A walking tour around Waterloo by REDWatch and a forum on The Future of Public Housing at Counterpoint’s The Factory, were parts of the Henry Halloran Research Trust at Sydney University’s Festival of “Public” Urbanism 2024. The festival explored the future of urban governance, planning and design in the face of climate change and social inequality.
The walking tour recognised that urbanism must also address a troubled past. Waterloo was Aboriginal “public” space until privatised by invasion, and gentrification continues to deny Aboriginal connection to this place.
The walk explored Public Housing’s past and possible future, including the 50 per cent in the high-rises, the 30 per cent in Waterloo South mid-rise and walk-up redevelopment area and the 20 per cent in the Heritage area. The oldest house in Waterloo is owned by Homes NSW.
The latest “public” space at the Metro, the Waterloo shops and sites like Redfern School and Rachel Forster that were sold off or are now controlled by different “public” bodies were also visited. The walk passed many heritage items that we preserve for “public” interest.
To find more about the area’s heritage you can explore sites on The NSW Heritage Inventory (search your suburb) and consult The Dictionary of Sydney. For more information on the Green Bans and public housing in Waterloo see Tom Zubrycki’s film Waterloo (1981) and the Housing Commission 1988 Waterloo Walk Tour of the Historic Suburb of Waterloo. On the REDWatch website you will also find a 2021 Sydney LGA public housing map.
“The future of public housing” forum heard perspectives from Rebecca Pinkstone, Chief Executive of Homes NSW, Alistair Sisson from Macquarie University, Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore and public housing tenants Karyn Brown and Norrie. Sessions from the festival will be on its YouTube channel.
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Geoff Turnbull is Spokesperson for REDWatch and led the walking tour.
