Work has begun on a heritage master
plan to guide development of public spaces in one of Lake Macquarie’s most
historically significant suburbs.
West Wallsend was home to more than
6000 people and four booming coal mines at its peak in the early 1900s, giving
rise to buildings and infrastructure that still stand today.
Lake Macquarie City Council Integrated
Planning Manager Wes Hain said consultation was underway on a West Wallsend
Heritage Master Plan to reinforce and strengthen the suburb’s historic
character, and to revitalise its retail and commercial precinct.
“We want... Continue reading
Work has begun on a heritage master
plan to guide development of public spaces in one of Lake Macquarie’s most
historically significant suburbs.
West Wallsend was home to more than
6000 people and four booming coal mines at its peak in the early 1900s, giving
rise to buildings and infrastructure that still stand today.
Lake Macquarie City Council Integrated
Planning Manager Wes Hain said consultation was underway on a West Wallsend
Heritage Master Plan to reinforce and strengthen the suburb’s historic
character, and to revitalise its retail and commercial precinct.
“We want to make sure any
revitalisation of West Wallsend is sympathetic to its important and fascinating
history,” Mr Hain said.
“West Wallsend’s significant
historical value is already recognised by its inclusion as a heritage
conservation area in our Local Environment Plan, but a master plan will provide
a blueprint for us to follow over the next 10-15 years.”
Local mining historian Ed Tonks said
the opening of the first colliery in West Wallsend in 1888 triggered rapid
growth in the area.
Within 15 years, the suburb had become
home to thousands of miners and their families, with shops, hotels and
eventually a steam tramway to Newcastle springing up to cater for the fledgling
community.
Mr Tonks cited West Wallsend as a
prime example of how coal mining drove the Hunter Region’s early expansion.
While the steam tramway and many other
features of the early township are long gone, important reminders of that era
remain.
They include the Museum Hotel, the
former Northumberland Hotel building and a collection of cooperative store
buildings in the heart of the retail precinct.
Mr Hain said the master plan would
include a streetscape plan and separate pedestrian access and mobility plan,
both focusing on the suburb’s historic central township around Carrington and
Withers Streets.
“Recent residential and commercial
development around West Wallsend have the potential to affect the viability and
long-term conservation of the old commercial precinct,” Mr Hain said.
“But there is a great opportunity here
to capitalise on West Wallsend’s rich history and use it to attract investment
and business, and to create a vibrant, contemporary retail and commercial
precinct.”
The master plan will cover land owned
or managed by Council, including footpaths, local roads and parks, but it won’t
address development on privately owned land.
“The next step is to hear from the
community about what is most important to them,” Mr Hain said.
“This will provide us with the core
values and aspirations that will shape the master plan.”
Public consultation is open until 23
November and includes an online portal (shape.lakemac.com.au/west-wallsend) where people can nominate buildings
or items of greatest heritage significance in West Wallsend, list local issues
of importance to them and provide ideas on how the suburb’s heritage
significance can be better acknowledged.
A community workshop will be held at
Holmesville Community Hall on Wednesday 7 November from 5.30pm-6.30pm to
further identify historical issues in West Wallsend. Interested community
members can register via shape.lakemac.com.au/west-wallsend.
