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| '''Green Bans''' are a form of [[strike]] where construction workers refuse to work on projects that will damage the environment or a local community. They most famously occurred in Australia throughout the early 1970s, and led to numerous state-based environmental protections as well as being one of the historical inspirations for [[Green Syndicalism]].
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| == List of Actions ==
| | '''Green Bans''' are [[Strike|strikes]] designed to protect the environment or key parts of a local community. They were mainly done in [[Australia]] in the [[Timeline of Anarchism in Oceania|1970s]], led by the [[Builders Labourers Federation]] (BLF) and used to protect parkland, low-income housing and buildings with historical significance. The Green Bans have served as one of the main historical inspirations for [[Green Syndicalism]]. |
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| === Melbourne === | | == Philosophy == |
| <strong>1. Kelly’s Bush (Mid 1971)</strong> | | [[Jack Mundey]], a leading Green Ban organiser, summarised the philosophy of the Green Bans as such:<blockquote>"Yes, we want to build. However, we prefer to build urgently-required hospitals, schools, other public utilities, high-quality flats, units and houses, provided they are designed with adequate concern for the environment, than to build ugly unimaginative architecturally-bankrupt blocks of concrete and glass offices... Though we want all our members employed, we will not just become robots directed by developer-builders who value the dollar at the expense of the environment. More and more, we are going to determine which buildings we will build... The environmental interests of three million people are at stake and cannot be left to developers and building employers whose main concern is making profit. Progressive unions, like ours, therefore have a very useful social role to play in the citizens' interest, and we intend to play it."</blockquote> |
| An area of natural bushland in Hunters Hill, threatened with expansion by A.V. Jennings.
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| Bans
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed after a Meeting of A.V. Jennings’ workers at a Public Meeting
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| at Hunters Hill at which a group of women, calling themselves “The
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| Battlers for Kelly’s Bush”, formally requested that the Builders’
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| Labourers impose a ban.
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| The Bushland remains to this day.
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|
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| <strong>2. The Rocks (Late 1971)</strong>
| | == Notable green bans == |
| Original
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>ban on request of residents for proper housing. Changed in 1972, when
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| there was a new rationale brought about by the Royal Australian Planning
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>Institute’s report questioning the Sydney Cove Re-Development Scheme,
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| which would have meant five hundred million dollars worth of high-rise
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| building in this residential area.
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| Subsequently, the first people’s plan was drawn up for “Rocks” area at the residents’ request.
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| The ban remained as at October 1973.
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|
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|
| <strong>3. Victoria Street (1971)</strong>
| | === Adelaide === |
| A
| | * Highbury Park |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>historic street in Sydney.A wide response to opposition of the building
| | * Norwood Velodrome |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>of a forty-five storey complex, and insistence that Victoria Street
| | * Unley Road Shops |
| should be kept low-rise with provision for middle and low income wage
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| earners to reside. To highlight the need for low income earners to live
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| in the city, widespread “squatting” occurred in Victoria Street. In
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| January 1974 a confrontation occurred – all residents (except Mick
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| Fowler) were removed from the Street. Massive arrests took place during
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| the confrontation. The ban still applies in this Street as at June 1974.
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|
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| <strong>4. Congregational Church (February 1972)</strong>
| | === Brisbane === |
| First of
| | * Bellevue Hotel |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the bans imposed on buildings considered by the National Trust to be
| | * Queensland Club |
| worthy of preservation for historical or architectural reasons. The
| | * The Mansions |
| building still stands as at October 1973.
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|
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|
| <strong>5. Opera House Car Park (March 1972)</strong>
| | === Canberra === |
| After
| | * Black Mountain Tower |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>approaches from Labor Party Politicians, progressive architects and the
| | * Googong Dam |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>Total Environment Centre, a Public Meeting requested Builders’
| | * Reid House |
| Labourers to impose this ban, because of destruction to part of the
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| cliff face, the destroying of three trees and the affecting of the
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| contours of the Gardens.
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| The ban was successful.
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|
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|
| <strong>6. Theatre Royal (Mid 1972)</strong>
| | === Melbourne === |
| The
| | * 61 Spring Street/7 Collins Street |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>demolition of the Theatre Royal stopped the proposed construction of a
| | * Arthurs Seat |
| seven hundred (700) feet M.L.C.-Lend-Lease project until a written
| | * ANZ Banking Museum |
| guarantee was given that a live professional theatre of comparable size,
| | * Blanche Terrace |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>incorporation features of the old Theatre Royal, was constructed.
| | * Beaurepaire Pool |
| Under-taking was given by Lend-Lease and M.L.C.
| | * Carlton |
| | | * CBA Bank Building/333 Collins Street |
| <strong>7. Moore Park _ Centennial Park Sports’ Complex” (June 1972)</strong>
| | * City Baths |
| A
| | * Emerald Hill |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>very large Public Meeting of diverse groupings of people requested that
| | * Flinders Street Station |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the Builders’ Labourer’s impose a ban on the construction of a sports
| | * Gordon House |
| complex, which would have destroyed Sydney’s most beautiful park,
| | * Hardy-Gallagher Reserve |
| Centennial Park. The ban has been successful and the Liberal Government
| | * Hotel Windsor |
| of New South Wales has announced that it will not go ahead with the
| | * Mac's Hotel |
| proposed construction.
| | * Mordialloc Coles |
| | | * Newport Power Station |
| <strong>8. Cook Road (Centennial Park)</strong>
| | * Old Treasury Building |
| At
| | * Parkville |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of the residents a ban was imposed on new high-rise
| | * Princess Theatre |
| buildings until a community plan for the area is drawn up. The ban still
| | * Queen Victoria Market |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>exists as at June 1974.
| | * Regent Theatre |
| | | * Royal Botanical Gardens |
| <strong>9. Mt. Druitt (Mid 1972)</strong>
| | * Royal Parade |
| In
| | * St Patrick's Cathedral |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>support of resumption and demanding reasonable compensation from
| | * Tasma Terrace |
| Lend-Lease and Housing Commission. Ban lifted – by Labor Council of
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| N.S.W.
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| | |
| <strong>10. North-West Expressway (Late 1972)</strong>
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| At
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of a Public Meeting in Glebe and Balmain, old areas of
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| Sydney, where, if the freeway had been constructed, one-sixth of the
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| total houses in these suburbs, would have been destroyed, a ban was
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| imposed.
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| <strong>11. “Lyndhurst” – Glebe (1972)</strong>
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| Historic
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| building.A National Trust preservation ban. It was proposed to demolish
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| this historic building to make way for a freeway, in Glebe. The ban
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| still applies and the building still stands as at June 1974.
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| | |
| <strong>12. Ryde – Dunbar Park (February 1973)</strong>
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| Residents
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>requested ban after Ryde council proposed a tipping site for non
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| protresable waste materials. This park is surrounded by new homes and
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| the ban has been imposed to ensure that the parkland remains a passive
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| area. Ban successful.
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| <strong>13. Darlinghurst (March 1973)</strong>
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| Ban
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed on commercial building in this historic area of Sydney.
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| Residents requested “Green Ban” and demanded that all housing should be
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| high density low-rise with adequate provision for low and middle income
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| families to live within the inner-city area.
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| <strong>14. Helen Kellar House – Woollahra (March 1973)</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>National Trust preservation ban. This house belongs to the Royal Blind
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| Society who wanted to demolish it and other houses in order to develop
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| the land and to provide more income. Residents requested ban against
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| demolition of this house, in Woollahra. Ban still exists as at June
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| 1974.
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| <strong>15. Woolloomooloo (April 1973)</strong>
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| Ban
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| imposed on commercial building in this historic area of Sydney.
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| Residents requested “Green Ban” and demanded that all housing should be
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| high density low-rise with adequate provision for low and middle income
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| families to live within the inner-city area.
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| <strong>16. Royal Australasian College of Physicians – Macquarie St (May 1973)</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>National Trust preservation ban. The national trust gave permission for
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in Macquarie Street,
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| Sydney. The ban was imposed until union bad discussions with the
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| National Trust. Ban still exists as at June 1974.
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| <strong>17. Pyrmont and Ultimo (Mid 1973)</strong>
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| Part
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>of North-West Expressway. A Public Meeting of these two inner city
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| suburbs, carried a resolution requested a “green ban”, as large parts of
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>these suburbs would have been destroyed by the Freeway.
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| <strong>18. Fowler-Ware Industries – Merrylands (Mid 1973)</strong>
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| Ban
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>on a factory in a residential area requested by a meeting of eight
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| hundred residents in that area. Factory moved elsewhere. Ban Lifted:
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| residents requested lifting of ban after the area was classified as
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| “Residential A”. (March 1974).
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| <strong>19. Jeremy Fisher (June 1973)</strong>
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| Jeremy Fisher was
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| expelled from Macquarie University Sir Robert Menzies College because he
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>was a homosexual. At the requests of students at the University, a ban
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| was placed on all building at the University. Ban Lifted: Jeremy Fisher
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| decided not to pursue the matter.
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| | |
| <strong>20. Diethnes (July 1973)</strong>
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| Request
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>made by shop owners after block sold to developer, that a ban be placed
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>on the demolition of this building. Ban was imposed by B.L.F. in
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| support of the tenants of the building.
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| <strong>21. East End – Newcastle (August 1973)</strong>
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| Ban
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed following a meeting of the citizens of the historic East End,
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| wishing to retain the working class content, and opposing the extension
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| of high-rise office buildings and motels in the East End.
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| | |
| <strong>22. Rileys Island (October 1973)</strong>
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| Residents
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>requested B.L.F. ban. This island was purchased by Hooker-Rex, who
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| intended developing removed all vegitation and the damage to its
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| environment and ecology could never be repaired as happened on St.
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| Hubert’s Island which was developed by Hooker-Rex. Ban has been
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| successful.
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| | |
| <strong>23. Colonial Mutual Building (November 1973)</strong>
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| A National Trust preservation ban. However the National Trust allowed this historic building to be demolished. Ban lifted.
| |
| | |
| <strong>24. Dr. Busby’s Cottage (December 1973)</strong>
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| This
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>was the oldest house in Bathurst, N.S.W. Part of this cottage was
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| classfield “C” by the National Trust. The cottage was purchased by a
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| development company from two pensioner sisters, conditional upon them
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| demolishing it. An inspection by the National Trust, the developers,
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| Bathurst Council and the local resident action group, together with the
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| B.L.F. it was decided to allow development to proceed. Ban lifted – at
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| branch meeting in March.
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| <strong>25. Eastern Hill – Manly (Late 1973)</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>large meeting of residents of Eastern Hill, requested a ban on the
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| construction by L.J. Hooker on two huge tower blocks. Builders’
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| Labourers acceded to the residents request and called upon the Meeting
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| to draw up their community plan for the area.
| |
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| <strong>26. Eastlakes A working-class area of Sydney.</strong>
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| Ban
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed following a large Public Meeting at which the Parkes
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| Development were accused of duping unit dwellers into believing that
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| nearby open land was to remain park, only to find that the land was
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| privately owned by Parkes Development. The area remains as parkland.
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| <strong>27. A.N.Z. Bank – Martin Place</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>National Trust preservation ban. It was proposed to demolish this
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| historic building for redevelopment. The ban still applies and the
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| building still stands as at June 1974.
| |
| | |
| <strong>28. National Mutual Building – Martin Place</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>National Trust preservation ban. It was proposed to demolish this
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| historic building for redevelopment. The ban still applies and the
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| building still stands.
| |
| | |
| <strong>29. C.M.L. Buildng – Martin Place</strong>
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| A National Trust preservation ban.
| |
| | |
| <strong>30. Mascot High-Rise</strong>
| |
| Ban
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>on single dwelling blocks. This was place at the request of a large
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| meeting of citizens of Mascot, who were opposing town-house type
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| dwellings, if there was not sufficient green area retained around them.
| |
| | |
| <strong>31. Newcastle Hotel</strong>
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| A working-class Hotel in the Sydney Cove Re-development Authority’s are a of “Rocks” re-development.
| |
| | |
| <strong>32. Regent Theatre</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>bun imposed at the request of Actor’s Equity demanding that this
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| theatre be kept for live professional Theatre. The ban still exists as
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| at June 1974, and the theatre is still operating as such.
| |
| | |
| <strong>33. Redfern Aboriginal Centre</strong>
| |
| B.L.F.
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed a ban at the request of the aborigines until such time as they
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| were consulted as to the construction of the complex. The Federal
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| Government gave the Aborigines money to build the centre. Ban lifted –
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| Mid 1973. The aborigines are now (June 1974) building the Centre
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| themselves.
| |
| | |
| <strong>34. Eastern Freeway</strong>
| |
| Ban imposed
| |
| following meeting of eastern suburbs residents opposing the destruction
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| of working class homes in the make of the proposed freeway, which could
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| have destroyed large sections of Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, Kings
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| Cross, Taylors Square and Bondi Junction. Ban still imposed as at June
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| 1964.
| |
| | |
| <strong>35. Botany High Rise</strong>
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| This was place at
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of a large meeting of citizens at Mascot, who were opposing
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>town house-type dwellings, if there was not sufficient green area
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| retained around them.
| |
| | |
| <strong>36. Motorway – Newcastle</strong>
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| Freeway ban at the request of the residents. Ban still exists as at June 1974.
| |
| | |
| <strong>37. St. George’s Hill</strong>
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| A ban imposed at the
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| request of the residents of this suburban area, following failure of the
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>developer to pay adequate compensation.
| |
| | |
| <strong>38. Kings Cross</strong>
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| It was decided by residents in this area.Community Plan Proposal. This plan is being drawn up by the residents of the community.
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| | |
| <strong>39. South Sydney</strong>
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| Ban
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed following large Public Meeting at which people called upon the
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| authorities to re-consider the high-rise scheme for the area.
| |
| | |
| <strong>40. St. John’s Park</strong>
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| A poorer area of Sydney. A dispute over land resumption and a lack of proper compensation.
| |
| | |
| <strong>41. New Doctors Dwellings</strong>
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| A
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>Branch Meeting decided to refuse to construct any new dwellings for
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| doctors in New South Wales, until such time as they agree to co-operate
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| with the Australian Government’s Health Plan. Ban still exists as at
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| June 1974.
| |
| | |
| <strong>42. Tomaree Peninsula (January 1974)</strong>
| |
| Residents
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>objected to proposed high-rise development in this area. A petition was
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>signed by 1,700 people who formed a resident action group. They formed a
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>code or building in the area which banned building over 3 floors. At a
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| public meeting the Council informed that it had never intended to allow
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| high-rise buildings – their plan for the area was for low-rise building.
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>Ban lifted – May 1974 following this meeting.
| |
| | |
| <strong>43. Burwood (March 1974)</strong>
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| At
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>the Request of Burwood Residents Action Group ban placed on demolition
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| of premises in Burleigh and Elizabeth Streets, Burwood, to make way for a
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>car park.
| |
| | |
| <strong>44. Western Expressway (March 1974)</strong>
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| Residents in the Leichhardt Municipality requested B.L.F. to impose ban on demolition to make way for this expressway.
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| If
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the expressway goes ahead, 1,180 homes in the muicipality will be
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| demlished and Annandale, Glebe and Leichhardt would lost most of their
| |
| parkland.
| |
| | |
| <strong>45. Freeways (March 1974)</strong>
| |
| Ban
| |
| imposed on all demolition work to make way for expressways. Mass meeting
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>of builders labourers in Sydney in late May 1974 expressed condemnation
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>of the Nielsen Transportation Plan for expressways.
| |
| | |
| <strong>46. Soldiers Garden Village (April 1974)</strong>
| |
| At
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of the residents of the village in Matraville an interim
| |
| ban was placed on demolition of this community. The Housing Commission
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| planned to demolish the village to make way for Housing Commission
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| Accommodation. The reason for an “interim ban” is that it was not
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| possible to find which Government Dept. was responsible for the village.
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>The ban still exists as at June 1974.
| |
| | |
| <strong>47. Education Department – North Newtown (May 1974)</strong>
| |
| At
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of the North Newtown Resident Action Group a ban was placed
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>on the proposed Education Complex. Demolion is banned on the area
| |
| bounded by King Street, Missenden Road, Carillon Avenue, and Theological
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| <nowiki> </nowiki>Land’’ until the Sydney Teachers’ College is relocated elsewhere. The
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| residents are drawing up a Community Education Plan – incl. infants
| |
| & primary schools, playgrounds, open space areas, before & after
| |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>school activity groups, and nursery. The ban still exists as at June
| |
| 1974.
| |
|
| |
|
| <strong>48. Port Kembla (June 1974)</strong>
| | === Newcastle === |
| At the
| | * East End |
| request of the residents of Port Kembla a ban was placed by the South
| | * Newcastle Motorway |
| Coast Labour Council against high rise development and for the
| |
| reclamation of the beach to be made a parkland. The B.L.F. Executive
| |
| endorsed this decision on 4th June, 1974.
