Cowra Consultant’s Report

Client: Dylan Gower

Authors: My Tien Banh

Liz Kimbell
Lily Wang (3221491)
Steer Consulting
Pty Ltd Amanda Yeung
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary ........................................................................................... 1
2. Introduction........................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Project ............................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Aim ................................................................................................................ 4
3. Regional Context ................................................................................................ 5
3.1 Regional overview ......................................................................................... 5
3.2 History ........................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Environment ................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Economy ........................................................................................................ 7
3.5 Society and Culture ........................................................................................ 9
4. Local context .................................................................................................11
4.1 Local Context of Boorowa ............................................................................11
4.1.1 History and Heritage ..............................................................................11
4.1.2 Environment ...........................................................................................14
4.1.3 Society and Culture ................................................................................14
4.1.4 Economy ................................................................................................17
4.1.5 Business Inventory .................................................................................18
4.1.6 Built Form Inventory ..............................................................................19
4.2 Local context of Cowra ................................................................................22
4.2.1 Heritage ..................................................................................................22
4.2.2 Community profile .................................................................................26
4.2.3 Environment ...........................................................................................33
4.2.4 Economy ................................................................................................34
4.2.5 Business Inventory .................................................................................38
4.2.6 Built Form Inventory ..............................................................................39
4.2.7 Land Use Survey ....................................................................................41
4.2.8 Cowra Town Centre Land Use Map .......................................................43
4.2.9 ANZSIC .................................................................................................44
5. Site Analysis ......................................................................................................45
5.1 Aerial Photo ..................................................................................................45
5.2 Description ....................................................................................................46
5.3 History and Heritage ...................................................................................50
5.4 SWOT analysis .............................................................................................52
6. Proposal .............................................................................................................60
6.1 Concept: .....................................................................................................60
6.2 Relation to Context .......................................................................................62
6.3 Target Market................................................................................................62
6.4 Project Funding .............................................................................................64
6.5 Site Usage ....................................................................................................66
6. Conclusion .........................................................................................................69
7. Reference List ....................................................................................................70
8. Appendix............................................................................................................72
Appendix A.........................................................................................................72
1. Executive Summary

The Corridor site is situated 30 km from Cowra, but 70 km from Boorowa.

The property lies on Darby Falls Road and is accessible only by car. Major
buildings currently found on the 45 acre site are a woolshed, shearers‟
quarters, a cookhouse and a piggery.

The client Dylan Gower has engaged Steer Consulting to assess

development potential of the site. This report includes a detailed analysis on
the Cowra and Boorowa regions, an analysis of the site and the existing
buildings, as well as an evaluation of its suitability for development. Since
purchasing the property in 1999, the clients have wanted to transform and
rejuvenate the site along three main themes - education, research and
cultural pursuits. The site‟s architect, on behalf of the clients, has guided
this report‟s analysis of the site, and Steer Consulting has decided to
approach the Corridor project from an agriculture and business perspective.

The Corridor is envisioned to be an interactive space, a meeting place, and

a place where people converge. We propose that it be used as a community
meeting place where local people from Cowra and its surrounds can share
their skills and knowledge with one another. Our objective for the Corridor
site is to provide an environment where all members of the community have
an equal opportunity to maximize their ability in a variety of fields, as well
as pass on what they know to others. The proposal includes conducting
workshops and classes on the site in a range of fields such as the arts,
professional development, social welfare, land management practices and
indigenous culture.

Our ultimate goal is to enhance social capital within the local Cowra
community. We define social capital as different individuals coming together
to share knowledge, skills and to create cultural cohesion and various

1
institutions. Enhancing social capital may lead to the strengthening of a
community in terms of cultural and social cohesion, and by fostering a
strong committed support base for the Corridor, these workshops and
learning groups will encourage the building of community relations.

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2. Introduction

2.1 Project

“Our Corridor is a passageway, a constant learning transition, not just a

destination...”

The Corridor will be a mixed – use facility to cater for the wide local
community from an agriculture and business direction. Our Corridor will be
an interactive space, a place where the community can converge and
converse, learning off each other, stimulating social capital. We define
social capital as different individuals coming together to share knowledge,
skills and to create cultural cohesion.

Our project also encompasses the need to meet skills shortages, particularly
medical services in the area. This is achieved by offering training and
working opportunities to overcome this situation. With a steady growing
population, Cowra requires more business opportunities and hence
employment opportunities for the economy to grow. The Corridor will work
hand in hand to meet this growing trend.

The Corridor seeks to enrich and improve the lives of the community by
establishing a variety of workshops and learning groups for the people of
Cowra and other regional centres. The Corridor will be a course of the
future, the community and those involved. We are hopeful that the
Corridor will be a key element in the future development of the region.

The existing infrastructure on the site will be utilised in a number of ways to

facilitate the range of workshops and learning groups. The Corridor project
will preserve the historical value of the site whilst inviting the community to
take part in contributing to the history of the site.

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2.2 Aim

Our Corridor will incorporate a variety of skills and knowledge that can be
applied to all aspects of society. We aim to provide for the wide community
with an equal opportunity to maximise their ability in various fields. Such
fields include fine arts, medical services, professional development, social
welfare, community engagement, land management practices, skills and
team building. By fostering a strong ongoing support base, these
workshops and learning groups will encourage the building of community
relations.

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3. Regional Context

3.1 Regional overview

Central West NSW

The regional context address in this report is Central New South Wales.
Boardered by the Great Dividing Range, the region is located to the south of
Sydney. The region has a total area of 63,262 square kilometres and a
population of 172, 790 (NIEIR 2003). Major town in the region are Orange
and Dubbo in the north-west, and Cowra and Forbes in the south-west.

Source: Department of State and Regional Development, 2007

3.2 History

The original inhabitants of this region were the Wiradjuri people (Tass
2003). With the arrival of the European settlers in the 1830s and 1840s,
many local indigenous people‟s way of life started to change. As the first
European Settlers took over the land for crop farming and raising livestock,
the local indigenous people were gradually displaced from the land (Tass
2003). As well, similar to what was happening else where in Australia at

5
the time, many of the indigenous people were forced into reserves and
missions. This contributed to a loss of culture and way of life to the
indigenous population in the region.

The discovery of gold in the 19 th and 20th centuries brought an exponential

increase in people to the region (Tass 2003). In particularly, most of the
diggers were located in and around Bathurst. This caused Bathurst to grow
substantially to become of the one of the largest town centres in the region
today. The migration of diggers also brought an injection of people to
support the subsidiary services, such as bankers and teachers. This influx
of people started the gradual establishment of the region (Tass 2003).

Towards the culmination of the Gold Rush, the region shifted towards a
predominantly agriculture based industry (Tass 2003). Wheat and grain
were introduced as crops to be grown in the region‟s drier climates. The
success of these crops helped the region and its agriculture industry to
grow significantly.

The introduction of the motor vehicles in the middle of the 20 th century

helped in making the region more accessible (Tass 2003). The motor
vehicle made transportation of goods, and travel in and around the region
became easier and faster. This brought more opportunities for regional
development and expansion. The introduction of motor vehicles also saw
the establishment of bigger regional town centres. Due to their ease of
access, these regional centres are the commercial and retail hubs for the
surrounding area. They offer a range of tertiary services and offices (such
as state government branches).

3.3 Environment

The region is located to the west of the Great Dividing Range. Being inland

6
and behind the Blue Mountains means that the region receive little rainfall
and tend to be dry most of the year (Bureau of Metrology 2007).
Consequently, the vegetation is sparser than other regions of New South
Wales. The vegetation types found in this region include scattered forest,
low bush land and grass lands.

Despite the lack of rain however, the Central New South Wales region is
abundant in natural beauty and resources. The region is home to a number
of National Parks such as Conimbla in Cowra and Wyangala Waters State
Park surrounding Wyangala Dam, and wetland ecosystems, fed by the great
Lachlan and Macquarie rivers (visitNSW 2007). It is also home to an
abundance of native flora and fauna, which are found throughout the area.

As well, the region has always been, and still is one of the largest
agricultural producers in New South Wales. This fine balance between the
natural landscape, the land and resource needs for agricultural practices
have had some large-scale effects on the environment. Environmental
issues which plague the region include problems with salinity, introduced
animals and weeds, water management and drought (Cowra Agricultural
Research and Advisory Station 2007).

