Raising a glass to celebrate the legacy of Jack Mundey

It might be fair to say that there isn’t a heritage consultant in Sydney – at a minimum - who shouldn’t raise a glass over the next few days to the contribution made by Jack Mundey to the development of the professional heritage advisory working environment we enjoy today.

Over the past two days, since learning of Jack’s passing at the age of 90, our consultants have been discussing his legacy. We want to acknowledge his contribution and share some wonderful articles that speak of the battles, his legacy and his personal story.

Some saw Jack as an old school commie and a union agitator. He was both of those things, but it was his actions in response to the corruption and rampant, unregulated development in Sydney during the 1960’s and ‘70’s, that set him apart from many others. His actions as a union organiser catalysed public agitation for conservation of the remaining inner city built heritage environment and this later contributed to public demand for some of the early historical archaeological excavations (Old Sydney Cemetery at Town Hall Station, Old Govt House).

Heritage legislation requiring protection for archaeological remains via assessment, conservation studies and ‘salvage excavation’ followed in 1974 and 1977. It’s a reasonable bet that none of us would have our careers without Jack Mundey’s contribution to our recent history.

He also chaired the Historic Houses Trust for a time in the 1990s and it’s also worth noting that the fight Jack helped start was actually over a piece of natural heritage – Kelly’s Bush at Hunters Hill, hence the “green” bans mentioned in articles below. So the natural and cultural heritage battles used to be much closer together and the sides more aligned than they are now.

Next time you’re near The Rocks in Sydney, take a moment to think about how close it came to being bulldozed, as similar parts of Brisbane and Perth were around the same time, and what Sydney would be without it.

The Conversation | Our cities owe much of their surviving heritage to Jack Mundey

Jack Mundey, has died at the age of 90 and was a pioneer of the Australian heritage movement. Read more about his legacy in this article by James Lesh from the University of Melbourne in The Conversation.

Residents protest at Woolloomooloo, Sydney, ca. 1973. City of Sydney Archives

Cover image of Jack Mundey with thanks to Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and SEARCH Foundation