The 2014 Camden Town Centre Enhancement Strategy has faced controversy and distrust from residents and stakeholders, leading to a significant trust deficit. The proposed decked car park and lack of early and robust community engagement have fueled skepticism and discontent. Community consultation principles and the mayor's defense of the process are under scrutiny. Stakeholder concerns about legitimacy align with international practices.
Category: Urban Planning
Airds Shopping Mall demolition, the unmet expectations of mid-century modernism
The Airds shopping mall's future encapsulates the decline of mid-century modernism in the midst of urban neglect. Once a symbol of optimism, the area's decay reflects broader global trends in retail. From failed Radburn principles to public housing challenges, the mall's history mirrors the clash of modernism and neoliberalism in Campbelltown. Despite the despair former residents report that they recall happy memories and stories of hope growing up in the area.
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Narellan ‘Gayline’ Drive-In Movie Theatre, a touch of modernism
The Narellan Gayline Drive-In Movie Theatre in Camden was a defining feature of the local 1960s-1980s culture, offering a relaxed, family-friendly movie experience. The drive-in's success peaked in the early 1970s but eventually closed in 1990 due to changing lifestyles and real estate development. It provided a memorable experience for many local residents, offering a nostalgic look back at a bygone era.
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Yearning, Longing and The Remaking of Camden’s Identity: the myths and reality of ‘a country town idyll’.
This article discusses the concept of a "country town idyll" in Camden, an idealised version of a country town from an imagined past that uses history to construct imagery based on Camden's heritage buildings and other material fabrics. The paper delves into the origins of the idyll, examines its development, and investigates its validity in its contemporary context. It shows how its supporters have used history as a community asset to remake Camden's identity and explore how the 'country town idyll' has been used variously as a political weapon, a marketing tool, and a tourist promotion.
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Camden, the making and re-making of familiar places
This presentation at the WEA-RAHS Seminar Series on 28 October 2009 at History House, Sydney, explores the conflict between urban expansion and the desire to preserve Camden's identity as a country town. It delves into the tension between nostalgic ideals and the reality of modern development in the area.
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The Camden Library Museum, conservation through adaptative reuse
The Camden Library Museum, located at 40 John Street, has a rich history with numerous additions and occupants, including the Camden Council, Library, Fire Brigade, and Red Cross. The building's conservation through adaptation has retained its cultural significance as a heritage place. The former School of Arts and Temperance Hall have also played important roles in the building's evolution.
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Types of Mid-Century Modernist Housing in Camden
This blog post discusses the types mid-century houses of the Camden NSW area that were built as part of the economic growth and development created by the Burragorang coalfields. These houses were built between the Second World War and the early 1970s, have a variety of residential architectural styles are located south of the town centre, in Elderslie and at Narellan.
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Camden Material and Colour Guide, a heritage building guide
Camden Material and Colour Guide In 2023, Camden Council published the Camden Material and Colour Guide. The guide was the initiative of the Camden Council Heritage Advisory Committee. The aim of the guide The Material and Colour Guide aims to provide a handy guide for owners of heritage buildings with practical tips on working with… Continue reading Camden Material and Colour Guide, a heritage building guide
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Narellan Library Murals, a wall of public art
There are two colourful mural artworks along the Queen Street frontage of Narellan Library. These artworks were commissioned by Camden Council in 2017 as a collaboration between mural artist Mandy Salter and the area's young artists as part of a Youth Participation Public Art Project.
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Menangle School of Arts hall, the heart of a village, under redevelopment
The Menangle Community Association is leading a project to replace the former Menangle School of Arts with a modern community hall.