3.4 Economy

The Central New South Wales region has a number of competitive economic
advantages to neighbouring regions. These include -
 An extensive freight and commuter system, and crucial rail
infrastructure. This makes transportation of goods easier and faster.
 A region that is rich in natural resources including gold, copper, and
timber.
 A region that is close to the larger centres (in terms of population
size and market) of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong

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  A region strong that is in the education and service sectors. This will
stimulate the region‟s growth

The Central New South Wales region enjoys a growing and diverse mix of
industries. Nevertheless, much of its economy is still dependent on primary
industries. As shown in Figure 1, the main industry in the Central New
Wales is agriculture, which employs 14 per cent of the region‟s total
workforce. Wool, cattle and wheat form the core of this $600 million
industry, with significant growth occurring in areas such as horticulture,
dairy farming and viticulture (Department of State and Regional
Development NSW Government 2007).

Figure 1

Total Employment in Central NSW Region

8%
9%
31%
12%

13%
14%
13%

education
health and community service
manufacturing
mining
retail
Source: Department of StateAgriculture
and Regional Development NSW Government, 2007
other

There is also an expanding mining sector in this region that underpins its
vibrant economy. This rapidly developing industry, which involves mining
for coal, copper and gold, is now worth over $550 million annually
(Department of State and Regional Development NSW Government 2007).
It is the second biggest employer in the region. As one of the most heavily
prospected places in Australia, Central New South Wales constantly have
new opportunities for natural resource extraction being identified. This has

8
led to the opening of brand new operations including the Northparkes, Lake
Cowal and the A$440 million Cadia gold mines (Department of State and
Regional Development NSW Government 2007). Moreover, Lithgow
Minerals Processing Park‟s strategically location next to the Mount Piper
power station provides new opportunities for vertical integration and value
adding to the region's mineral wealth.

According to the NSW Department of State and Regional Development

(2007), the third largest economic sector in the Central New South Wales
region is manufacturing which provides 12% of the region‟s employment.
This sector is built on top of the region‟s strong agricultural base, with a
large food and beverage processing sub-sector worth around A$690 million.
Machinery and equipment manufacturing are also important, worth A$245
million and A$165 million respectively to the Central West economy.
Whitegoods manufacturer, Electrolux, is the largest individual employer in
this sector. In total, the manufacturing sector of the economy is worth
around A$1,421 million annually.

Finally, tourism is growing steadily as a new important economic sector in

the region. The strong agriculture industry and successful viticulture, as well
as the location of a number of large regional centres in the area, such as
Orange, Bathurst, Young, and with Canberra a few hours drive to the south,
has helped the region establish its strong tourism industry over the years.
Tourism to the region is increasing by around 16 per cent per annum
(Department of State and Regional Development NSW Government 2007).

3.5 Society and Culture

The Central New South Wales boasts of its vibrant cultural identity. There
are many galleries throughout the region including the Molong Historical
Museum and Forbes Art Gallery (totaltravel 2007). Artists are often
attracted to these towns because of their special preserved old-world

9
heritage. The region also holds many social and nature-related events
throughout the year. Some of these include Wildflower Week, the Dubbo
Show and Parkes Picnic races (totaltravel 2007). These events do not only
to attract tourists from larger town centres but also enhance social cohesion
among the community.

The Central New South Wales region is also known for its gourmet food and
wine. The wine-makers and food producers of this region are recognised
internationally amongst chefs (visitNSW 2007). Many vineyards and
wineries in the region also offer tours and site visits as part of attracting
and educating tourists.

Site observation revealed that the region experiences similar trends with
other semi rural regions in Australia in terms of uneven age distribution
among its population. Like many other rural regions in Australia, the
working age adults and youth in Central New South Wales tend to live in
the larger town centres such as Bathurst rather than the smaller towns. On
the other hand, the elderly and the very young tend to remain in the
smaller towns. This uneven distribution of population may potentially
become a social problem as it the social mix of the region, the exchange
and inflow of new ideas into the smaller towns, and the economic health
and sustainability of those smaller towns.

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4. Local context
4.1 Local Context of Boorowa

4.1.1 History and Heritage

According to Boorowa Shire Council (2006), Boorowa was originally named

“Burrowa” or “Boowora” which were said to be Aboriginal words for native
birds. It became the current name when it was discovered in 1914 that a
mistake was made more than sixty years ago on the applications for the
town design and surveys (Boorowa Shire Council 2006).

The Boorowa Hotel. One of Boorowa township‟s local pubs located on the main
street, it serves as a local community meeting place.
Source: Wang, 2007

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Boorowa‟s main street, the Lachlan Valley Way. The street is quite wide, as it was
built for carts and sheep runs in the past, and was not altered when the car was
introduced. Today many local shops, restaurants, banks and services are located
on the main street.
Source: Wang, 2007

The actual Boorowa township began in the 1850s with scattered businesses
along the main and side streets. By this time, there were less than 3,000
people in the entire Lachlan district (Boorowa Shire Council 2006). However,
the discovery of gold in nearby Young in 1861 brought many thousands of
prospectors, some of whom remained as settlers after the introduction of
the Robertson Land Act in that same year which made it possible for free
selectors to buy crown land at cheap rates (Boorowa Shire Council 2006).

Boorowa was settled largely by ex-convicts and ticket of leave men from
Ireland in the 1840s and 50s (Kass 2003). These immigrants were mainly
political prisoners and those fleeing the Potato Famine. They were obliged
to remain in the district to which they had been assigned. In Boorowa,
these men took up rural jobs as labourers working on the large properties
near the Boorowa township.

12
The predominant Irish heritage of the town can still be seen today in the
Shamrock Trail along the footpaths of the main street, and the golden
plaques on the buildings. This contributed to the culture of Boorowa
community.

A picture of a shamrock found on the pavement on the main street of Boorowa.

The symbol relates to the Irish heritage of the town.
Source: Wang, 2007

Boorowa is a proud agricultural community. The first “agricultural show”

was held in the 1860s, and is still a feature in local life (Tass 2003). The
Shire‟s best produce is merino wool because Boorowa was a prime sheep
growing region. The wool heritage is celebrated each year with the annual
„running of the sheep‟ event (Boorowa Shire Council 2006). As well as
producing wool, Boorowa also grew wheat which became a major industry
in the early 20th century. For many years Boorowa had flourmills, but most
wheat is now taken to larger towns to be processed.

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4.1.2 Environment
The environment of Boorowa is similar to the wider Central New South
Wales region. More specifically, the water supply in Boorowa is stressed
highly due to the drought. The annual rainfall is only 608.0mm (NIEIR
2003). As well, only eighteen months within the last years had there been
above average rainfall. Water for the township is supplied from a weir on
Boorowa River and only local residents are allowed access to the reticulated
water. It is expected that water availability would have declined during the
drier periods (NIEIR 2003).

The land use in Boorowa is also similar to that of the wider region.
Agriculture accounts for almost 90% of land use in the Shire (NIEIR 2003).
Over the last several years, there have been many shifts in land use – from
grazing to mixed farming to cropping and grazing of wheat and canola.
Land over-clearing and agricultural intensification on a broad scale, coupled
with the dryness of the climate have resulted in numerous outbreaks of
dryland salinity (NIEIR 2003). This has threatened the environmental
sustainability in some parts of Boorowa.

4.1.3 Society and Culture

Boorowa has a population of 1300. Most of the people living in the town
are retired farmers, labourers, shop service providers/owners, tree
changers, and the elderly. The shire has a strong sense of town pride
evident through the cleanliness of the street ways, and its Tidiest Town of
the Year awards, 2003 and 2004 (Boorowa Shire Council 2007).

The town is also socially conscious. There is Braille signage for the disable,
and public chairs and benches on the main road. There is also a large park
at the edge of the town that has a brand new walkway, bike track, and

14
children‟s playground. Other recreational facilities that Boorowa Shire offers
are pilates, men‟s den, netball, rugby, squash and tennis. These services
and facilities are will facilitate the enhancement the social cohesion and
community bonds with its residents.

Boorowa has a recently erected sign on its main street for an “Alcohol free
zone”. This program is only a trial period to run until 2010. The sign is an
indication that that alcohol abuse may be a problem within the shire. This is
something our proposal for the Corridor may help to address.

