LIve and Local Music Festival in Camden town centre

Live and Local signage was placed around the town centre by promoters to tell locals about the gigs. Patrons moved between music stages assisted by a full and informative programme and facilitators who kept things moving.  This signage was on the front of the historic 1870s bank building on the corner of Argyle and John Streets in the middle of town. Helpful signage kept patrons and keen fans on the move around the town centre moving between the many venues. Thery were valuable in an area that is not used to being the stage for live music. The hope is that patrons will report this to organisers  so their might be a repeat(I Willis)

The Camden town centre was recently transformed into a gig-venue with a difference.

The town centre held the first live music festival of its type hosted by Camden Council.

Camden's main shopping precinct hosted a free music event in the form of the Live and Local Music Festival.

Upstairs@Freds hosted singer songwriter Helen Perris on piano. Her virtuoso performance was a delight in a delightful venue with great view of the town centre. Helen sang a range of  her own tunes that would not be out of place in a New York piano bar. Helen's poignant award wining songs tell of life's up-and downs.  (I Willis)

The entertainment ranged across 14 venues on a Saturday afternoon between 2.00 and 6.00 in the early evening.

Some of these were not your standard music venue.

Saxophone musician Will Habbal playing to passers-by and interested locals in the front of Camden retailer Shoe Talk. A music gig with a difference. Will was doing a great job on  a difficult stage competing with the traffic noise just a couple of metres away on Camden's main street.  (I Willis)

The more interesting music sites were a clothing boutique, a shoe store, an interior design store and shopping arcade.

Local boys from the band The Shang entertained the crowd at the Plough and Harrow Hotel with a mix of funk and rock. The pub was packed with an obviously strong local following for this band of young spunks.  The hot young local spunk who is the lead singer will have trouble keeping the groupies away. (I Willis)

There were also the more traditional music venues ranging from local hotels, restaurant and  local cafes.

There were a total 27 artists and musicians made up of solo acts, to quartets and bands.

Country artist Christie Lamb kept the crowd captivated at the Royal Hotel. Christie told tales of Nashville and her tours with big names artists between her own songs and covers. Our own Christie has performed at Tamworth Country Music Festival and toured and performed with the likes of Lee Kernoghan, Keith Urban, the Wolfe Bros and others. (I Willis)

Music genres covered a range of tastes and preferences including jazz, world music,  traditional, country, pop, to folk music.

A less traditional type of music heard in Camden in a less traditional music venue. The shopfront of Sarita's - A Collective Emporium was the stage for the traditional world music duo Vietbambooz. You have to travel a long way to see and listen to this type of traditional folk music. The music sort-of suited the venue with  classy gowns in the shop window providing an interesting backdrop for the crowd.  (I Willis) 

Artists ranged from the professional to up-and-coming music outfits.

The boys from classical music duo Antonio Aguilar being congratulated by a representative of the music organiser at the end of their music set. Traditional classical cellos played by some up-and-coming virtuosoes who might be famous one day on the international music circuit. You saw them first at Shoe Talk Camden. Some of their keenest fans were the Mums who carted their gear at the end of the set when they packed up. (I Willis)

Camden mayor Councillor Lara Symkowiak has said:

This unique festival will showcase the diverse musical performers of our area as well as the variety of venues and shops in the Camden town centre, This is an exciting opportunity to promote Camden as a cultural tourist destination for live music in the region. 

Cafe Michelles in Argyle Street was the stage for young country artists duo Theo and Bel who performed cover for the assembly. One keen fan was entranced by an Elvis cover song they performed and raved about it for days. Watch out for this up-and-coming duo in the future and you saw them here first. (I Willis)

A map showing the venues was located here, An event poster is located here,

The city-style coffee lounge and trendy bar Barenz was the stage for local country artist and songwriter Jemma Beech. Jemma regularly performs in the local area and started performing at 16 years of age. She recently toured with the country due the Sunny Cowgirls. Watch the gig guide for Barenz which is a regular performance space for local artists. (I Willis)

A full list of artists and venues is located here.

Upstairs@Freds is located in the old Whiteman's Building and was the stage for Peter McWhirter Band. Peter has been performing locally for many years and come along way. Upstairs@Freds was the brainchild of local identity Steve Wisbey and has taken up a space that faithfully restored by a former restaurant owner is a local music venue. (I Willis)

Live and Music facilitators were walking around all afternoon to make sure the venues worked well.

Facilitators interviewed some fans seeking feedback. One comment from one fan was that promoters need to advertise the event more widely.

Event organisers sponsors and road crew for Macarthur Events relax listening to Helen Perris at Upstairs@Freds. The guys looked after the sound and lighting at each stage venue in what looked like cramped and difficult circumstances. The road crew are always an essential element of any great music gig. (I Willis)

Talking around the area to those who attended the festival they were very impressed. I have heard comments like 'it is about time' and 'long overdue'. 'Great local talent'. 'The venues were great'. 'When is the next one'. Congratulations to the organisers and sponsors for a great all round effort.

Menangle (Camden Park) Gate Lodge

Menangle (Camden Park) Gate Lodge c2009 (MPHM)

Menangle Gate Lodge has historical significance as one of the pair of gate lodges built by the Macarthur Onslows for the Camden Park Estate.

Today (together with the lodge at the entrance near Camden) provides evidence of the former extent of the estate (one of the most significant colonial properties in Australia) as well as demonstrating the architectural embellishments thought appropriate to large estates in the late 19th century. 

The building also has aesthetic significance as an attractive and largely intact example of an "Arts and Crafts" style estate cottage in the region and even for its associations with the architectural firm of Sulman & Power, which designed many buildings on the estate and in the adjacent Menangle Village.

The cottage's aesthetic qualities are further enhanced by its attractive rural setting and sitting adjacent to the remains of the original Estate gates and driveway.

The Gate Lodge is a single-storey weatherboard cottage with a hipped and gabled tiled roof and brick chimneys, one of which has a decorative patterned brick base. 

The gables have timber battening, and the north roof covers a small porch with timber latticework and frieze, while the eastern gable projects on brackets. 

Beneath the east gable is a corbelled bay window with a small panel at the top. The doors have small-pane transom lights. The three panel, the half-glazed front door is off a small porch at the south-east corner. 

On the gables are plaques bearing (different) coats of arms and the mottos "FESTINA LENTE" (to the east) and "FIDE ET OPERA" (to the north). 

One of these plaques was moved from the gate lodge at the other entry to Camden Park. The property still retains a large part of the original picket fence, but this is being renewed.

There is a fibro extension to the rear (south-west), the original verandah flooring was replaced (20 November 1990), and other maintenance items include: fibro replaced on northern lattice enclosed porch, roof re-tiled, and fence renewed.

Adapted from a Michael Pearson Heritage Management Consultants P/L. 

Bulli Seam Operations Non-Aboriginal Heritage Assessment (Statement of Heritage Impact) A Report For  Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd, 2009. Online.

From 'The Menangle News' Volume 19, No 9, December 2009.

NSW politicians terrified of heritage says National Trust heritage expert

‘We are terrified of heritage or at least people in power’, says Dr Clive Lucas president of the National Trust of Australia (NSW) last  Friday (28 April 2017) on ABC Radio Mornings with Wendy Harmer.

Dr Lucas said that ‘parklands, natural landscape, historic buildings’ in the Sydney area were under threat.

St John’s Church built in the 1840s and funded by the Macarthur family has recently been the subject of controversy around selling part of the curtilage  around the church (2016, I Willis)

The conversation discussed the view that Sydneysiders do not engage with an issue until the building or locality is going to disappear, particularly around history and heritage. Wendy Harmer made the point that people in the UK are keen supporters of historic buildings and the British National Trust.

Clive Lucas pointed out several current disputes around heritage St John’s church at Camden, Thompson Square at Windsor and building a swimming pool in Parramatta Park.

One current controversy around heritage in NSW revolves around the Sirius Building in The Rocks in Sydney.

Sirius Building in The Rocks is currently under threat of demolition by the NSW State Government and is part of 1970s Sydney heritage (2016 Wikimedia)

What is it about heritage matters that frightens people in power?

What is the bogey man of heritage?

This blog attracts lots of views to posts about heritage matters from the Old Milk Depot to St John church in Camden. These heritage posts are usually about threats to heritage.

People sometimes do not see the heritage value in a historic item until it is too late, and there is a threat to its destruction, a change in its status, or a change in its surroundings.

