The Large Erecting Shop - Its future Part 2

fernhill · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:23 pm

It is good we are starting to get more support from the unions and the federal Labor Party as they realise the sham that’s going on.

latest from the Blacksmiths Shop via Redwatch
ATP Blacksmith Shop - Sartor breaks Department of Planning promise
Wrought Artworks the self-funding operators of the historical Eveleigh Blacksmithing Bays of 17 years are under threat of closure from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority reports this media release from Wrought Artworks of 3rd July 2008.

What is transpiring at the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops must rank as one of the saddest episodes in Australian heritage machinery conservation. This collection that is considered by the Smithsonian Institute- Washington DC as “the largest most integral collection of steam powered blacksmithing equipment left in the world” is gradually having its value and viability eroded by a money hungry authority with short-term expectations.

The Heritage and Conservation bodies and community were promised early on that the correct approach would be taken. This was backed up with a large number of reports and studies, which have subsequently been largely ignored, making a mockery of Planning Policy.

Early discussions at the Planning Stage of the ATP made much of keeping the blacksmithing bays in tact and operational. The Consent Conditions of the Development Application imposed by the then Minister of Planning - Craig Knowles specifically mention the Blacksmiths as having a lease and that two half bays were to be kept operational. This was the ‘trade off’. The site could be developed into the ATP providing the blacksmithing company of Wrought Artworks remained, that the heritage blacksmithing equipment was operational and they were to accommodate them by design. A $600,000 acoustic wall was built to isolate the noise of the working museum, and vibration dampening was incorporated into the floors of the adjacent bay. This is now being disputed by Robert Domm – CEO of the RWA, who are saying “all prior agreements are history”, implying that they have no bearing in the future. In point of fact the prior agreements are binding and the RWA must honor the heritage obligations they have inherited.

These representations and promises made to Guido Gouverneur and Wendie McCaffley of Wrought Artworks gave them the confidence to build up a business based on the Victorian blacksmithing equipment in their care. They are now considered top of their field by heritage architects and work primarily on conservation and Victorian style reproduction ironwork for greater Sydney. In 2002 they won a commendation from the National Trust for their work reproducing a Gate and railings for Centenial Park Reservoir and in 2001 Guido was awarded a Citizen of The Year award for conservation work on the Eveleigh machinery collection.

In the early years sweat, toil and a collective of enthusiasts with a passionate spirit for the place kept the collection intact. Guido and Wendie have been instrumental for the only Trade Course in Blacksmithing in Australia at Ultimo Tafe to remain viable. They presently have 3 young people apprenticed in this rare trade skill and many more have been trained in the workshop.

In 1997, on a recommendation from the Heritage Council and as the result of extensive lobbying, a $300,000 State Heritage grant was given by the Planning Minister, (supposedly to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the ATP), for the restoration of the machinery collection to become operational. It proposed to train young people on the project. The grant did not get spent on its intended purpose. The only restoration to make machinery operational has been done by the self –funding Wrought Artworks.

The past SHFA Manager of the ATP was extremely pro-active and supportive of the heritage operation and its integration into the Park. However for the entire three years the RWA have been the managing body all requests for discussion on the operating heritage blacksmithing workshop, or any property maintenance issues have been largely ignored. The request for approval for Wrought Artworks to fix a floor problem themselves was met with a letter of eviction and a notice to quit.

Wrought Artworks are the only people to have cared for the machinery constantly, and to come up with a philosophy for the long term. No doubt Robert Domm thinks if he gets rid of the blacksmiths he also gets rid of any heritage machinery obligations or ‘watch-dogs’. Wrought Artworks are now being considered as unnecessary. Possibly bolstered by the completion of the building for The Ministry of Defense, by the commencement of a new building for Channel Seven, and the hosting of some celebrity events (such as the MTV Awards, and Top Model). the RWA have sent the eviction unconscionably.