One of the signs indicating an Alcohol Free Zone in Boorowa town centre. The
consumption of alcohol in this area is prohibited from April 29, 2007 until April 28,
2010. This initiative has most probably been implemented to reduce anti-social
behaviour influenced by alcohol consumption in the town centre.
Source: Wang, 2007

15
The tidiness of the town can be seen here with its paved footpaths, straight nature
strip and even distribution of car parking spaces.
Source: Wang, 2007

The public benches and table on Boorowa‟s main street. These street furniture can
encourage community interaction and hence increase social cohesion.
Source: Wang, 2007
16
4.1.4 Economy

Boorowa township‟s economy is relatively small but stable. The town‟s

economy is mainly driving by the rural agriculture backbone. Boorowa
township acts as a small centre aimed mainly at simply serving the needs of
the local residents. There are wool trading stores, farm machinery stores,
simple cafes, banks and general merchandise stores.

The economy in the wider Boorowa context is almost identical to the

regional economic context. Agriculture is Boorowa‟s main economic sector,
which grew in value by some $8 million between 1991 and 2001 (NIEIR
2003). Following this, in order of size, are manufacturing, business services,
tourism and hospitality, retail, other, and government and education. Table
1 below, shows the total value of industry output in 2001 was $76.8 million.
with agriculture remaining the most valuable industry to the shire (NIEIR
2003).

Table 1. Industry Outputs, Boorowa Shire, 2001 $million

Industry Value $million

Mining 0

Agriculture 41.3

Manufacturing 1.8

Business Services 8.8

Tourism and Hospitality 2.6

Retail 3.1

Other Output 13.9

Government/Education 5.4

Total 76.8

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 Source: NIEIR, 2004

In terms of employment, the overall number of people employed in

agriculture decreased slightly between 1991 and 2001. At the same time,
increases occurred in the number of people employed in manufacturing and
construction (Australian Capital Region Development Council 2004).

As well, similar to the regional economic context, tourism is also an agenda

pursued by Boorowa shire council in order to stimulate the local economy.
Boorowa has several wineries that produces and sells its own wines. The
streetscape of the town have had refurbished turfs and walkways. This is a
method to encourage visitors and tourists to Boorowa. Boorowa Council
has also joined with several other councils in the Region (the Southern
Special Economic Zone) to promote tourism and new business to the
Hilltops region.

4.1.5 Business Inventory

Business in Boorowa:
Division C – Manufacturing
• Small Jewellery manufacturer
Division F – Wholesale Trade
• Butchers
• Florist / nursery
Division G – Retail
• Newsagents
• IGA
• Post office
Division H – Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants
• Motels
• Court house hotel
• Chinese restaurants
• Fast food/take away Town clock coffee shops
• Pubs
Division I – Transport and Storage
• NRMA service centre
• Petrol stations
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 • Automobile – tyres
Division K – Finance and Insurance
• Banks: Bendigo, Westpac
Division O – Community services
• NSW fire brigade
• Police

Division Q – Personal and Other

• Hair dressers
• St Vincents
• Vet
• Museum

The business inventory of Boorowa indicates that this town centre does not
accommodate for tourists staying long term, basically it caters for people
passing through the town. This can be seen through numerous cafes in the
town centre, a museum, accommodation available and the necessities are
provided through small supermarket chains such as IGA. There is an
absence of large supermarket chains, for example Coles, no home ware
shops that provided linen, cutlery etcetera, and not many stores that supply
agricultural equipment which suggests that residents would have to travel
to a regional centre for these supplies. We noticed that that the town centre
is quite stagnant which is shown through the business hours of the shops
and some of the shops are vacant.

4.1.6 Built Form Inventory

In Boorowa‟s town centre, there are numerous large buildings which look
similar to warehouses, for example the wool buyers. All the buildings are
wide (compared to city street shops), are quite long, mostly built out of
brick and range from single to double storey. The buildings are set back
from the road, with a wide footpath in front of them, have awnings that
cover most of the footpath and have tin roofs that are slanted. There are no
modern designs for the building, instead the style of the buildings are
19
mostly colonial, with a couple, such as the accommodation motel, that are
Victorian Terrace style. Decoration can be seen externally on the building,
an example of this would be ornamental tiles on the front of a building
which have historical significance.

The buildings in Boorowa are mostly low lying single storey.

Source: Wang, 2007

The Boorowa Hotel is one of the only two storey buildings in the town.

20
 Source: Wang, 2007

As mentioned earlier, there is an Irish connection to the town centre,

shamrocks are built in the pathways and plaques on walls. These shamrocks
portray a sense of belonging for Boorowa shire and are highly respected by
the local residents.

There are plaques on some of the buildings in Boorowa which have heritage
significance. There is also Shamrock Trails running through the building to guide
Boorowa visitors who are interested in discovering Boorowa‟s history through its
built form.
Source: Wang, 2007

The housing in Boorowa consists of mainly single storey, federation style

housing, set on large blocks of land. The houses are situated on wide
streets, which have not been changed since the introduction of the car, but
kept their historical value for when they were used for herding sheep and
designed for carriages. In the street layout, particular effort has been taken
to keep it neat and tidy. This could be to help make a name for themselves,
to make Boorowa stand out and to attract tourists.

21
4.2 Local context of Cowra

4.2.1 Heritage

The township of Cowra began in the 1840s and grew as a settlement being
the site of the main river crossing of the Lachlan River for travellers
journeying between Sydney and Adelaide (Cowra Shire Council 2007). By
the late 1870s, the Cowra region established itself with a strong agriculture
industry, especially with the cultivating of wheat as a commercial crop,
growth of market gardens and the production of wine.

View of Cowra town centre‟s main street from the Bellevue Hill Lookout.
Source: Wang, 2007

The early part of the 20th century saw the Cowra township and surrounding
areas grow and change significantly. Wyangala Dam was constructed on the
Lachlan River in the late 1920s and completed in 1935, to service the
growing development in the region (State Parks NSW, 2007). The
placement of the Edgell cannery in Cowra in 1943 also contributed to the
manufacturing industry in the town and established it as a relatively

22
significant regional centre (Kass 2003). When WWII came, Cowra was the
base for an Australian military training camp and the Number 12 Prisoner of
War (POW) Camp was established in 1941 on the fringes of Cowra.

A sign at the site of the No.12 POW Camp informing visitors of the history and
layout of the camp. This was where the Cowra Breakout took place in 1944. There
are no major structures from the camp left on the site today.
Source: Wang, 2007

To date, the Cowra POW Breakout has been one of the most significant
events in the town‟s history, as the event has played a huge role in the
town‟s history and the town‟s close link with the Japanese people and
culture is an element which makes it unique amongst other regional
Australian towns. On the 5th August 1944, Japanese soldiers being held
prisoner in Cowra‟s POW camp staged a mass breakout and attack on the
camp‟s guards and property (Ryan 2007). A large number of Japanese and
few Australian soldiers were killed in the battle. After the breakout and at
the end of WWII, a Japanese War Cemetery was established in Cowra as a
sign of respect for the all Japanese killed in the war. The Cowra cemetery

23
has since become a great symbol for peace and created a deep bond and
respect between the Cowra community and the Japanese people.

The Cowra Japanese War Cemetery. This is the only Japanese War Cemetery that
can be found in the world that is located outside of Japan. The cemetery is a great
symbol of the history that the Cowra community and Japanese people share.
Source: Wang, 2007

WWII saw the growth of multiculturalism within the Cowra community,

especially with the large number of Italians, Indonesians and Japanese
being detained in the Number 12 POW camp. And in the 1950s and 1960s,
the diverse Cowra community only continued to grow with the post-war
migration of refugees and displaced people.

24
Cherry Blossom trees planted in and around the Japanese War Cemetery. The
events of WWII had a great affect on Cowra. These trees are a physical symbol of
Cowra‟s proud heritage, and the community‟s respect for the Japanese soldiers
that lived in the POW Camp.
Source: Wang, 2007

Since the changing experiences of WWII, the township of Cowra and its
surrounds has only grown stronger as a service and retail regional centre
based on its roots in the agriculture industry. The story of the Cowra POW
outbreak and the establishment of a Japanese garden in commemoration
have become infamous, and Cowra‟s tourism industry has grown
significantly from this.

25
The great respect that the community showed the Japanese people, the town
received the great honour of hosting Australia‟s Peace Bell.
Source: Wang, 2007

4.2.2 Community profile

Since its establishment in 1849, Cowra has experienced a steady growth in
its population. As of 2006, the recorded population number (excludes
overseas visitors) stands at 12,475 in the shire (ABS Census Data 2006).
The population is comprised of 6,204 males and 6,271 females, which
equates to 49.7% and 50.3% respectively. One of the Corridor‟s proposals
is to support both genders by establishing support networks aimed at their
different gender needs. Hence, the proposed direction for both a men and
a women‟s den on the Corridor site. Also, the total indigenous population in
Cowra in 2006 is 6.0% (ABS Census Data 2006). Interestingly, this is
significantly higher compared to the 2.3% Australia wide.

26
The Corridor project supports the Indigenous population who are original
inhabitants of the land, providing opportunities for them to foster a close
relationship with other members of the community, assisting them on
Indigenous affairs and land use management.

Table 1 – Age Profile

Source: ABS 2006

As shown in Table 1, the largest age group was the 25-54 year age group.
This represented 36.0% of the total Cowra resident population (ABS Census
Data 2006). This age group is also better known as the working age
population. One of the Corridor‟s proposals is to attract the working age
population in the running of workshops and learning programs, and as
participants in these agendas. Moreover, the ageing population over 55
years of age represented 31.8% of the total population. The increase in the
aged population highlights the need for more health, social and support
services. The Corridor will contribute to their growing needs by facilitating
collective social groups where they can extend their social network whilst
enjoying the company of others when undertaking many activities on the
Corridor.

Table 2 - Citizenship

27
Source: ABS 2006
As shown in Table 2, the majority of the Cowra population are of Australian
citizenship. This is recorded n the 2006 Census at 93.4%, with 5.6% born
overseas (ABS Census Data 2006).

Table 3 – Country of Birth

Source: ABS 2006

This finding is supported in Table 3, with 89.4% of the population born in

Australia, followed by 1.6% born In England (ABS Census Data 2006).
Other countries such as New Zealand, Scotland, Germany and the
Netherlands all recorded less than 1% of the total population. This
highlights the opportunity for city and overseas professionals to educate the
local community by further developing their understanding of other cultures.
This can be supported in conjunction with the cultural significance of
Cowra‟s history.

Table 4 – Language Spoken

Source: ABS 2006

28
Table 4 highlights that English is the most widely spoken language at home,
of 95.1% of the total residents (ABS Census Data 2006). Other languages
such as Greek, Arabic, Italian, Croatian and Mandarin all recorded less than
1% of the entire population. On the contrary, these minorities have an
important role to play in the Corridor. Such importance stems from the
opportunity to teach languages to the wider community.

Table 5 – Religion

Source: ABS 2006

The majority of the population as shown In Table 5 are of Catholic and

Anglican religious affiliation, with 33.1% and 31.9% respectively. Both
figures are significantly higher than the Australian average of 25.8% and
18.7% respectively.

Table 6 – Martial Status

Source: ABS 2006

29
More than 50% of the population are married, whilst 26.2% have never
married (ABS Census Data 2006). Divorced and widowed persons make up
20% of the population. On the contrary, the Australian average of married
and divorced couples is lower than that of Cowra. However, the average
Australian population whom have never married stands at 33.2% in 2006,
higher than the 26.2% in Cowra. This reflects on the close knit community
of Cowra and the likelihood of marriage for persons over 15 years of age.

Table 7 - Income

Source: ABS 2006

Table 7 shows that the weekly median individual income of Cowra is $359 .
This is compared with $466 in Australia. Although this may be the result of
various economic factors, such as employment sectors and economic
growth. The Corridor will enable the community to improve their work
opportunities, allowing the workforce to seek growth opportunities in the
local, regional and city areas. The recorded weekly median household
income and family income were also lower than the Australian average.

Table 8 – Family characteristics

Source: ABS 2006

30
Table 8 shows the family characteristics of Cowra in comparison to the rest
of Australia (ABS Census Data 2006). The total number of couple families
with children represented 40.1% of the region, lower than the 45.3%
Australian average. Interestingly, couple families without children
represented the highest number, with 43.6% compared to the Australian
average. One of the main reasons for this is the growing number of
retirees and tree changers moving to Cowra. This supports one of the
Corridors proposals to target couples who have moved away from the city
and by offering them assistance after moving to the area. The Corridor can
also act as a sanction, a retreat for creativity and other related interests.

Table 9 – Dwelling Characteristics

Source: ABS 2006

The number of occupied private dwellings in Cowra was 4,878, as shown in

Table 9. 90.9% of these were separate houses, 2.3% were semi –
detached, 5% were flats and 1.6% was other dwelling types. The average
number of occupants as reflected on the population is 2.5 persons per
household.

31
Table 10 – Dwelling Characteristics

Source: ABS 2006

Table 10 shows the average median weekly rent in Cowra was $130,
compared to $190 in Australia. Again, the average median housing loan
repayment at $953 was lower than that compared to $1,300 in Australia.

Table 11 – Tenure type

Source: ABS 2006

Table 11 highlights the high number of fully owned private dwellings in

Cowra, with 42.8% of households owning their own home, significantly
higher than the 32.6% Australian average, 27.4% were being purchased
whilst 24.6% are rental properties.

Table 12 – Household type

32
 Source: ABS 2006

As indicated in Table 12, the family household represents 69.6% of the

household type in Australia, higher than the 67.4% average nationwide.
The number of lone person household in Cowra represented 26.1% of the
total, higher than that of Australia‟s average at 22.9%. This emphasises the
need for the Corridor to increase the community involvement of those living
by themselves. This allows them to contribute to the community whilst also
alleviating the sense of loneliness by offering an array of support services
provided by the Corridor.

4.2.3 Environment

The climate for Cowra is temperate and seasonal. It is distinctly hot in the
summer months, with an average maximum of 30.8 degrees Celcius in
January, and colder in the winter months, with an average minimum of 3.6
degrees Celcius (NIEIR 2003). The annual temperature range is 23.5 to 8.2
degrees Celcius, with it being significantly cooler during the night than
during the day as it is located inland. Annual rainfall is approximately
613.4mm, and January, May, August and October are generally the wettest
months on record (NIEIR 2003).

The landscape of the surrounding Cowra area is of rolling hills, river flats
and slopes. The soil is relatively fertile, and the land is quite good for

33
grazing at the best times of the year when there is rain. The Lachlan River
is a major source of water for the area and Wyangala Dam provides water
to people, stock and for irrigation throughout the area. Much of the land
around Cowra today is used for agriculture; for the growing of canola and
wheat and sheep and cattle farming.

One of the many canola fields that are found throughout the Cowra region. Canola
is one of the main products grown in the region.
Source: Wang 2007

4.2.4 Economy

Cowra‟s economy is still strongly based in primary industries, being mainly

agriculture. However, as a medium-sized regional centre, it has established
quite a strong manufacturing and services industry. The retail industry, as
seen below in figure 2, takes up the second-largest share in employment in
Cowra.

34
 Source: Cowra Shire Council 1999

Cowra‟s agriculture industry is responsible for producing primarily canola,

Lucerne, asparagus, sheep, cattle and wine. Especially of late, the wine
industry in the area has attracted many tourists and wine-tasters to the
region. Other products grown and produced in the Cowra area include
Chinese red dates, smoked and fresh trout, cherries, white peaches, alpine
strawberries, Wagyu beef and sheep milk cheese.

As well as having a strong agricultural sector, Cowra‟s economy is also

heavily driven by manufacturing. The three main manufacturing industry
groups in Cowra are food and wine processing, furniture manufacturing and
machinery and equipment engineering. A number of products grown locally
are processed in Cowra for wider markets.

The machinery and equipment engineering industry, in particular, is an

important part of Cowra‟s economy. As a regional centre located within an
area based heavily in agriculture, the provision of agricultural machinery

35
and equipment and the services of this equipment are important for the
people in the area.

More specifically, the economy of the Cowra Township plays an influential

role in the economy of the whole shire. Cowra Township is an important
medium-sized regional town, and is the centre for retail shops and services
in the region. This is because the township of Cowra is located in a central
location, with relatively close and easy links to major cities, such as
Canberra and large regional centres, such as Bathurst, Orange and Young
throughout south-eastern Australia. Cowra has needed to expand
significantly in their business and services industries as well as in health,
education and hospitality services sectors to cater for their growing town
population and particularly tourism industry.

The hospital found in Cowra‟s town centre. Cowra is a provider of health services
in the region, and the services industry in the town is relatively strong.
Source: Wang 2007

The business community in Cowra alone employs over 4,700 people. The
town has a range of businesses, including hotels/motels and restaurants
servicing the tourism industry, retail shops and supermarkets for the local

36
community, as well as a range of wholesale trade and services which
supports the local agriculture industry. There are also a range of education
and health services in the town, including a hospital, which supports the
surrounding community. The services sector of Cowra‟s employment share
is at over 43%, with 6% of employment in the hospitality industry. This
highlights the town‟s important role in being a regional services centre
within the Central West area.

The main street of Cowra. Many of the town‟s major retail and service businesses
are found on this street. There is ample parking for people coming into town from
the surrounding region.
Source: Wang 2007

37
4.2.5 Business Inventory
Business in Cowra:

Division C - Manufacturing
 furniture store
 glass manufacturing and repairs
Division F - Wholesale Trade
 glass manufacturing and repairs
 interior décor
 Abattoir - Breakout River
 Blinds and Curtains

Division G - Retail Trade

 furniture store
 Holden – commercial
 KFC
 Pizzeria
 cinema
 lingerie
 music
 clothing
 embroidery
 Kids clothes
 travel group
 photography
 bike store
 clothes
 hot bread
 shoes
 books
 cake shop
 travel agent (Harvey)
 dry cleaners
 newsagent
 Art Supplies
 Bridal and Evening Wear
 The Reject Shop
 Betta Electrical

Division H - Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants

 motor-inn
 motel
 café
 restaurants
 Take away shop
Division I - Transport and Storage
 Cowra Tyre & Brake
 Cowra Bus Services
Division J - Communication Services
 Post office
Division K - Finance and Insurance

38
  Commonwealth bank
 Central west credit union
 St George Bank
 accounting
 NAB
 Finance planning
Division L - Property and Business Services
 property – real estate
 solicitor
 LJ hooker

Division O - Health and Community Services

 pathology
 Medical Centre
 pharmacy
 Optometrist
 dentist
 podiatrist
 Chiropractor
Division Q - Personal and Other Services
 church
 hair salon
 Veterinary

Source: Cowra Shire Council 2007

Cowra offers a wide range of shops and services for the local residents. All
basic amenities are located within the town centre making it easily
accessible. The ongoing effect of drought is evident in Cowra. Some shops
are currently vacant due to the inability of former shop keepers to maintain
rental payments. The growing demand for discount stores highlights the
financial pressure on families and the wider community. Cowra has a
variety of small to large stores, ranging from small bakers to large
supermarket chain stores such as Woolworths. The majority of the
businesses are retail stores.

4.2.6 Built Form Inventory

The built form in Cowra and Boorowa are fairly similar, ranging from the
residential to the commercial buildings. As Cowra is a bigger town, there is
a larger and a wider variety of buildings.

39
In Cowra‟s town centre, the built form is slightly more vertically distributed
than the built form in Boorowa. This height is consistent throughout the
town centre, except for the outskirts where the building height drops to a
low single storey. The buildings in the town centre are close together, are
quite long and have some unique built forms, such as one of the churches
on the main street. Most the buildings are constructed with brick, have
frontage and show a variety of design techniques. This can be seen in the
awnings of different buildings. An example is shown below:

Despite the uniform render on this block of buildings, there are different awnings
which add to the uniqueness of each individual building.
Source: Ma 2007

The decorative features in the photo above contrasts with the photo on the
next page despite the fact that the buildings in both photos lay Cowra‟s
main street way. The above photo features a more historic building design,
whereas the building in the image below was probably built at a more
recent time.

40
This block of buildings is only single storey with arches as part of its frontage.
Although these arches add to the decorative nature of the buildings, they can
potentially shield away businesses. This is due to the fact that the business
entrances are not completely fronting the street.
Source: Ma 2007

4.2.7 Land Use Survey

The Cowra land use survey indicates that the majority of land use is
allocated for commercial use. This is portrayed by the blue shaded zones.
This is because Cowra is a regional centre, with residents from many
surrounding smaller towns travelling to access necessary goods and
services. For example, the large supermarket chain, Woolworths caters for
their basic needs offering a variety of products. Although the city centre is
dominated by commercial use, residential and other land uses are
particularly present along Liverpool Street. Other land use refers to schools,
police stations and churches on this map. There are a few vacant shops
scattered across the town centre. This is indicative of the financial

41
pressures of drought. There is also a lack of light industrial land uses within
the town centre. This may be the result of light industrial land uses being
allocated towards the outskirts of the town.

The Map shows the Cowra Town Centre divided according to the Australian
and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification.

42
 4.2.8 Cowra Town Centre Land Use Map

4.2.8 Cowra Town Centre Land Use Map4.2.8 Cowra Town 43

4.2.9 ANZSIC
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification

Division A - Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Division B - Mining

Division C - Manufacturing

Division D - Electricity, Gas and Water Supply

Division E - Construction

Division F - Wholesale Trade

Division G - Retail Trade

Division H - Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants

Division I - Transport and Storage

Division J - Communication Services

Division K - Finance and Insurance

Division L - Property and Business Services

Division M - Government Administration and Defence

Division N - Education

Division O - Health and Community Services

Division P - Cultural and Recreational Services

Division Q - Personal and Other Services

44
5. Site Analysis

5.1 Aerial Photo

Source: Department of Lands 2007

45
5.2 Description

The project site is a private property located within the Boorowa Local
Government Area. Geographically it is seventy kilometers away from the
Boorowa township, however as Cowra township is only thirty kilometers
away, the site is not only more accessible but also more relevant to the
residents of Cowra.

The site is forty hectares in size and is bounded by Darby Falls Road to the
north-west of the site, which connects directly to Cowra lying to the North-
west. The site‟s rear boundary backs onto the Lachlan River, with Hovells
Creek running near the eastern boundary of the property. The property‟s
driveway connecting the buildings on-site to Darby Falls Road runs along
the southern extent of the site.

The entrance gate to the site from Darby Falls Road.

Source: Wang 2007

46
Hovell‟s Creek which borders the Eastern boundary of the site.
Source: Wang 2007

The Lachlan River which backs onto the site.

Source: Wang 2007

47
Currently the site‟s source of fresh water comes from Wyangala Dam which
is located upstream north-east of the property. And electricity on the site is
provided by an electricity generator. This once agriculture site is now weed
infested and the soil is degraded and of high acidity due to over-farming in
the past. Today only scattered remnants of native vegetation remain.

In terms of built form, the site contains a number of buildings, the main
ones being an old shearing shed, shearers‟ quarters, cookhouse, and a
piggery. Both the shearing shed and piggery are not in operation, and the
shearers‟ quarters are only used for accommodation when visitors are on-
site. The quarters can house up to twenty people.

The Cookhouse.
Source: Wang 2007

48
The Piggery.
Source: Wang 2007

The Woolshed.
Source: Wang 2007

49
The Shearers‟ Quarters.
Source: Wang 2007

5.3 History and Heritage

The site was originally part of the formerly larger, neighbouring Riverslea
station. In the past, the site had been used for shearing on Riverslea
station, and was the site for a range of agricultural practices like grazing for
sheep. But overtime these practices lead to erosion, acidic soils and a
growing weed problem. These reasons, along with the gradual subdivision
of the land, resulted in the slow phasing-out of the use of the site for
shearing and grazing. In the 1980s, quarry work was carried out on the
Riverslea station, in the lot adjoining the site and the piggery was also built
sometime in that same decade. In the early 2000s, a backpacker farm-stays
program was tried on the site, however this proved to be unsuccessful and
was subsequently cancelled by 2002. The current site owners have owned
the site for about five years, but the property is not in heavy use, with only
short visits throughout the year by the owners and other small groups of
people by invitation. There are no permanent tenants on the site.

50
Some of the site‟s buildings have heritage value. The shearers‟ quarters and
the woolshed are original and date back to the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Structurally, the woolshed is one of the remaining buildings in the region
that have been preserved in its entirety. For some members of the
community, this shed may also have great cultural significance, as it once
served as a social hub, a site for barn dances and gatherings.

The interior of the Woolshed is quite spacious.