Often the fear of heritage matters on buildings is down to laziness of design. New developments in heritage precincts demand creative solutions that are too hard for some. There is a need for imagination and flair. Rather than development at the least cost or a race to the bottom.

Vandalism by neglect is another issue in heritage areas. Some owners and developers of heritage properties hope that they will burn down or all down.

View of Argyle Street in the 1940s which remains mostly unchanged in over 50 years and is now part of the Camden Town Centre Conservation Area (Camden Images)

Many older buildings have particular problems that new buildings do not have. In the 1800s there was no running water, no sewerage to the house, no electricity, no internet, or no reticulated gas.

There can be issues using traditional trades that have primarily been replaced by mass-produced building materials, particularly in areas like plumbing, brickwork, plastering, carpentry, stone masonry, and others.

It is easier to demolish a heritage building and start a new construction from a clean slate. It can be challenging to retrofit current services in old buildings, but with patience and persistence, it can be done.

But heritage is more than old buildings.

Endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland  is part of the natural heritage of Western Sydney area (I Willis)

So what is heritage?

Historian Graeme Davison defines heritage in The Oxford Companion to Australian History as ‘inherited customs, beliefs and institutions held in common by a nation or community’ and more recently has expanded to include ‘natural and ‘built’ landscapes, buildings and environments’.

Heritage is made up of (1) natural heritage of environmental value like the Cumberland Plain Woodland and (2) cultural heritage which is man-made or built heritage like built-up urban areas.

Heritage has several values depending on the type of heritage matter, (1) intrinsic value (2) genetic diversity, (3) historical value (4) uniqueness and rarity (5) utility value.

Reasons for the threat to heritage items (1) development (2) demolition or destruction (3) change of surroundings or setting (4) change its usage or status.

Royal Hotel in Argyle Street Camden which was demolished in 1973 to make way for another a tavern on the site and is part of Camden’s lost cultural heritage  (E Kernohan, 1970, Camden Images)

In New South Wales heritage is defined under the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW) and in the legislation is means:

those places, buildings, works, relics, moveable objects, and precincts, of state or local heritage significance.

So what is significance?

In New South Wales for an item to be considered important and significant it must meet three of the following criteria for the Heritage Council and consideration for the State Heritage List :

 a) an item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW’s cultural or natural history;
b) an item has strong or special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in NSW’s cultural or natural history;
c) an item is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in NSW;
d) an item has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in NSW for social, cultural or spiritual reasons;
e) an item has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of NSW’s cultural or natural history;
f) an item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of NSW’s cultural or natural history;
g) an item is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of NSW’s - cultural or natural places; or - cultural or natural environments.  

Outside of New South Wales heritage is a matter for concern. Andrew Wilson from Bradford University states:

Our present is intrinsically bound up with our past, our sense of identity shaped and moulded by the cultural legacies of our forebears. That’s why organisations such as UNESCO exist to protect the cultural heritage of the world for current and future
generations.

Cultural heritage plays a key part in the quality of our lives, building our sense of identity, proving a rallying point around which we build social cohesion and pride in a shared heritage.

Stonehenge England UNESCO World Heritage Site  (Wikimedia)

Stories from the UK might throw some light on why heritage protection can be poison for some cities and their politicians.  Aylin Orbasli from Oxford Brookes University provides a note of caution around urban development process in World Heritage Listed Sites in Edinburgh. She states:

Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status has been the subject of several negative news stories lately. David Black in the Guardian called for the city to be stripped of its status for having a cavalier approach to development, while leading Edinburgh architect Lorn Macneal said that the status is an obstacle to allowing historic homes to evolve in the way that they have for hundreds of years.

The Scottish Government, like New South Wales, want to sell off historic buildings. David Black in the Guardian states that the World Heritage declaration for parts of Edinburgh has:

been an unmitigated disaster, and we’d have been better of without it.

Black maintains that heritage tourism is worth annually £1.6bn to the Scottish and city economy, and yet he argues that the city undervalues its historic heritage. He wants to know why the ‘power that be’ want to ‘trash’ that heritage.

