Category: Crag Archives

Valda Wilson of Raeburn Avenue has been awarded the prestigious Rockend National Opera Studio London Scholarship and will take up the award next month. The scholarship, valued at $82,000, will enable Valda to study at the National Opera Studio in London for 10 months.

Proud parents Bruce and Karen travelled to Melbourne in May to hear Valda perform with five other finalists at a public recital at Federation Hall in Melbourne. The Chair Adjudicator, Robert Allman, noted that: ‘Valda Wilson’s win was based not just on her outstanding performance, but also on the workshop which showed her versatility and ability to take direction.’

Valda’s inspiration for music was generated here in Castlecrag where she gained support and guidance from Christine Corrigan, her long-time piano and music theory teacher, Rodna Fitzsimons, who her taught her piano and singing at the Castlecrag Infants’ School, and the flautist Judy Huxtable. Nancy Fleming of the Sydney Opera Society also provided support and guidance over the years, while the Haven Carols and ‘Opera at the Haven’ offered opportunities to develop her skills.

Valda is a graduate of the Diploma of Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied under Stephen Yalouris. She made numerous performances with the Conservatorium Opera School and with various Sydney amateur musical societies. Over the past three years Valda has performed in concerts throughout NSW and presented live recitals on radio 2MBS-FM as part of the Young Performers program. During 2008 she has been performing as Rosina in Opera Australia Schools’ Company production of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia.

North Shore Times, 30 May 2008; http://valdawilson.com.au

Bruce Wilson

Editors: This item was put forward by David Scobie to the new Northbridge & Castlecrag Chamber of Commerce. We think they provide a good basis for further discussion on the elements that might be addressed in improving the attractiveness of our Castlecrag shopping village as the ‘gateway’ to Castlecrag and David has kindly updated the article for use in The Crag. We welcome your ideas on this important subject.

The following ideas are put forward as part of a broader strategy to improve the Castlecrag and Northbridge business precincts. They are proposed in the context of the current consultations regarding the Northbridge Plaza MasterPlan. The premise is that with any further development of the Plaza, it will be essential that the surroundings are improved to meet increased demand, to satisfy the concerns from local residents about their immediate environs and to take advantage of any improved retail and business opportunities that may arise. It is also likely that the tenant mix within the Plaza will change thus opening up possibilities for a more diverse range of business uses within the traditional shopping areas.

The theme binding the proposals is that Northbridge and Castlecrag shopping areas should continue to develop as villages with their own unique and distinctive character. Suggested improvements include:

• Pavement finishes to be non-slip and tactile, with an attractive appearance and mobility curbs;
• Improved street lighting for both traffic and ambient pedestrian areas, including protected under-awning spaces;
• Increased use of street trees and planters where appropriate;
• Opportunities for outdoor dining in appropriate locations;
• Policies and incentives to encourage businesses to improve their presentation, shop-fronts, mobility access, awning safety and awning lighting, signs and shop lighting;
• Appropriate and distinctive seating;
• Complimentary litter bins;
• Vehicle parking spaces for accessible users and standard timed zones;
• Appropriate delivery and service vehicle standing spaces;
• Appropriate blister elements to improve pedestrian access and crossing distances; and
• Support for improved street address numbering through a standard street number ‘plate’ on each property.

David Scobie

Proposed Changes to the NSW Planning System

Following our article in the February 2008 issue of The Crag on the discussion paper titled ‘Improving the NSW Planning System’, an independent review of the submissions from the public exhibition of the discussion paper was prepared and released on 19 March 2008.

It can be viewed under the following link from the NSW Department of Planning’s website:

http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/planning_reforms/p/improving_the_nsw_planning_system_submissions_report.pdf

While the formal submissions were in general support of the need for reform to the planning system, general concern was raised about: the timing of the discussion paper release, the time frame for lodging submissions, loss of community involvement in the planning process, a one size fits all approach to exempt and complying development and dilution of local government decision-making.
In summary, of the 31 key issues raised in the submissions and relating specifically to the discussion paper, there was general support for 12 of the key recommendations, mixed views on ten key recommendations and general opposition to nine of the key recommendations.

You may wish to keep up the pressure on State Government MPs about your concerns with some of these ‘reforms’ while awaiting the draft bill.