Source: Wang 2007

51
5.4 SWOT analysis

STRENGTHS
 Heritage value
 Potential Electricity
connection
 Waterways – Lachlan
River & Hovells Creek
 Large site area
 Isolated location
 Landscape/ambience
WEAKNESSES
 Slopes and elevation
 Acidic soils
 Weed infestation
 Isolated location
 Lack of services on site
 Site can‟t be subdivided
further

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
 Training and education  Drought
workshops  Environmental
 Potential redevelopment of sustainability
existing buildings  Native plant rejuvenation
 Research and cultural
pursuits

Strengths
Heritage value
The history and heritage value of the site will help people appreciate it
more. This knowledge of the past will help in transcending the perception of
the physical landscape from something just rural land to a special place
steeped in history. The history and heritage of the site also adds another
layer of meaning to the history of the Cowra and Boorowa Shires and hence
enriches visitors‟s understanding of these towns and even the wider region.

Potential Electricity connection

Although the site is not currently connected to the main electricity grid, the
service is available in the area. The existence of this potential electricity

52
source will make development on the site easier. It will also help increase
the site‟s ability for larger developments. The current electricity provider, a
generator, will not be a sufficient electricity provider to meet potential
increases in the site usage. If the site is used on a regular basis, during
both day and night time, electricity consumption is expected to rise
substantially.

Waterways
As well as contributing to the aesthetic beauty of the site, the waterway
which the site backs onto can also be aid research into water management
practices of the region.

The scenic Lachlan River, as viewed from the site.

Source: Magisrale 2007

Large site area.

There is a lot of flexibility in designing the layout of the site if further
development process is taken to the next stage. This is due to the large size
of the property and more importantly, it being vacant. The large size of the

53
property also means that the development can be at a relatively big scale
and hence accommodate larger groups of people

Isolated location
The isolated nature of the site has the advantage for the place to retain
much of its natural landscape. The site has little to no external influences of
the urban built form found in the Cowra township. In this sense, the site
almost provides an escape from the „city„life and gives visitors a „back to
nature„ feel. This enhances the meditative calmness and tranquil silence of
the site.

Landscape/ambience.
As cited earlier, most of the site is vacant land. The beauty of the site‟s
natural landscape can be empowering. Its unique character can inspire
people, as well as evoke a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. This is
because there are many places on the site that have a distinct ambience.
For example, the feeling of sitting near the dry creek bed can be very
different from looking out towards the quarry to the North West. This
assortment of sense of place may be an advantage and comes from the
diversity of natural features and the mixture of built and non-built form on
the site.

Weaknesses
Slopes and elevation.
The site varies in slope and elevation. It is highly undulating which may
impede on the development and design of buildings on site hard. The
uneven topography of the land also makes maneuvering around the site
difficult.

Acidic soils
The poor soil quality rules out the potential for the site to be use for
agricultural purposes, which is one of the major industries in the region. As

54
cited earlier, the soil on the site is very much degraded due to over-farming.
Currently it is very acidic. Hence it is not possible for the soil to yield high
quality crops without doing further damage to the environment through soil
nutrient enhancing techniques such as adding phosphate. Therefore using
the land for agricultural purposes will not be viable.

Weed infestation
Much of the forty five hectare site is covered in weeds. This may make the
redevelopment and rejuvenation of the site for future habitation and use
quite costly and take time, with the removal of weeds and implementation
of better land management practices. Weed removal may also further
impact on soil erosion as the roots of the weed which holds the soil
together are taken away.

Weeds have overgrown over much of the site, deeming the land unsuitable and
unhealthy for further farming.
Source: Wang 2007

Isolated location
The isolated location of the site makes access to outside services and
infrastructure difficult. For example, in the case of an emergency, access to
55
the site may prove to be challenging. This limited accessibility may also
deter people from using the site. The site may only be accessed by private
car or bus, as there is no public transport running to the area. This may
exclude people with no car access from visiting the site.

Lack of services on site

AS well there is a lack of services on the site. Currently, there is no sewage
treatment on the site. If the site is to be further developed, with the
possibility of people constantly coming to it, some kind of treatment plant
such as a sewage incinerator must be built on site. In addition, a
permanent power source may need to be installed to provide a more
reliable and more powerful source of electricity to replace the generator
currently being used.

The shed that houses the generator that provides electricity on the site. This may
be insufficient for catering for larger groups visiting the site and greater energy
uses.
Source: Wang 2007

56
Site can‟t be subdivided further
The site‟s current area of forty-five hectares is the smallest subdivided area
allowable. The property must be retained and use as one whole block of
land.

Opportunities
Training, education, workshops.
Spaces found on site can offer opportunities to establish community training
and education workshops. These workshops may facilitate an exchange of
knowledge, experience and expertise, and topics that the workshop may
cover include agricultural practices, community issues, history, and arts and
craft. Being not too far from Cowra town centre, the site may be used as a
gathering place for members within the local Cowra and regional
community.

Potential redevelopment of existing buildings

The existing buildings on the site, including the piggery, wool shed,
shearers‟ quarters and cookhouse may be used as part of the site‟s
development plans. In particular, the woolshed and shearers‟ quarters are
original buildings dating back to early last century and the clients wish to
retain them for their heritage significance. The woolshed‟s structure and
character is a source of inspiration, and the large floor area makes it ideal
for housing meetings for large groups of people or studios. The shearers‟
quarters can accommodate up to 20 people, and the clients wish to retain it
as a site for accommodating guests on the site. With sensitive restoration
work, all buildings currently found on the site may be retained or converted,
and the space used in a number of ways.

Research and cultural pursuits

The site can be used as a research centre specializing in contemporary
issues such as water conservation, soil regeneration and weed
management. Furthermore, the site program can be extended to invite

57
university or school students to the area, whose work or field of interest is
related to the research carried out on the site.

The site can work in conjunction with Cowra showgrounds, and Cowra Agricultural
Research and Advisory Station
Source: Wang 2007

In terms of cultural pursuits, the site can be used to strengthen and build
on community values. For example, a diverse range of cultures within the
community may be acknowledged and customs shared through running
festivals and forums on the site .

Threats
Drought
Currently more than 85% of the state of New South Wales is affected by
drought. Cowra is also under this threat, with rainfall being infrequent and
unreliable as the only source of water. The site is no doubt just as
susceptible to drought as the rest of the Central West Region. The drought
can have many detrimental effects on the site. With issues such as scarcity
of water and dry weather, on-site water management plans are imperative.
The unreliability of the availability of water in the area and on the site may

58
affect the potential of the site, and the type of development that is to occur
there.

Environmental Sustainability
The carrying capacity of the site must be considered when planning for
redevelopment. The carry capacity may be threatened if too many people
use the site, or if too much of its natural resources such as water and
vegetation are consumed at such a rate where it can‟t be replaced or
rejuvenated in time. This threatens the sustainability of the whole site. If
the carry capacity of the site is not carefully monitored, the site will not be
able to be utilised to its full potential.

Native plant rejuvenation

The site is currently infested and overgrown with weeds, and therefore
unsuitable for further agricultural use. Landcare and the client are involved
in introducing native plants in efforts to rejuvenate and better manage the
site for future generations. There is a threat that further development of the
site and the use of it by groups of new people may compromise land
rejuvenation efforts.

A large number of native plants have recently been planted on the site by
the clients, in efforts to rejuvenate the land. 59
Source: Lily Wang, 2007
6. Proposal

6.1 Concept:
We see the Corridor as a passage way, a learning transition, not a
destination. In view of this, we propose that the Corridor will be utilised as
a transfer of knowledge to enhance social capital. We define social capital
as different individuals coming together to share knowledge, skills and to
create cultural cohesion and various institutions which in turn will increase
the value and strength of a community.

Our corridor will be an interactive space, a meeting place, a place where

people converge, and eventually leave having gained knowledge that can
enrich their daily lives.

The site will cater for a variety of workshops and learning groups in theme
of:
 Men‟s and women‟s den
 Short Arts and Crafts classes
 Land management workshops
 Educating new residents about the area and culture, and likewise,
allowing professionals moving from the city to share their knowledge
with the Cowra community
 Helping communities work out their strengths and weaknesses.
 Strengthening Indigenous culture
The Corridor can be used for communicating a variety of skills and
knowledge.

