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25.01.2022 A collection of stunning photos courtesy of Elizabeth Mostran.
23.01.2022 This is brutal. The first 1874 caissons has been decimated. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Mostran.
21.01.2022 This morning Heritage Act posted a photo showing the gradient of the recently-landscaped greenspace in Thompson Square a slope so steep stairs are required on each side for safe passage. A concerned community member rightfully asked Are there any concessions for people with wheelchairs, canes, scooters or walkers to get down to the bottom where the stairs are?... and on another photo taken from a different perspective:- Please show me way down to the bottom for all the people who have walking issues and use aides. All good to have stairs, but what about a way down to the bottom for people with wheelchairs, scooters, canes, walkers? In 2012 the RMS released Questions and Answers:- "Q: What facilities will be available for persons using a wheelchair? Can they access the shared user path? A: Unfortunately, due to the steep natural topography of Windsor and its interface with the river some elements of this project may not meet the normal guidelines followed in the provision of facilities for wheelchairs. So the Government always knew it wouldn’t be accessible, they just didn’t care. Neither did the Liberal politicians who supported it, or they would have demanded the historic bridge be kept for pedestrian access, which is located just metres from the disabled parking bays. Campaigning continues to retain the historic caissons of our Windsor Bridge, with the view it could be re-decked for pedestrian use. However taking into account that just two weeks ago, the Hawkesbury Liberals voted AGAINST simply CONSIDERING (just consider!) a minor increase in the budget to improve access to public toilets for people with disabilities (with around 30 public amenity facilities in the Hawkesbury not meeting requirements of current legislation), we are not hopeful they will care about providing a pedestrian crossing that can actually be accessed.
18.01.2022 Well said Kent. From the Sydney Morning Herald Letters to the editor.
17.01.2022 The partially demolished, historic Windsor Bridge, November 2020. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Mostran.
16.01.2022 Today's destruction. Images courtesy of Neil Dand.
15.01.2022 The continuing destruction, and our stunning river. Images courtesy of Paul Caleo.
14.01.2022 Heritage protection, NSW Liberal Government style. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Mostran.
14.01.2022 The slow annihilation of the historic Windsor Bridge. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Mostran.
13.01.2022 The historic Windsor Bridge is being destroyed, and after being sterilised of its rare archaeology, the NSW Government thinks a few young trees and a bit of grass in the oldest public Square in the nation will somehow absolve them of their crimes against heritage. But below is what the RMS' own heritage experts said in the main planning document for the WBRP. Read it and ask yourself why the Government would choose the worst option for Windsor. "Thompson Square is significant... to at least a State level for its historical, associative, research and social values. It has an exceptional level of rarity. Some of the archaeological resource within Thompson Square and extending further south and north is also likely to be of at least State heritage significance, as are archaeological remains of the wharves within the body of the river. Windsor Bridge is a State significant structure that is rare and has historical and technical significance. Each item has, through the historical association with the other, become part of the same landscape. Both the square and bridge contribute to State significant views of Windsor as a historic township. "From a heritage conservation perspective the most appropriate treatment of Thompson Square and Windsor Bridge is to avoid any further negative impact and to take the opportunity identified by the Heritage Council to remove through traffic. The recommendations below have been made in response to the cultural significance of the project area. "As the significance of the archaeological resource within the project area, and in particular within Thompson Square and down to the river would be diminished by the project, the preferred outcome is that this resource remains intact." The image in the graphic courtesy of Elizabeth Mostran.
12.01.2022 From Paul Caleo, following the felling of the caissons yesterday. "Challenges again in removing the felled second set of cast iron caissons from our 1874 ‘Dixon and Turnbull’ Windsor Bridge. In this image, I captured the moment another flotation device, used as part of the caisson clamping and removal device, failed." Images courtesy of Paul Caleo and Neil Dand.
12.01.2022 New dates have been released for tours of 'The Crossing' exhibition with renowned artist Greg Hansell. This exhibition of paintings, photos and sketches focusses on the crossings and bridge over the Hawkesbury River at Windsor and is on display at the Central Library Windsor. The exhibition includes around 50 works and has been curated by celebrated Hawkesbury artist Greg Hansell, who lives close to the bridge.... Take the opportunity to tour this exhibition with the artist himself. Saturday 28 November 11-12 Wednesday 9 December 6-7pm Friday 22 January 3-4pm Tours are free but bookings essential! https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tour-the-crossing-exhibitio
