3 1 1the balmain

, a s s o c i a t i o n^ incorporated

news sheet

T h e P e n i n s u l a

V o l 3 1 N o 2 I s s u e 2 4 0 F o u n d e d N o v e m b e r 1 9 6 5 April/May 1996

L e l c h h a r d t To w n P l a n^ I "'he State Government through theA Department of CIrban Affairs &

Planning has establ ished a newapproach to urban consolidation. Thisgives councils the opportunity torespond and take responsibility for implementing planning policies whichcontribute to metropolitan objectives.Leichhardt's comprehensive draft TownPlan should provide the major elementsof the required residential strategy.However, the Plan needs some modifications to reflect more closely theobjects of the strategy of maximising

local residential opportunities, andimproving residential developmentcontrols and local approval processes.

The urban consolidation policies ofthe previous government focussed onr e s i d e n t i a l l a n d a n d i n c r e a s e s i n

density. The new approach requires amore integrated land use to achieve theaims of ecologically sustainable development. It proposes to address otherland uses such as local employmentand recreational space not just housing.There should be attention to integratingtransport and urban form as well as

heritage issues that are important toL e i c h h a r d t w i t h o v e r 6 0 % o f t h e a r e aw i t h c o n s e r v a t i o n s t a t u s . T h e r e i s aneed to ensure the existing broad rangeof housing is retained with a mix ofdwelling types, including affordablehousing and small dwelling houses.

The DGAP proposes to exhibit SEPP25 in June. Council planners advise thatexemption will probably be granted toLeichhardt i f the Town Plan is consistentwith metropolitan planning objectives.We have reservations of the ability in thebureaucracy to promote the strategy.

Loyalty Square Project

A Steering Committee to overseethe enhancement of LoyaltySquare is meeting regularly with architect , Bob Ear l . The Balmain Assoc ia t ionhas supplied old photographs to help MrEarl return the historic aspects of thearea. The design will increase pedestrian amenity and improve safety. MrEarl has proposed the mounting of the

monument on a more substantial plinthin the centre of a pavement extensionfronting Woolworths and a coveredwalkway with columns echoing theWestpac Bank. The roadway is expected to be narrowed by a small kerbextension in front of the ANZ Bank. The

pedestrian crossing will be moved toachieve greater safety. The photograph shows a funeral proceedingthrough Loyalty Square in the 1930s.

Heritage Week27 April - 5 May

Visit the Photographic Exhibitionf e a t u r i n g t h e O l d B a l m a i nCemetery in the only remaining WatchHouse in Sydney. Inspect the interiorand the cells. Open 11-4 Sat 27 & Sun28 April. Free.C o a c h T o u r s

Guided coach tours o f the Pen insu lawill replace walks during HeritageWeek. More ground will be covered inI V2 hrs especially for children and theelderly. We hope to show people ouru n i q u e a r e a t h a t d e s e r v e s t o b epreserved. Overdevelopment and carsare the great threat.

Depart Watch House 1pm and2.30pm Sat 27 April and Sat 4 May. Cost$5 adult $2 child. Bookings 8184954.

Heritage Morning Coffee CruiseOn Sun 5 May, Friends of Cockatoo

Island have arranged a cruise toCockatoo Island on the Solway Lass.There will be a commentary on thehistory of the island and a description ofthe heritage items that can be seen fromthe water as well as a talk on the currents i tuat ion o f the is land. Tickets $20adults $10 children.

C o n t a c t J e a n e t t e S i m s 4 9 8 1 4 5 7 .

Thirty Years OnA Persona l V iew

''̂ he thunderstorms of October 28X 1995 did not in any way dampen

the spirits of the members of theBalmain Association, old and new, whogathered to celebrate 30 years. 1 wasprompted to look back over those yearsthinking, from my own point of view,how Balmain had changed and how Ihad changed with it.

1 was young, newly married and hadonly recently discovered Birchgrovewhere we had purchased a tiny stoneterrace in Grove Street - now known asFertility Row! 1 had started teaching atBirchgrove School, so meeting some ofthe local children and parents and wasfull of enthusiasm to get involved in the.local community.

In the early days of 19661 remembergoing to meetings to plan fund-raisingactivities - eg a memorable "Night onthe Tiles" at the Bishops House in WhiteStreet whe/e I think we paid $2 each forentrance, food and wine! As ourh u s b a n d s w e r e i n v o l v e d i n t h eArchi tecture Sub-Commit tee, Narel leHooper and 1 declared ourselves as theB a l m a i n A s s o c i a t i o n A r c h i t e c t u r eSub-Committee Ladies Auxiliary as weprepared the suppers for the meetings.I remember cooking a chocolate cakeone night and one of our two cats(Gilbert & Sullivan) ate a chunk out ofthe side so we cut that piece out.

We had meetings in the BalmainTown Hall prior to any election - Meetthe Candidates, and called public meetings over issues we felt strongly about.The most notable was our fight againstcontainerisation at White Bay and MortBay. One night a hurried call went outand we assembled at the Town Hallwhere we were addressed by NickOriglas and Izzy Wyner among othersa n d d e c i d e d t o m a r c h o n P a r l i a m e n tHouse. With posters still dripping withpaint we headed off - HANDS OFFB A L M A I N ! N O T R U C K S !

We had many successful ideas andactivities to raise money towards therestoration of the Watch House whichhad been saved from "demolit ion byneglect" and given to the Association astheir headquarters on the understanding that the building would ber e s t o r e d .

T h e S a l e o f W o r k w a s o n e s u c hsuccess . The fi rs t o f these was he ld in

Sybi l Masterman's garage where

tie-dyed dresses, silk screened clothes,art,' pottery and more were available. 1bought a wonderful purple silk pantssuit and a long orange and green tie-dyed dress which 1 wore for years. ThisSale developed into an annual event atthe Watch House where local art istscould display and sell their crafts and apercentage went to the Association.Remember Jenny Porters childrenslampshades, Jeanette Stevenson's felttoys. Grannie Walmsley's jams andpickles and Lindsay's spicy meatballs.

Other annual events were the cricketmatch against the Paddington Societyon Birchgrove Oval in the manner of19th century English cricket on thegreen with the ladies in long dresseswith parasols. Also the Christmasbarbecue on the waterfront at LongNose Point (Yurulbin) which was BYOeverything for members and families.

1 was elected to the Management ofthe Associat ion in 1972 when DavidPor ter was Pres ident and was particularly involved in fund-raising. Weheld a great jazz picnic in Eve Kendall'sgarden at Waterview Street with BillH a e s l e r a n d h i s Wa s h b o a r d B a n dplaying - not to be forgotten because theraffle takings disappeared! The 10thAnniversary in 1975 was celebrated bya "Jai lhouse Rock" at the Watch House.Another great night!

During those first years many hourswere spent on the restoration of theWatch House. A popular Children'sLibrary had been established in theback cells. This was dismantled whenthe Leichhardt Council finally set up alibrary in Balmain and the books weresold or given to the Balmain Hospital.

Through the Association I mademany life-long friends. We set up theearly playgroups, our children havegrown up together and identify verystrongly with the area. We have seenmany changes. We learned that you canchange things if you are determined andfeel that you are right We lost manybattles in the early days. BirchgroveHouse, container wharves, no streettrees, but we fought on - against localgovernment, which seemed unaware ofthe changes in the area and more recently against the State Governmentwith regard to the five sites. TheBalmain Association is still in the forefront of residents in the redevelopmentof this peninsula.

Now 30 years later many of us arestill here, still fighting to retain the

essent ia l charac te r o f Ba lma in tha tattracted us - the mix of people, industryand commercial, the proximity to thecity, ferry travel to work, the comfortable feeling of meeting someoneyou know in Darling Street. Today youcan have coffee with them in any one ofa dozen coffee shops. Balmain is still aplace for people on foot, to meet andgreet and worth keeping that way.

Diana Garder

RTA Lacks Vision

T^he RTA has f ound t ha t t he newX Glebe Island Bridge has had an

unexpected beneficial affect on VictoriaRoad traffic. Their spokesman, Mr MaiCross, would not commit them tosupporting the proposed tunnel underDarling Street until the completion ofthe City West Link and the opening ofthe M2 Motorway next year.