Edinburgh Clockwise from top-left: View from Calton Hill, Old College, Old Town from Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street from Calton Hill UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Wikimedia)

More than this Scottish conservation architect Lorn MacNeal has stated that Edinburgh is blighted by heritage and its planning system. He went on that

any alterations proposed for historic homes are automatically blocked by city planners, leaving the properties “blighted” by their listed status and unable to be turned into “workable”, modern accommodation.

A 2012 Report on World Heritage Listing in Liverpool threatened to de-list the city. It was a wake-up call to city politicians to re-consider their decision around some new city development proposals.

These events have been put down to the view that: (1) there are few benefits from the WHS listing; (2) there is a poor understanding of the sites WHS listed; (3) there is a poor understanding of the value of the WHS listed sites.

While these problems were acknowledged, the report was considered an opportunity to re-assess the social and cultural aspects of a World Heritage Listing in totality for the city.

Heritage issues created controversy in Dresden Germany and were of seemingly little concern to the local population.

Liverpool Pier Head, with the Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building UNESCO World Heritage Site (Wikimedia)

It seems really bizarre that the current batch of NSW political decision-makers are considered to be terrified of heritage rules and regulations that they control. It is as if the politicians are frozen by inaction.

The supporters of neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism amongst NSW politicians act as though they want to destroy the past, they act as if they are ashamed of what has happened before. Do neo-liberals want a clean slate with a new beginning and treat the past as if it never existed?

Hyde Park Barracks, Macquarie Street, Sydney, Australia. UNESCO World Heritage Site (Wikimedia)

Heritage is essential for placemaking, maintaining a sense of place, and strengthening community identity, and for a robust and sustainable community.

The well-being and resilience of communities are determined by their place-making process and their ability to retain their identity and sense of place.

This needs decision-makers who take account of heritage matters and cultural, social and environmental processes that contribute to the historic landscape and the general well-being of these societies.

Originally posted 2 May 2017. Updated 11 September 2020.

AnnanRoma 2017 at the Botanic Gardens Mount Annan draws big crowds

AnnanRoma 2017 at the Botanic Gardens Mount Annan draws big crowds.

The annual food festival AnnanRoma 2017 in its 10th year draws big crowds. The experience again met the expectations of Macarthur foodies and provided an enjoyable day for all attending. Lots  were still arriving after lunchtime with a constant stream of cars.

The overcast morning cleared up with lots of sun to brighten the saddest souls, with only a few clouds rolling in around lunchtime.

The festival held at The Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan was attended by thousands of keen Macarthur foodies eager to try to the offering from stalls run by local food outlets.

The foods stalls  was  set out along the roadway adjacent to the cafe and shop precinct. There were 32 vendors and as well as children's experiences running from 10.00am to 4.00pm,

There was Eat Street with gourmet hamburgers, chicken, sushi, noodles and other tempting dishes to try with local wines and beers.

The sweet tooth was looked after on Sweet Street with ice cream, pastries, chocolate strawberries, macarons, and berries with local coffees and teas.

The long queues at some of the food stalls did not deter any folk, while exercise the patience of some.

Music was provided at Lakeside stage and in the Connections Garden with a host of local talent.

The kids were looked after with Nature Play, Bush Tucker, Eco Art and Whose Poo, where you could guess who goes in must come out. Which garden visitor does this poo belong to?

The success matched the experience in 2016 when some stalls sold out and over 11,000 people attended from all over the Sydney area from far away including Mosman, Manly, Hills District and the Northern Beaches.

The success of today's event was not dampened by the rain that caused the postponement from early April. Botanic Garden's experience manager Rebecca Anderson predicted correctly the large crowds would enjoy the culinary delights.

Ms Anderson said that the festival experience had a stunning reputation that ensured the huge crowds will return in future.

Huge crowds at Picton's 2017 illumin­ARTe festival

There were huge crowds at Picton's 2017 illumin­ARTe festival this evening Saturday 29 April.

The cold did not deter the crowds with temperatures low enough to demand a coat and scarf. There were hosts of food stalls doing a roaring trade and one of the local cafes ran of out of take-a-way coffee cups.

There was light projects on a number of buildings including the old post office, bank building, church and council chambers.

There was lots for the kids to do out the front of the bowling club.

The crowds were so big that you were slowed to a shuffle in the rows between the stalls, The local families and their kids were out in force enjoying a night out.

