconnex Western Tunnel? issued by mid 2018. www.rozelleagainstwestconnex.org A: there will be one on the northern side at We need to be proactive now. and also Action for Public Transport Waringah Interchange and another on the At the same time there was a rally protesting www.aptnsw.org.au southern side in Rozelle railway yards. the effects of Westconnex in Rozelle. Once On a lighter note at the same time the Q: only 2 for a tunnel of this length compared again many people do not understand what is Balmain Fire Station opposite had an to 2 large ones for the Harbour tunnel about happening to their neighbourhood or until it starts open day with kids racing around with one third or a quarter the length? to happen are not interested. The dubious traffic red “hardhats” and climbing all over the A: not my expertise, need to speak to studies and Environmental Impact Statements fire engine. Hopefully our fire station will someone else anyway it’s still in the seem to be prepared by those most to gain from remain open all the time after rallies in planning stage. building these monster motorways which don’t November 2013. Q: and the dive sites, where will they be? seem to even cater for good public transport. June Lunsmann personal view. A: not planned yet. As Jan Wood points My comment: you mean it will be done out: maintaining on the hop like the dive site in Darley Rd the amenity of our which cost peanuts when purchased by Dan neighbourhood has Murphy’s while planning for Westconnex been a long struggle was well underway but now costing a bomb. over the years but Q: Is there an Environmental Impact unfortunately it Statement? is still continuing A: yes this will be part of the planning process. today. On my further reading of the Fact Sheet, For information and it seems that there is no advantage for to stay-up-to-date Balmain/Rozelle and possibly a huge on Westconnex disadvantage as traffic will be funnelled subscribe to onto the Anzac Bridge see diagram bottom their newsletter

Balmain Speaks Out - My Impressions (contd from p.1) To me this makes this exhibition thought of “Selfies”. Few photographs I hope Gen X and Gen Y who now especially important as the voice of the exist apart from those in newspaper comprise a substantial demographic of protestor generally gets deleted, distorted clippings. However newspaper cuttings Balmain and Rozelle, value the political or ignored by mainstream media. In this can be very biased and do not respect the activism of their parents, grandparents and exhibition the protestor becomes the hero. Activist. great-grandparents, for without their work, So I liked seeing some of our past leaders The Activist can easy be belittled or Balmain today would not be the desirable honoured; Nick Origlass, Issy Wyner, Jean labelled as just another bit of “rabble”. place it is. The battle for open space, the Lennane, to name just a few. It felt to me Another problem is that most people just streetscapes, the limit on high rise…,the like visiting old friends, remembering the go along with things, as Jean Lennane list goes on and on. campaigns which were often hard work, points out in the Ballast Point Sausage So I hope the next generation of filled with drama but also larrikin fun. Sizzle video. The political activists are “Balmainites” become involved in our Sifting through mountains of documents generally in the minority and most people story and community and continue to to find the material for the exhibition must believe that they do not have the power work for “the Betterment of All”. have been an enormous task for the team. to change the “Powers that Be”. This Jan Wood, May 2017. I imagine it was difficult too, because exhibition proves this premise incorrect. Jan was born in Balmain Hospital when there are very few photographs of the It’s fitting that the Balmain Watch House it was a maternity hospital for Baby activists at work. Political activists are so was the venue for the exhibition. The Boomers. Now the hospital specialises in busy being political activists there’s no convict built stone Lock Up is now a Aged Care. So it will be from the Cradle National Trust building and home to the to the Grave - she says. Balmain Association. The work of our local Activists saved it from demolition. A strong impression I have of this exhibition is that it is the skeleton of a book. A collection of personal accounts of individual activists and their memories could well become the flesh. So many unrecorded stories! So many memories! For example: Do you remember the gates across Mort Street and Cameron Street to stop the container trucks going all night? Do you remember the bikey parades and the raucous council meetings? I have volunteered to collect stories on behalf of the Balmain Association if anyone would like to share their stories. 3 Sex, politics and suffragism: the story of Maybanke Anderson and the social revolution in Australia - Elliot Nolan