Review of the NSW Heritage Act 1997

Also released by Planning Minister Frank Sartor on the same day as the above report was a report by an independent expert review panel titled ‘A Review of theNSW Heritage Act 1997’. The Independent Expert Panel was comprised of: Ms Gabrielle Kibble AO (Chair), Former Director-General of Department of Planning and current Liverpool City Council Administrator; Mr Michael Collins, Chair of the Heritage Council of NSW; and Mr John Whitehouse, Planning & Environmental Lawyer.

The 105-page report contains 65 recommendations, including greater fairness and rigour in the heritage listing process and retaining key elements of the current system including local and State listings and a Heritage Council. The Report which may be viewed under the following link will now be considered by the NSW Government.ollowing link:

http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/docs/mediareleases/heritagact_review_report.pdf

Jill Newton

The Northbridge Plaza Masterplan process has made significant progress in recent months. Most of the work has taken place within the Technical Working Group (TWG). There are two community representatives on the TWG—Mark Monk as a neighbour of the Plaza, and Russell Hand, a planning consultant retained by Northbridge Progress Association (NPA). They report that the TWG is working cooperatively and that all decisions to date have been by consensus. The committee has briefed a number of consultants, selected and appointed them and reviewed their work to date. AMP is funding all the work. Because TWG is only now finalizing the technical reports, the Reference Committee (RC) has not had much information to review but that’s expected to change in coming weeks.

A number of reports will be emerging from TWG in the next few weeks—among them a traffic report, the outcome of the community consultation surveys, an economic study and the results of a consumer survey.

The traffic survey shows that traffic volumes in streets adjacent to the Plaza (Harden Avenue and Tenilba Road) are already at capacity. Eastern Valley Way and Sailors Bay Road have traffic volumes typical of major arterial roads. The Plaza car park can readily handle current demand, although capacity gets tight for two hours on Saturday mornings. The Plaza is a very convenient place to park and shop – the survey showed that about 80 per cent of cars stayed less than one hour in the car park.

The response to the community consultation program was good. 315 survey forms were returned of which 70 per cent were completed by Northbridge residents. The community’s main concerns were: the retention of a village atmosphere in Northbridge, the loss of independent retailers in the Plaza, car parking and traffic issues, and the bulk and scale of any future development. A significant number of people said that ownership and development on the Council’s car park was a big issue. A number said that that the Plaza should not be changed at all.

The data-gathering and reporting to date comprises Stage 1 of the project and there have been few arguments or differences of opinion. Stage 2, which will start in May or June, is the generation of scenarios for the site. It’s at this stage that differences of view may emerge.

The view of the Northbridge PA is that the Plaza should remain a neighbourhood shopping centre with little or no retail expansion. If the Plaza were to be expanded substantially, NPA believes it would have a significant adverse impact on traffic flows in Northbridge and other parts of Willoughby; a negative effect on shopping strips in Northbridge and nearby suburbs, such as Castlecrag; and would reduce generally the amenity of Northbridge as a residential suburb. AMP made it clear at the February 20 RC meeting that it will be seeking a retail expansion greater than the “approximately 10 per cent expansion limit specified by Council’s resolution in mid-2007. An AMP representative said: “If AMP thought it would only be allowed a 10% increase in retail space, it wouldn’t be bothering with all this work.

At NPA’s suggestion, it has been agreed that public meetings will be held after Stages 1 and 2 of the project, at which consultants will summarise their work and Council and AMP people will be available to answer questions from Willoughby residents. The first is likely to be held in June. In the meantime, a comprehensive update of progress will be provided by speakers at NPA’s regular general meeting at 8pm on 14 May in St Marks Hall, Malacoota Road, Northbridge

Malcolm Lye, Northbridge PA

A large and appreciative audience of local residents enjoyed the Community Forum on the Griffin Reserves at the Community Centre on Thursday 6 March. Deputy Mayor Adrian Cox, the master of ceremonies for the evening, kept things moving along while demonstrating a detailed knowledge of the Griffin Reserve system and its significance.

Professor James Weirick of the University of NSW Landscape Architecture Program set the context for discussion with a stimulating address on the critical role of the reserve system in the Griffin’s internationally recognised landscape design for Castlecrag. He traced the factors that had influenced Walter and Marion Griffin, including their formative years in unique landscapes around Chicago, the ‘garden suburb’ movement of the early 20th century, the natural environment of the Castlecrag Peninsula and the philosophical values that underpinned their work. The conundrum was that while the Griffins were keen students of the natural Sydney sandstone landscape, scientific understanding of its ecology was poorly developed at this time. It soon became evident that the impact of residential development was having a negative impact on the flora and fauna they hoped to conserve in the reserves. While some of the walking tracks continued to receive regular use, others and the reserves they served were neglected and became overgrown.