This project would restore a sense ofcommunity to Rozelle and give a boostto shopkeepers. The RTA has createdthe division of the town for the benefit ofthrough traffic and it is time that theys h o w e d m o r e v i s i o n .

The author of the tunnel project, MrGreg Vicas, said, "This project wasnever conceived as a way of dealing withVictoria Road traffic. It's objectives wereto calm local traffic and rebui ld theRoze l le town cen t re . "

i .Sydney Maritime Museum.

In December 1995, the SydneyM a r i t i m e M u s e u m c e l e b r a t e d 3 0years of volunteer effort to restore andmaintain the historic ships, boats andmany marine artefacts. At Wharf 8 inRozelle Bay, work is continuing torestore the James Craig, Australia'soldest surviving 19th century ironsquare rigger. The Museum maintains anumber of other vessels at Wharf 5,including Boomerang, a classic gentleman's schooner, John Oxley, the lastof Australia's pilot steamers, the LadyHopetoun, 1902 VIP steam launch.andthe Waratah, Australia's oldest coal-burning tug.

T h e M u s e u m ' s h e r i t a g e b o a tcol lect ion is housed at. 6 MansfieldStreet, Rozelle and an extensive libraryof heritage documents and photographs available for public access andresearch. Visitors are most welcomeduring normal business hours weekdays, groups by appointment. Contact8 1 0 2 2 9 9 .

Our Sydney SandstoneCultural Heritage.

Sydney has the good fortune to befounded on a great bed of honey-coloured sandstone. The city that roseabove th i s rock founda t i on took on thesame golden colour as the stone fromits quarries. The sandstone character ofSydney lasted through to the earlyTwentieth Century. The stone was usedfor housing, public buildings, warehouses and even street curbing andgutter ing.

Sand grains are created by the disintegration of older rocks such asgranites. The various processes ofweathering, change and break down therock outcrop into smaller particles ofrock and crystal. These are then erodedby running water and wind and transported from the regions of erosion,usually uplands, to regions of deposition, i.e., sedimentary basins. Thequartzose sediments which make up theHawkesbury Sandstone were depositedi n a s e d i m e n t a r y b a s i n d u r i n g anon-marine phase of it's history, over aninterval of about 2 million years between238 and 236 million years ago, i.e., inthe middle part of the Triassic Period.During long-term subsidence of thebasin and burial of its deposits, the sandwas eventually cemented together tof o r m r o c k .

The cementing material in theHawkesbury Sandstone is clay andsilica. Clay particles were depositedamong the more abundant quartzgrains, especially during mega-floods,and this is seen in the great clay contento f m a s s i v e s a n d s t o n e . I n s h e e t s a n d

stone. there is less clay and the gapsbetween the quartz particles have beenmore fully taken up by silica cement, inthe form of quartz itself, which binds theparticles more tightly than does clay.T h i s a f f e c t s t h e h a r d n e s s a n d w e a t h

ering characteristics of the rock types.Massive sandstone typically lacks

welt-defined bedding planes and isu n i f o r m i n t e x t u r e a n d s t r u c t u r e . I t i s

commonly moderately fine-grained andincorporates a greater proportion ofclay. This make-up renders it softer andeasier to cut to regular blocks mostsought after for building work. Massivesandstone was, and still is, selectivelyquarried for this reason. The best of theS y d n e y s a n d s t o n e f o r b u i l d i n gpurposes was supplied from SoundersQuarry at Pyrmont; this rock has a

honey-colour hue and is commonlyknown as "yellowblock". Yellowblock isusually grey when first cut, but graduallytakes on a yellowish tinge whenexposed to the weather. Some fine examples of F^yrmont sandstone are: theLands Department, Bridge Street, theSydney General Post Office, MartinPlace, the Central Railway Buildings,and in Balmain, the 1870s addition toELuenlon, 1 Blake Street, and the 1880add i t ion to the Watch House .

However, massive sandstone wearsaway more readily in response towetting and drying and to changes inhumidity. This is due to alternate expansion and contraction of the inter-granular clay as it absorbs and releaseswater. When salt is present in the air orwater, especially along the coastline, itdevelops "honeycomb weathering".

