THE PADDINGTONPADDINGTON PEOPLE PASSIONATE FOR PADDINGTON The official newsletter of The Paddington Society. Registered by Post Publication No NBG 1470. paper ISSUE 172 | MAY 2016 In this edition... • Margaret Olley’s House • White City Approved A unified • Scottish Hospital Concerns • Tokyo TV Hits the Streets • Paddington Councils Paddington? What is the best fit? Can a unified Paddington be protected? Over the Palisade An issue that has gained attention during Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick or the Council amalgamation process is the be reunited with the City of . The While several Thomas Dux stores division of Paddington between two Council Paddington Ward has 8179 electors which closed earlier this year in NSW and Victoria, areas - south of Oxford Street comes under is 4.72% of the total number of electors in not our flourishing Five Ways store which is the care of the while the the proposed new Council. The exclusion of a great community asset. larger section, to the north, is administered Paddington from the proposed new Council by Woollahra Council. is not a significant change and would fulfill HTransport for NSW has marked two In the last Paddington Paper, commenting the goal of uniting the suburb under one Paddington bus stops for removal on the 389 on Council amalgamations as proposed at Council either the City of Sydney or it be route including – Brown St near Glenmore that time, The Paddington Society (TPS) retained within the proposed Waverley, Rd and Hargrave St near Taylor Street. noted that amalgamation would, if nothing Woollahra and Randwick Council model. else, reunite Paddington under one Council. This would also align the north western The City of Sydney is or was to install However now that City of Sydney is to stand boundary of the new Council with the State a new free public toilet near the Telstra alone and it appears there may be an Eastern seat of Vaucluse. building under a plan to provide more high Suburbs Council, comprising Woollahra, An objective of TPS has for some time quality accessible amenities for shoppers. Waverley and Randwick, Paddington will been a unified Paddington with a single We wait in anticipation. remain divided. The question now is - should set of planning controls. While Woollahra’s the boundary be redrawn and, if so, what is Paddington Development Control Plan has Oxford Street’s 15-minute free meter the best fit for Paddington? successfully protected north Paddington’s parking is very much appreciated by local Waverley Council made the following built heritage, the TPS believes that all of shoppers. A sensible initiative to generate observations while preparing its report for Paddington should be located within the City more business. the submission to the Local Government of Sydney, especially if a merger of Councils Boundary Review : is to proceed. Paddington is an inner city The Paddington Society was one of Comments made by speakers at the suburb. Its 19th century architecture and several groups invited to meet last month recent public forum related to residents’ pattern of development around the spine of in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office relationships with their own area and Oxford Street forms a coherent village and to discuss the stadium proposals for Moore protection of its heritage. This was is a seamless, inextricable part of the inner Park. We are delighted with the outcome particularly relevant with Paddington as it is area of the City of Sydney. but will to continue to watch the situation. already split between two Councils causing TPS opposes the inclusion of Paddington Tokyo concern to residents and the business as part of an Council as In mid-February a homeless woman community alike. Reuniting Paddington it has no community of shared interest moved into a tent in the Royal Hospital for would allow it to be addressed in a holistic with the proposed merged area historically Women Park. This was not illegal, and not a way to the benefit of everyone. or architecturally. Paddington has much law enforcement matter unless she became (This) question ...... ……. requires more in common with Darlinghurst, Surry a threat to herself or others. The tent was consideration. The choice is that Paddington Hills and Glebe rather than Dover Heights, removed in mid April. be united under the new Council comprising Bondi, Randwick and Maroubra.