The site can be used as both a women‟s and men‟s den. As defined by
Boorowa Shire Council, a men‟s or women‟s den is to provide a friendly non
threatening meeting place for men/women of all ages in a social
environment. Members can learn new skills, share skills with others,
hobbies, social outings and act as mentors. Support groups will allow those

60
affected by drought related issues and experiencing financial burden to
meet and discuss their situations

The skills of local arts and craft can be refined and passed on to other
members of the community, so that the produce may reach a regional or
national market. This could increase the reputation of arts and crafts in the
area as well as improving social capital. Our vision encompasses building
on the existing history of the place.

The site will enable a constant exchange of skills and knowledge relating to
the land, enhancing the need to act sustainably and preserve the
environment for current and future generations. This can be carried out by
research groups from local institutions such as Charles Sturt University, local
High Schools as well as city universities.

To assist the skills shortage situation, the Corridor will encourage new
residents to the area and professionals from the city to share their trade
and professional skills with the community which would give them a starting
point to further broaden their skills, eventually allowing them an opportunity
to work in the regional centres such as Cowra and Bathurst. On the other
hand, locals can educate the new residents for example tree changers, on
community issues and enabling the exchange of skills and knowledge
relating to agricultural practices.

Workshops can help communities move forward as a collective unit by

identifying their strengths and weaknesses which could also broaden their
cultural pursuits. The Corridor will facilitate for programs mainly based on
agricultural practices, land management workshops, and local arts and
crafts.

The site will offer an opportunity for the Indigenous elders to teach the rest
of the community and Indigenous youths about their history and their

61
connections with the land and how they utilise it. This creates awareness of
the important value of the land to the Indigenous population.

The enhancement of social capital in the region will be gained mainly

through peer to peer information sharing, specifically through the constant
flow of people, skills and ideas on the site.

6.2 Relation to Context

Agriculture is a main industry in the region and places an important part of

the legacy of this very site. One of the uses for this site would be to
research and demonstrate new farming practices to other farmers. Research
would be conducted by university and high school students on different land
management practices and more sustainable ways of living as new
technologies come to light. This would draw the community together as it
would affect the entire community.

There is also a skills shortage in the area, especially medical services. The
Corridor can help in that; professionals from the city can offer opportunities
for skill building in the area.

Rural areas such as Cowra and Boorowa are relatively isolated. The Corridor
can act as a means of the community meeting and working together as one
unit to move forward into the future as life will not get easier, especially
with global warming and the standard of living rising. Another branch of this
is that Cowra‟s population is ageing. The Corridor can help in creating social
cohesion, provide a safety net for the elderly and also a way for the
community to watch out for them.

6.3 Target Market

 Working Population
62
 The workforce is a vital component in both the local and regional
economy. Local professionals and those from abroad will be able to
contribute their skills and knowledge to the community. The Corridor will
be an interactive place for those who seek to further develop their
professional learning and those who wish to develop a basis for
employment in the local and regional centres.

 Indigenous Population
The original inhabitants of the land, the Wiradjuri people are important
members of the community. In support of the signed Local Agreement in
1997 between the Indigenous people and the Cowra Shire Council, this
agreement aimed to provide a harmonious community within the Local
Government Area. In addition, much like one of Corridor‟s proposals, the
agreement hopes to enhance community relations between all members
of the community.

 Different Age Groups

The Corridor will be a mixed – use facility, catering for all members of the
community of all ages. The variety of workshops and learning groups
will focus on the mixed aged groups and their required needs.

 Elderly Population
With a growing ageing population, the need to provide a support base to
assist in the building of friendships is achievable on the Corridor.

 Different community groups and institutions

By involving different facilitators such as Professionals, volunteers,
artists, medical practitioners and community members to the Corridor,
this will greatly increase the flow of social capital, allowing diverse
learning from each members of the community.

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 The target market depends entirely on the workshop provided at the
time, but we aim to involve the entire community in the Corridor‟s
programs.

6.4 Project Funding

Though we like to view the project as a peer-to-peer type of initiative and

intend for workshops and classes held on the site to be free and operated
on a volunteer basis, we must ensure that the project is economically
sustainable to see it continue into the future. Costs may increase as the
project runs longer and gains momentum. Simple factors such as how much
it takes to maintain the property must be considered to keep the project
viable.

We have listed below a number of suggestions as to how to fund our

proposed Corridor project. One or more plans may be implemented
depending on what is required, however each plan will have to be evaluated
in more detail in relation to the running costs of the overall project, and the
amount of funding each plan would provide.

Public Funding:
 Government funding. A possibility to be explored. Funding from the
government might be available for educational institutions in
regional/rural areas.
 Local Council support. For example, Boorowa Shire Council provides
support for the Boorowa‟s Men Den. Likewise, Cowra Shire may
support the Corridor Program in the same way that certain
community programs are run and funded by local governments.
Private Funding:
 Local businesses, such as trade businesses located in Cowra could
help fund the project. In turn, the Corridor may run training courses

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 for trades and apprenticeships. This may help to address skill
shortages.
 Community services and/or churches could help this project in
starting up. An example of a community service that has supported
projects financially includes Uniting Care, who assisted to establish
many of the Men‟s Sheds/ Dens around NSW (Uniting Care 2007).

Leasing out the site:

 The site could be leased out to research groups from the Cowra
Regional Agriculture and Research Station as a means of developing,
trialling and implementing new ideas such as land management
strategies on the land.
 University/ TAFE funding. The site could provide a workspace to train
student groups about the land management practices such as
sustainable methods of working the land. The site and its facilities
could be hired out to groups throughout the year also as a workshop
space.

Selling products:
 Local arts and crafts that are created, constructed and/ or produced
on the site as part of workshops and classes could be sold in local
markets in Cowra. In the long-term, the market for these products
may be expanded to the regional and national level. This will
enhance the area‟s cultural identity.

Participation contributions:
 As the site‟s usage will increase with the intensity of the program,
small contributions might be applied to help with the ongoing costs
of the project and maintenance of the facilities onsite. In the case of
the Boorowa Men‟s Den, the program currently asks members for a
$3 participation fee for each activity. A similar scheme may be
implemented in the Corridor initiative.

65
The Corridor‟s programs will only be made possible by the financial
assistance provided by the variety of stakeholders. A range of funding plans
may be used to ensure the financial viability and sustainability of the
proposal.

6.5 Site Usage

A number issues on and off the site must be addressed before this proposal
will be feasible and functional. These include the access to the site and the
redevelopment of the property to better suit the larger and more frequent
groups of visitors to the site.

This site is relatively isolated, situated 30 km from Cowra, 70 km from

Boorowa, with only one main road to reach the site. Access to the site is
currently dependent on private car and charter buses as there is no public
transport. Possibilities for other alternatives to accessing the site include a
mini bus service run by Cowra Council that would have a certain route and
a bus timetable to transport students from Cowra to the site. Another
possibility is for a team of local volunteers to transport people with little or
no car access.

The built form of the site would need to be upgraded to allow a more
permanent usage of the site. For example, restoring the woolshed would
create a safer and more comfortable working environment, more suitable
for hosting groups of people on a more regular basis. Upgrades to the
buildings should include installing lights and making sure electricity is
accessible to the site, and upgrading the toilet and sewerage management
system. Once upgraded, the shed would be more usable as a community
meeting place.

66
A group of university students using the woolshed for presentations and group
learning exercises. This space can be utilised in a similar way as part of the
Corridor Project.
Source: Wang 2007

The piggery could be converted to another working space or workshop, due

to its ample size. Basically lights will have to be installed and the structure
connected to electricity, and the building enclosed to be water and weather-
tight. On the other hand, we propose for the shearers‟ quarters and the
cookhouse would be retained in their original condition, as per the clients‟
request for retaining on-site accommodation. Depending on the final plans,
the accommodation may need to be expanded to cater for larger groups or
even for multiple groups to work together on the site.

Designing parking spaces on the site will need to be considered, depending

on the primary method of transport that most people use to travelling to the
site. Accessibility around the site will also need to be improved for the
safety of visitors and to minimise the amount of damage to the natural
environment with the increase of site usage. For example, paths that are
clearly visible and lighted at night can be built. This will also make access to
different areas of the property easier.
67
In saying this, we still want the project to help the community in as many
ways as possible. This will include promoting accommodation in Cowra town
centre and hosting a number of classes and workshops in town when
necessary. This may be needed when equipment needed for classes is not
available on the Corridor site, of when travel to the site is too difficult for
certain members of the community.