Through wit and words she fought for the rights of women to be treated as intelligent people, not pretty objects. Introduction Early life The victory of the cause of federation On 17 January, 1845 in the English in Australia heralded not only village of Kingston-on-Thames, important political and economic Maybanke was born to Henry and changes, but redefined the role Elizabeth Selfe, the youngest of three of women and their place within children. Seeking a better life, her Australian society. In the late 19th family immigrated to the burgeoning century, the concept of women’s colonies of Australia in 1854, which suffrage was an anathema to many. had by then lost its stigma as a penal There was a belief that women held colony. Growing up around The Rocks their subordinate position not due to in Sydney, Maybanke was quickly archaic social institutions imposed by recognised for her intelligence and men, but to an obscure ‘natural’ cause. aptitude at school where she became The exceptions to the rule were a pupil-teacher, helping others during usually female monarchs—such class and being instructed in teaching as Queen Elizabeth I—who were after school hours. Maybanke’s interest and initiation pejoratively regarded as ‘ambitious’, In 1867, at the age of 22, and by now into campaigning for reform preceded and ultimately functioning with a a teacher, Maybanke married her first this. However, with the formation of masculine rather than feminine mind. husband. Edmund Wolstenholme was the Women’s Literary Society (WLS) Of course, by the 1890s there were a timber merchant and together they in the late 1880s and with the help those men who believed in and argued moved to a large house on Wharf of her two friends Matilda Curnow for the equal rights and representation Road in Birchgrove. Of their seven and Lucinda Gullett, the WLS was of women, but most of the effort in children, four died as infants, while a based around intellectual, political and these formative years was conducted fifth child, Arthur, died in a drowning economic topics and proved popular by women like Maybanke Anderson. accident in 1895. enough to attract 100 members by Who was Maybanke Anderson? Edmund was a wastrel. Frequently 1892. The meetings were pivotal in Throughout her life, Maybanke was unemployed and penurious he took to providing the framework through a tireless campaigner for women’s drinking, before deserting Maybanke which its members became public suffrage and a reformer across in 1885, never to be seen again. The advocates for suffrage, and helped social and educational lines. She Wolstenholmes had by this point lead to the formation, in 1892, of the organised and connected advocates for moved to the outskirts of Marrickville Womanhood Suffrage League (WSL). suffragism, paving the way for women where they built a house, ‘Maybanke’, These organisations gave a platform to not only have the right to vote so with support from her mother for women to have their voices heard in federal elections but to stand for Elizabeth and brother Norman, at a time when there was no formal parliament. Her lesser known legacy is Maybanke was able to turn her home provision for it. her work in laying the foundations for first into a boarding school and then a By 1893, Maybanke had established the establishment of the Kindergarten school for girls. a reputation as a formidable speaker Union of New South Wales; the first Women’s Literary Society and and was elected Vice-President of free kindergartens. the Woman’s Voice the International Women’s Union; Australian history is selective and and one year later also started her The death of children and desertion of tends to focus more on movements own newspaper, the Woman’s Voice. husbands was not unusual for married rather than individuals. It is perhaps Wholly produced by women, the first women of the time. Maybanke was for this reason that the story of editorial states its purpose succinctly: luckier than most in that she had Maybanke Anderson is little known ‘The Woman’s Voice will be womanly, financial support from her family. now, but her own modesty in life; in but not weak; democratic, but not Although Edmund had deserted doing what was necessary and right, revolutionary; fearless without Maybanke, she was still legally tied without seeking laurels, may also help effrontery, liberal without license’. to him and was unable to petition for explain it. I hope, then, to tell at least Despite its success, the newspaper divorce on the grounds of desertion part of her story here and in doing so proved costly to run during its 18 month until 1892 when the law was finally encourage you, the reader, to explore lifespan and came to a close in 1895. amended. her life and works further. 4 Federation and the play and learning and also taught the Kindergarten Union children’s mothers home economics. The free kindergartens were popular The shutting down of the newspaper and more branches were established in was not a setback; rather it gave subsequent years. Maybanke greater time and opportunity to campaign for women’s Later life suffrage on the frontlines, specifically Social reform and the education of on the issue of the federation of the children proved a resounding note Australian colonies. The colony throughout the remaining years of of South Australia had previously Maybanke’s life. It was also through awarded women the right to vote in her work as a reformer that she met elections and there was a fear they a potential partner who was better would lose it as a result of federation. attuned to her than her previous Working with the Womanhood husband. Maybanke had met Professor Suffrage League in 1897, Maybanke Francis Anderson some years earlier designed a petition that called for and while we know little of their uniform suffrage in the Australian relationship in the intervening years, Constitution. It received wide they finally married in 1899. Although circulation in the media and was causing a mild scandal due to their Photo taken in 1890 doggedly guided into a draft of the age difference (Maybanke was a Constitution Bill by sympathetic 54-year-old divorcee while Francis travelling throughout France. The suffragists until it was approved by a was a 41-year-old bachelor) it did details of her operation remain slim majority of three votes. not diminish her overall image. Their indefinite to us. On 15 April, Maybanke Anderson died at St. The cause of women’s suffrage was marriage was to last nearly 30 years. Germain-en-Laye, Paris; her place of not an immediate success, but by 1897 During these years, Maybanke penned burial also unknown. Maybanke and her compatriots had a series of articles on her travels reached the limit of their ability to overseas and histories of Sydney Although Maybanke was highly influence the system from the outside. suburbs like Pittwater, and gave talks regarded in her life, she remains The New South Wales Labor Party had to women’s organisations. Following largely forgotten today. Unflinching, also by now made women’s suffrage Francis’ retirement in 1920, many of she fought for the rights of women to a key tenet of their party, and so what the reforms for which Maybanke had be treated as intelligent people, not seemed fantastical 10 years earlier was fought had finally come to fruition, pretty objects. Through wit and words, becoming a faint reality. with Australian women having Maybanke argued for uniform suffrage and applied these tactics to her other Maybanke effectively retired from gained the right to vote and stand for endeavours. She was not the sole public life after this period. She and her parliament on a federal level. mover on these issues, but the history friend Margaret Windeyer had already In good health at 81, Maybanke of Australia would doubtless be the established the Kindergarten Union and Francis left for an overseas poorer were it not for Maybanke of New South Wales in 1896. These trip towards the end of 1926. In Anderson. kindergartens provided unstructured April, 1927, she was taken ill while Maybanke’s home in Birchgrove Her brother, engineer Norman Selfe, In 1938 Eric Nicholson built the “new was 15 when the family landed in Maybank” as seen in the 1990s and Sydney in January 1855, and initially his daughter Betty Daniel told us that resided with them in the Rocks. When she and her family lived in the top flat. Norman was employed at Mort’s The other 3 flats were rented to the Dock, he brought his family with him Drivers and Deckhands who worked to live in Balmain. He had bought for Nicholson Bros. In 1948 the family waterfront land and built the twin moved into 19 Wharf Rd with their terraces Normanton and Maybanke grandmother. which still stand at 21 and 23 Wharf Normanton and Maybanke along with Road, Birchgrove. It’s likely that Wyoming at No. 25 and number 19 Norman shared Normanton with his were saved by resident action in the widowed mother and next door lived early 1990s when there was a proposal Norman’s brother Harry, his sister to demolish and build townhouses. Maybanke and Normanton today Maybanke and his brother-in-law As can be seen today they have Edmund Wolstenholme. Maybanke been well restored after their interim providing accommodation for the and her husband later moved to lives as numerous flats before and many workers on that waterfront. Marrickville. during WW II and the post war years J. Lunsmann. 5 Macquarie’s Mausoleum on the Isle Of Mull, Scotland My husband, Malcolm, a property valuer, has been engaged by the National Trust to value their properties in NSW for insurance purposes. To our surprise this included the Lachlan Macquarie Mausoleum on the Isle of Mull, as that small plot of land on which the Mausoleum stands actually belongs to the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and is managed by them. We had been planning a trip to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland for some time, intending to spend some time in Edinburgh and then travel north. The Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, is where Lachlan Macquarie returned when he left Australia and subsequently died. The proposed raining! We had to walk over half Macquarie to positions of authority insurance valuation of the Mausoleum a kilometre along a rough lane and and influence. Francis Greenway, was the extra incentive to get us there. through farm gates until we reached colonial architect, and William We set out from Edinburgh and at the site. Redfern, colonial surgeon, are two Oban drove onto a car ferry for the The Mausoleum, is a square, stone well-known examples of this policy. short journey to Mull. We had booked building with gable ends, buttressed Macquarie had a very ambitious public into a B&B on the waterfront at walls and sloping stone-slabbed roof. works program, setting out the formal Tobermory for two nights. Tobermory There are marble panels at either end streets of Sydney and Parramatta and is a busy fishing port with a very and the whole area is surrounded by ordering the construction of roads and colourful seafront - houses, shops, a stone wall with stone capping and bridges to link Sydney with the new restaurants, pubs of all different wrought iron gates. An Australian towns. Many of those public buildings colours line the waterfront. We dined flag, some flowers and a beer cooler are still are standing today. at a super restaurant, Café Fish, where indicated that other Aussies had been After an enquiry by a British we enjoyed fresh seafood – crabs, there not too long before us! commissioner which criticised scallops, mussels, langoustines – right Lachlan Macquarie had arrived