18 months after the former Opera • Administration rooms; House Bennelong chef Guillaume Brahimi White City Concept Approved • A 50-60 place child care centre with its opened his new fine dining restaurant On December 18, 2015 the NSW own access from Glenmore Road. Guillaume on Hargrave Street, he is now Government approved the concept for also settling into the Four in Hand just various developments at the White City Hakoah is proposing to restore and exhibit down the block in Sutherland Street. site. Each building will require a separate certain heritage items associated with the DA and be subject to public review. history of tennis on the site. Several pubs are undergoing makeovers Proposed is: The Paddington Society would like to see and one recent success judging by the • A full size soccer field with a grandstand the White City site developed for community enthusiastic patronage is Justin Hemmes’ seating 500-600 spectators; activities, which is what Hakoah currently The Paddington (The Paddington Arms). • A health and fitness facility including an promises. However we objected to the The neighbouring premises will become a indoor swimming pool; size of the proposed Grandstand and the proposed access route from Glenmore restaurant and a take-away – all adding to • A multi use hall for active/passive activities; Road to and from the Child Care centre. the revitalisation of Oxford Street. The Many Lives of Paddington and its Council

The village of Paddington was an independent municipality with its own Council and representative in Parliament up until 1949. The beginnings of self-government followed the passing of the Municipalities Act in 1858. A petition signed by 172 residents was forwarded to the Governor to incorporate Paddington as a municipality with 1,000 houses and 3,000 residents. After some contention regarding keeping Paddington democratic rather than including the aristocrats closer to the harbour, the Municipality of Paddington was proclaimed in 1860, bounded by Sydney Common to the south, New South Head Road to the north, Point Piper (Jersey) Road to the east and Dowling/Barcom/ Boundary Street to the city. The first meetings were held at the Paddington Inn (cnr Oxford and William Streets) then the house next door was rented until the first Town Hall was built in 1866. This was eventually sold and incorporated into the as the Outpatients’ department. The question of finance occupied much of Council’s time as the Municipalities Act of 1858 omitted to make the collection of rates from local land and house owners enforceable by law. The Act was not amended until 1867 despite dozens of petitions from the Paddington Council to the Legislative Assembly. To finance their initial plans the councilors used their personal security for a cash credit of £400 from the Bank of NSW. In Council’s first year, ten gas street Paddington Town Hall opened in 1891... the 32 metre clock tower was added in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of lamps were installed on Old South Head King Edward VII. Source: City of Sydney Archives Road (Oxford Street) and five on New South municipality they could not find any Gordon swamps, waterfalls and sandhills. Streets Head Road. The lamplighter commenced Street. and footpaths had to be shored up, aligned, his round before sunset and again before During this time estate subdivisions of land levelled, surfaced and lit, creeks were re- sunrise with a break each month three for new buildings began in earnest with much routed and sandstone quarried, which nights before and after full moon. Repairs activity for excavators, masons, bricklayers, resulted in a growing debt for Council. were carried out to Underwood Street, joiners, carpenters and finishing trades, and This was overcome by resorting to Elizabeth and Victoria Streets. However, Paddington became a suburb. However, relatively sophisticated loan finance on an when a resident of Gordon Street the period of rapid development meant international level. complained about dangerous holes in front Council was involved in costly engineering By 1890 the population had increased of his residence, he was informed that on works as the nature of Paddington’s original to about 20,000 and Paddington Council examination of government plans of the landscape was largely rocky gullies, creeks, was relatively prosperous offering a

Lachlan Swamp (now the Centennial Did You Know? Park lakes), down Moore Park Road, through Surry Hills and into Hyde Park. The Lachlan Swamps, the head Sydney’s Early Water Supply of the Botany system, served as The was the first Sydney Sydney’s sole water supply from 1837 supply but pollution of the Stream till 1858. meant that another source of water soon To meet growing demand, City Engineer became urgent. Edward Bell designed 2 reservoirs on In 1826 John Busby designed a new high ground. A rising main was built water supply from the Botany Swamps. from the greater Botany Swamps to the These were a chain of ponds fed by a sand Surry Hills reservoir in 1859, with a branch aquifer stretching from South Head Road via Albion Street to the to . Busby’s Bore was built over completed in 1866. In 1879 a third reservoir the next ten years using convict labour. Interior of Busby’s Bore – a 3.6 km long tunnel was built, the Woollahra Reservoir, on the The sandstone lined tunnel started from Source: City of Sydney Archives corner of York Road. The Many Lives of Paddington and its Council On the Streets

