North Parramatta heritage precinct makeover: Government commits to cultural, creative arts hub
The NSW government has unveiled its vision to bring the North Parramatta heritage site back to life with a mix of creative arts, start-up businesses and storytelling of the area’s rich and controversial past.
North Parramatta is set to become a jewel in western Sydney’s cultural and heritage crown after the State Government today unveiled plans to reawaken the sleeping giant.
The vision includes a transformation of the precinct — which includes 50 heritage buildings, many of which are decaying — into a vibrant mix of creative arts, storytelling of North Parramatta’s rich and controversial past, and a rise of start-up retail and innovation businesses.
Arts Minister Don Harwin and Parramatta Liberal MP Geoff Lee outlined plans for the heritage site which aim to help realise its untapped potential.
“Parramatta North’s Heritage Core is a publicly-owned, nationally-listed area that contains around 50 buildings in various states of repair and readiness, surrounded by green and open spaces that are crying out for activation,” Mr Harwin said.
“With the community’s input, the NSW government is developing a new vision that is locally contextual and globally relevant, recognising Parramatta North as a place of stories as well as a place for active memory, including both living and past histories.”
A community consultation process, led by UrbanGrowth NSW, is now under way as the government seeks feedback on its plans to bring the site back to life.
“This is an open invitation for cultural heritage and arts organisations, social enterprises and creative industries, particularly those with local and cultural links, to come forward and work with us to create a truly unique place,” Mr Lee said.
“We are also keen to hear from start-ups, small businesses, innovators, not-for-profits and emerging businesses that align with the vision for this precinct.”
The government’s commitment to the revamp comes after the Western Sydney Business Chamber recently called for a cultural and creative industries hub at the disused site.
“This is a huge victory for all those cultural community groups that have wanted access to something like for many years,” chamber director David Borger said.
“It’s fantastic that the government has responded and said ‘we’re opening the gates to one of oldest institutions in the country’.
“North Parramatta is going to become one of the most exciting parts of western Sydney once we’ve got this factory for artists and organisations ready to go.
“There is this critical mass of artists and people wanting to tell their stories, and this is the perfect place to do it.”
More information on the North Parramatta plans is at ugdc.nsw.gov.au
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