Monthly Archives: May 2012

History Week 2012 Threads – they wore what!

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THREADS: 8-16 September They wore what?! History Week 2012 will explore the history of threads and unpick the meaning behind the wardrobes of the past.

Everyone is warming up to History Weeks theme of “Threads” at Leichhardt Library we will be holding an exhibition on Threads that made Leichhardt Fashionista’s .

Time to dig deep into your wardrobes does anyone out there have Granny’s 1940s tailored suit in the cupboard or perhaps a 1960’s mini dress or 1970’s flares or some

great family photos displaying the fashions worn by families growing up in Leichhardt.

If you do and would like to contribute to the exhibition we would love to hear from you.

just email us at localhistory@lmc.nsw.gov.au

     Check out up and coming events for History Week at twitter.com/#!/history_week

 

C.H.E Blackmann 1835 -1912 The disappearing architect.

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Oybin built 1880-1881

Norma Perry has published a thorough and informative research on the often over looked architect C.H.E Blackmann, Architect of Oybin, 270 Johnston Street, Annandale which was his own residence. Some of the buildings he co- designed with Varney Parkes include Goulbourn Post Office (1880) St Andrews, Summer Hill, (1880) Stanmore Public School (1883), Erskinville Public School (1882) Glenmore Road Public School, (1882) and St Andrews Hall (1880) By 1885 Blackmann and Parkes had designed more than 110 buildings.

Despite a career of 20 years in Australia as a leading Sydney architect and member of the council of the Institute of Architects Charles Henry Edmund Blackmann has been erased and his contribution to Australian Architecture reduced to a racy tale of fraud and exile from society due to illicit sex.  During his lifetime his contemporaries lauded his skills in mining engineering, drawing, design, project management and architecture. Now Blackmann has no, entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, he is a side note, mentioned only as a partner in biographical notes of Varney Parkes (Blackman and Parkes) and Sir John Sulman (Blackman and Sulman).

This book records his substantial contribution to architecture in Australia, as well as a fascinating story of German migration, mining, family life in Victorian times and the consequences of his desertion and flight to California. The Book also covers the origins and design of Oybin (part of the Abbey group, including the witches houses)

Heritage Inventory for Oybin on the Heritage State Register Oybin

To Purchase the book clicke here or you can borrow a copy  from Leichhardt Library.

Saving Ballast Point – an evening talk with local activist who saved Ballast Point.

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Fergus Fricke

 The 32nd Heritage Festival – Innovation and Invention was the perfect opportunity to commemorate the long and hard efforts of the local resident activist groups who fought a 15 year battle to save Ballast Point from development and the clutches of the Walker corporation. On April 26th a lively crowd gathered at Balmain Town Hall to hear Fergus Fricke, Helen Styles and Roger Parkes talk about their role in the battle which began in 1989 when the 5 sites in Balmain, Unilever, Caltex, Ampol, Monsanto, Balmain Power Station,  were up for rezoning and development. They were an innovative group of resident/ community activist starting with the Snails Bay Action Group then the Ballast Point Action Group, White Bay Action Group, Mort Bay Action Group and the Balmain Association. They all united to create BURST (Balmain United, Residents, Strategic Taskforce).   They were innovative in their tactics, and strategies, raising money with Harbour cruises and evening dinners at Taronga Zoo, getting the media onside and taking it to the Land and Environment Courts.The Battle was won in 2002 when the Bob Carr Government purchased the land for Public open Space for $24 million. (Alot of the leg work had been carried out by BURST) Mcgregor and Coxall won the contract to design and landscape the site.  They responded to the history of the site and incorporated the industrial features of the old caltex site into their design along with leaving the skeleton of the oil tanks and clanking iron stairs. Echoing further the history of the site, is the display of crockery from the original house  that stood on the land “Menevia”  The park’s design is loaded with symbolism and meaning with references to the Balmain Tigers, Caltex, when it was used as a Ballast, it also features a three teared  environmentally sound draining system. Jan Woods of Woodland productions created footage of the key events of the Local Community activists, on the victory harbour cruise, sausage sizzle and opening of the new  Ballast Point Park in 2009. Larry Hand, June Lunsmann, Jan Wood, Helen Styles, Fergus Fricke, Kathleen Hamey and Susan Callaghan.

The audience included ex mayor of Leichhardt Larry Hand, Tom Uren, Trevor Snape, June Lunsmann, Kath and Val Hamey, Diana Garder and Malcolm Garder and Balmain photographer David Liddle.

Local Resident activists