Opinion
Don’t jump the gun. Paddington’s Victoria Barracks must not be converted for housing
Linda Bergin
Advocate for public parkland“It’s just utter stupidity, I mean it really belongs to the people … the nation as a whole.” These words were spoken in the mid-’90s by the late, great Labor politician Tom Uren, whom Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls his “father figure”.
Back then, Defence wanted to sell its priceless historic harbour military sites, partly for new housing. Thanks to John Howard, Bob Carr, the federal parliament, and the community, all the sites were saved. They were never sold nor transferred to the NSW government. A new federal Sydney Harbour Federation Trust took over.
Victoria Barracks in Paddington is about the same size as Hyde Park.Credit:
But 30 years later, it’s eerily deja vu. Defence is pondering vacating its exceedingly historic Victoria Barracks, although no decision has been made.
Located in Paddington, surrounded by a high convict sandstone wall, the vast 15-hectare 1840s heritage site is so large that it has vistas inside. As big as Hyde Park, it comprises many convict-built sandstone Edwardian buildings. It is a rare intact military village.
The largest building, 740 metres long, is “reputed to be the longest stone building in the Southern Hemisphere”, according to Defence.
The Barracks is Commonwealth Heritage Listed, being “the finest complex of colonial barracks … in Australia”, “survives as the only substantial barracks … from the early Victorian period”, is “valuable for future archaeological investigation”, and “is one of the most architecturally imposing 19th century military establishments in Australia”. It is in excellent condition. But because it’s an active military base, few members of the public have been inside, apparently including some City of Sydney councillors.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, has underlined the heritage significance of Victoria Barracks. Credit: Rhett Wyman
Regrettably, City of Sydney council, in a unanimous resolution late last year, and in case Defence moves out, decided that one key priority for the Barracks should be “affordable housing” and that it needed to develop “guiding principles”. Intriguingly, the two-page resolution contains a significant error, stating, “about 30-50 per cent of the site is heritage-protected, but the remaining area could potentially be redeveloped”. This is erroneous – the entire site is heritage-protected.
Three councillors spoke to the resolution. The first – Labor’s Zann Maxwell – strongly in favour, said the site “could unlock transformative opportunities”, and would help “to address the ongoing demand for homes”.
A second – Sylvie Ellsmore from the Greens, was even more gushy, with “I’d love to see us also expanding into Garden Island” (another historic Defence base). Ellsmore had previously officially visited a redeveloped (for housing) historic barracks in Paris, stating it was “about the same size as we’re talking about here”. But this is wrong. The Paris barracks area is a tiny two hectares, and its small and dense configuration is not comparable.
The third councillor was Lord Mayor Clover Moore herself, who thankfully described the heritage of the Barracks in detail, describing it as “incredibly important” and that the “federal government has made some decisions”. What decisions?
Fast forward to this week’s launch of the City of Sydney’s public consultation “Developing a Community Vision for Victoria Barracks”. There is no mention of the Barracks’ Commonwealth Heritage Listing. Presented are four examples of “former military sites” that were “divested”, which usually means sold off. Two are not military sites. The third, Middle Head, was not divested, but transferred to a new agency. The fourth, the two-hectare Paris barracks, is not comparable. However, it seems to support some councillors’ agendas for affordable housing.
Should Defence decide to vacate Victoria Barracks, it would fit perfectly into the federal Harbour Trust’s portfolio of historic military sites, even though it’s not waterfront.
Captain George Barney, the first colonial engineer, and responsible for Victoria Barracks, was also associated with the construction of the barracks at Georges Head and Cockatoo Island, both Harbour Trust sites.
The Harbour Trust Act has far greater heritage protections than any NSW law, in fact NSW law does not apply. The Harbour Trust cannot sell land. It has a quarter-century experience adapting and managing colonial military sites. It is untouchable by NSW governments. Because its sites are important to all Australians, it is fitting they remain in federal ownership.
However, protection of heritage requires eternal vigilance. Community groups are currently fighting to protect the heritage Barracks at Middle Head from being demolished.
The future of Victoria Barracks will be a long and winding road, so too was the campaign for the Harbour Trust. In-filling the Barracks with affordable housing will not solve Sydney’s housing crisis but will assuredly destroy the magnificent Victoria Barracks.
When it comes to national heritage, it’s time to cease the trade-offs and compromises once and for all.
Linda Bergin is founder of Headland Preservation Group and a long-time advocate for the protection of heritage sites in Sydney.
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