range of services with the revenue from Through Japanese eyes rates. The suburb was sewered, rubbish Residents may have recently noticed a disposed of and streets kept relatively film crew meandering through Paddington. clean, making it healthy, accessible and This New Zealand production company was socially respectable. The houses were commissioned by a Japanese Television well built, affluent and presented a pleasing Network (NHK) to produce a 30 minute uniformity. Paddington had developed a travel documentary for a series called sense of integrity and its residents enjoyed Sekai Fureai Machi Aruki (World Strollers). an active community life. Producer Tatsuhiro Munakata focussed A new Town Hall was planned for this specifically on Paddington to showcase his reputable suburb with an international choice place in Sydney, a compact village Oxford Street 1910. Source: Woollahra History Society competition held for its design and in 1890 tucked into the centre of a large modern city. housing fell out of favour. Owners moved the foundation stone was laid by Sir Henry The Paddington Society was approached to larger garden suburbs, rents remained Parkes on the highest point of Oxford Street. for recommendations and sources on unpaid and dwellings were left in a state A year later, the present Paddington Town lifestyle, cuisine and artists, naturally we of disrepair. The Great Depression of the Hall was opened to fanfare by Governor provided significant assistance. thirties consolidated Paddington’s slum Lord and his wife Lady Jersey. This splendid The TV concept lets the camera take status. A 1947 planning scheme for Sydney building, second only to , the visitor to people in their natural proposed demolition of virtually all housing had a seating capacity of 1,000 people and environment… like a group headed for the in Paddington to be replaced by blocks of several meeting rooms which became a Paddington Community Garden to tend flats. However the newly arrived European good source of income for the council. The their plots and join others for the monthly migrants found the area affordable and Town Hall clock tower was installed several harvest meal, or meeting a resident who is convenient and put paid to that plan. years later to commemorate the coronation an authority on Paddington’s development In 1949 Paddington Council was of King Edward VII. from the 1800s. The camera explores absorbed into the City of Sydney. Then Most vacant land had been built upon the Oxford High Street looking into pubs, in 1968 Paddington was divided along by 1910 with an estimated population of scrutinising our wares, peering through Oxford Street between Woollahra and City 26,000 living in 4,850 houses with 25 miles gallery windows and capturing the essence of Sydney Councils for political reasons. of mostly asphalted roads. There was good of our wonderful village. The program will South Paddington joined a smaller South cause for celebration at the official Jubilee run on NHK national TV in Japan in June. Sydney Council some time later and the banquet ball in the Town Hall and a firework Expect to see more Japanese strollers amalgamation of South Sydney Council display and biograph (movie) entertainment snapping selfies around Paddington later in and City of Sydney in 2004 led to South was held at Hampden Park (Trumper Park) the year. for a crowd of 4,000, mostly children. Paddington moving to the City of Sydney. During the next 20 years Paddington’s The suburb of Paddington is still divided by densely populated area and terraced Oxford Street.

Tokyo TV film crew on Oxford Street. Source: TPS Why We Live Here

We moved into Selwyn Street eight years ago, an area of diversity where our boys can grow and live with people of strong views on community Ribbon Foundation Stone laid by Sir , November 1890. Source: Australian Historical Society and social justice. We love During the 1870s, pipes from these reservoirs McDonaldtown, Newtown, Camperdown, the passion were laid to Surry Hills, Ultimo and Glebe, and by the end of 1883 to locals have Paddington, then to Waterloo, Marrickville, St Peters, Leichhardt, Balmain, b e t w e e n and Waverley. However, periods of drought balancing still caused shortages, and throughout 1884 protection water was cut off to many suburbs at night. of heritage, development, and green When the Nepean system was completed spaces. There is nothing like a Friday night by 1888, the need for the Botany water debate on the week’s issues over good food supply for domesrtic use ceased - though and wine with neighbours. The boys play is was still used for industrial purposes well cricket and football safely on the footpaths into the twentieth century. The Paddington and back-lanes, it’s a great way to meet Reservoir was restored in 2008 by the other kids and for adults meet socially too. City of Sydney, as a living testament A community suburb, like an extended to Paddington’s water history, and is a family, a walk to the city, a hop skip and jump wonderful public space. to beaches and parks… there’s no better Paddington Reservoir Gardens 2016. place to live! Dominic & Nadia Welfare Another Viewpoint Ongoing Issues Local Issues