James Weirick highlighted the efforts of members of the Castlecrag community to restore and manage the Griffin reserves over the years. Their amazing efforts brought the Haven Amphitheatre back to its former glory in 1976, while others actively explored the walking tracks and alerted the wider community to the state of the reserves in the early 1990s. In response to the requirements of the Local Government Act 1995, Willoughby City Council appointed Meredith Walker and Michael Lehany in 1996 to prepare a draft plan of management for the Griffin reserves and walkways in Castlecrag. This was approved by Council in late 1997 and a Griffin Reserves Advisory Committee was established by Council to assist with its implementation.

Elizabeth Lander prepared a statement on behalf of the Griffin Reserves Advisory Committee. Its functions are to review the Plan of Management, advise on aspects on aspects of the use, control and management of the reserves, and to share information about the reserves with the wider community. Eight local residents were appointed to the Committee, together with councillors of the then Middle Harbour Ward and appropriate Council staff. The inaugural meeting was on 14 May 1998, and since then the Committee has made numerous inspections of the reserves, walkways and islands, and met on a regular basis to review specific plans of management and monitor their implementation.

Following a break for refreshments, James Smallhorn (Council’s Open Space Officer) and Karl McKillop (Council’s Bush Fire Officer) gave detailed presentations on the rehabilitation of the Griffin reserves, walkways and road islands over the past 10 years, and Council’s strategy and achievements in ecological burns and hazard reduction. Plans of management for each of the reserves prepared by Council officers in consultation with the Advisory Committee were on display and James provided updates on how these were being implemented. Karl presented case studies of ecological burns in Linden Way, Oriel and Casement Reserves that provided the audience with a good understanding of how today’s scientific knowledge of the ecology of Sydney sandstone landforms is applied to regenerating indigenous plant species through the use of fire. He also highlighted the positive impact that resident volunteers (with training through Council’s bushcare program) are having, by assisting the regeneration of native species. Bushcare assisted reserves are faring much better than those without resident volunteers.

The evening concluded with rigorous discussion of key issue by the audience, which continued over refreshments well beyond the formal closure of the meeting. Alfred Bernhard, Council’s Bushland Manager, noted that the additional actions requested by local residents would be dependent on the proposed expansion of the e-restore program through an increased levy on ratepayers.

Editor

Jodie McGregor Flowers

We offer a warm (if belated) welcome to our new florist Jodie McGregor. Jodie McGregor Flowers, which has been operating in Annandale for some time, expanded ‘across the Bridge’, in 2007 to open a second shop here in The Quadrangle shopping centre at Castlecrag. Jodie and her team comprising Narelle (a Castlecrag local) and Stephanie (a new recruit from Roseville) are thrilled with the feedback and welcome they are receiving. When not at the Castlecrag store Jodie can be found at the Annandale shop or spending time with her three children (all under 5!)

Jodie McGregor Flowers was the official florist for the 2000 Olympic Arts Festival and won the Sydney Flower Market award for Florist of the Year in 2003 and 2005. The business also won the florist category in the Champion of Champions at the 2005 Small Business Awards. Jodie handles the florist side of the businesswhile her husband and business partner Stu White looks after the administration and purchasing side of the business, visiting the Flemington flower markets at 5am four times a week to personally shop for their stock. You can check out more about the business at: www.jodie.com.au

MOMO Art Gallery and Oven Fairy

As reported in The Crag 161 (October 2006), Rosemary Macey operates a small art gallery at her business premises at 79 Edinburgh Road. The gallery showcases an individual artist in a sole exhibition each month and this month’s artist is Cecilia Coote. Rosemary or Peter are keen to her from any local artist who is interested in exhibiting at the gallery. All different styles and media are covered, including various forms of two-dimensional art works, sculpture and ceramics. Please call in and view the various artists’ work.

Rosemary reports that the Oven Fairy business, which provides exclusive residential oven and barbecue cleaning services, has been an outstanding success. Oven Fairy is now expanding with new franchises in the Sydney metropolitan area under an arrangement where the home office provides ongoing support in every aspects of the business. Rosemary is seeking new franchisees to expand the business and she exhibited at the Franchising Expo at Darling Harbour from 28-30 March. Both Oven Fairy and the MOMO Art Gallery were finalists in the 2007 Tru Local Business Awards and our congratulations are extended to Rosemary and her staff for these achievements.