There was plenty of musical entertainment at the various stages and the night was topped out with fireworks.

Macarthur author researches the stories of local diggers from the First World War

Cover of Book by Lauren Hokin (L Hokin)

A local Macarthur author Lauren Hokin has just finished a major research and writing project on the First World War Anzacs of the Macarther region. 

Lauren Hokin writes about the First World War

Lauren writes about the impact of the First World War on the our region and why she decided to write about it:

The First World War devastated many communities throughout the country. And this was no different for the small rural population of what is now the Macarthur Region. The Great War was one of the most momentous incidences of recorded history, and a catalyst for much of the events of the 20th Century.

Thus, it has become an integral part of Australia's national narrative. Its impact on our history, society and culture cannot be denied and must be understood if we are to know who we think we are. 

The sacrifice of so many who left for the battlefields and those who gave everything on the home front must be remembered and commemorated. However, with the passage of time, the names and stories of the countless brave men and women who served in the war and those on the home front are becoming lost. 

Back cover of Lauren Hokin's Book

The book, 'Anzacs of Macarthur: The Men and Women Who Served in the First World War,' by Lauren Hokin attempts to remedy this. The book denotes the war time narratives of each of the 1100 plus individuals from the area whom decided to serve and those who stayed behind struggling to deal with a catastrophic world crisis unaware that many of their loved ones would not return home.

So as a community, lets honour and never forget our fellow townsfolk who left for war so long ago but remain in our hearts.

Author 

Lauren Hokin 

Lauren Hokin is a local historian and author of 'Anzacs of Macarthur: The Men and Women Who Served in the First World War.' The book is  for sale for $60 and details the wartime narratives of soldiers, sailors, and nurses from the Macarthur area including Camden. 

If you   interested you can find Lauren  on Facebook Anzacs of Macarthur @macarthur.anzacs or email her at anzacsofmacarthur@gmail.com

Camden Police Station and Court House

s Camden Police Station and Residence

35 John Street

Camden 

Lot 2 DP 826795

Camden Police Station 1997 J Kooyman Camden Images

Camden Court House

33 John Street

Camden

Lot 1 DP 826795

Camden Court House 1991 CWTimes Camden Images

Camden Police Station and Residence

History and Description

 Camden Police Station is a single storey brick building typical of many official police buildings of the last quarter of the nineteenth century

Before the John Street building was constructed, police used a timber lock-up and adjoining residence (c.1844). (http://www.camdenhistory.org.au/chhistoricplaces.html)

The police barracks was built in 1878 and probably the work of the Colonial Architect James Barnet. It was initially constructed in 1879 as two adjacent police cottages.

Historical sources consider that the Police Sergeant lived in the west end of the building, and the constable lived in the east end. The mounted constable boarded elsewhere. The police horse was kept in the non-presbyterian church area (1925-1950's). Wooden posts tethered the horse.  (NSW SHI)

Camden Police Station has a corrugated iron hipped roof and brick chimneys. The building has a paved verandah with carved timber posts and brackets. It has a four panelled timber entrance door with a highlight window, and eight double-hung pane windows with sandstone sills. The front façade is symmetrically designed with two projecting wings and a central recessed verandah. It is sited adjacent to the courthouse. (NSW SHI)

Condition and Use

These police barracks were built in 1878

Constructed in face brickwork.

Picket fence along footpath has been removed.

The building has been restored and modernised to facilitate its continuing use as a Police Station.

Alterations and additions, 1972 1980. (NSW SHI)

The verandah was once enclosed but has been fully restored in recent times.

The building is no longer used as a police station since the new Local Area Command Police Station was opened at Narellan in 2011.  

Heritage Significance

The building retains functional integrity and intactness. (NSW SHI)

The building is representative of the style of official or important early buildings in the town. The building's value lies in its relationship to the other important buildings in the John Street Group. (Australian Heritage Database)

Heritage Listing

Local Environment Plan                       Item  44

Read more

 Phillip Haylock, The Very Sociable Policeman, Camden History, Volume 3 No 7 March 2014, pp. 256-258,

Charlotte Hemans, 'Policing Camden in the early years, Camden Police Station, 1805-1878', Camden History, Vol 2, No 8, September 2009, pp. 305-312

The District Reporter, 6 March 2017

Camden John Street Precinct with the courthouse on the right-hand side of the street before the police station was built. The police station was eventually built between Macaria and the courthouse in 1878.  Image is the early 1870s (Camden Images)

Camden Court House

History and Description

 Camden Court House is built on land set aside for this purpose by James and William Macarthur at the time the town allotment plans were laid down. The brothers also offered £100 towards the cost of the building.