| |
|
| |
|
| <strong>49. East Woonoa (2nd July, 1974)</strong>
| | === Perth === |
| Ban
| | * Fremantle |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>imposed, following request from South Coast Labour Council for
| | * Palace Hotel |
| endorsement of their ban. Council imposed ban, at the request of the
| | * Victoria Hall |
| local progress association. The ban will remain until the residents are
| |
| taken into consultation and are involved in the planning of the area.
| |
| Ban is on all high rise and flat development, including major roads in
| |
| the East Woonoa area. Ban still exist as at June 1974.
| |
|
| |
|
| <strong>50. Botany Municipality (September 1972)</strong>
| | === Sydney === |
| Council
| | * ANZ Branch Martin Place |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>of the Municiplaity of Botany opposed units and high-rise buildings on
| | * Balmain |
| single blocks of land. Ban covers high-rise building on single dewellin
| | * Botany |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>blocks and industrial development in residential areas.
| | * Burwood |
| | * Centennial Park |
| | * Centennial Parklands |
| | * Colonial Mutual Building |
| | * C.M.L. Building – Martin Place |
| | * Darlinghurst |
| | * Diethnes Greek Restaurant |
| | * Eastern Freeway |
| | * Eastern Hill |
| | * Eastlakes |
| | * Glebe |
| | * Kellys Bush |
| | * Kings Cross |
| | * Lyndhurst |
| | * Macquarie University |
| | * Mascot |
| | * Merrylands |
| | * Mount Druitt |
| | * National Mutual Building - Martin Place |
| | * Newcastle Hotel |
| | * New Doctors Dwellings |
| | * North Newtown Education Complex |
| | * North Western Expressway |
| | * Pitt Street Uniting Church |
| | * Pyrmont |
| | * Redfern Aboriginal Centre |
| | * Regent Theatre |
| | * Rileys Island |
| | * Royal Australasian College of Physicians |
| | * Royal Botanic Gardens |
| | * Ryde |
| | * Soldiers Garden Village |
| | * South Sydney |
| | * St George Area |
| | * St. John’s Park |
| | * Sydney University |
| | * Theatre Royal |
| | * The Rocks |
| | * Ultimo |
| | * Victoria Street |
| | * Waimea House |
| | * Waterloo |
| | * Woolloomooloo |
|
| |
|
| <strong>51. Sydney University Women’s Course</strong>
| | === Woolongong === |
| A ban was placed on the construction of a new building because they refused too allow two women tutors to
| | * Port Kembla |
| give a course. Ban lifted – the dispute was resolved by the University internally.
| | * East Woonona |
|
| |
|
| <strong>52. Port Macquarie</strong>
| | === Other cities === |
| At
| | * Battery Point, Hobart |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of residents a ban was placed against high rise buildings
| | * Dr. Busby’s Cottage, Bathurst |
| on beach head and water front. Ban still exist as at June 1974.
| | * Port Macquarie |
| | * Yallourn |
|
| |
|
| <strong>53. Waterloo</strong>
| | == Results == |
| At
| | Green Bans saved many vital urban and green spaces and over 100 buildings were considered by the National Trust to be worthy of preservation. The bans led to new historical buildings and environmental legislations in the 1970s across several states and the Australian government. They also contributed the introduction of [[Environmentalism|'Green' as a political word]] after inspiring [[Petra Kelly]].<ref>[[Wikipedia]] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_ban#Outcomes_and_impacts</ref> |
| <nowiki> </nowiki>the request of South Sydney Residents Action group a ban was placed on
| |
| the demolition of houses, both privately and Housing Commission owned, | |
| for development by the Housing Commission of multistorey dewelling
| |
| blocks of Housing Commission flats. Ban still exists as at June 1974.
| |
|
| |
|
| <strong>54. Newcastle Motorway</strong>
| | == See Also == |
| | * [[Black Armada Ban]] |
| | * [[Dalfram Strike (1938)|Dalfram Strike]] |
| | * [[Political Unionism]] |
| | * [[Juanita Nielsen]] |
| | * [[Work-In]] |
|
| |
|
| A ban was placed on the construction of this motorway at the request of the residents. The ban still exists as at June 1974.
| | == References == |
| | [[Category:AnarWiki]] |
| | [[Category:Australia]] |
| | [[Category:Oceania]] |
| | [[Category:1971]] |
| | [[Category:1970s]] |
| | [[Category:Events]] |
| | [[Category:Environmentalism]] |
| | [[Category:Green Syndicalism]] |
| | [[Category:Syndicalism]] |
| | [[Category:Strikes]] |
| | [[Category:1975]] |
