Heritage Issues
Glebe Society submission for the review of the NSW Heritage Act 1977
Posted on 14th July 2021
In April 2021 the NSW government asked the Social Issues Standing Committee of Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the NSW Heritage Act. The Glebe Society made a submission to the review.
Council’s heritage education program
Posted on 8th July 2021
At the prompting of the Glebe Society, Millers Point Residents Action Group and the Paddington Society, the City of Sydney Council is planning to further develop heritage information and education programs for owners of heritage homes.
‘It’s only words’: the melancholy of the St Phillips Estate
Posted on 6th July 2021
The Development Application to build two eight-storey apartment buildings and five faux terrace houses in the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area, brings the plaintive melancholy of the Bee Gees’ 1968 hit song Words to mind
New Glebe Society video: Treasure in the City
Posted on 5th June 2021
The Glebe Society has collaborated with postgraduate students from The University of Sydney to produce a new video. It includes some fresh perspectives on Glebe as well as exploring current threats to this special place.
Mystery Photo – June 2021
Posted on 7th June 2021
Mystery photo for June 2021 – can you guess where we are?
Cowper St DA – consider making a submission
Posted on 4th June 2021
Sydney City Council are considering a development application (DA) from the NSW Land and Corporation for the construction of a high-rise development in Cowper Street in what, until very recently, was a Heritage Conservation Area. Submission closing date is 23 June 21
Another Conservation Area in Glebe at risk
Posted on 4th June 2021
A key principle underlying Glebe’s conservation areas are that if a Neutral building is to be replaced, the replacement must be sympathetic to its Contributory neighbours, rather than to any Detracting neighbours. This principle seems to have got lost in a recent development approval decision by City of Sydney Council.
Sanitary lanes (aka dunny lanes)
Posted on 18th April 2021
Once an integral and necessary part of the layout among the terrace house development of Glebe (and other inner west suburbs) was the sanitary lane.
High Rise For Glebe’s St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area
Posted on 8th April 2021
Nearly forty years of good planning designed to conserve the scale of the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area through height controls was overturned on 29 March when Sydney City Council approved the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s application for a spot rezoning of 17-31 Cowper St and 2A-D Wentworth Park Rd.
Latest photos by Philip Vergison
Posted on 8th April 2021
Recent photos of Glebe and surrounds by Phil Vergison.
Bidura continues to deteriorate – February 2021 photos
Posted on 27th February 2021
In danger of demolition by neglect, heritage-listed Bidura in Glebe Point Road, continues to deteriorate
Glebe plan shows lack of respect – Letter in Sydney Morning Herald
Posted on 1st January 2021
The Glebe Society’s letter, published on Jan 1st, 2021, about plans to trash the 50-year legacy of good public policy and town planning in Glebe
Glebe Society 50th anniversary Community Festival ‘highly commended’ at the 2020 National Trust Heritage Awards
Posted on 2nd January 2021
Last year’s Community Festival, held at the Tramsheds, was entered in the ‘Heritage Events, Exhibitions & Tours’ category of this year’s National Trust Heritage Awards. We’re delighted that the Festival was ‘highly commended’ by the judges.
Online seminar: The Street Where They Lived: Every Street Has A Story to Tell
Posted on 2nd January 2021
Learn how to research the history of your street (seminar in February 2021)
Glebe Society’s Aleppo pine has been on the move
Posted on 1st January 2021
In 2015, the Glebe Society donated a Gallipoli Pine to the University of Sydney and it was planted by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence, on the eve of Anzac Day 2015. Unfortunately, the site where the sapling was planted was right in the middle of what was to become the Chau Chak Wing Museum, which unites the Nicholson and Macleay Museums and the University art collection under one roof. So ‘our’ pine was sent away on an extended vacation but has now been replanted near the main University gate and in front of the new Museum.
NSW Heritage protection is flawed
Posted on 29th December 2020
When the NSW Heritage Act was introduced in 1977 it was a turning point in the protection of our built heritage. However, all is not as it should be, and important heritage listed buildings in Glebe continue to deteriorate.
Heritage Conservation Areas – Repainting Guidelines
Posted on 29th December 2020
Thinking of repainting? The City of Sydney has guidelines for repainting, if your house is in a heritage conservation area.
Plans to shrink the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area will undermine heritage values, liveability and amenity
Posted on 29th December 2020
The Society has lodged an objection the NSW Government s plans to remove the parts of the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area, paving the way for building heights up to the equivalent of eight storeys. T
HOT TOPIC: Give us back Glebe Island Bridge – Meeting on 3 December 2020
Posted on 5th November 2020
On 3rd December 2020 it will be 25 years since the Glebe Island Bridge closed. Invitation to be part of action to lobby for the it to be restored and reopened for pedestrians and cyclists.
Exhibition to mark 150 Year anniversary of the current St John’s Church
Posted on 4th November 2020
From 8th December 2020
Exploring the work of architect Edmund Blacket in Glebe.
The Glebe Society opposes changes to the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area
Posted on 4th November 2020
The Glebe Society has expressed strong opposition to Sydney City Council’s Plans to adjust the boundaries of the the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area to exclude 2A-2D Wentworth Park Road and 17-31 Cowper Street to enable their demolition and replacement by 8-storey apartment buildings. Plus, why the 1980s infill developments in Glebe worked so well.
Saving a Sydney suburb
Posted on 21st October 2020
Current residents are perhaps not aware of how close Glebe came to virtual annihilation by the NSW Department of Main Roads in the 1970s.
Heritage Subcommittee Annual Report 2019-2020
Posted on 17th October 2020
I wish to express my appreciation to all subcommittee members for their passion, dedication and collaboration as a team. Some of our work is highlighted below.
A Wolf at the Door
Posted on 3rd September 2020
Readers of the Society’s Bulletin will be aware of the proposal to excise 2A-D Wentworth Park Rd and 17-31 Cowper St, Glebe from the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area in order to change the existing height limit of 9 metres to 36 metres. This is to allow the demolition of a two-storey flat building and four 1980s terrace houses and their replacement by two eight-storey apartment buildings.
Festering Heritage Sores
Posted on 3rd September 2020
No matter how hard we try, there are some heritage issues that seem to take forever to resolve. Here is a selection.
The end of an era: last YHA hostel leaves 2037
Posted on 1st September 2020
The Glebe Point YHA on Glebe Point Rd closed on 5 July 2020, ending the YHA’s 45-year involvement in Glebe
Yelvertoft DA Refused
Posted on 1st September 2020
by Brian Fuller, Heritage Subcommittee Convenor, 1 August 2020. The City of Sydney has refused the Development Application for the construction of a two-storey contemporary residence to the rear of the Heritage listed Yelvertoft. The new dwelling was to front Alfred St, and would have significantly diminished the curtilage of this heritage cottage. A copy […]
A Tram is a Tram is a Tram …?
Posted on 1st April 2019
After a life of no more than 18 years, the last of the Variotrams, No. 2107 has gone into retirement at the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus.
From the Heritage Subcommittee (March 2019)
Posted on 14th March 2019
Heritage Audit commenced and Toxteth Hotel well
