30 August 2000

Dr Andrew Refshauge MLA

Minister of Urban Affairs and Planning

NSW Parliament House

Macquarie St

Sydney NSW 2000

re: ensuring a place for Haberfield

on the State Heritage Register

Dear Dr Refshauge

This letter entreats your assistance in finding an honorable resolution to an unintended anomaly in the legislation governing the State Heritage Register.

At the moment, while the Federation Suburb of Haberfield has long been on the Register of the National Estate, it is precluded from the State Register because, being a suburb, it is a multiplicity rather than just one or a few items.

Yet the very essence of Haberfield’s significance is the synergy it shows, not by way of this house or that, but as a specific subdivision format called a “Garden Suburb”. This is not just a fancy phrase, but professional Town Planning terminology. (Further backgrounding is included with this letter.)

In effect, the reason that Haberfield is currently not in the State listing is the very reason why it should be listed.

This “catch 22” situation is variously regretted and deplored at every level of heritage and conservation expertise, from your own Heritage Office onwards - refer attachments. Everyone agrees it should be listed – but there is no legislative wherewithal to do so.

What is needed is your authorisation for an addition to the current HeritageAct that allows Haberfield to be placed on the NSW State Heritage Register in such a way that, while accorded full recognition on a State level, the day-to-day administration is delegated back to its Local Government authority, namely Ashfield Council.

Variations on this system are used with other notable Garden Suburbs and precincts.

In the UK, the famous Hampstead Garden Suburb has its own Act of Parliament setting up a special Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust to supervise day-to-day affairs and act as liaison between the Govt, residents and the local Authority. This heritage hierarchy has worked effectively for many years and, given the many parallels, would be the preferred management model for Haberfield.

In the USA, I gather that the pre-Independence English Quarter of Boston has an even stricter management regime. This precinct is considered of such national significance that intending homeowners need a special “licence” to confirm their heritage credentials before being allowed to buy a house there.

Australia also has precedents. For instance, in Adelaide, Colonel Light Gardens has recently been accorded its own SA Act, with delegation to Mitcham Council.

There are two reasons why establishing something similar for Haberfield is rapidly becoming a matter of urgent concern.

The first is that Haberfield’s long-standing protection (such as it is) by way of listing on the Register of the National Estate is vulnerable as a result of the dilution of the Australian Heritage Commission in the recent Commonwealth Biodiversity and Environment Protection Act 1999. Unless its own State steps in, there is a real risk its heritage status could revert to that of “just another suburb” – ie none.

The second reason is that of timing. Next year is not just the Centenary of Federation, but the Centenary of Haberfield – the Federation Suburb. Its foundation in 1901 gives Haberfield not just national, but international significance. In comparison, Hampstead Garden Suburb started in 1906, and Colonel Light Gardens planned in 1914, but not started until 1922-24.

What could be more appropriate than for NSW to celebrate this Centenary by making it possible for Haberfield to take its place on the Register of our State’s heritage.

This small suburb is not just uniquely intact, but so seminal to our nation’s psyche that it is often called the “birthplace of the Great Australian Dream”. To ignore it (ie downgrade it) for want of a simple amendment would be unthinkable.

I could include many other reasons why Haberfield should be on the NSW State Register, and some of these are touched on in the background attached. However, by far the best way is to see and experience it as a practical reality.

As a Minister you are no doubt overwhelmingly busy. But if there is anyway that you can take time out for a different kind of exploration, it would be an honour to spend an hour or so showing you why and how Haberfield is so unique. Although it’s probably impertinent of me to suggest it, a weekend stroll along our tree-lined streets could be just the thing.

If you are unable to come, I would happily walk and talk with whomever you nominate to inquire further into this request.

Yours sincerely

Cr Emma Brooks Maher

cc Mr John Murphy MP

Mr John Murray MLA

Haberfield Association

HABERFIELD - A BRIEF BACKGROUND

People have been long aware that the Haberfield is of national heritage significance. This comes not just from its wonderful array of Federation and interwar houses, but even moreso as a world pioneer in Town Planning principles.

This was first recognised by the National Trust as early as 1980, and reinforced by the Commission of Inquiry held in 1981. This status was confirmed by the NSW State Government when Haberfield was declared one of the first-ever NSW Conservation Areas and given its own heritage section within the Ashfield LEP of 1985.

Five years later, and after rigorous consideration, the whole of postcode 2045 was placed on the Register of the National Estate. This was in 1991.

Since then, further research has only served to deepen our understanding of Haberfield’s remarkable role in the development of our social history as a nation of homeowners, quite apart from its architectural treasure trove of Federation homes.

Indeed, this significance is of international standing, with Haberfield probably being not just one of the largest and most intact of the world’s Garden Suburbs but probably also the first -the only dispute being one of academic definition.

The Garden Suburb usually thought of as first-established is the UK’s Hampstead Garden Suburb. However this dates from 1906, while Haberfield was started in 1901, hence its other title of “Federation Suburb”. Next year, Haberfield shares its Centenary with the Centenary of Federation itself.

In its day, Haberfield marked a revolution not just in town planning, but also in social engineering. In 1901 it was deliberately planned for peer-group living – mid-range and egalitarian with no mansions, no slums. House-styles, streetscapes and community relationships are part of the plan. Backyards are not just space, but a statement of the healthy outdoor living that all families have a right to as Australians.

Haberfield also marks a revolution in domestic management – the respectable DIY housewife. There are no maid’s rooms in Haberfield houses. Kitchens are close to dining rooms. Bathrooms are central, and laundries attached. Haberfield was also, and deliberately, a commuter suburb. It was even re-planned in 1904 to take account of the motor-car – decades ahead of the T-model Ford.

Haberfield is also a triumph of construction. Almost 1600 homes were planned, financed and built in 10-14 years – most arranged by one developer using advanced vertical marketing strategies. Likewise, most were designed by the one architect, built using radically new techniques like cavity brick and sewer connection.

No two houses were the same - and not one nail-gun or power saw used to do any of them. In logistics alone, Haberfield is an achievement of huge significance.

After World War I another 600-odd homes were added, many of them the finest examples of California Bungalows extant. In fact, despite being just 6kms from the Sydney CBD, Haberfield has, by a miracle of location, survived extraordinarily intact. The Commission of Inquiry in 1981 estimated that no less than 85% of the suburb was original or near-original. Since 1985, strict rules have been used to maintain this integrity, while still allowing upgrading with all the amenities of modern living.

The values & vision built into Haberfield are an ongoing part of our Social Heritage.