Work proceeds on the $2.6bn Elizabeth Quay site, one of the city's biggest infrastructure developments. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: Supplied
Historian Richard Offen says he doubts the Elizabeth Quay development will work. Source: PerthNow
A LEADING historian has cast doubt over the Barnett Government's $2.6 billion Elizabeth Quay development, warning the project is a "grave error that we will regret for a long time''.
Heritage Perth executive director Richard Offen said he feared the highly touted foreshore development would turn into a white elephant.
"I fundamentally have no objection to development down there,'' he said.
"I think connecting the city to the river is a great idea but I have seen nothing to convince me that what they claim it will do, will actually do it. I don't think high rise is going to reconnect the city with the river.
"I think they have made a grave error that we will regret for a long time.''
Mr Offen was speaking to The Sunday Times and PerthNow ahead of the launch of an interactive exhibition at the State Library, which starts today.
Original Barrack Street Bridge, soon after tram track laying in 1900. Looking south towards the Swan River. Picture courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia. Source: PerthNow
Barrack St Bridge in 2013, looking south towards the Swan River. Source: PerthNow
The exhibition features rarely seen pictures of Barrack Street, named after the parade ground and barracks which was built for soldiers from the 63rd regiment in 1833.
While Mr Offen has his doubts about Elizabeth Quay, he is pragmatic about city buildings that have been pulled down over the last century.
"Perth people seem to beat themselves up a lot about this and being a smaller city, the loss probably feels like a lot more,'' he said.
"But it's part of the history. It shows what the fashion was in that era, post-Second World War.
"It was a period when it was the done thing anywhere in the world.''
Barrack St, 1920s: Anderson Bros butchers at 129 Barrack Street, Perth. Picture courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia Source: PerthNow
Barrack St butcher, 2013: The former site of Anderson Bros. butcher at 129 Barrack St, on the west side of Barrack St, now an optomitrist. Source: PerthNow
And how does he feel about the future of Barrack St?
"I think it has a great future especially since it's still the thoroughfare between the river and railway station,'' he said.
"It will change over time, as every street does, and some buildings will no doubt be altered, but I think the character and the ambience of the place will stay the same and that is a great outcome for a fascinating and delightful street.''
Barrack Street - A Time to Reminisce, will also feature stories of some of the most colourful characters that helped shape our city from Peter Albany Bell, the man credited with bringing the milkshake to Perth, to Charles McNess, a tinsmith who capitalised on the gold rush of the 1870s by selling supplies to prospectors from his Barrack Street shop.
* Barrack Street - A Time to Reminisce will be on show at the State Library from today until September 6.
Barrack Street circa 1940s. Looking up Barrack Street from the Swan River. Picture courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia Source: PerthNow
Barrack St, 2013. The Bell Tower precinct, looking up Barrack Street from the Swan River. Source: PerthNow
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
$2.6b Elizabeth Quay 'won't work'
Dengan url
https://donyblackedet.blogspot.com/2013/08/26b-elizabeth-quay-wont-work.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
$2.6b Elizabeth Quay 'won't work'
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
$2.6b Elizabeth Quay 'won't work'
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar