Passionate activists took to the streets on Tuesday, chanting a message they have been pushing for years; save Willow Grove.
Hundreds marched in the COVID-registered event, sending a clear message to the State Government that they want the historic 19th century former maternity hospital preserved.
North Parramatta Residents Action Group (NPRAG) Spokesperson Suzette Meade spoke along with Parramatta Councillor Donna Davis and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak, echoing the message of their fight to save Willow Grove from being uprooted to another location to make way for Parramatta’s own Powerhouse Museum.
Ms Meade said the plans to pull down the Phillip Street monument were “outright vandalism”.
“We will chain ourselves to the fence; from all walks of life, from all over NSW, we are getting letters from people seven hours away offering to come down and tie themselves to the fence,” she said.
Parra News spoke with protester Jennifer Bloor whose brothers and sister were born in the landmark building.
Her sister Sue Ellis, a passionate advocate for the protection of Willow Grove, unfortunately passed away in late July.
The now South Coast resident said she will continue her sister’s fight, in memory of her.
“I wanted to come out and honour my sister, she would have been here so we are here together,” she said.
“To pull it down and put it somewhere else, brick by brick, is not the same.”
At the most recent Parramatta Council meeting a motion was passed by the casting vote of the Lord Mayor, which included council’s support for the relocation of Willow Grove, if given no other choice.
The purpose of the report was to seek Council’s approval of a letter to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in reply to Infrastructure NSW’s ‘Response to Submissions and Amended Proposal Report’ for the Powerhouse Museum.
The recommendation, whilst calling for more transparency on historical impact and method of relocation, also stated that “if the final submission proposes to relocate Willow Grove, then Council conditionally support the relocation, rather than its demolition”.
A rescission motion was successfully lodged with support from both Labor and Greens Councillors. This will be debated at the upcoming Council meeting.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.