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6. Conclusion

The aim of the Corridor is a place of learning, a place where the community
can develop, moving forward into the future cohesively. Our Corridor
project will incorporate a diverse range of workshops and learning groups
focused on agriculture and business. We intend to enhance social capital by
sharing and growing knowledge from one another‟s experiences on the site.
This is achieved by volunteers, professionals, government authorities and
the broader community contributing to the Corridor‟s program. We hope to
see the Corridor as a passageway to Cowra‟s and Boorowa‟s future
development.

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7. Reference List

2006 Census Data - Cowra Local Government Area, 2007, Australian

Bureau of Statistics, Australia, viewed 24 September 2007, <
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/>.

Bureau of Metrology, 2007. viewed 25 September 2007,

<http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/idcjdw2038.latest.shtml>

Central New South Wales, 2007, nswholidays, New South Wales, viewed 18
September2007, <
http://prd.nswholidays.com.au/central_new_south_wales.php >.

Central West: The heart of NSW, 2007, Department of State and Regional
Development, New South Wales, viewed 18 September 2007, <
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/region/profiles/Central+West.htm>.

Community Services: Boorowa Men's Den, 2007, Boorowa Shire Council,

Australia, viewed 7 September 2007,
<http://www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au/community/1628.html>.

Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, 2005, NSW Department

of Primary Industries, New South Wales, viewed 18 September 2007, <
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/centres/cowra>.

Cowra and Surrounds, NSW, Accommodation, Tours, Events and Hire, 2006,
VisitNSW, New South Wales, viewed 20 October 2007,
<http://www.visitnsw.com.au/Destination.aspx?DProductID=9017092&Mai
nContentType=MudMap>.

Cowra Shire Council: About Cowra: Where is Cowra?, 2006, Cowra Shire
Council, viewed 27 September 2007, <
http://www.cowra.nsw.gov.au/about/1009/1048.html >.

Cowra Shire Council: Planning and Development: Economic Development -

an overview, 2006, Cowra Shire Council, viewed 27 September 2007,
<http://www.cowra.nsw.gov.au/planning/1232/1250.html>.

Cowra Shire Council: Your environment: Our Environment; It's a Living

Thing, 2005, Cowra Shire Council, viewed 27 September 2007,
<http://www.cowra.nsw.gov.au/files/8550/File/SocailPlan_Final.pdf>.

Glossary of Terms, 2007, SMARTe, United States, viewed 19 September

2007, <www.smarte.org/smarte/resource/sn-glossary.xml>.

70
Men‟s Sheds in Australia, 2007, Uniting Care, Australia, viewed 25
September 2007, < http://www.mensshed.org/>.

NIEIR - Local Government: Your Place, 2003, National Institute of Economic

and Industry Research (NIEIR), Australia, viewed 30 September 2007,
<http://www.nieir.com.au/yourPlace/>.

Ryan, L 2007, Cowra and District Historical Society.

State of the Environment Report - Report Boorowa, 2004, ACT

Commissioner for the Environment, Australia, viewed 26 September 2007,
<http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/soe/soe2004/Boorowa/resourceuse.ht
m>.

Unknown, 2005, “Cowra Shire Council: Social Plan 2005-2009”,Cowra Shire

Council, viewed 26 September 2007,
<http://www.cowra.nsw.gov.au/files/8550/File/SocailPlan_Final.pdf>.

Unknown, 2006, “Boorowa Shire Council Annual Report 2004/2005 ”,

Boorowa Shire Council, viewed 30 September 2007,
<http://www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au/council/1273/1290.html>.

Unknown, 2006, “Boorowa Shire Council Annual Report 2005-2006”,

Boorowa Shire Council, viewed 30 September 2007,
<http://www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au/council/1273/1543.html>.

Young and Surrounds, NSW, Accommodation, Tours, Events and Hire, 2007,
VisitNSW, New South Wales, viewed 20 October 2007, <
http://www.visitnsw.com.au/Destination.aspx?DProductID=9017137&Main
ContentType=MudMap >.

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8. Appendix

Appendix A

Proposal Speech 18/9/2007

Everyone has a story, everyone has something to contribute,
everyone has a role in the Corridor.

Good morning guests, members of the Cowra community, and

fellow planners. My name is Amanda. These are my fellow team
members Lily, MT and Liz. Over the past four days we have
analysed this site in terms of its agricultural and business
potential. We have identified several possible development
opportunities for the site, for the benefit of the local Cowra
community. As we contemplate ways of setting a new direction
for the site, we believe it is important to not only retain, but to
also build onto its great legacy.

Just imagine. …
Imagine in the next year a group of 5 youths from Cowra will be
utilising their interior designing skills to draw up blueprints for
the restoration of this very shed. Now imagine that a few years
later, apprentice carpenters from the region create the designs
that the previous visitors to the site envisioned. And in 10 years
from now, can you imagine what influences people from all walks
of life have had on this shed alone? - footprints left by architects,
lawyers, accountants, planners, school students…and perhaps
you.

A corridor is not a destination, it is a passage way. It is a place of

transition. It is a place that leads off and branches into many
other places. We therefore see the Corridor project as an
opportunity for people to reach out beyond their current
perspective. Our corridor will be an interactive space, a meeting
place, a place where people converge, and eventually leave
having gained knowledge that can enrich their daily lives.

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Our vision for the Corridor is to establish a new learning facility.
This will be important to the region as it will enhance and enrich
its social capital. Social capital is basically the collective amount
of a community‟s skills and knowledge. Increasing the value
and strength of a community is brought about by increasing the
diversity and quality of social capital. We see this as a positive
direction for the community at large.

The most visible enhancement of social capital will be through

peer to peer information sharing. This will come from the
constant flow of people , skills and ideas to occur on the site.

Reflecting on our regional context of the Boorowa and Cowra

areas, we see the Corridor as a site for the exchange of skills
and knowledge relating to the Land. Agriculture is a major
industry of the region, and plays an important part of the legacy
of this very site - it was originally established as a shearing
quarter for the Riverslea Station. As proposed, the Corridor will
facilitate for programs that will run throughout the year mainly
on agricultural-based practices and land-management
workshops, and even running short classes on local arts and
crafts. All this will give an opportunity to bring the people of the
Cowra and Boorowa regions together. And as a flow on effect,
we hope that the Corridor and its programs will strengthen the
cultural identity and feeling of pride within the community.

We believe that every part of the site has something to

contribute to the objective of the Corridor. Its intrinsic beauty,
its heritage, and most importantly its rejuvenation capability.
Our vision encompasses building on the existing history of the
place.

Currently in terms of the site‟s importance to the Cowra

community, the site is seen as a historical landmark with heritage
importance. The site is currently valued for its preservation of
the original wool shearing shed and the old shearers‟ quarters.
It is also sporadically used for Landcare meetings and is already
a project site for land rejuvenation. So we recognise the
importance and sensitivity of these issues in relation to this
property and encourage the Corridors programs to pursue this
agenda.
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Our proposed learning facility on the site will reuse the existing
buildings on the site. We intend to modify the shed for
classroom spaces, rebuild the site of the piggery into a workshop
and studio space which will facilitate for the teaching of technical
skills, and arts and craft. And importantly, we intend to retain the
Shearer„s Quarters in its traditional form as on site
accommodation.

The natural landscape itself will also be a valuable space for

study and research - agriculture practices and land management.
Landcare projects can be undertaken in partnership with
Landcare, and Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station.

From another perspective of the Corridors‟ objectives, as the site

relies on the community support…we hope that the community
will eventually find a symbiotic relationship with this site. In
relation to the theme of peer-to-peer connections, we intend that
the long term goal of the project will increase the economy of
the Cowra-Boorowa shires.

We see the site as a great place to establish our initiative. This

site is and will be steeped in history. From the early 20 th century
as an important shearing site of the Riverslea station to its recent
use as a backpacker‟s accommodation. Each individual‟s
important input will shape its character. Everyone that comes
to the Corridor will leave their mark.

Natural resources are finite. But knowledge is an everlasting

resource. People are the region‟s most important commodity.
People and their knowledge can inject the local economy with
new growth industries, pioneering new paths for Cowra,
Boorowa and eventually setting an example for other regional
centres around Australia. Over time, we envision that many
different groups and individuals will use and contribute to the
character of this space.

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