in Macquarie’s liberal policies and the on the jetty. Sydney in 1809 as the fifth Governor extent of his public works program, The long drive to Gruline, the location of New South Wales replacing he returned to England in 1822 to of the Mausoleum, is by narrow single William Bligh. Macquarie and his vindicate his actions and restore lane roads with passing places and wife, Elizabeth, had a vision for his reputation. He was granted a finally we arrived at the parking place the colony of NSW and so Macquarie pension and retired to the Isle of Mull, for the Mausoleum. Unfortunately, as encouraged the expansion of the small Scotland. for so much of our time in Scotland, colony with exploration beyond the On his return to Mull this site was even though it was summer, it was boundaries – over the Blue Mountains chosen by Macquarie but he was in and further north poor health and died in 1824. After his and west to find death the Mausoleum was built in the grazing lands. grounds of the Gruline estate, which Macquarie also he owned. There is an interpretive established panel telling the story of Lachlan new townships Macquarie and his importance to on the edge of Australia. the settlement, This is a very special site, a little including bit of Australia in Scotland, which Bathurst, Windsor honours a man who saw the potential and Richmond. of Australia and is responsible for Reformed establishing the basis of our nation. convicts were Diana Garder encouraged by

The Mausoleum 6 What are our Council priorities for Balmain? - Carolyn Allen Elkington Park Caretaker’s Cottage & Dawn Fraser Pool

In November 2016 Council submitted a Pre-DA to adapt the Caretaker’s cottage in Elkington Park for use as a café. This was the result of an audit process initiated by Leichhardt Council to assess commercial potential of council owned property. There was a ‘consultation’ on various uses for the cottage (written submission & an on-line survey) conducted at the end of 2014. A Conservation Management Plan, Traffic Study & other reports done during 2015. A decision to proceed was made at a ‘council’ (then under administration) meeting in August 2016 when it was said that a budget of $600,000 would cover all costs including the process only minor work was done here in the kitchen & other facilities to the rear. of amending the Plan of Management late 1990’s major restoration which But do we need this? for the park. It was said that Council many Balmain Association members Currently the cottage does provide would receive commercial rent for this contributed to. Funds have been affordable housing for a council although at this stage ratepayers have allocated in various council projected employee whose presence near the not seen a business case. 3 year budgets for this work (and are pool, especially during winter, and also allocated in the Draft Budget on At the same time, we have been in the park provides valuable service exhibition) but we have yet to see a in prevention of vandalism. The use waiting for work to be done at the DA lodged or evidence of the activity Dawn Fraser Pool since at least of the cottage for cafe purposes was that has accompanied the cottage suggested by Council Officers during 2013 when, following consultation, project. architectural plans were developed. the consultation leading up to the This iconic, heritage listed treasure Elkington Park, the Dawn Fraser POM for Elkington Park in 2004 and has been discovered by many of the Pool & the Caretaker’s Cottage form was not supported by the community new families in the area & remains an important part of our heritage & as is reflected in the current plan. an important recreational and social cultural landscape. The cottage was Written submissions to the adaptive icon for Balmain residents. Work built in 1885 as a residence for the re-use of the cottage in 2015 mainly needs be done to the dressing rooms caretaker of then Elkington Park Baths supported the current use as caretaker and the structure that is land based as and has been occupied continuously housing (often on parking traffic since then. It is grounds) but there was support for described as a good various uses such as a café from the example of a single on-line survey. I consider the value of story polychrome on-line surveys far inferior to face- to face brick Victorian -face consultation & written responses cottage with slate as, because of their ease, they can roof & decorative often reflect limited understanding of barge boards to gable. all the issues. It is one of the few I believe we need to question priorities remaining caretaker’s when we are thinking about spending cottages in the area and rate-payer money to establish a café to is listed as part of our compete with commercial cafes in the heritage landscape in mainstreet, more so when we have not LEP 2013. Proposed seen a sound business case. I would changes to the cottage like council to concentrate on services do retain the essential and public assets which is surely what heritage by adding we expect from our rates? The caretaker’s cottage is clearly obvious above the baths in this 1905 photo. From CMP prepared for Leichhardt Council. 7 What’s on at the Watch House www.balmainassociation.org.au

