How many times have you hear about what Perth doesn’t have or why we aren’t as good as other cities? How often do you hear people knocking the legacies of the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s in the CBD? Hindsight is a great thing...because I feel confident in saying that the choices made in those decades were made with the information they had at hand and to benefit the city.
Can you really say to yourself that anyone would try to advance a city with the knowledge that it could have negative effects in 20 years? When Perth boomed in the 1960’s, the majority of the European and New York style grand buildings made way for more modern architecture. But recognise the thought behind these choices. 50 year old buildings... No lifts. No Air Con...Cramped work spaces. With the modern age, who honestly wouldn’t have wanted the mod cons a new high rise would provide? I wasn’t born then, but I can fully understand why the choice was made to demolish and upgrade.
How many of us had a sweet car on our P Plates? A cool Torana... A Gemini... A Cortina? And we sold them to get $500 to put towards our newer Commodore or Camry or whatever...with air con and power windows. Now how many of us wished we had not bothered to make $500 and instead have kept that old Torana? It’s now a classic.
A city is no different from a human in the way it grows and develops. We all try to be in the habit of forgiving people for the errors they make when growing up and developing, but are more critical with the city we live in. It’s too easy to be pissed off at the CBD’s shortcomings. Perhaps we can all be a bit more empathetic towards Perth.
So here is a massive high five to the people not so critical and bitching, but instead doing something to bridge the gap in our shortcomings. At the top level...to the State for amending Planning Schemes and signing off on developments such as the Northbridge Link. To the Office of Racing Gaming and Liquor for amending liquor licensing laws to promote small bars. To the Council for providing the support networks to small business. And to the small business initiatives who are adding to the fibre of the city.
To the networks of like minded people who on a weekly basis put together art installations, guerrilla projects and the bucketloads of initiatives that connect all the people who want to see positive additions to the city. Just go onto Facebook and search on “Perth” and you will find tens of thousands of people with the same desires for the direction of the city. It’s a very exciting time to be in Perth.
Now think back to the 60’s. I am told that that was another very exciting time in Perth, yet now, we are kicking ourselves at many of the legacies it left. Unintentional al as they were, the negative aspects are visible. I’m not suggesting that what the like minded in Perth are doing now will leave a negative legacy in 20 years...far from it....but I’m just saying...we can only make decisions based on the information and opportunities we have at hand.
I have absolutely no doubt that the Perth CBD will be in a better place in 20 years from now than my generation inherited it in.
Hindsight is brilliant. And I am very glad that I kept my Torana.