It wouldn’t take long for the idle machinery to lose its interest, to lie languishing and forlorn as they do in the northern bays of 1 & 2. The Henry Berry Cranes from the Wheel Press Shop are rusting away in the out door elements, unprotected and in pieces. It has become apparent by Robert Domms actions that he has no interest in anything but commercial return and development. Why RWA want control of the blacksmithing shop is undisclosed ,but according to Robert Domms exact words “You’ve had long enough.

Without the human factor, the value of the collection, the trade skilling fostered here, along with the usefulness of the facility for Sydney’s metal heritage maintenance, will be lost forever.

You can find out more about Wrought Artworks and their campaign to continue to operate the ATP Blacksmith Shop from this 10 minute video posted on Youtube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHLvipjAbBU .

Get ready for a boots and all fight

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

FieldShunt74 · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:07 am

Battle stations for Eveleigh

SMH article, not much new, mostly looks at the carriage works side of the line but does mention the blacksmithing in the ATP.

fernhill · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:02 am

Its good that an article has been written although as you say it was mostly known information but what was interesting was the meeting the Friends of Eveleigh had during the week the number of new groups that sent representatives. Both from museums, unions and the community
Good to see some still have what it takes to stand up to the bully boys.

We will push on with the hope the the LES will be around for everybody to use and enjoy - particularly those who run heritage trains

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

fernhill · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:11 pm

Its good to see the RTM, Powerhouse, 3801 Ltd and LVR using Eveleigh. I think this proves the point the LES is important to heritage running

Its about time some of these organisations stood up for rail heritage and spoke out - after all everybody else is

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

Kav442s5 · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:01 am

42101 · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:41 pm

ABC 7.30 /Stateline show right now showing the blacksmith shop and its operator and saying save the Large....WELL DONE ABC. Cool

Thanks heaps to ALL my friends on here.

jumboman44211 · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:28 am

fernhill · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:42 pm

The blacksmiths shop at Eveleigh will be open this Sunday the 17th. to the public.

This invite includes all staff members of the Powerhouse Museum, Heritage Office and the Dept of Department of Planning who apparently have been warned off- or else

MAY BE THE LAST TIME to see it working as $artor gets his greedy hands on more of our heritage

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

fernhill · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:59 pm

The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day Sucess
Organisers estimate that at least two thousand people took the opportunity to visit the Open Day at Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops in the Australian Technology Park during Sunday. Visitors went on guided tours of the operational heritage Blacksmiths shop and showed their support for the ongoing operation of Wrought Artworks and ongoing Heritage operations on the site.

Following initial problems with the ATP management the Day went off with out any problems and included musical entertainment which had been earlier banned by ATP management.

Many former workers took the opportunity to return to the site and took the opportunity to look around the former Eveleigh railyards and reminisce with former workers. One visitor who made the trip alone to see the Blacksmiths Shop was 97 years old.

Organisers were delighted with the turnout and the level of support shown for maintaining operational heritage as part of the site.

At yesterday’s successful Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day a Public Meeting was held and a motion seeking to resolve the issues across the site was unanimously passed. The full text of the resolution can and details of speakers at the public meeting are provided below.

The Motion includes calls for:

the RWA / ATP to withdraw the Notice to Quit on the ATP Blacksmiths
discussions with the NSW Premier Morris Iemma about the protection of heritage on the site
the consideration of a National Heritage listing
an interim Green Ban on the Site
the achievement of a long term process for protecting the former Railyard’s Heritage
Government and business not to enter into any agreements that would adversely impact on any remaining heritage on the site
The full resolution can be found at Resolution from the Public Meeting at The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day Sunday 17th August 2008

A range of heritage issues across the former railway site were raised that the meeting wanted to see addressed. Some of these include:

