Darling Harbour, Sydney : Urban Renewal and an Historic Industrial Landscape in Transformation (1788-2009)

Ref.: 223
Área temática: 03 Integridad visual de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 04/11/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

JOHNSON, Wayne * (Australia) - Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority

ABSTRACT

From c1810 Sydney's Darling Harbour became the focus of industrial development in the recently established British colony of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia. What had been a place used by the Aboriginal people of Sydney Harbour as a major source for shell fish for over 7000 years rapidly adopted the fruits of Europe's Industrial Revolution.

Engineer John Dickson arrived in 1813 with the first steam engine in the southern hemisphere, and one of the earliest outside Europe. Steam powered flour mills, textile mills and other factories gave rise to support-industries, such as engineers and foundries. A growing immigrant urban population sought employment in the area, encouraged by workers housing by the 1830s. By the 1850s the trade union movement was well under way and numerous government commissions were held enquiring into the conditions of the working class in the area.

Transportation, in the form of an immense railway network, ensured that primary produce from an area equalling the combined size of Germany, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech and Slovak Republics, was channelled into the port facilities for trans-shipment to other Australasian colonial ports or to Europe, Asia and the Americas.

By 1901 the railway goods yards servicing the wharves dominated Darling Harbour and the ownership of the whole area had been resumed by the NSW Government. By the 1970s new port facilities south of Sydney saw the rapid decline of this former industrial centre located on the edge of Sydney's CBD. The NSW Government announced plans for urban renewal in 1984 and Darling Harbour was transformed into a place of entertainment, relaxation other commercial and cultural activities, opening to the public four years later.

In 1998 the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority was created, combining a number of NSW Government bodies, to be the place manager of large tracts of harbour-side real estate. This included the historic Rocks area of Sydney, site of the initial European settlement in 1788 and considered one of Australia's prime heritage conservation areas.

Based on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority's success in conserving, managing and promoting the heritage values of The Rocks, it is currently examining ways of enhancing the interpretation of Darling Harbour's industrial heritage. Relatively few tangible reminders of two centuries of change survive, however the geography of the harbour and its surrounds provides a strong link with the past and the use of historic photos and other artworks has proved an invaluable resource in assisting that interpretation.

New built forms are designed to respect and reflect traditional maritime industrial structures and introduced public domain elements such as streets and parks bear names that relate to the site's history. Sustainable development is also a prime consideration. Australia has in recent years adopted a « Green Star » rating system for office construction and work is nearing completion of a building in Darling Harbour that achieves the highest (6 star) rating.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA

Johnson, W. & Parris, R. (2008) : A History of Sydney's Darling Harbour. (Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority).