The Oaks Historical Society Incorporated

Wollondilly Heritage Centre

The General Manager

Wollondilly Shire Council,

Menangle Street

Picton 2571

Friday, 29 April 2011

Dear Sir,

I am writing on behalf of the members of The Oaks Historical Society who have been made aware that there are proposals to develop areas around the village of Menangle and would like to suggest that Council act now to establish a protective curtilage around the village and initiate further heritage studies of the village and surrounding landscape.

Very few of Wollondilly’s villages have been afforded such protection and are now a mixture of architectural styles and struggle to maintain individuality or promote any heritage significance. This is important when considering how people value where they live. The Museum at the Wollondilly Heritage Centre offers a range of changing exhibitions and publications to explain our shared local history and we find that people respond to the knowledge of their history by an increase in respect for their heritage and in valuing their surroundings.

Menangle is fortunate in that it retains most of its built heritage and would benefit greatly from historic interrogation of the individual cottages to provide a narrative for interpretation. It has associations to Aboriginal people and places, to the Cowpastures and the development of the agricultural and dairying industries and could be regarded as a potential ‘jewel’ for cultural tourism initiatives if adequately researched. We suggest consultation with the community, local historical and heritage societies, the NSW Heritage Council and Wollondilly Heritage Advisor W establish a strong case for further interpretation of this village and Its connection to Camden and the Macarthurs and potential strategies to ensure its economic and heritage sustainability.

We support the Initiatives of the Menangle community to protect the village by establishing a Composite Heritage Curtilage or Landscape Curtilage and halt any plans which would destroy the integrity of the village and surroundings.

Yours sincerely

V Allen

Secretary

The Oaks Historical Society