Save the Bucket List

Why we aren't happy!

We love this great community space!

WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE ADVICE FROM THE HERITAGE COUNCIL that the ‘glass bubble’ – the glazed semi-circular addition at the northern end of the Pavilion and part of the commercial premises currently trading as the ‘Bucket List’ (BL) is intrusive, and invite them to come to Bondi Beach to have a conversation about this recommendation.

This enclosed space with its 180’ view of the beach, allows appreciation of the natural beauty of this beach 365 days of the year. Without it the Pavilion is diminished. 

The curve of this addition reflects the natural curve of the beach and could be said to enhance the straight rigid lines of a building designed by people with a very different understanding of what a beach means today.

This addition as part of the BL, is of high social and cultural significance, which can be attested to by the hundreds of thousands of people who use this space, the locals, the tourists, the international visitors, the community groups, the kids and their parents.

The culture is ‘beach culture’ referred to in its National Heritage Listing in January 2008, and its State Heritage listing gazetted on 23 May 2008.

Bondi Beach, Bondi Park, Bondi Surf Pavilion, and the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club building form a cultural landscape of State significance as an iconic representation of the Australian beach experience. 

The place is of social and aesthetic significance as a landmark, recognised internationally as a symbol of Australia's popular beach culture. While the Bondi Surf Pavilion has been modified over time, the relationship of the building to the promenade and beach, as well as the park and its intact features (including two concrete pedestrian bridges with standard lamps, the promenade, and numerous pathways in original locations), retains its integrity to the 1928 beach improvement design.

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5055526 accessed 25 Sept 2018

THE ‘GLASS BUBBLE’ AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BL HAS FULFILLED A NEED FOR THAT SPECIAL PLACE THAT CONNECTS THE PAVILION TO THE SAND AND THE SEA.

Why is the ‘glass bubble’ being removed in this concept?

The ‘glass bubble’ is not part of the heritage facade. The removal of the 'glass bubble' in this concept was based on the Bondi Pavilion Conservation Management Plan (CMP). Also, advice from the NSW Heritage Office suggested including the bubble in the design would not be supported when submitting our Development Application (DA).

Q & A https://haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/bondipavilion

The argument that the removal of the ‘glass bubble’ is based on the Bondi Pavilion Conservation Management Plan (CMP) and ‘advice’ from the NSW Heritage Office suggesting that ‘including the bubble in the design would not be supported’ when the DSA was submitted, is spurious.

The conclusion of the CMP states in part that :

Application of the conservation policies for the Bondi Pavilion is to be undertaken to … facilitate ongoing adaptive and sustainable reuse of the place to ensure ongoing conservation and enhancement of its recreational and cultural roles, and allow for sensitive and appropriate new development that will not impact adversely on the heritage significance of the place.

Tanner Kibble Denton Architects June 2018 Issue H 191

It is argued that there is already in place an adaptive and sustainable reuse of the place that is ensuring enhancement of its recreational and cultural roles – that adaptive reuse exists in the commercial premises currently trading as the ‘Bucket List.’

Sensitive and appropriate development seems to be in the eye of the beholder – the design of this commercial premise was initially approved by the Heritage Council. Now it seems those eyes have changed, and it is now classed as ‘intrusive’!

ANYTHING TO DO WITH HERITAGE IS BASED ON THE BURRA CHARTER which states in the Preamble:

Why conserve?

Places of cultural significance enrich people’s lives, often providing a deep and inspirational sense of connection to community and landscape, to the past and to lived experiences. They are historical records, that are important expressions of

Australian identity and experience. Places of cultural significance reflect the diversity of our communities, telling us about who we are and the past that has formed us and the Australian landscape. They are irreplaceable and precious.

These places of cultural significance must be conserved for present and future generations in accordance with the principle of inter-generational equity.

The Burra Charter advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as necessary to care for the place and to make it useable, but otherwise change it as little as possible so that its cultural significance is retained.

Most significant is the statement that The Burra Charter advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as necessary to care for the place and to make it useable, but otherwise change it as little as possible so that its cultural significance is retained.

Step 1 of the Burra Charter is:

in planning and managing a place of cultural significance is

UNDERSTAND THE PLACE

Define the place and its extent

Investigate the place: its history, use, association, fabric

WE ARE NOT SATISFIED THAT THE HERITAGE COUNCIL understands this place, nor that they have investigated its history, use, association, and fabric sufficiently, and invite them to come to Bondi Beach to have a conversation about this.