Sheet sandstone is typically coarser-grained and harder than massivesandstone. Well-defined cross-beddingplanes enable it to be readily broken intoirregular flagstone slabs, such as areused for paving and edging in gardensetc. The coarser grain-size and highers i l i c a - c e m e n t c o n t e n t m a k e i t m o r eresistant to weathering and it typicallydevelops a darker weathering colour.

T h e c o n t o u r s o f t h e s t r e e t s i n t h ee a r l i e s t s e t t l e m e n t a t T h e R o c k s h a dbeen hewn out by quarriers to give a

Mint Building, Macquarie Street. Alsodating from this time is a stone wall thatwas built along the then northernboundary of the Gardens. In 1818 astone obelisk was erected in MacquariePlace to mark the starting place for allroads in the colony. An earlier use ofsandstone can be found on ObservatoryHi l l in the wal l surrounding theObservatory. After the Battle of VinegarHill in ! 804, Governor Philip Gidley Kinghad Fort Phillip and wall built on what isnow called Observatory Hill. The Fortwas demolished in 1858 to make wayfor the Observatory.

By the 1850s stone was quarried atthe government quarries at PennantHills, Brighton and Ashfield, but alsoclose by at places in Kent and BourkeS t ree t s . Commerc ia l qua r r i es we reopened at Wi l loughby, Belmore,Waverley, Marrickville and Arncliffe.Later, quarries were begun at Maroubra,Bondi and Canterbury as well as atB u n d a n o o n a n d G o s f o r d o u t s i d e

Sydney. Many of Sydney's mosti m p o r t a n t p u b l i c b u i l d i n g s a r econs t ruc ted o f sands tone . Inc ludedamongst these are the Sydney TownHall, Saint Andrew's Cathedral, SaintMary's Cathedral, Queen VictoriaBuilding, the Mitchell Library, the MewSouth Wales Art Gallery, and several ofthe buildings at Sydney University.

level surface and to provide sandstonefor building material. A view fromA t h e r t o n S t r e e t t o C u m b e r l a n d S t r e e t

above, shows the extent of the earlyquarry ing.

In Lower George Street, The Rocks,is the two-storey stone Cadman'sCottage (1816), Sydney's oldest extantbuilding, built in the time of GovernorLach lan Macquar ie (1810 - I82 I ) .Additionally, 1816 also saw commencement of Macquarie's stone RumHospital, now Parliament House and the

Sionemasons preparing foundationsReferences; The Story of Stone in

The Wolli Creek Valley. Wolli CreekPreservation Society Inc., Morgan, G.(1994). School of Earth Sciences,Macquarie Universi ty. Geologicalcontent, Conaghan, P G. The AustralianTerrace House,Turner, B. (1995),Angus & Robertson, Sydney.

Thanks, Pat Conaghan for youred i to r ia l ass is tance .

To be cont inued in the next issue.K a t h H a m e y

April Gardening^ I "'here is no mistaking autumn,i Every time you go outdoors there

will be another heap of leaves to rakeup. Put all of these into the compost binor in a heap, in layers with garden refuseor other organic material. It will be valuable compost in spring.

The now bare a rea under dec iduoustrees can be prettied up by planting afew bulbs of scilla, tritelia or grapehyacinth or a sprinkling with some seedor alyssum.

Evergreen climbing plants can beplanted now. Rose banksiae "luted" is afast-growing climber that producesmasses of pretty yellow flowers inspring. Roses, fuchsias, dahlias,sasanqua camellias, chrysanthemums,canna and nerines will also be floweringwell so you will enjoy working in thegarden. Any of the bulbs listed for Marchcan be planted as well as hyacinths.

(Jsing an alt-purpose fertiliser, givefortnightly feedings to establishedseedings.

As we come to May this seems to beclean-up month as it is much cooler it iseasier to work in the garden. Don't leaveit any later than early May to plantspring flowering bulbs. Other bulboustype plants to plant or repot this monthare spreketia. cyrtanthus, brodiaea,clivia (one of my favourites), astilbe.M i l i u m , b e l l a d o n n a , c o n v a l l a r i a a n de u c o m i s .