JUNE of the Australian landscape through each Studio Practice ‘ sessions at Sydney Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18, of the four artists’ unique styles. Gallery School, Meadowbank. 11am to 7pm Opening: Friday 14 6-8pm All welcome. Opening: Saturday, 5 - 3pm All welcome. ROMANCING THE LAND Saturday 29 and Sunday 30, 10am-4pm Saturday 19, Sunday 20. Thursday 24, Four lifelong friends, born in Latin Narrative of Things Friday 25, Saturday 26, Sunday 27 American countries who have lived most Ana-Lia Washington asks the question – 10am to 3pm on 19, 20 and 26, and 10am of their lives in Australia, have combined what is a still life image? Is it truly the one to 2pm on 24, 25 and 27. their efforts to exhibit their eclectic and type of photograph that doesn’t extend FACETS powerful art. into the past or the future? Or is it instead The biennial exhibition from extraTexture, Beatriz Copello: Abstract Intuitional style a story of each and every object that a diverse group of five Sydney based she reflects the Australian landscape. makes up the composition? textile artists who meet to share Clara Elena Uribe Norman: Creates earthy Opening: Friday 28 6-8.30pm All welcome techniques, develop ideas and challenge sculptures inspired by Australia. Carmen Website: www.macrographia.com.au each other’s textile art and mixed media Julia Henry: Her Cosmic Impressionist AUGUST practices. On this the fourth exhibition, the paintings take you on a trip from land to Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12 and group challenge is to use a piece of fabric stars. Maggie Escarting: Celebrates the lives Sunday 13, 10am to 4.30pm and asked to use it in their interpretation of children, her style is uniquely Naïve. ‘...... Press On ‘ of the theme “In the Garden” Opening: Saturday 17 at 6pm by author A new exhibition from Sydney Gallery Extratexturetextileartists.wordpress.com and journalist, Dr Anne Summers, please School Open Studio printmakers working Opening: On Saturday 19 August at 2pm. join us. together with their individual vision You are invited to meet the artists: Cindy Saturday 24, 10-4.30 and Sunday 25 10-5 unchanged, inviting the viewer to expand Cooper, Barbara McLennan, Margaret Speak from the hART’ the interpretation between the language Millar, Kay Murray and Kerrie Shelberg This is the 21st annual exhibition from and visual media. These artists meet to while you enjoy a glass of wine with Balmain hART stART Studio, now in its share their love of printmaking in ‘ Open cheese and biscuits. 22nd year in Balmain Through modernist methods, and the introductory abstract painting units, all members develop a confident personal style in an atmosphere of warm friendly support. Drinks Sat 1-3pm All welcome. JULY Saturday 1 and Sunday 2, 10am to 4pm HELEN’S NEW WORK Looking forward to showing her latest new works, Helen has long held a love of History Week: Pop! 2-10 September 2017|#HistoryWeek17 colour, originally in textiles, spinning and History Week 2017 seeks to examine, unravel and understand Australian ‘popular culture’. dyeing her own yarn for large tapestries As History Week enters its 20th year, History Council of NSW members are invited to but more recently in painting. celebrate popular culture across the decades, to investigate its construction and analyse Opening: Friday 30 June, 6-8pm its impact on communities and individuals. All welcome How has popular culture, whether it be music, theatre, dance, film, television, sport or Saturday 8, 10.30am to 5pm and fashion, changed over time? Who defines it, and why? What does popular culture mean Sunday 9, 10.30am to 4pm on an individual, community, regional and national level? How has the ‘digital age’ and “Mirror Image” 21st century technological change influenced popular culture? Have we entered a ‘new You are cordially invited to an exhibition age’ of popular culture with audiences as creators, shifts in authority and more democratic of mirror work showcasing textiles modes of creative expression? Is history now part of popular culture? History Week will explore these questions and many more from 2 to 10 September 2017. and artefacts by India in Balmain and The Balmain Association reserves the Watch House for all of September for their Indian-inspired artworks by Christine exhibition around the theme of History Week so we’re asking members for your ideas. Young. The galleries will be used to stage Let’s know email: [email protected] interiors illustrating how mirror work can or phone Ross 9810 8592 or Kathleen 9818 4954. enhance your personal environment. Opening: Friday 7, 6 - 8 pm All welcome. Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 and The Balmain Association Inc Representing Balmain, Birchgrove and Rozelle Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 Our aims are to: The Balmain Association meets on the first 10am to 4pm •Improve the living, working and Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm in the Outliers Exhibition recreational amenities of our area; Watch House, 179 Darling Street Balmain. The Outliers are a group of four artists: •maintain all features having natural, MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. Kristine Ballard, Melony Smirniotis, Tony architectural and or historical value of the The History Room at the Watch House is Hooke and Peter Porteous who reflect area and keep a permanent collection of open every Saturday from 11:30-3 their passion for the Australian landscape historical interest; Postal: PO Box 57 Balmain 2041 and pay homage to the great Australian •seek the cooperation of everyone Material from this newsletter is not to be impressionist landscape artists of the past. concerned in the realization of the above. reproduced without acknowledgement The Outliers artwork celebrates the beauty 8