The first buildings on this site were a timber lock-up and Chief Constable's residence. The present construction was commenced in 1855 and completed in 1857 with cells underneath and at the rear. The building was designed during William Weaver's term as Government Architect. A new lock-up was built to replace the old one between 1859-61.

A Court of Petty Sessions at Camden was established by Proclamation on 20 July 1841 after lengthy opposition from both Campbelltown and Picton. They were requesting that the Cawdor Court be removed either to Campbelltown or Picton. Until that date, the Court was still at Cawdor. (http://www.camdenhistory.org.au/chhistoricplaces.html)

The first Clerk of the Bench in the area was James Pearson who was Clerk at Cawdor until his death on 13 July 1841. John Downes Wood, a nephew of Charles Cowper, was appointed the first Clerk of Petty Sessions for Camden by Government Proclamation on 23 September 1841. When the new courthouse was completed the Clerk of the Bench was J.B. Martin, who retained this position for 35 years. (http://www.camdenhistory.org.au/chhistoricplaces.html)

Camden Court House is a small Italianate court building with a temple front loggia with three arches. It is a painted ashlar building with painted chimneys and a gable shingled roof. There is a circular window on the front facade, and twelve panes and two-pane double-hung windows on the side facades. The entrance door is a six panelled timber door. The cells were constructed underneath and at the rear. (NSW SHI)

Condition and Use

Camden Court House was built between 1855-1860.

The building is in good condition. (NSW SHI)

In 2013 the NSW Government spent $200,000 on the refurbishment of Camden courthouse. (Camden Narellan Advertiser, 25 September 2013)

Heritage Significance

Camden courthouse, like its neighbouring police station, is of little value alone. Its value lies in its relationship to the other important buildings. It is probably the work of colonial architect Alexander Dawson. (Australian Heritage Database)

Heritage Listing

Local Environment Plan                       Item  43

Australian Heritage Commission        Australian Heritage Database  ID 3230

Read more

Iliana Stillitano, 'Court shut down', Camden. Narellan Advertiser, 1 July 2014

Camden Vale Milk Depot Development Proposal v2

Camden Vale Milk Depot Development Proposal v2

11 Argyle Street

Camden

Lot 1, DP 219757

The new DA is located here

Screen shot from original plans (2016) for the new building with old milk depot to the left.

Camden Vale Milk Depot Development Proposal v2

This is the second development proposal for the former Camden Vale Milk Depot site at the entrance to the Camden Town Centre.

Screen Shot show views of differing perspectives of Camden Vale Milk Deport from Revised Plans submitted with DA (2017)

Screen Shot of Perspective from Argyle Street from revised plans of Camden Vale Milk Depot DA (2017)

The former proposal was lodged in April 2016 to a great deal of controversy and adverse publicity with objections from a number of community groups. Radio personality Alan Jones became involved in 2016 and there were many newspaper articles. There were protest meetings and general disquiet by members of the community.

The developer CMCM Holdings Pty Ltd has lodged another development application for 5 restaurants and a decked car park at the rear of the site. The restaurants range in size from 22 sq m to 504 sq m. The $8.8 million project has 79 car parking spaces provided on site, with 4 of the tenancies in the new additions. The plans have been put together by De Angelis Taylor and Associates of Liverpool.

Some concerns

It appears that the developer has listened to some of the concerns. While the development is far from ideal it is better that the first attempt which was a lazy design with little effort made to showcase the milk depot building. This design appears to feature the 1926 milk depot in a more prominent position free from unnecessary alterations to the building facade that hid the original fabric of the building.

The bulk of the new proposal still dominates the site and the visitor as they enter the town centre from Narellan. The development could be scaled back to greater enhance the original milk depot. Those approaching the town centre along Argyle will still be struck by an effective three storey building even if ameliorated by trees.

