Background
The
1960s saw the start of organised resident action in the inner city.
The Balmain Association
was formed in 1965 and the Annandale Association in 1969. At this same
time Glebe was threatened by two major proposals which would:
- destroy
the distinctive Victorian character of the suburb by demolition of terrace
houses to make way for three-storey flats,
- cut
the suburb into three to make way for freeways, and
- destroy
Lyndhurst, a fine Regency villa now occupied by the Historic
Houses Trust of NSW.
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The
Glebe Society was formed in March 1969 to fight these proposals.
Our Society, led by the eminent art historian from the University
of Sydney, Power Professor of Fine Arts Professor
Bernard Smith, and his talented wife, a teacher, the late
Kate
(Challis) Smith (1915-1989) successfully opposed these threats.
In 1970 the Society prepared a Master Plan for the area which resulted
in the National Trust's listing of Glebe as a
Conservation
Area in 1974 with the Heritage
Council of NSW.
Left:
Professor Bernard Smith
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New Town Plan
The NSW Minister for Planning, Andrew Refshauge,
finally approved Leichhardt’s New Town Plan (gazetted December 22,
2000) for the municipality which contains provisions regarding building
dimensions within particular streetscapes including alignments, heights
and uniform harmony, as well as focusing on energy conservation and efficiency.
The New Town Plan also identifies areas where greater density is feasible,
e.g. Catherine Street (Leichhardt) and has, to date, made detailed planning
notes for Lilyfield and is next to focus on the suburb of Leichhardt.
Unfortunately, there is still no new Development Control Plan for Glebe
in place.
Other
Successes
The Society has since been instrumental
in achieving other significant successes including:
- the creation of two parks at Glebe Point - Bicentennial
Park on the southern foreshore
of Rozelle Bay, and Blackwattle Park on the western shore of
Blackwattle Bay,
- support for the
conservation of The Glebe Estate,
- support for the
acquisition and extensions to Benledi
for the Glebe Branch Library, and
- a long-running
and successful campaign to establish the Metro
Light Rail system from Central through
Glebe to Lilyfield and its future extension to Circular Quay and Leichhardt.
Currently the Glebe Society is active in preserving
the suburb’s built environment and is involved in a broad range of
issues which affect Glebe, including
Aims
The
Glebe Society's aims
include:
- the conservation of our Victorian and Edwardian heritage,
- ensuring progress is based on best-outcomes and is resident-friendly,
- providing the community with input into decisions which affect
them,
- the enhancement of community spirit, and
- working cooperatively with other local organisations, e.g. Friends
of Benledi and Glebe Library, the Glebe Youth Service and local schools.
More
details about the Society are contained in our
Constitution.
Click
here
for details about other groups associated with the Glebe Society.
Queries?
email:secretary@glebesociety.org.au
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