Planning Sydney Inner West District, Greater Sydney

Abstract

Planning of Sydney Inner West District, the first of three case study districts of Greater Sydney, is examined in this chapter. The chapter acknowledges the Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 proposed mergers and expanding the boundaries of nominated councils noted in Chap. 2. Having examined the question of global transition and planning practices of the six municipalities within the District, this chapter addresses: (1). planning the Sydney Inner West District as a whole; and, the extent the State (responsible for district planning) is meeting the planning issues. Key planning principles as adopted (Chap. 2) to apply to Greater Sydney (and this district) are applied to the district. These key principles include: (1). Developing Sustainable Urban Centres; (2). Developing Sustainable Transport; and, (3). Protecting the Natural Environment. Sample plans and development projects for Sydney Inner West are critiqued under each of these planning principles. After reaching a conclusion under each planning principle, an overall conclusion is drawn on the extent the State (planning the District) is meeting the planning issues of the District. Finally, it’s noted that these Sydney Inner West District conclusions will be assessed alongside conclusions reached in examining Greater Parramatta District (Chaps. 10, 11, 12, 13) and St George District (Chaps. 14, 15, 16, 17). All these conclusions are examined (Chap. 18) in the context of SUP practices applied to Greater Sydney as a global city (affecting municipal areas within Sydney Inner West and the district as a whole).

Plate 9.1

Past citizens of Sydney inner west left to right Maybanke Anderson; Augustus Alt; Henry Parkes; William Arnott; Eleanor Dark; and, Thomas Walker (Source Wikipedia and Australian Biographies 2016)

Firstly, Maybanke Anderson (Marrickville) was a pioneer in women’s suffrage, federation, and education reform in Australia. A historical snippet provides an insight into Anderson’s legacy:

Maybanke Anderson married Edmund Kay Wolstenholme, an Australian timber merchant, built a large house called ‘Maybanke’ in Marrickville. In 1885 Maybanke opened Maybanke School, a girls’ school that she operated in her home preparing girls for the University of Sydney entrance examination. Operating for 10 years, the school was later known as Maybanke College. (Source: Dictionary of Australian Biography 2015)

Augustus Alt (Ashfield) was a surveyor in the new colony of Australia and at the end of his career built an estate home (still standing) in Ashfield (street now bears his name, Alt St.). A historical snippet provides an insight into Alt’s legacy:

Augustus Alt, in 1787, was appointed to the new colony of New South Wales as its first surveyor of lands and as a member of its commission for trial of pirates. He accompanied Governor Arthur Phillip in an excursion to establish settlement at the head of Parramatta River in November 1788. In February 1794 he was granted 100 acres (40 ha), Hermitage Farm, at Petersham (near today’s Ashfield). (Source: Wikipedia 2015)

Sir Henry Parkes (Leichhardt) is regarded as the Father of the Australian Federation (1901). Henry lived in two homes in Leichhardt, Hampton Villa (1888–1892) at Balmain and Kenilworth (where he died in 1896) at Annandale. A historical snippet provides an insight into Parkes legacy:

As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir Henry Parkes was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers. Parkes was described during his lifetime by The Times as “the most commanding figure in Australian politics”. Alfred Deakin described him as “though not rich or versatile, his personality was massive, durable and imposing, resting upon elementary qualities of human nature elevated by a strong mind”. (Source: Wikipedia 2015)

William Arnott (Burwood) was a business person with a close association to the Burwood area. A historical snippet provides an insight into Arnott’s legacy:

William Arnott was an Australian biscuit manufacturer, founder of the Arnott’s Biscuits Holdings. Shortly after his death, Arnott’s sons spread out the business to other parts of the world, including East Asia and South Africa. (Source: Wikipedia 2015)

Eleanor Dark (Strathfield) was a writer who was born in Strathfield. A historical snippet provides an insight into Dark’s legacy:

Eleanor Dark (Strathfield) was an Australian author whose novels included Prelude to Christopher (1934) and Return to Coolami (1936), both winners of the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal for literature, and her best known work The Timeless Land (1941). (Source: Wikipedia 2015)

Thomas Walker (Canada Bay) was an Australian politician and banker with close association with the Canada Bay area. A historical snippet provides an insight into Walker’s legacy:

Thomas Walker was an Australian politician and banker; he and his daughter Dame Edith Walker were important philanthropists. Walker died in 1886 in Concord, New South Wales, and was buried in the cemetery at St John’s Ashfield. He left a large fortune, and was survived by his daughter Edith. (Source: Wikipedia 2015)