The ongoing operation of Wrought Artworks and its ongoing maintenance and use of the heritage equipment
The State Government, RWA and ATP meeting their heritage obligations for the heritage equipment on the site, especially those provided for the development approval establishing the Technology Park.
The continued preservation of the Large Erecting Shop as an operating Heritage shop rather than heritage operators being evicted and it being adaptively reused or replaced with the RWA’s zoned 12 story building
The proposed removal of heritage rolling stock and other heritage equipment from the Paint Shop to get it ready for sale by the RWA without there being more appropriate facilities for the equipment to move to.
An appropriate use for the Chief Mechanical Engineers building currently proposed to be turned into units
Any redevelopment of North Eveleigh honouring the sites rail heritage without further degrading the heritage values of the site
Opposition to the RWA’s plan to adaptively reuse the paint shop by having 4 storey apartment buildings constructed within the existing Paint Shop.
Many Aboriginal people were employed at the Eveleigh Railyards and on the states railways with grown men being paid “boys” wages. The organisers welcomed the support of Aboriginal people for the event and expressed their support for the Aboriginal Housing Company’s struggle with Government in Eveleigh Street.

The details of public meeting speakers are provided below

The public meeting that unanimously passed the above motion was held during the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops Open Day. The speakers included:

Richard Green – Welcome to Country
Guido Gouverneur, Wrought Artworks Blacksmiths
Clover Moore MP Lord Mayor City of Sydney
Councillor Chris Harris, Greens Councillor City of Sydney
Linda Scott on Behalf of Meredith Burgman ALP Lord Mayor Candidate for City of Sydney
Jack Mundy – Former Union leader and Green Ban Pioneer
Michael Mundine – CEO Aboriginal Housing Company
AMWU Representative on behalf of Tim Ayres read the AMWU’s Resolution of Support
Richard Butcher – Former Eveleigh Worker & Author of the Great Eveleigh Railway Workshops
Brian Dunnett - Save the Eveleigh Blacksmith Committee
Geoff Turnbull – Spokesperson for REDWatch
Dave Fleming - Apprentice Blacksmith Wrought Artworks
More Information on the issues can be found at:

www.redwatch.org.au/RWA/statesignificant/atp/blacksmith

For Further Information Contact:

Guido Gouverneur or Wendy McCaffrey Wrought Artworks Blacksmiths (02) 9319 6190
Brian Dunnett - Save the Eveleigh Blacksmith Committee 04 1909 1211
Geoff Turnbull – REDWatch (02) 9318 0824

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

fernhill · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:25 pm

Good news about the blacksmiths workshop but it took a bit of argy bargy.

Friends of Eveleigh helped out on the day and handed out over 2500 leaflets about what $artor is planning for Eveleigh including the 12 story large Erecting Workshop he is preserving.

Thanks to all those who came along particularly those who were warned off by their managers

The TV crews got some shots on the day of different buildings but I don't know what they are planning.

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

42101 · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:40 pm

Fernhill THANKS heaps for all these updates and for carrying the fight foward mate. Very Happy

Thanks heaps to ALL my friends on here.

jumboman44211 · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:13 pm

doridori · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:53 am

On the heritage topic...

Wet down to visit MV Cape Don recently... and to hear the passion of the volunteers and see first hand what has been done to prevent them access to her is unbelievable...
The sooner Sartor/Costa/Iemma/Tripodi smeg off out of office, the better!

http://www.mvcapedonsociety.org.au/

I dare say there are probably a fair few similar stories in the heritage sector atm, and for everyone's sake, hope they band together to fight the good fight against this evil bunch of smegheads!!!

May be young'n'dumb, yet unlike some, I've heart!

fernhill · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:48 am

If the Office Of Rail Heritage Was doing such a fantastic job "Why do they need to contract for a spin doctor in today's SMH?"

Or should we get ready for worse things at Eveleigh

its amazing how many useful things you can do with $20mill

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

doridori · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:25 am

It will be interesting to see if and what changes happen due to the new political waters we find ourselves in...

May be young'n'dumb, yet unlike some, I've heart!