With the advent of #AI, Trump, Netanyahu & foreign transnationals setting our laws & policies, do we need the multi-billion-dollar expense of useless, feckless, grifting, craven & indolent politicians such as Albanese, Marles, Cook, Crisafulli, Minns and so on? #auspol #NSWpol #qldpol #WApol

How much do Australian governments care about culture and history?

Well, Australia's oldest colonial European cemetery is currently being maintained by volunteers:

"With a pair of gardening gloves in hand and a massive grin on her face, historian Judith Dunn gestures to an old burial vault surrounded by tall native grasses.
...
"Ms Dunn is among 10 taphophiles, otherwise known as 'tombstone tourists' because of their interest in cemeteries.

They recently spent their weekend tending to Australia's oldest surviving European cemetery.

"Nestled between apartment blocks and opposite an escape room, St John's Cemetery in Parramatta certainly has unique geography.

"With a meadow of long grass that obscures the plaques on headstones, passers-by could be forgiven for mistaking the cemetery for a vacant block.
...
"The origin of St John's Cemetery provides a snapshot of the gruelling reality of Australian colonial life.

"Convicts built the graveyard in 1790, after being moved west to Parramatta to grow crops needed to feed the fledgling colony.

"Harsh working conditions and the dangers of frontier life meant a burial ground was a necessity, not a luxury."
...
"Seventeen members of the First Fleet were later buried at the cemetery, where the first Jewish headstone in Australia can also be found.

"At least seven Sydney suburbs were named after people interred at St John's Cemetery, including Pymble, Harris Park, Wentworthville and Homebush."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-26/volunteers-keep-aus-oldest-european-cemetery-alive-parramatta/106585656

#history #australia #auspol #nswpol #nsw #Parramatta

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the plans to transform Church St in Parramatta into a "Chinatown" precinct are moving ahead.

Hopefully they get the people who established the excellent Chinatown precinct in Burwood involved in this one. I want to see all the neon lights, dammit!

"Most people think of its iconic dining strip when Parramatta’s Church St is mentioned but plans are under way to revitalise the southern side of the corridor from a “tired” to revamped precinct filled with colour and art installations.

"Colloquially known as Chinatown, Parramatta Council has released its South Parramatta CBD masterplan.

"The precinct includes a five-star hotel Marriott hotel with 275 rooms, more than 900 apartments and a permanent home for the Parramatta Artists’ Studios.

"The plan will activate laneways and arcades with eateries, public art, light features, wider footpaths, safer crossings, street trees and cycleways.

"Public spaces, including Woodhouse Square at Wentworth St and Firehorse Plaza, will provide “places to meet, relax, host markets and celebrate culture, giving the precinct a clear community identity”.

"The area also takes in the former Auto Alley site where the Marriott hotel will stand.

"Much of the proposed art embraces the Chinatown theme."

Original link (Warning: Owned by Murdoch): https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/plans-revealed-for-parramatta-south-cbd-masterplan-including-chinatown/news-story/c8c242149b487839eb6a0227cb5828dc

#parramatta #nswpol #auspol #Urbanism #cities #Australia

Sharath from Building Beautifully has put up a video about arguably Australia's biggest urban planning success story of the past 40 years.

That's the emergence of Parramatta as one of Australia's great cities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifGwIJo7OWo

And with good reason. There's a lot that Parra has done right.

Instead of just building apartments or office towers, it's built both.

It's built enough new apartments close to public transport to keep house prices level, even as demand has grown.

It has multiple train lines, ferries, and dedicated busways, has added light rail, and is adding a metro.

It has the best public square in the whole Greater Sydney metro area in Parramatta Square.

It has a pedestrianised main street with many restaurants.

And it's cemented itself as the second CBD (central business district) for the Sydney metro area, and the main CBD for Western Sydney.

If you have any interest in urbanism and cities, it's worth visiting on a weekday just to see what it looks like when urban planning works.

#Urbanism #UrbanPlanning #city #cities #Parramatta #NSW #Australia #planning #walking #walkability #transitorienteddevelopment #train #trains #transport #building #architecture #design #government #sydney #policy #politics #auspol #nswpol

www.theguardian.com/environment/.... #Environment #Auspol #NSWpol

Governments failed to deliver ...

#Auspol #NSWpol #Qldpol From the river to the Beach ⛱️

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2sbr2k63noy5digjajyz5kqn/post/3mjwltabw6k2t