New Middle Harbour Walking Tracks

Thanks to Richard Newton, a Department of Planning announcement in November 2007 has been brought to our attention. This advised that a $115,000 grant had been made to Willoughby City Council under the Sharing Sydney Harbour Access Program (SSHAP) to assist the development of two new walking tracks along the Middle Harbour foreshore. The grant will assist to establish more than 1.5 kilometres of new walking tracks in Castlecrag and Castle Cove. The first track will provide access from Sailors Bay Park to the Haven Amphitheatre while the second track will go from H D Robb Reserve linking Willowie Road to the ‘painter’s rock’ lookout at Castle Cove.

These walking tracks will bridge missing links in the walking track network along the Middle Harbour foreshore. SSHAP grants are awarded to councils and other organisations on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Burley’s Restaurant

Malcolm and Janet McLune have expanded the scope of Burley’s Restaurant in The Quadrangle (The Crag 163, p.2). The business is now fully licensed with a good selection of wines, beer and spirits and operates from 8am to 9.30pm 7-days a week. Day-time chef Dean Forbes has introduced a new menu with lunch-time specials. From 5.30pm the business operates as the family-friendly ‘Pizzas in The Quadrangle’ with an Italian chef preparing a range of quality pizzas and other menu items.

Gourmet Source

Gourmet Source, the local delicatessen and cafe of Castlecrag, has recently changed hands after 9 years. The new owners Chris and Melinda Sims are looking forward to joining the Castlecrag community and building the business further.

Chris and Melinda currently reside in St Ives and have both grown up on the North Shore. They have three young children and are looking forward to the challenges ahead improving and growing the Gourmet Source business. Both have very strong business backgrounds and are looking forward to combining their skills in the retail environment. Look out for new stock lines and changes in the decor over the next year!

A number of long serving Gourmet Source staff have remained with the business, whilst a number of new faces have also joined the team since the change in ownership. All of the staff look forward to continuing to provide high quality food and ingredients and friendly customer service to the residents of Castlecrag.

‘Since taking over in November, the Castlecrag community has made us feel very welcome and we look forward to meeting more of you over the coming months.’ Melinda Sims.

New Playgroup

The Warners Park Centre, at the end of The Outpost, is a local Playgroup location for residents of both Castlecrag and Northbridge. A member of Playgroup NSW, it is managed by a group of volunteer parents and offers weekly play-sessions for children aged 0-5 and their parents. Children can play with new toys, try a craft activity, play music, learn songs, dress-up, play with sand, generally have fun with other children in a safe environment under parental supervision. Special Easter and Christmas parties are also held each year.

Sessions are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am until midday. Fees are modest, at $25 per family per term with a yearly membership fee of $32. Vacancies are limited; phone the co-ordinator Donna Morris on 0410-689288 for information and come along for a visit. For information please ring Donna Morris on 9967-9918 or 0410689288.

Sally’s Bookshop

An anticipate sale of Sally’s Bookshop did not proceed at the last minute, so Sally is examining several options and we expect to bring a further update in the next issue.

Advance Australia…Where? is the title of the book published last Spring by Australia’s most highly respected social researcher Hugh Mackay. He has forensically analysed ABS data and other quantitative and qualitative research to ask important questions: What will the next generation of children be like? Are we re-engaging with government policies, not just daily politics? Why are houses getting bigger while households get smaller?

Despite unprecedented prosperity, Hugh’s research has identified widespread anxiety and depression, record levels of debt, and yearning for more meaning in our lives as key issues for Australians. Join in the discussion on these issues with Hugh, who will be our Guest Speaker at the next Community Meeting on Tuesday 26 August at 7.30pm.

The forthcoming local government election is an important event that will shape the future directions of our city. In this issue we are providing profiles of the candidates who had announced their intention to stand for election by 1 August as your guide to who is standing and what they stand for. Please put the ‘Meet Your Council Candidates’ evening in your diary. It will be held will held on Wednesday 3 September at Willoughby Public School at 7pm (for 7.30), before the Election Day 13 September. Come along to hear all candidates’ proposals for how they intend to contribute to local council activities in Castlecrag, and the wider Willoughby City environs.

‘Your blood’s worth bottling!’ Special thanks are extended to those Crag residents I met donating blood at the Plaza last month. The Red Cross constantly needs more blood, and not just the ‘blue’ variety. Its next collection there will be in October, so keep a lookout for notices or phone 131495.