07.01.2022 This morning another set of caissons have been felled. This is inexcusable, unjustified heritage destruction.
06.01.2022 Image and commentary courtesy of Venecia Wilson. #demolitiondom "That Dom fails to see the hypocrisy writ large of his commentary, blaming others for a failure to satisfactorily address anything but utility, whilst clearly ignoring his own utilitarian crimes, is telling.... "Dom has presided, in various forms, over more destruction of beauty and cultural assets in Sydney and surrounds than anyone since Askin wielded a shovel. "He clearly has a desire to re-write history, as well as remake our society in what his own limited imagination produces. "Ignoring anything that doesn't fit the image inside his own eyelids, Dom puts his hands over his ears and tells himself that his is the only true vision. "Sure, he says we need to 'have a conversation' about architecture, but what he actually means, is that he's going to impose his own vision on everyone, whether they want it or not. "Why? Because he thinks it's his destiny. "So Dom, if you're watching, here's some of your quotes back at you, complete with optics. "Why are others' utilitarian impositions ugly, but not yours? Think about it."
06.01.2022 Thank you to Paul Caleo for these wonderful images. They are of part of a plan of the 1874 ‘Dixon and Turnbull’ Windsor Bridge, dated 13 January 1872 and signed by William King Dixon and Andrew Turnbull. From Paul:- "The unique values and history of this amazing piece of engineering has been so well detailed. Sadly the NSW Government continues with the demolition of our bridge, a state and national heritage and public asset. This past week we have witnessed the felling of the... first set of 1874 cast iron caissons.... "Also this week I was privileged to sight and photograph a copy of a plan of part of the 1874 ‘Dixon and Turnbull’ Windsor Bridge, dated 13 January 1872 and signed by William King Dixon and Andrew Turnbull. Thank you Michael Greentree for showing me this copy."
03.01.2022 The flotation device being used in the destruction of the next set of pylons proved difficult to install yesterday.
03.01.2022 A chalkboard from our days occupying Thompson Square.
02.01.2022 Another image of the caissons crashing into the river, courtesy of Paul Caleo.
02.01.2022 Our bridge is not coming down easily. Images and accompanying comments courtesy of Neil Dand.
01.01.2022 Treasurer Dominic Perrottet must have felt like a right goose when Minister Rob Stokes, earlier this week, said the Treasurer "would make an appalling heritage architect. Instead of humbly accepting Mr Stokes’ very accurate assessment and getting on with fixing the things, Mr iDon’tCare decided to double down on his idiocy and write a list of ‘Top 10’ heritage-listed structures he wants to see demolished. And although he claims this article is tongue-in-cheek, it actually hi...ghlights Dominic’s complete and deliberate ignorance of the role his own Government has played in the uglification of our cities. Dominic waxes lyrical about slamming the wrecking ball into architecture he deems is unsympathetic to surrounding heritage the scars from the architectural establishment's obsession with utilitarianism yet fails to acknowledge his own participation in a hate crime against beauty - that of the heritage crimes inflicted on Thompson Square. Let’s not mince words on this because Mr Perrottet was himself the ‘architect’ of this criminal act; one where the oldest public Square in the nation has been wounded by ugliness and misery. So while Mr Perrottet says, Whatever they were smoking back in the '60s, it must have been strong. This ramshackle annex to the stunning sandstone LPI building resembles an outhouse tacked on to a federation home and it stinks the same too. he misses the fact that, in years to come (and even now!), people will be asking What was Dom smoking when he destroyed rare convict-built heritage and decimated the heritage values of a significant heritage space, for a blight of a concrete monolith that failed to do what they promised it would? Mr Perrottet may amuse himself with his own cleverness, but he fools no one. This philistine is no advocate for sensitive urban design. We will never forget what he has done to Windsor and we will never forgive our then local Member for his utter betrayal of this community.
01.01.2022 Minister for Planning Rob Stokes has just declared NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet "would make an appalling heritage architect." Can't say we disagree. But where were you, Rob Stokes when Dominic supported and funded the destruction of rare convict-built heritage in the oldest public square in the nation? Did you bother to intervene then?... And where were you when, in his role as treasurer, Dominic funded a failure of a project, the money from which could have provided us with a decent traffic solution? A project which has significantly damaged Windsor's economic future? And please, Mr Stokes, where were you when we repeatedly requested a meeting with you in your role as Planning Minister to discuss the retention of the historic Windsor Bridge? So yes, we agree Dominic would make a lousy heritage architect because his track record in the Hawkesbury demonstrated he was pretty lousy at just about everything. Just like the rest of the NSW Liberal Government. https://www.smh.com.au//excellent-treasurer-appalling-arch
