President’s Report
After a hectic and very successful end to 2019, with our Symposium on Historians and Truth Telling in November and our Christmas Sundowner in December, your History Council Committee has enjoyed some relaxation and reinvigoration over summer. Reports on those events follow in this newsletter, plus discussion of some heritage issues particularly in relation to rezonings across Perth, and early notice of our next Symposium, this time on Historians and the Environment, now in the planning stage.
With changes to zoning, heritage matters are emerging as potential issues. We had a response from the Minister to our query about progress on consideration of the nomination for the Windsor Theatre in Nedlands. The State Heritage Office is in discussions with the owner about progressing assessment of the place. The owner wants to knock it down to build a high-rise development.
For those who are not aware, the Nedlands section of Stirling Highway back to the first parallel street on either side has been re-zoned by the Minister for Planning, despite fierce opposition from the City of Nedlands. The new zoning permits the erection of 20 storey buildings and the developers are becoming active. We have known of Main Roads intention to widen Stirling Highway for some years. This adds to the confusion about the eventual fate of heritage buildings along the highway.
Good news on the heritage front is the appointment of the Hon John Cowdell AM as Chairman of the Heritage Council of WA. He holds an honours degree in History from UWA, together with a Graduate Diploma of Education. After his retirement from parliament and his illustrious role as President of the WA Legislative Council (2001-05), John, who had been a member of the National Trust for many years and was active in its Art Deco Committee and Council, was elected Chair of the National Trust Council, following my retirement. He cares deeply about history and heritage, understands the issues, and is a diplomat par excellence.
We were delighted that our nomination of Pam Harris to the State Records Advisory Committee as the representative for Historical Interests was accepted. She has been appointed for three years up to December 2022, with Bobbie Oliver as her Deputy. They will both do a fine job in what should be an interesting time following the appointment of Damian Shepherd as the new State Records Office Director six months ago.
If you haven’t already, please endorse the History Council Value of History Statement by going to the web page https://www.historycouncilwa.org.au/value-of-history. Scroll down the web page and click on the Endorse the Statement box.
Jenny Gregory