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{{Infobox_event|title = Green Bans|image = GreenBans.jpg|imagecaption = BLF sympathisers march in favour of the Green Bans through the streets of Sydney, Australia|date = 1970 - 1975}}'''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]] from 1970 to 1975, and led to numerous state-based environmental protections as well as being one of the historical inspirations for [[Green Syndicalism]]. They were largely organised by the communist-controlled [[Builders Laborers Federation (Australia)|Builders Laborers Federation]].


== Actions by City ==
'''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]].  
Some of the most iconic buildings, neighbourhoods and parks in Australia were saved by Green Bans. The Green Bans were also used as a protest measure against sexist, racist and homophobic policies pushed by certain groups.


=== Newcastle ===
== Philosophy ==
* East End
[[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>
 
== Notable green bans ==
 
=== Adelaide ===
* Highbury Park
* Norwood Velodrome
* Unley Road Shops
 
=== Brisbane ===
* Bellevue Hotel
* Queensland Club
* The Mansions
 
=== Canberra ===
* Black Mountain Tower
* Googong Dam
* Reid House


=== Melbourne ===
=== Melbourne ===
* 61 Spring Street/7 Collins Street
* Arthurs Seat
* ANZ Banking Museum
* ANZ Banking Museum
* 333 Collins Street
* Blanche Terrace
* Beaurepaire Pool
* Carlton
* CBA Bank Building/333 Collins Street
* City Baths
* City Baths
* Emerald Hill
* Flinders Street Station
* Gordon House
* Hardy-Gallagher Reserve
* Hardy-Gallagher Reserve
* Hotel Windsor
* Hotel Windsor
* Mac's Hotel
* Mordialloc Coles
* Newport Power Station
* Old Treasury Building
* Parkville
* Princess Theatre
* Princess Theatre
* Queen Victoria Market
* Queen Victoria Market
* Regent Theatre
* Regent Theatre
* Royal Botanical Gardens
* Royal Parade
* Royal Parade
* St Patrick's Cathedral
* Tasma Terrace
* Tasma Terrace
=== Newcastle ===
* East End
* Newcastle Motorway
=== Perth ===
* Fremantle
* Palace Hotel
* Victoria Hall


=== Sydney ===
=== Sydney ===
* ANZ Branch Martin Place
* Balmain
* Botany
* Burwood
* Centennial Park
* Centennial Park
* Centennial Parklands
* Colonial Mutual Building
* Colonial Mutual Building
* Dunbar Park
* C.M.L. Building – Martin Place
* Helen Kellar House
* Darlinghurst
* Housing in Darlinghurst
* Diethnes Greek Restaurant
* Housing in the East End
* Eastern Freeway
* Housing in Glebe and Balmain
* Eastern Hill
* Housing in Mt. Druitt
* Eastlakes
* Housing in Pyrmont and Ultimo
* Glebe
* Housing in Woolloomooloo
* Kellys Bush
* Kelly's Bush
* Kings Cross
* Lyndhurst
* Lyndhurst
* [[Macquarie University Pink Ban|Macquarie University]]
* Macquarie University
* Moore Park
* Mascot
* Pitt St Congregational Church
* 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
* Redfern Aboriginal Centre
* Regent Theatre
* Rileys Island
* Rileys Island
* Royal Australasian College of Physicians
* Royal Australasian College of Physicians
* Royal Botanic Gardens
* Royal Botanic Gardens
* Ryde
* Soldiers Garden Village
* Soldiers Garden Village
* Sydney University Women’s Course
* South Sydney
* St George Area
* St. John’s Park
* Sydney University
* Theatre Royal
* The Rocks
* The Rocks
* Theatre Royal
* Ultimo
* Victoria Street
* Victoria Street
<strong>18. Fowler-Ware Industries – Merrylands (Mid 1973)</strong>
* Waimea House
Ban
* Waterloo
<nowiki> </nowiki>on a factory in a residential area requested by a meeting of eight
* Woolloomooloo
hundred residents in that area. Factory moved elsewhere. Ban Lifted:
residents requested lifting of ban after the area was classified as
“Residential A”. (March 1974).
 
<strong>20. Diethnes (July 1973)</strong>
Request
<nowiki> </nowiki>made by shop owners after block sold to developer, that a ban be placed
<nowiki> </nowiki>on the demolition of this building. Ban was imposed by B.L.F. in
support of the tenants of the building.
 
<strong>24. Dr. Busby’s Cottage (December 1973)</strong>
This
<nowiki> </nowiki>was the oldest house in Bathurst, N.S.W. Part of this cottage was
classfield “C” by the National Trust. The cottage was purchased by a
development company from two pensioner sisters, conditional upon them
demolishing it. An inspection by the National Trust, the developers,
Bathurst Council and the local resident action group, together with the
B.L.F. it was decided to allow development to proceed. Ban lifted – at
branch meeting in March.
 
<strong>25. Eastern Hill – Manly (Late 1973)</strong>
A
<nowiki> </nowiki>large meeting of residents of Eastern Hill, requested a ban on the
construction by L.J. Hooker on two huge tower blocks. Builders’
Labourers acceded to the residents request and called upon the Meeting
to draw up their community plan for the area.
 
<strong>26. Eastlakes A working-class area of Sydney.</strong>
Ban
<nowiki> </nowiki>imposed following a large Public Meeting at which the Parkes
Development were accused of duping unit dwellers into believing that
nearby open land was to remain park, only to find that the land was
privately owned by Parkes Development. The area remains as parkland.
 
<strong>27. A.N.Z. Bank – Martin Place</strong>
A
<nowiki> </nowiki>National Trust preservation ban. It was proposed to demolish this
historic building for redevelopment. The ban still applies and the
building still stands as at June 1974.
 
<strong>28. National Mutual Building – Martin Place</strong>
A
<nowiki> </nowiki>National Trust preservation ban. It was proposed to demolish this
historic building for redevelopment. The ban still applies and the
building still stands.
 
<strong>29. C.M.L. Buildng – Martin Place</strong>
A National Trust preservation ban.
 
<strong>30. Mascot High-Rise</strong>
Ban
<nowiki> </nowiki>on single dwelling blocks. This was place at the request of a large
meeting of citizens of Mascot, who were opposing town-house type
dwellings, if there was not sufficient green area retained around them.
 
<strong>31. Newcastle Hotel</strong>
A working-class Hotel in the Sydney Cove Re-development Authority’s are a of “Rocks” re-development.
 
<strong>33. Redfern Aboriginal Centre</strong>
B.L.F.
<nowiki> </nowiki>imposed a ban at the request of the aborigines until such time as they
were consulted as to the construction of the complex. The Federal
Government gave the Aborigines money to build the centre. Ban lifted –
Mid 1973. The aborigines are now (June 1974) building the Centre
themselves.
 
<strong>34. Eastern Freeway</strong>
Ban imposed
following meeting of eastern suburbs residents opposing the destruction
of working class homes in the make of the proposed freeway, which could
have destroyed large sections of Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, Kings
Cross, Taylors Square and Bondi Junction. Ban still imposed as at June
1964.
 
<strong>35. Botany High Rise</strong>
This was place at
<nowiki> </nowiki>the request of a large meeting of citizens at Mascot, who were opposing
<nowiki> </nowiki>town house-type dwellings, if there was not sufficient green area
retained around them.
 
<strong>36. Motorway – Newcastle</strong>
Freeway ban at the request of the residents. Ban still exists as at June 1974.
 
<strong>37. St. George’s Hill</strong>
A ban imposed at the
request of the residents of this suburban area, following failure of the
<nowiki> </nowiki>developer to pay adequate compensation.
 
<strong>38. Kings Cross</strong>
It was decided by residents in this area.Community Plan Proposal. This plan is being drawn up by the residents of the community.
 
<strong>39. South Sydney</strong>
Ban
<nowiki> </nowiki>imposed following large Public Meeting at which people called upon the
authorities to re-consider the high-rise scheme for the area.
 
<strong>40. St. John’s Park</strong>
A poorer area of Sydney. A dispute over land resumption and a lack of proper compensation.
 
<strong>41. New Doctors Dwellings</strong>
A
<nowiki> </nowiki>Branch Meeting decided to refuse to construct any new dwellings for
doctors in New South Wales, until such time as they agree to co-operate
with the Australian Government’s Health Plan. Ban still exists as at
June 1974.
 
<strong>42. Tomaree Peninsula (January 1974)</strong>
Residents
<nowiki> </nowiki>objected to proposed high-rise development in this area. A petition was
<nowiki> </nowiki>signed by 1,700 people who formed a resident action group. They formed a
<nowiki> </nowiki>code or building in the area which banned building over 3 floors. At a
public meeting the Council informed that it had never intended to allow
high-rise buildings – their plan for the area was for low-rise building.
<nowiki> </nowiki>Ban lifted – May 1974 following this meeting.
 
<strong>43. Burwood (March 1974)</strong>
At
<nowiki> </nowiki>the Request of Burwood Residents Action Group ban placed on demolition
of premises in Burleigh and Elizabeth Streets, Burwood, to make way for a
<nowiki> </nowiki>car park.
 
<strong>44. Western Expressway (March 1974)</strong>
Residents in the Leichhardt Municipality requested B.L.F. to impose ban on demolition to make way for this expressway.
If
<nowiki> </nowiki>the expressway goes ahead, 1,180 homes in the muicipality will be
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>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
<nowiki> </nowiki>Land’’ until the Sydney Teachers’ College is relocated elsewhere. The
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>
At the
request of the residents of Port Kembla a ban was placed by the South
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>
Ban
<nowiki> </nowiki>imposed, following request from South Coast Labour Council for
endorsement of their ban. Council imposed ban, at the request of the
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>
Council
<nowiki> </nowiki>of the Municiplaity of Botany opposed units and high-rise buildings on
single blocks of land. Ban covers high-rise building on single dewellin
<nowiki> </nowiki>blocks and industrial development in residential areas.
 
<strong>51. Sydney University Women’s Course</strong>
A ban was placed on the construction of a new building because they refused too allow two women tutors to
give a course. Ban lifted – the dispute was resolved by the University internally.
 
<strong>52. Port Macquarie</strong>
At
<nowiki> </nowiki>the request of residents a ban was placed against high rise buildings
on beach head and water front. Ban still exist as at June 1974.
 
<strong>53. Waterloo</strong>
At
<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>
=== Woolongong ===
* Port Kembla
* East Woonona


A ban was placed on the construction of this motorway at the request of the residents.
=== Other cities ===
* Battery Point, Hobart
* Dr. Busby’s Cottage, Bathurst
* Port Macquarie
* Yallourn


== Results ==
== Results ==
Green Bans saved many vital urban 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 'Green' as a political word.<ref>[[Wikipedia]] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_ban#Outcomes_and_impacts</ref>
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>


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[Black Armada Ban]]
* [[Dalfram Strike (1938)|Dalfram Strike]]
* [[Political Unionism]]
* [[Juanita Nielsen]]
* [[Work-In]]
* [[Work-In]]


== References ==
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Libertarian Socialist Wiki]]
[[Category:AnarWiki]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
Line 250: Line 136:
[[Category:Green Syndicalism]]
[[Category:Green Syndicalism]]
[[Category:Syndicalism]]
[[Category:Syndicalism]]
[[Category:Strikes]]
[[Category:1975]]

Latest revision as of 17:50, 3 April 2024

Green Bans are strikes designed to protect the environment or key parts of a local community. They were mainly done in Australia in the 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.

Philosophy

Jack Mundey, a leading Green Ban organiser, summarised the philosophy of the Green Bans as such:

"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."

Notable green bans

Adelaide

  • Highbury Park
  • Norwood Velodrome
  • Unley Road Shops

Brisbane

  • Bellevue Hotel
  • Queensland Club
  • The Mansions

Canberra

  • Black Mountain Tower
  • Googong Dam
  • Reid House

Melbourne

  • 61 Spring Street/7 Collins Street
  • Arthurs Seat
  • ANZ Banking Museum
  • Blanche Terrace
  • Beaurepaire Pool
  • Carlton
  • CBA Bank Building/333 Collins Street
  • City Baths
  • Emerald Hill
  • Flinders Street Station
  • Gordon House
  • Hardy-Gallagher Reserve
  • Hotel Windsor
  • Mac's Hotel
  • Mordialloc Coles
  • Newport Power Station
  • Old Treasury Building
  • Parkville
  • Princess Theatre
  • Queen Victoria Market
  • Regent Theatre
  • Royal Botanical Gardens
  • Royal Parade
  • St Patrick's Cathedral
  • Tasma Terrace

Newcastle

  • East End
  • Newcastle Motorway

Perth

  • Fremantle
  • Palace Hotel
  • Victoria Hall

Sydney

  • ANZ Branch Martin Place
  • Balmain
  • Botany
  • 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

Woolongong

  • Port Kembla
  • East Woonona

Other cities

  • Battery Point, Hobart
  • Dr. Busby’s Cottage, Bathurst
  • Port Macquarie
  • Yallourn

Results

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 'Green' as a political word after inspiring Petra Kelly.[1]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_ban#Outcomes_and_impacts
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