A major shortcoming of the development proposal is the lack of a conservation management plan for the milk depot building itself. This would provide greater clarity around the impact of any new proposal for the site and how the industrial depot building will be treated under the Burra Charter. The charter is the Australian measure for conservation, preservation and adaptation of heritage sites and buildings.

History

The current industrial building on the site was opened in 1926 and was a milk depot for Camden Park Estate's Camden Vale Milk Company. The plant was regarded at the time as one of the most modern for the scientific treatment of milk. The current building replaced a former timber construction that burnt down in 1926. The timber building that was originally constructed in the 1890s.

Current Exhibition Period for DA 2016/169/1

There is an exhibition period for the development proposal. Written submissions are to be sent to Camden Council by 20 April.

For further enquiries on this matter contact Miss A McGrath at Camden Council on 02 4654 7773. Miss McGrath is the Executive Planner in the Planning and Environmental Services Division of Camden Council

More reading

Camden Vale Milk Depot, History Notes  (2016)

Development at Camden Milk Depot site, History Notes, (2016)

Janice Johnson Back Then The District Reporter 1 April 2016, 8 April 2016,

Camden Vale Milk Depot, NSW State Heritage Inventory, Click here

St Johns Church Camden NSW

St John’s Church Camden

6-22 Menangle Road, Camden, NSW 2570
Lot 1 DP 1024949
Lot 1 DP 2399467

St Johns Church Camden 2010 (I Willis)

History and Description

The St Johns Church Precinct includes the church and church grounds, and also includes the

cemetery, the Rectory and Stables, and church hall.

The church is set within a fine group of other ecclesiastical buildings that includes the Rectory

(1859) and church hall (1906), together with the cemetery in a rural landscaped environment

resplendent in native and exotic mature trees, fence lines, paths and memorials. (NSWSHI)

1874 Chancel extension complete.

Rectory built 1859. The rectory and associated lands remained in the ownership of the Macarthur family up to November 1905.

St Johns Parochial School located at the intersection of Hill and Broughton Streets was founded in 1850 as a denominational school.

Original church hall built 1906 and second hall in 1973.

The church cemetery forms part of the original Macarthur family endowment of 1841. The first burial is believed to be that of Thomas Budd of Narellan made in March 1843. (NSWSHI)

Condition and Use

Split timber shingled roof replaced with terracotta shingles in 1929.

Electric motors replaced manual winding mechanism of clock in c1950.

Tower lourves replaced in 1970.

Render of the spire removed and replaced in 1973.

The church, rectory, stables, churchyard and slopes retain good integrity and intactness. (NSWSHI)

Heritage Significance

 St John the Evangelist at Camden was the first 'archaeologically correct' Gothic church to be completed in the colony of New South Wales. It was probably designed in England by Edward Blore under instructions from the Macarthur family.   In its architectural innovation and picturesque placement in a controlled landscape, it is among the most important parish churches in Australia. (Hector Abrahams, Christian church architecture, Dictionary of Sydney, 2010)


St Johns Church is perhaps the finest example of early Picturesque Gothic Revival style church architecture in Australia. The church, with its tower and spire, is a landscape monument in the rural lands and town of Camden. It is also a monument to the pioneering pastoral Macarthur family, who built it, and has become an icon in consideration of these values. (Noel Bell Ridley Smith and Parters Pty Ltd, Conservation Management Plan Addendum 2010, St Johns Anglican Church Precinct, Camden. Sydney, p7)

The church precinct is rare in New South Wales as a complete ensemble. The church building
is complete with tower, spire, clock, stained glass and all its furniture. Its relationship to the
town and landscape are deliberate. It possesses an equally well-treated, though not grand, rectory, graveyard and originally had a church school. It can be said to be one of the most
complete church groups achieved in New South Wales in the nineteenth century. Equivalent
groups are rare. (Clive Lucas, Stapleton and Partners Pty. Ltd., St. John’s Anglican Church Precinct
Menangle Road, Camden, Conservation Management Plan. Sydney, 2004, pp. 43-44)

Heritage Listing

Local Environment Plan                       Item 63
NSW State Heritage Inventory

Australian Heritage Commission        National Estate Database

Read more

Sydney Architecture St Johns Church Camden

Australian Heritage Database Rectory and Stables

Australian Heritage Database St Johns Church