Planning
Modified Blackwattle Bay Plan still not good enough
Posted on 12th September 2022
The Blackwattle Bay Plan has been revised after more than 2,000 objections to the first plan were lodged. While there are some improvements, the site will still be massively overdeveloped.
The raison d’être of the Glebe Society
Posted on 9th October 2022
Reflections written in 2010 (with some factual updates since) on the social and economic conditions in Glebe in the 1960s and the factors that saw the birth of the Glebe Society. In the intervening 50 years, the changing demographics of Glebe have also played a role, arguably both positive and negative. By long term Glebe Society member and former Planning Convenor, Neil Macindoe.
Early photographs wanted
Posted on 12th June 2022
Do you have any old photographs of 39 Lodge St showing its original verandah?
Glebe Society submissions on development applications
Posted on 12th June 2022
Information about recent Glebe Society submissions on Development Applications in Glebe and Forest Lodge.
Going, Going, Gone
Posted on 6th June 2022
During the last two weeks, 17-31 Cowper St, Glebe has been demolished. Its delightful courtyard and fountain are gone forever. A backward step for conservation, residential amenity and the environment.
The threats to Glebe’s urban and social fabric continue
Posted on 8th June 2022
The NSW Land and Housing Corporation have advised that they are investigating the opportunity to renew (ie demolish) 82 Wentworth Park Road in order to ‘understand its potential to deliver more social housing on the site’. Like 17-31 Cowper St, 82 Wentworth Park Rd was designed in the late 1980s by the NSW Housing Commission. It is a fine building which respects the character and topography of Glebe while providing great amenity for residents. Moreover, it is in a heritage conservation area.
Pedestrian safety still at risk at new Sydney Fish Market site
Posted on 7th March 2022
Transport for NSW officials have responded to urgent concerns over pedestrian safety along Bridge Rd, next to the construction site of the New Sydney Fish Market. Transport for NSW plans to improve signage ‘within a few weeks’, and that they were currently undertaking a pedestrian safety review, which they aim to implement ‘sooner rather than later’. The results of the review will not be publicly available.
From the President – March 2022
Posted on 7th March 2022
The Glebe Society has been incredibly busy over summer. Catch up with what we’ve been doing by reading the President’s Report.
Report on a Glebe Society Guided Walk: ‘The Good the Bad and the Ugly …’
Posted on 7th March 2022
The Glebe Society’s 2022 program of Guided Walks kicked off on 6 February with a walk led by our President, Ian Stephenson. This walk, titled The Good the Bad and the Ugly: a hundred years of infill housing in Glebe took us on a stroll through the Lyndhurst, St Phillips and Bishopthorpe Estates.
Re-submitted DA for Bidura still unacceptable
Posted on 4th March 2022
The Society has lodged a follow-up submission in relation to the Bidura development application (DA) which proposes a large scale apartment complex behind the heritage-listed building, replacing the concrete Metropolitan Remand Centre/Childrens Court built in the early 1980s. This follows a period of consultation between the City of Sydney and the developers, Visionland, and amendments to their original proposal. The Society believes that aspects of the proposed development will be alien to the architectural character of Glebe and should not be approved.
The most serious threat to Glebe’s scale and community in fifty years
Posted on 16th December 2021
In November, the Sydney City Council’s approved a Development Application by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation to erect two 8-storey apartment towers and five 3-storey terrace houses in the St Phillips estate in Glebe. This represents the most serious threat to the urban character and community of Glebe – what makes Glebe’s special – in almost fifty years.
Conservation and Change in the St Phillips estate, a talk by Philip Thalis
Posted on 16th December 2021
The starting point for good urban design lies in a deep understanding of how an area has evolved over time,, said architect and urban planner Philip Thalis, in a recent talk about the evolution of the St Phillips area of Glebe and ways in which future development could echo existing streetscapes and foster social connections between residents.
Our new video series ‘In Sydney, it’s Glebe’
Posted on 1st October 2021
‘In Sydney it’s Glebe’, six Glebe Society videos about our suburb, its history and heritage and the risks it faces from overdevelopment, have now been released.
From the President, August 2021
Posted on 2nd August 2021
Glebe Society President, Janet Wahlquist, provides an update on the Society’s recent activities and what’s new in Glebe and Forest Lodge
Proposed development at 7 Franklyn St and 49-51 Greek St, Glebe
Posted on 5th August 2021
A DA under consideration for these sites, involves demolishing two former warehouses and replacing them with 84 self-contained boarding rooms. The proposed development is out of character with the neighbouring houses. Adaptive reuse of the warehouses would be a better solution.
Coming soon: Exciting new videos on Glebe
Posted on 6th August 2021
Watch out for a series of six videos on the history of Glebe and threats to its future. Coming later in August.
A meeting with the NSW Minister for Housing
Posted on 4th August 2021
Brian Fuller and Ian Stephenson of the Society’s Management Committee, met with Deputy Lord Mayor, Linda Scott and the Hon. Melinda Pavey, Minister for Water, Property and Housing. The Society expressed its opposition to the spot rezoning of 17-31 Cowper St and 2A-D Wentworth Park Rd to allow the NSW Land and Housing Corporation to erect two eight-storey apartment buildings in the St Phillip’s Heritage Conservation Area.
Yelvertoft, 75 Hereford St, Sells
Posted on 3rd August 2021
The heritage-listed 1858 Victorian Regency sandstone villa, Yelvertoft, has been saved from the developers.
Society meets with State Government to discuss affordable and social housing
Posted on 11th July 2021
Ian Stephenson and Brian Fuller, the Society’s Planning and Heritage convenors, recently joined Deputy Lord Mayor Linda Scott at a meeting with the Hon. Melinda Pavey MP, Minister for Water, Property and Housing, to discuss the State Government’s intentions in relation to the provision of affordable and social housing in Glebe.
‘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.
Opposition to proposed Glebe Island concrete batching plant
Posted on 4th June 2021
The Glebe Society has objected to a proposal for a Concrete Batching Plant and Handling Facility at White Bay. Among other things, it could have a negative impact on the desirability of restoring the Glebe Island Bridge as a pedestrian and cycleway.
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.
NSW Planning’s proposed Design and Place SEPP is not going to work
Posted on 22nd May 2021
Check out the Glebe Society’s submission on the state government’s proposed Design and Place planning policy
Stop Cannibalising Glebe – Defend Public Housing Rally
Posted on 22nd May 2021
The state government is getting it seriously wrong by doing high rise developments in heritage conservation areas in parts of Glebe.
Glebe Society meets with Lord Mayor Clover Moore to discuss public housing
Posted on 26th May 2021
Glebe Society met with Lord Mayor Clover Moore to discuss social housing. The Glebe Society is opposed to LAHC’s unprincipled vision to create a tale of two suburbs: one which is low-rise and historic and the other which is high-rise and heartless.
Just how far will LAHC go? Now they’re selling off a kindy!
Posted on 26th May 2021
The state government is selling off the building that houses a kindy that’s been in Glebe for almost 40 years.
Draft Greening Sydney Strategy
Posted on 22nd May 2021
City of Sydney is currently consulting on their draft Greening Sydney Strategy. It would aim to increase overall green cover to manage urban heat, create more opportunities to connect with nature and create greater biodiversity.
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.
