PETER GARRETT TAKES THE REINS
With the Federal Election now over, Friends of Eveleigh
are looking forward to continuing an objective relationship with the new
Minister for Heritage and the Arts, the Hon. Peter Garrett MP. It will be
interesting to see his approach to true Australian Heritage and saving
something for the future.
The Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh has appeared on the
National Trust of Australia’s, Top 10 Heritage at Risk list Nationwide and
immediately the other NSW nomination, the Hammerhead Crane at Garden Island
was granted funds by the Federal Government to start work on this project. This
crane being owned by the Navy is a Federal Government responsibility.
The nationally recognised Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh
on the other hand is the NSW State Government’s responsibility but to date the
Premier has failed to acknowledge or recognise the danger that this unique
Heritage building faces. No comment from the Premier places him completely out
of touch with the overwhelming response from the citizens of NSW from all walks
of life; academics, conservators, professionals tradespeople, unions and
residents of the local community, who all insist that the retention of the last
remaining fully operational original heritage Railway Workshop in NSW is of
vital importance – historically, socially and economically.
As a centrally located city workshop/museum/base for ALL
Rail Heritage groups throughout NSW the Large Erecting Shop, Eveleigh would
give ALL Rail Heritage groups an equal opportunity to experience working in
this unique heritage environment whilst “BUILDING ON THE 120 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS
RAILWAY OCCUPATION OF THE LARGE ERECTING SHOP, EVELEIGH”.
The Review into Tourism in NSW in July,2007, provided a
timely opportunity for the Friends of Eveleigh to put forward ideas of what can
be achieved within the Heritage Rail Network in NSW using the Large Erecting
Shop, Eveleigh as a Sydney CBD base. The idea/concept certainly generated a
large amount of positive feedback from Rail Heritage groups and members of the
public throughout all of New South
Wales.
We understand that the Minister for Transport and the
Office of Rail Heritage are fully aware of the NSW’s Public’s strong sentiment
and their requirement that the Large Erecting Shop, Eveleigh be retained by
Railcorp as an active Rail Heritage Centre for ALL RAIL HERITAGE GROUPS, FOR
ALL OF NEW SOUTH WALES. The Large Erecting Shop, Eveleigh in fact belongs to
ALL THE PEOPLE OF NEW SOUTH WALES, the NSW State Government being the Custodian
on Behalf of the People of NSW.
LECTURE/FORUM AT THE NATIONAL TRUST CENTRE
On Thursday, 13th December, 2007 commencing at 6.00pm in
the Annie Wyatt Room of the National Trust Centre, Observatory Hill, Sydney a
Lecture/Forum titled: “Buildings, Machines, and Ghosts” – Finding Cultural
Heritage and Social Values at The Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The Speaker for
the evening being noted Australian Industrial Heritage Historian and Scholar –
Associate Professor Lucy Taksa,
Director Industrial Relations Research Centre University of NSW. Every one is
most welcome to come along and enjoy this extremely important National Trust
heritage event.
JANE BENNETT’S EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL TRUST CENTRE
Well-known Sydney
artist Jane Bennett will be exhibiting her latest works – Trains, Cranes &
Ships: Eveleigh Railway Workshops and the Hungry Mile at the National Trust
Centre from 1-14 December, 2007. Jane’s most recent paintings focus on the
Eveleigh Railway Workshops in Redfern, the Hammerhead Crane at Garden Island
and the Hungry Mile at East
Darling Harbour.
Trains, Cranes & Ships – Eveleigh Railway Workshops and the Hungry Mile can
be seen in the Annie
Wyatt Room
and Board Room of the National Trust Centre, Observatory Hill, during normal
business hours. The exhibition will also be open from 12 noon to 5 pm on the
weekends between the 1st and 14th December. Further information regarding this
Exhibition is available on the National Trust NSW, website.
To our many friend and supporters, Friends of Eveleigh
would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank them for their help and
encouragement during the past 12 months and to wish everyone a very Happy
Christmas.
–
and remember, as Peter Garrett says – “don’t loose sight of the past”.