The Glebe Society's aims include:

* the conservation of our Victorian and Federation heritage,
* ensuring progress is based on best-outcomes and is resident-friendly,
* providing the community with input into decisions which affect them,
* the enhancement of community spirit, and
* working cooperatively with other local organisations.  

More details about the Society are contained in our Constitution.

Click here for details about other groups associated with the Glebe Society.

Articles about the Glebe Society

The 1960s saw the start of organised resident action in the inner city. The Balmain Association was formed in 1965 and the Annandale Association in 1969. At this same time Glebe was threatened by two major proposals which would:

• destroy the distinctive Victorian character of the suburb by demolition of terrace houses to make way for three-storey flats,
• cut the suburb into three to make way for freeways, and
• destroy Lyndhurst, a fine Regency villa.

The Glebe Society was formed in March 1969 to fight these proposals. Our Society, led by the eminent art historian from the University of Sydney, Power Professor of Fine Arts Professor Bernard Smith, and his talented wife, a teacher, the late Kate (Challis) Smith (1915-1989) successfully opposed these threats. In 1970 the Society prepared a Master Plan for the area which resulted in the National Trust's listing of Glebe as a Conservation Area in 1974 with the Heritage Council of NSW. Left: Professor Bernard Smith

 New Town Plan

The NSW Minister for Planning, Andrew Refshauge, finally approved Leichhardt’s New Town Plan (gazetted December 22, 2000) for the municipality which contains provisions regarding building dimensions within particular streetscapes including alignments, heights and uniform harmony, as well as focusing on energy conservation and efficiency. The New Town Plan also identifies areas where greater density is feasible, e.g. Catherine Street (Leichhardt) and has, to date, made detailed planning notes for Lilyfield and is next to focus on the suburb of Leichhardt. Unfortunately, there is still no new Development Control Plan for Glebe in place.

Other Successes

The Society has since been instrumental in achieving other significant successes including:

• the creation of two parks at Glebe Point – Bicentennial Park on the southern foreshore of Rozelle Bay, and Blackwattle Park on the western shore of Blackwattle Bay,
• support for the conservation of The Glebe Estate,
• support for the acquisition and extensions to Benledi for the Glebe Branch Library, and
• a long-running and successful campaign to establish the Metro Light Rail system from Central through Glebe to Lilyfield and its future extension to Circular Quay and Leichhardt.

Currently the Glebe Society is active in preserving the suburb’s built environment and is involved in a broad range of issues which affect Glebe, including

• the promotion of the Millenium Foreshore Walkway and Cycleway from Bicentennial Park to the City of Sydney;
• initiating alternative approaches to managing rubbish and litter;
• the preservation of heritage buildings, including the Glebe Estate; and
• the preservation of public access to Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays.

About us ……

During each year, The Society gathers for a variety of social activities that enable members to meet each other on a personal level. Details of forthcoming events are posted in our Calendar while other information about activities in Glebe appears on our News and Events page and in The Society’s Bulletin. Please watch these sources for information on new activities.

Previous events have included:

* an inaugural trip on the Light Rail extension to Lilyfield combined with a walk through the Glebe rail tunnel, followed by lunch at the Kauri pub near Wentworth Park;
* a ferry trip which showed Glebe from its maritime perspective;
* a picnic at Bicentennial Park;
* our 30th birthday Twilight Drinks at Lyndhurst; and
* progressive dinners at members’ houses.

Click here to read about some of our earlier "fun times".

New Members’ Functions

From time to time we have informal get-togethers which encourage new members to meet with members who have been involved with the Society for a longer period of time.  These functions are advertised in our Bulletin and on the web site.   

Our Archives

Our archives were previously languishing in the dank, lightless basement of the Glebe Town Hall, much to the distress of our ‘resident archivist’.

Fortunately Forest Lodge Public School came to the rescue of The Glebe Society and has provided us with a much more ‘archive friendly’ storage space until a permanent home can be found for our records in the future. A ‘working bee’ was held and the archives were successfully transferred to their new home.

The Society is most grateful for the help provided by members in affecting this transfer and especially grateful to the Forest Lodge Public School.

Treasurer, Paddy McNeice, and Archivist, Lyn Milton,
moving Society records to their new home.