The early Japonica camellias will beblooming. If weather conditions are notproviding adequate moisture, giveplants a deep watering adding someliquid seaweed. Watch that the azaleasand rhododendrons do not become dryor their flowering could be affected.Th ick c lumps o f buds on camel l iascould be thinned if you want biggerblooms. If roses are to be planted duringthe winter, prepare the soil with organicmaterial and pelletised manure.

B o n n i e D a v i d s o n

Vale Margaret Dobson

Our dear friend Margaret Dobsondied on 27 January this year theway she lived. Anonymously, quietlya n d w i t h n o f u s s .

Margaret was secretary of theB a l m a i n A s s o c i a t i o n f r o m N o v e m b e r1969 to 1971, when I was president.David Porter became president in 1973and when he stepped down in 1976,Margaret took over for a year thenhelped the next president, Philip Bray,before retiring from the executive.

A long time resident of Louisa Road,Margaret Dobson was a very privateperson, often bemused by the antics ofher mid-30 year o ld pre-yuppiecommittee fr iends. Her father was a sea

captain and she was married to a manc a l l e d B i l l f o r a f e w m o n t h s . S h e w a ssenior secretary to an OTC bigwig. Whobetter to have as Association secretary?She had a gentle demeanour, a sharpm i n d , w a s i n d e p e n d e n t a n d u nflappable.

1 do not know how old Margaret waswhen she died, but she must have beenin her early 80s. We lost contact with herin later years, apart from the occasionalmeeting in Darling Street. When shebecame too tired to keep up the homei n L o u i s a R o a d s h e m o v e d t o t h eSalvation Army retirement village in

Warringah. Nobody was notified. Toofew really knew this remarkable lady.Perhaps no one did.

B U I H a e s l e r

N e wStreets Lanes and Places 2nd edit ion

now available. $10 plus postage fromthe Watch House .

A History of Teacher Education atBalmain and Kuringai College 1946 -1 9 9 1 . P u b l i s h e d o n t h e fi f t i e t h

anniversary of the foundation of theTeachers College in Smith Street,Balmain. Cost $29 plus $4 postage.C o n t a c t 4 4 7 5 3 7 .

W h a t ' s O nW a t c h H o u s e E x h i b i t i o n s

Judy Brownlie May 4-12Toneai impressionismAqua Media May 18-19Eight watercolouristsPaul Connor Aug 17-25Architectural photosL a u r a S t a r k O c t 1 2 - 2 0T h e P r i n t C i r c l e

Pr in ted on recyc led paper by

S n a p P r i n t , B a l m a i n© No t to be rep roduced w i thou t

a u t h o r i s a t i o n

N e w E d i t i o n

Ieichhardt Historical Journal No 20-iby Peter Reynolds is now availablef r o m t h e W a t c h H o u s e . T h e a r e a scovered include White Bay, Stephen,Donnelly and Booth Streets, Balmain •John Booths Sawmill. Marion. Elswick,Renwick and Cary Streets, Leichhardt.Introductory cost $15 plus postage.

T h e B a l m a i n A s s o c i a t i o n I n crepresenting Balmain, Birchgrove,

R o z e l l e .

O u r A i m s A r e T o :• improve the living, working and

r e c r e a t i o n a l a m e n i t i e s o f o u ra r e a

• maintain all features havingn a t u r a l a r c h i t e c t u r a l a n d / o rh i s t o r i c a l v a l u e

• compile and record history ofthe area & keep a permanentc o l l e c t i o n o f i t e m s o f h i s t o r i c a lI n t e r e s t

• seek the cooperation ofeveryone concerned in ther e a l i s a t i o n o f t h e a b o v e

The Watch House is open everySaturday from 12 to 3pm

T h e B a l m a i n A s s o c i a t i o n m e e t s o n t h e

first Wednesday of each month at7.30pm in the Watch House179 Darling Street. Balmain.

Mailc/o PO Box 57. BALMAIN. 2041.Our editorial phone/fax is 818 4954

Interested artists, potters, sculptors,etc. who would like to organise ane x h i b i t i o n i n t h e Wa t c h H o u s e a r e

urged to contact Steve South on8 1 0 1 4 1 1 .

Annual Subscr ip t ions:Househo ld $16 , Pens ione rs &

Students $7, Organisation $21.