Craig Donarski – the powerhouse behind White Bay

Described for many years as an eyesore, the White Bay Power Station is now set to become a major multi-disciplinary arts precinct like no other in the world.

“It will not be an art gallery,” Craig Donarski, Manager Arts, Culture and Creative Industries, White Bay Power Station said.

“There will be no white walls.”

The heritage listed 38,000 square metre industrial site is located at the neck of the Balmain peninsular just three kilometres from the CBD and is an example of how visionary politics from both sides of government can work.

Built to power Sydney’s tram and rail network between 1912 and 1917 with further extensions later constructed, White Bay became the longest serving city power station until it closed in 1983.

Then the hand wringing started, ‘should it go or should it stay?’ with interest at various stages from Disney and Google among the many developments mooted.

Donarski knows something about former power stations having been director of the Casula Powerhouse for the past seven years before his appointment at White Bay.

“When I was working at the Sydney Film Festival, Jackie (wife) and I went to the power station about 10 years ago for a wrap party for The Great Gatsby,” Donarski said.

“Baz (Luhrmann) had Bazzafied the space with mirror balls, lasers, smoke machines and dancing and DJs and bars and I thought that it would be great to get your hands on this.”

At the moment there are three spaces ready for use with other spaces waiting to be progressively remediated as the site develops.

“For the immediate now there are three spaces, which are the Boiler Room, theTurbine Hall and this gorgeous little area called the Recreation Hall, which is a 1920s dance hall pickled in the era and that has a sprung wooden dance floor and benches down either side and a little stage at one end and old fashioned footlights,” Donarski said.

The dimensions for the sites ready for use are staggering, with the Turbine Hall being the largest at around 144m long and 25m from floor to ceiling while the Boiler Room is 75m long and 25m floor to ceiling.

“These three spaces are good to go but there is also a ton of other spaces that haven’t been remediated yet,” Donarski said.

“There is a building next to the Turbine Hall that is almost as large and also the coal handling shed that will make a great mid-sized venue.”

The first reuse of the space will be for the 24th Biennale of Sydney in March.

“The Biennale is using the two large spaces and also some outdoor space for art and music and performance, concert workshops, talks and interactive events,” Donarski said.

“On their opening night March 8 they will have 2,000 people but the venue can legally fit up to 4,450 people.”

Donarski sees events playing a big role in the future of the space and is quick to assure that White Bay will not detract from current spaces.

“Unlike other post industrial conversions in NSW, all the others were gutted out and turned into shells, (whereas) this place wears its heritage on its sleeve and it is just an empty space and a blank canvas,” Donarski said.

As White Bay comes under the auspices of Placemaking NSW within Minister Paul Scully’s Planning and Public Spaces portfolio it is assured of continued funding, unlike many other arts venues across the state.

“Funding at Casula was mostly made by Liverpool Council with sporadic investment from Create NSW and Creative Australia,” Donarski said.

“There are a variety of ministers who have an interest in the place such as John Graham with Arts and Transport, because of the eventual connection of White Bay to the Metro West, which is going to be critical to its development,” Donarski said.

While the delivery of the Metro West Station is not expected before 2030, a bus turning zone in front of the power station is being constructed for the Biennale and all of the current Balmain/Rozelle buses stop right outside the venue.

Donarski is also looking forward tonging the expertise contained with Placemaking NSW, who look after many key sites around Sydney such as Luna Park Reserve, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour.

“Between the team at Placemaking there is a massive amount of deep production knowledge,”Donarski said.

From mid-July, the the Biennale bumps out, until early next year is going to be a period of testing and  trialling to see what kinds of events can work in the site.

“It is an empty space and a blank canvas,” Donarski said.

“It is gritty and industrial and quite steam punk and has a real flavour.”