OPINION: City’s ‘desert square’

Once, Parade has discovered, this area was described as an “eyesore” and a “discredit to an otherwise lovely city”.

Parade loves a good search though the National Library of Australia’s digitised newspapers, and this week has come across a great story.

On July 8, 1910 a story that appeared in The Bathurst Times (a newspaper which operated in the city from 1909 to 1925) detailed how Kings Parade needed much work done to it.

It compared the then beautiful Machattie Park to the unloved Kings Parade; the story went as follows.

“Outside the metropolis, no town in New South Wales can boast of a better laid out or better kept place of public recreation,” it said of Machattie Park.

“With the evidence of Machattie Park before us, we should have no hesitation about dealing in a like manner, with the adjoining vacant space now known as Kings Parade.

“At present the square is an eyesore as well as a discredit to an otherwise lovely city.

“It faces two of our most important thoroughfares, two of our leading hotels look out upon it, and consequently most of our casual visitors see a great deal more of the parade than is at all desirable.”

The story continued with much angst about this “desert square” that “leaves the suggestion that the city is but half finished”.

The journalist continued about what could be in Kings Parade.

“The Soldier’s Memorial will assume quite a new aspect when framed in a soft setting of green,” they wrote.

“There should be shaded walks, glowing flower beds, and, above all, no fence.

“We cannot do better than follow the metropolitan example in this respect. Sydney parks have been vastly enhanced by the removal of the ugly iron railings which once surrounded them.

“None of the evil consequences which pessimists foresaw have eventuated.”