In the February issue of The Crag I spoke of building a ‘2020 vision’ for our community to replace myopic near-term goals. Your CPA always tries to forge past short term ‘kerb and gutter’ issues, and ask readers what sort of community and suburb you would like to grow here together. It was therefore pleasing to see that our new Prime Minister has also adopted the ‘Australia 2020’ concept to initiate long term strategizing at a national level (see www.australia2020.gov.au). Participants in the 2020 Summit report that it was an uplifting experience and we hope that their combined knowledge, experience and visions for the future will help delineate key national issues and positive future directions to enrich debate then action on national and global issues.

We must not sit back, however, and expect this type of ‘top-down’ planning is all that is required. Each small community needs to do its own ‘bottom-up’ planning. For instance, where do you want this little peninsular of 1100 households to be in 2020? The next 12 years do not affect the age group that presently guides your Progress Association as much as it does those in their 20s, 30s and 40s who are possibly new to Castlecrag and may have been attracted here by the local ‘vibe’ as well as the geographical beauty, all of which have been developed and protected by older and past generations. You are often working long hours, raising young families, and paying off homes. Nevertheless the ‘investment’ of a few hours per month in an organization like the Progress Association is actually an investment in your household (and house value).

Provide us with your ideas and feedback at info@castlecrag.org.au, write an article or ‘Letter’ to The Crag, and come along to the General Meetings of the Progress Association and other community events to exchange views with others.

Bruce Wilson

Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mr Mole with their friends and enemies came to life at the Haven Amphitheatre in March for eight performances of the classic Kenneth Grahame adventure story for families. Once again the Haven Management Committee has had a successful collaboration with Julie Mackay and the RAW-EM theatre company,(our last being A Mid Summers Nights Dream at the same time last year). This time the weather was much kinder and we only lost one performance due to rain.

Wind in the Willows has been our most successful production in reticent times and some of the comments the show received are:

‘The Haven Amphitheatre is an experience in itself. Even the drive down by the mandatory shuttle-bus was informative with the Haven bus driver telling some thing of the heritage of the area and the venue….

The show was introduced by the out internationally acclaimed violinist Alla Sharova (a temporary resident in Castlecrag) who generously gave a few impromptu lessons to the young audience in the front row. Alla then went on to carry the evening musically. Brett Neville gave us the legally blind and befuddled Badger, Michael Terry was a dastardly, wily chief Weasel while Olivia Solomon’s, as with Pearson and Macaulay, amply pulled off multi-able roles, including Chief Stoat and the ditzy, impressionable gaoler Phoebe. But there was no denying the star turn, the stylishly-named Blair Cutting, who, while sounding like a matinee idol, looked every bit a toad and relished every line.’ (Australian Stage Online)

There were many other comments from appreciative audience members, including emails and phone calls.

As to what’s next?

In September we will be playing our part in Willoughby council’s Spring Festival and towards the end of November The Haven will presenting a production of the Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Images from Wind in the Willows

Much has happened at the Griffin-designed Willoughby Incinerator in Small Street since we reported the decision of Willoughby City Council in August 2006 to undertake a full restoration of the building. As of March 2008, the initial demolition and removal of previous additions had been completed, together with the preliminary testing of all structures.

Testing found that the chloride level in most of the concrete is at a level high enough to cause corrosion of the reinforcement. Cracking is present in the entire height of the chimney, which is in a very poor state, while much of the floor is also in poor condition.

The consultants have assessed several options for the future use of the building, including as a regional gallery. Unfortunately the incinerator site is not well located to capitalise on visitation, public transport and car parking. The building itself is quite small; there is no access for loading bays and no space for storage. In addition, the heritage listing of the building carries a number of restrictions that may prevent the necessary alterations to make it effective as a regional gallery. The strict climate control systems necessary for such use would also add considerably to the cost.

Accordingly the consultants have recommended that the Willoughby Incinerator be developed as a cafe, exhibition/meeting rooms and artist studios. Council has endorsed the report’s advice on the use of the building.

Work will now commence on the repair and restoration of the structure prior to the final fit-out for use. In addition, the proposed use of the building as a public venue will require installation of a lift near the north western corner (estimated cost $250,000). A public art component will be incorporated in the lift over-run pit and it is proposed that an artist of note be commissioned to prepare this component.

The technical problems now identified and additional works have resulted in an increase in the cost of repair and restoration works. The total cost of the restoration project (including the lift) is now estimated at $1.87 million. The additional funds ($670,000) will be funded from Council’s Asset Improvement Reserve.

