South Eveleigh
(previously known as
Australian Technology Park
) is a retail business centre and technology park 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of the
Sydney central business district
and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of
Sydney Airport
. South Eveleigh borders
Alexandria
and
Eveleigh
.
Eveleigh Railway Workshops
emerged on the site in the 19th century and it was transformed into Australian Technology Park in 1995.
South Eveleigh primarily houses start-up hi-tech companies, especially biotech firms, and spin-offs from university research. The Park also houses venture capital companies, banks and legal firms. It was created in 1995, by the
Government of New South Wales
, the
University of Sydney
,
University of Technology, Sydney
and
University of New South Wales
, and was originally operated by the Australian Technology Park Sydney Ltd up until 2000, then by the
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
before operation was passed to the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority
. The park has encouraged collaborative ventures that maximise the capacity of companies to take products of market driven research through to the commercialisation phase. The intent of the park is for university scientists and engineers to join with industrial scientists and engineers to apply university research ideas in new products and production processes. As such, researchers have been located alongside companies with the capital and expertise to commercialise and export them with the objective of improving Australia's global competitiveness. The park also includes conference, dining and exhibition facilities.
Australian Technology Park established strategic alliances with the Oxford Science Park, Techneon (Israel Institute of Technology), UCSC Philadelphia and Kyoto Research Park.
Within three and a half years of operation, the Australian Technology Park achieved international status. The Park was also chosen as a benchmark model for Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand, and assisted incubator programs in the region.
In 2015 the site was acquired by
Mirvac
, to become home to
Commonwealth Bank
.
[1]
History and project development
[
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]
Originally called Advanced Technology Park, the Australian Technology Park occupies the site of the former
Eveleigh Railway Workshops
. Other sites initially considered for the park were the ACI site in
Waterloo
, the Department of Defence site in
Zetland
and
Homebush Bay
. The three universities (University of Sydney, University Technology Sydney and University of New South Wales) favoured the Eveleigh site.
The actual conception of the ATP dates back to as early as May 1989. In 1998, Professor Trevor Cole, the then executive director of The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering of The University of Sydney was asked to document the early years.
[2]
In August 1990, the Business Liaison Office of The University of Sydney prepared a comprehensive report detailing some 'perspectives and recommendations for the establishment of a smart city on the then Eveleigh railway yard site' ? this followed an overseas study tour to 15 science parks, principally in the US, but also in the UK (Cambridge), Japan and Sweden.
-
The National Innovation Centre at the Australian Technology Park
-
International Business Centre
-
Inside Bay 8 of the Locomotive Workshop
-
Locomotive Crane Display at Innovation Plaza
-
Main walkway inside the Locomotive Workshop
-
Old Boiler House
-
Sculpture in the grounds
-
Large Erecting Shop (LES)
The project to create an Australian Technology Park was launched in 1989 when Tom Forgan agreed to provide the related consultancy services to the University of Sydney based on findings from John O’Hara in 1982 on the overseas migration of technology and researchers. The University of Sydney submitted to the
State Rail Authority
on the potential of the Eveleigh site for such a venture. The site was secured in 1993.
The creation of the Australian Technology Park was spearheaded by the University of Sydney, University Technology Sydney and University of New South Wales. The project's development was led by an Interim Board (later the Board) that was headed by John Conde, and included John Niland (then Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales), Gavin Brown (then Vice Chancellor of University of Sydney), RD Guthrie (then Vice Chancellor of University of Technology Sydney), Bruce Jones,
Peter Fritz
, AJ Gillespie and Thomas John Forgan. Thomas John Forgan then served as executive director of the park, and was tasked with championing the Park, designing its theme and creating industry interest. Forgan was awarded an honorary doctor of engineering by the University of Sydney and an Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his outstanding role.
[3]
The Australian Technology Park Interim Board engaged Farrel Management to prepare a business plan. A budget of S$22 million over five years was approved by Premier
John Fahey
on 29 August 1994.
Public art
[
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]
South Eveleigh is home to large scale public art such as The Interchange Pavilion by Chris Fox located at Village Square, Lobby Art by Jonathan Jones, The Eveleigh Tree House and Happy Rain by Nell.
Transport
[
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]
The precinct is reachable via public transport with parking also available onsite.
Transit Systems
bus route 308 from
Eddy Avenue
to
Marrickville Metro
stops in front of the South Eveleigh precinct.
Filming
[
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]
The
Seven Network
moved their production studios from
Epping
in Sydney's north west to South Eveleigh.
NEP Group
, formally
Global Television
, also set up studios in one half of the new building.
Criticism and support
[
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]
Main opposition for the project came from heritage groups, local community, Council of the City of South Sydney, Department of State Development and Department of Planning.
[
citation needed
]
The Department of State Development and Department of Planning expressed concern at the planning stages of the project in relation to the use of the Eveleigh site.
[
citation needed
]
The project received State and Commonwealth political support from John Johnson,
Nick Greiner
(then Premier of New South Wales), in addition to
John Button
,
Simon Crean
,
Peter Baldwin
,
Bob Carr
,
Michael Easson
,
Ross Free
and
Brian Howe
. The project secured funds under the Commonwealth's Building Better Cities Program, and a location from Eveleigh Council. The
University of Wollongong
also endorsed the park's bid to the Premier for HPCC funding based on its assistance in regional incubator programs. The park has also received funding and support from NSW government, Department of Education Employment Training and Youth Affairs, ETF, SSC,
Roads & Traffic Authority
,
Telstra
and
AGL Energy
. In addition, the project received endorsement from the Japanese consulate.
[
citation needed
]
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]
33°53′41″S
151°11′44″E
/
33.89472°S 151.19556°E
/
-33.89472; 151.19556