Wondering about the Waterfront and Other Heritage Issues (Musings Autumn 2012)

The current Esplanade development will change the physical dimensions of the site, but more importantly it overwrites the site with additional developments, changing not just its form but its function and its connections with surrounding sites.  Sometimes heritage sites have a change of function - think the R&I/BankWest tower and the Treasury development.  The forms are retained, but how much of the heritage values are retained?  Similarly, if we move the Talbot Hobbs memorial and the Anzac Day parades to an alternative site such as Langley Park, the stories of Anzac Day and the relationship with Talbot Hobbs continue, but the Esplanade becomes diminished in that story.  Is that important? Can we tell the stories of the site when its function as a place of assembly and active recreation are removed? 

As discussed by Dr. Lise Summers in Musing Autumn 2012 "Watching the Waterfront", pg 4-5.

Members are invited to discuss these issues, submit photos and interesting sites.