Flurry Of Petitions Against Victoria Barracks Divestment

Several online petitions against divesting the historic Victoria Barracks are circulating, and Sydney MLA Alex Greenwich has relayed concerns to the defence minister.

The e-petitions include one on change.org with 1,650 signatures as of writing, another on the Australian Parliament website with over 990 and one from radio station 2GB. In addition, Liberal MP for Canning Andrew Hastie has a petition against all planned divestments, covering 68 Defence Force facilities across Australia, garnering almost 7,260 signatories thus far.

Opponents of the plan include parliamentarians from across the aisle, among them Labor Coogee MLA Marjorie O’Neill and former prime minister Paul Keating.

“From the earliest days of colonial forces, through Federation, and into the modern Australian Defence Force, Victoria Barracks has played a central role in shaping Australia’s defence capability and national identity,” O’Neill wrote to defence minister Richard Marles.

The site was a hive of activity during the World Wars, as Australians flocked to enlist.

“Would be criminal” to “destroy” barracks, says petitioner

Rosemary Hayman is behind the change.org petition. “My father was an officer in the Australian Army, fighting in both the Second World War and Vietnam,” she said.

“I lived in the barracks as a small child and understand the significance of the whole site. The heritage value is not just the buildings but the parade grounds, the ability to stand back and see a whole Georgian working barracks.”

“It would be criminal to destroy this.”

Hayman has written both to independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and to Hastie. “Ms. Spender was not so supportive,” she said.

The reply from Spender’s office pledged that she will “engage with the stakeholders to ensure that any future development is sympathetic to the history, architectural heritage, and existing green space of the site, and that constituents such as yourself, as well as the veteran community, are informed and involved at every step of the way.”

Greenwich says locals worried about “inappropriate” development

On Friday 27 March, Greenwich, an independent, authored a letter to the defence minister. “Many locals have contacted me to express deep concern about the loss of a heritage landmark and the historical legacy of the site, including the Victoria Barracks Sydney Army Museum,” he typed.

“While locals would welcome greater public access to the green spaces of the barracks, people are worried that the sale of the site and privatisation of the land could result in inappropriate development and restrict public access.”

Criticism of the planned divestment varies between those who wish to see the Army remain, and those who wish to shape what happens should it leave.

While the Government is expected to seek the preservation of heritage-listed elements should a sale go ahead, “this does not ensure Sydneysiders will be able to experience or appreciate the buildings and surrounds,” Greenwich continued.

“The Victoria Barracks is a significant and historically rich site that should remain in public hands and selling it to property developers would be short-sighted. At 13 hectares, the Victoria Barracks has the potential to provide public open space and much-needed public housing.”

“Under public ownership, the site could also be reutilised as a Sydney military base if required.”

Greenwich wrote that it “will be important not to take a binary approach” to its future. He called on Marles to “carefully consider the concerns and needs of the community” regarding public benefit and access, should the Army be vacated.