The Incinerator when completed will be a remarkable building which will provide a valuable addition to Council’s community facilities.

The restoration work has taken considerably longer than expected but the end result will be a great example of reuse of a heritage building. The additional restoration cost including the provision of a lift for people with disabilities is vital to ensure that the building meets the needs of all of our community.

Editor

Wanda Spathopoulos, The Crag – Castlecrag 1924-1936. Blackheath, Brandl & Schlesinger, 2007. Paperback, 407 pages, 42 b&w photos. RRP 39.95.

Edgar Herbert, who had spent six years in the United States where he studied physical education, found himself in the same compartment as Walter Burley Griffin on an overnight train journey from Sydney to Melbourne in 1920. Their conversation deeply impressed the educationalist and, following their move from Melbourne to Sydney in late 1922, Edgar and Grace Herbert brought their young family to live at Castlecrag in 1924, initially living in the Griffin-designed King O’Malley house (now the Private Hospital site). In early 1927 the family moved to a weekender shack on Torquay Point where there was ‘no water, no electricity, no sewage, no ice, no bread or milk, and no mail’. There they remained until 1938, but the house that Walter Burley Griffin designed for them would never be completed.

Wanda Spathopoulos’ book, which comprises memoirs of her childhood in Castlecrag supplemented by subsequent research into the period, provides a valuable record of the Castlecrag community in its founding years. Every member of each household during this 14 year period is covered it seems. Walter and Marion Griffin play dominant roles of course, but the real heroes to emerge from the tale are Edgar and Grace Herbert. Like the Griffins, they were driven by a deep commitment to humanity and a desire to help others. Like the Griffins, economic times did not smile on Edgar Herbert and he and his family lived in poverty for much of their time in Castlecrag; but his spirit and strong moral values never wavered. Wanda has done us all a service in documenting much of the Herbert family’s life in this book, from Edgar’s chance meeting with Griffin in 1920 through to the frustrations of his latter years when the Sydney YMCA thwarted his plans for advancement in order to keep the local physical education college going.

Perhaps the most important and fascinating feature of this book is the insight it provides into the magical environment and culture in which the children of the early Castlecrag grew up. I suspect it was not Wanda’s main intention, but she has conveyed much of the feeling of freedom, exploration and interaction with nature that the Castlecrag peninsula offered its children—it was an idyllic childhood that people who grew up in Castlecrag into the 1950s and early 1960s continue to look back on with nostalgia, but sadly appears to have been lost in the world of mass consumerism, electronic entertainment and organised events that now dominate family life.

For the Herbert girls in particular, Marion Mahony Griffin became a powerful influence on their childhood. In her grand work, Magic of America, Marion states: ‘All my life the time I have spent with children, always borrowed since I had none of my own, has been spent in making them “naughty”. To me it was an obvious perversion of nature to try to instil moral notions into little children and a very apparent imposition on the part of grown-ups to make life easier for themselves at no matter what cost of loss of character to the young.’ Then of Castlecrag, she states: ‘In this bush a child could roam at will. Children should no more be brought up in houses than colts and calves.’ (Part III, p. 124)

The Herbert girls, Irven and Wanda, spent long hours with Marion and followed her rules on the freedoms they were allowed, particularly never disturbing the work of the architectural staff. Wanda, the younger, initially found Marion distant and overbearing, but these memoirs are a testament to the influence Marion had over her. To Wanda, ‘Marion was dynamic; Marion was magic’. [From speech at book launch] As soon as she was able, Wanda went overseas in search of the Greek gods that Marion had introduced her to, married a Greek and lived there for much of her adult life.

Of Walter Burley Griffin we learn rather less. Most of the characters in this story have a deep admiration for Walter’s architecture and the philosophy that lay behind it, but the man himself remains a distant and shadowy figure.

This book makes an important contribution to our understanding of the history and character of the Castlecrag of the 1920s and 1930s and is recommended reading for all local residents. It should, however, be seen as a memoir, albeit supported by a considerable amount of follow-up research, and many of the facts and interpretations will be open to contrary views. The book would have benefited by a more rigorous edit, for there is much that is peripheral to the central story in its 407 pages. And while several of the intertwined chapters on the author’s life in Greece provide a useful platform from which to appreciate the Griffins’ design concepts for Castlecrag, this reviewer failed to see the purpose of the majority and found them distracting.

Bob McKillop