The story of Sydney’s Brutalist icon, the Sirius building, has been told in a new book set to launch next week.
Authored by John Dunn, Ben Peake and Amiera Piscopo, Sirius documents and celebrates the social housing complex and its residents.
Starting off in the 1970s, the book discusses when The Rocks Residents’ Group enlisted the support of the Builders Labourers’ Federation. Together, they placed a Green Ban on development in The Rocks, which saved an historic precinct and a community. Lasting for four years, this ban was overturned after those involved reached agreement and supported the building of Sirius.
Tao Gofers, the architect of Sirius, explains how agreement was reached and how he designed what became a vertical village.
The book culminates in the court judgment on 25 July 2017 which saw former heritage minister Mark Speakerman’s original refusal to list Sirius as a heritage building overturned.
The book will be launched at Kinokuniya bookstore in Sydney CBD on Wednesday 8 November. In an unplanned turn of events, the launch follows on the heels of last week’s announcement that Sirius has yet again been denied a heritage listing.
At the book launch, the three authors will speak to City of Sydney councillor Jess Scully about the book, the building and the ongoing Save Our Sirius campaign. More details here.
On Wednesday 15 November, Sydney’s Gleebooks will host a panel discussion with Gofers and well-known Australian broadcaster and comedian, Tim Ross. It will be chaired by Shaun Carter, chairman of the Save Our Sirius foundation.
