1. What do you think are the three most important heritage places in Moreland? Why?
I find it difficult to offer you only three places of broad cultural appeal. All I can tell you is that MY heritage means that Brunswick South Primary School is a site of extraordinary meaning; that Hoffmans has always loomed large as a place of almost spiritual meaning. We have bricks in our paving here at home with the Hoffmans stamp on them, small tokens of Brunswick’s heritage. And I love those almost strange houses from the fifties and sixties that dot parts of Moreland Road and also tell an amazing story that we must make sure gets remembered.
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2. The Hoffman Brickworks in Dawson Street Brunswick are classified by the National Trust as of national heritage significance, and are also recognised on the Victorian Government's Heritage Register and the Commonwealth Government's National Estate Register. The historic core of the site - the kilns, brick pressing shed and gatehouse - is the last area of the brickworks to be redeveloped.
What would you like to see happen to the historic core?
This is quite a simple matter. This centre must be preserved, restored and, most importantly, become part of a story that is very consciously and actively told. I have to say that the Save the Brickworks people have for a long time maintained a compelling campaign for this and that I and the rest of my family have always supported this.
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3. In 1997, Moreland City Council committed $400,000 to assist the developer conserve Kiln 2.
What do you think would be a reasonable return to the community for this investment?
This commitment of Council has always seemed to me to be somewhat half-hearted. There has been an unwillingness by Council officers to support the risk implied in getting full value from this intended investment and a failure by many Councillors after the days of Andy Ingham to confront those officers and offer proper direction. In simple terms, Council has a responsibility to ensure that as much of the historic Hoffmans site as possible is preserved, interpreted and presented to the community as possible. Personally – and I know that it will be a big ask to get other Councillors to support this – I would favour an active investment of Council funds where equity and ownership was sought. That way, the future development of at least some of this site falls into public hands.
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4. What is your opinion about the redevelopment of the brickworks site to date?
I can claim no more than a cursory overview. I have to say, though, that the overall quality of the development appears to me to be quite disappointing, given the significance of the site. I am concerned that such thin-walled tilt-concrete developments may well be just potential slums in the making.
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5. If elected to Moreland City Council, how will you work to get the best outcomes for the community on the brickworks site?
My commitments will be threefold:
1. To commit to a rigorous and active process of community consultation.
2. To acknowledge the pre-eminent contribution of the Save the Brickworks movement and establish practical, long term relationships with the group.
3. To work to convince all Councillors to re-assert Council’s interest in the site and to seek an active involvement in development AND preservation through investment and ownership.
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6. The community, through Save the Brickworks, the National Trust and Brunswick Community History Group continue to have strong concerns about the developer's proposals for the historic core, especially in terms of heritage integrity, community use and access.
If elected to Moreland City Council, would you be willing to seek to renegotiate agreements on the historic core with the developers to address these community concerns?
Yes.
I need to know more about Hoffmans and the recent stance taken by both the developer and Council. But I can tell you this; Andy Ingham ensured that I understood the full value of this site and taught me the merit of fighting to preserve our heritage.
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Other comments:
I remember, when a Brunswick Secondary College student, walking past that amazing brick wall/fence with all those different bricks to the bus stop, and the discussions it provoked about our heritage. It is a sad day when a piece of our history is forever lost.
Jo Connellan will, I know, also fight for Hoffmans. I know we hold similar views. I am a Labor candidate and will work for the best possible outcome for the Moreland council. Which means working productively with whomever is elected, and insuring that sites like the Hoffmans Brickworks receive the attention that they deserve from the Moreland City Council.