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 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................ 7 1.2 What is a Conservation Management Plan ............................................................. 8 1.3 The purposes of this CMP ...................................................................................... 8 1.4 The study area for the CMP ................................................................................... 9 1.5 Current heritage listings ....................................................................................... 10 1.6 Guiding documents and methodology ................................................................... 11 1.7 Community consultation ....................................................................................... 12 1.8 Authorship............................................................................................................ 12 1.9 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................ 12 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 Analysis of Documentary Evidence .......................................................................... 15 2.1 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 A focus for community events ....................................................................... 48 2.1.11 Future directions for Bigge Park .................................................................... 51 2.2 Bigge Park timeline .............................................................................................. 52 2.6 Historical themes and how they are represented .................................................. 59 2.6.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 59 2.6.2 Historical themes .............................................................................................. 59 3.0 Analysis of physical evidence ................................................................................... 63 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 3 3.1.5 Access & circulation ......................................................................................... 66 3.1.6 Natural elements .............................................................................................. 66 3.1.7 Plantings .......................................................................................................... 66 3.2 Park elements and condition ................................................................................ 68 4.0 Comparative Analysis .............................................................................................. 73 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 73 4.2 Richmond Park, Richmond ................................................................................... 73 4.3 Town Square, Wilberforce, NSW .......................................................................... 74 4.4 McQuade Park, Windsor ...................................................................................... 75 4.5 Thompson Square, Windsor, NSW ....................................................................... 76 4.6 Regent Square, George Town, Tasmania ............................................................. 79 4.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 81 5.0 Assessment of heritage values ................................................................................. 81 5.1 Principles and Basis for Assessment .................................................................... 81 5.2 Assessment Methodology .................................................................................... 81 5.3 Review of Heritage Significance ........................................................................... 82 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 State Heritage Inventory statement of significance................................................ 85 5.6 New statement of