Ron the Renovator Margaret Olley’s House Scottish Hospital I have lamented for some time the Whilst we encourage Council’s initiative Construction of The Terraces retirement introduction of wheely bins in Paddington. to enhance heritage conservation in village on the Scottish Hospital site has Not that they aren’t convenient and I know Paddington, we find it difficult to support the been underway for over four months and they save the backs of the garbos. But now heritage listing of individual houses. is proving a frustrating experience for the we have not one but three it is possible to Paddington is a Heritage Conservation surrounding residents. There has been no see a symphony of red, yellow and green Area as a whole. In our experience consultation during the formulation of the every Monday along Paddington streets, listing individual items has the effect of Construction Management Plan or the new often left out all day on the pavements. The downgrading the heritage significance of landscape plan. Complaints about non- larger houses with gardens can generally other items. This encourages a general compliances and requests for information manage this by finding nooks and crannies attitude that non-listed houses may be of have been largely ignored by the private in the garden to tuck them away, but when lesser significance and may be treated certifier, Woollahra Council and the you consider the narrower twelve foot wide in a way that may be inappropriate to the Department of Planning and Environment. house, built to the street or at best with a objectives of the conservation area. The latest approved plans have not been three foot verandah at ground level, there Furthermore, to say that the house is accessible. The terraces below the original is nowhere to hide. They proliferate the representative of Late Victorian Italianate house are of archaeological significance, streetscape and with unreliable collections terrace houses is to deny many other but has archaeological monitoring been they remain all day till residents return examples which are visible throughout the implemented? from work. precinct. There are major concerns about the trees. It wasn’t so long ago that the garbage A number were identified to be retained and was collected via the rear lane of houses, protected during construction, three of these after all this was its purpose, the dunny lane have been removed and others are not or garbage lane. One solution, which I am being protected. Further, the builder is not not promoting was bagging the garbage. In complying with approved working hours, nor instances where the lane was too narrow covering demolition materials and dust is for trucks household garbage was emptied not being controlled with adequate watering. onto a large hessian bag and dragged along Noise monitoring is not being implemented the lane to the truck where it was hoisted even though the site is on the side of a hill on board - the magic carpet treatment you reinforcing the sound impact; site lighting might say. is on at night. There is a lack of agreed I am raising this because it reiterates dilapidation reporting. The advertising how we are being constantly forced to on fences and site sheds exposed to the adapt to systems which are not appropriate playground on Dillon Reserve is a very to the area, systems which work well in poor negotiation by Council. A sorry list Wahroonga, Blacktown or Vaucluse, but not of grievances which could and should be in Paddington where rules do not fit. Perhaps remedied. there could be some consideration of new Recreated interior of Margaret Olley’s house. technologies such as garbage compactors Source: Sydney Morning Herald to reduce the bulk of our waste. But let’s not go down the line of many European towns We recognize that, as the residence of who now resort to very large communal Margaret Olley, this house is of importance. bins in very visible locations. We all need to However much of the importance lay in consider how each of us can minimize our the internal artifacts and manner in which waste into the future. Ron the Renovator Olley occupied the house. Some 21,000 objects from the artist’s home have been painstakingly catalogued and transported to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah. Here visitors can peer into the recreated rooms of her Paddington house and view her living and working environment. We believe the ‘historical, historic Trees under threat at The Scottish Hospital association, aesthetic and social Source: The Paddington Society significance’ of the site could be aptly recognized through the installation of a ANNUAL DINNER 2016 commemorative plaque to that effect. Tuesday 2 August 2016 Statutory protection and conservation of the 7pm at Cipri Italian Restaurant item should be carried out under Council’s Development Control Plan, as applies to the Guest Speaker: PAUL DYER other heritage artifacts in the Paddington Artistic Director of the Conservation Area. AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA The Paddington Paper is the official newsletter of The Paddington Society providing news and informed comment on local issues. Views expressed are those of the editorial Members: $90 | Friends $95 committee and not necessarily those of the membership of the Paddington Society. 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