Birthplace of Bonds to be redeveloped to keep brand’s Australian history intact at Pendle Hill
A PLAN to develop the old Bonds Spinning Mills site at Pendle Hill has been given the green light, with an aim to preserve the heritage of the iconic brand.
Parramatta
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A PLAN to develop the old Bonds Spinning Mills site has been given the green light, with the aim of preserving the brand’s Australian heritage.
The State Planning Department has given “gateway” approval for the proposal for 1300 apartments in buildings up to 12 storeys high on the site in Pendle Hill.
A report for the owner J. S. T (NSW) Pty Ltd suggests the significant buildings such as The Cutting Room, the Dance Hall and the Old Bale Stores be kept for reuse in an accessible heritage precinct.
The report says the retained heritage elements, while close to high density apartments, would be set within an open parkland and could be used for commercial, retail and civic use.
A fresh food market has been suggested for the old Cutting Room.
In 1923, American George Bond established Australia’s first cotton spinning and weaving operation at Pendle Hill and started making lisle stockings from Australian cotton.
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“From its inception, the factory influenced the development of neighbouring suburbs of Wentworthville and Pendle Hill, including the construction of the Pendle Hill railway station and the expansion of retail and residential development to support the large Bonds workforce,” the report says.
Bonds went on to become the best known underwear brand in Australian history with the Chesty Bonds mascot selling the iconic Aussie cotton singlet.
The report says the ‘movable’ history from the site includes many examples of creative endeavour in the form of garmet design and advertising material which are a unique record of the company and its iconic brands.
Pacific Brands acquired Bonds in 1987 and sold the Pendle Hill site in 2012.
The Planning Deparment’s gateway decision supports the rezoning of the site in Dunmore St from light industrial to high-density residential.
Holroyd councillor Lisa Lake said the gateway approval had conditions attached and there would now be a public consultation process.
“Council is waiting for the urban design report, the traffic report and the conservation management plan before we start consultation,” she said.
Cr Lake said the development was set to increase new dwellings in Pendle Hill, combined with other smaller developments, by more than 2000, effectively doubling the population of the suburb to more than 10,000.
Residents met at the site on Saturday to discuss concerns about levels of density and traffic impacts.
Pendle Hill resident Cheryl Lloyd said social impacts needed to be considered.
“They have to consider how many more residents can our community comfortably hold and what effect will this have on our infrastructure and local businesses,” she said.
Other concerns include the traffic flow in Dunmore St, privacy issues, and the “visually intrusive” impact on existing homes.
Cr Lake said she had concerns about the social and environmental impacts of the development as well as the fallout from increased traffic.
“Traffic impacts are cause for concern on a single 8ha block of land with only two exit points,” she said.
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