Multi-million dollar redevelopment proposal of Bulli’s Anglican church raises concern

_{By MICK ROBERTS}

SHARING plans at this stage for a proposed multi-million dollar redevelopment of historic St Augustine’s church site would be premature, according to Bulli’s Anglican senior minister.

The Bulli & Clifton Times has been made aware of a massive redevelopment proposal for the Park Road church.

The proposal includes the demolition of the former Wenloch Private School, now a church hall, to build seniors’ independent living and razing the rectory, between the church and the Bulli Mine Disaster Memorial, for a three storey auditorium style church building.

The Bulli & Clifton Times understands the redevelopment of the site, which would not include the demolition of the heritage listed church, may be in the order of $21 million. Plans, we’re told, would also include a child care centre inside the 1881 heritage listed church.

Many families in the district consider the site sacred, being home to a pioneer grave yard and memorial to the 81 men and boys killed in the 1887 Bulli colliery explosion.  Many of the victims of the tragedy were buried in the church yard.

The plans have stunned local historians and the families who have ancestors buried in the Bulli Mine Disaster Memorial Gardens, which was redeveloped from a grave yard by the church in the 1980s.

An artist impression obtained by the Bulli Times shows a large auditorium building over-shadowing the colliery disaster memorial, which is located on State Government land, next to the old rectory.

Bulli Anglican Senior Minister Reverend Michael Williamson told the Bulli & Clifton Times that commenting for a story on the parish’s plans for the site would be “premature by many months at least”.

“If we do have opportunity to do any work, this will only be made possible if there is significant community buy-in and significant public financial contribution – which we look forward to seeking if given the opportunity,” Rev Williamson said.

“The aim of any work would be to restore the site to become the local public amenity it once was, as a useful and viable place of public worship that embraces the historic, present, and future needs of the local area.”

Black Diamond District Heritage Centre president and local historian, Kerrie Anne Christian, who has six generations of her family buried in the memorial gardens behind the church, said she was stunned to learn of the plans.

“I am concerned at potential impacts on the church building and cemetery as they are on Wollongong City Council’s Local Environment Plan Heritage Register,” Ms Christian said.

“The church was designed by renowned 19th century church architect, Edmund Blackett. Inside the church building are heritage windows dedicated to early European Bulli pioneers.”

Ms Christian said many people would be concerned the 1887 Mine Disaster Memorial would be impacted, also that the gravestones of many Bulli European pioneers and Columbarium niches would not be relocated.

“There needs to be consultation with the wider Bulli community beyond the immediate neighbours,” she said.

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