The legendary Federal Labor Leader chose Bowman Hall to launch his 1972 campaign that resulted in him becoming prime minister and ending 23 years of Liberal governments could be redeveloped as part of a multi-million Walker Corporation high-density alteration of Blacktown.
And while the civic centre that was built in 1965 is nothing special architecturally, there are some who believe it is the Whitlam legacy that should preserve it, including Blacktown State MP and former Labor mayor Stephen Bali.
Gough Whitlam MP on November 13, 1972, walked onto Bowman Hall stage to deliver the speech of a lifetime that led the Labor Party out of the wilderness after being in opposition federally for 23 years.
Gough Whitlam delivered the thought-provoking words: “The decision we will make for our country on 2 December [1972] is a choice between the past and the future, between the habits and fears of the past, and the demands and opportunities of the future. There are moments in history when the whole fate and future of nations can be decided by a single decision. For Australia, this is such a time."
For his 1972 election campaign, Whitlam rallied not only ordinary Australians but also a slew of popular entertainers such as Little Pattie, who had entertained the troops in Vietnam, and still performs today.
That troop of entertainers, who included singer Col Joy, Barry Crocker, Lynette Curran, Graham Kennedy, Brian Henderson, Bert Newton, Jack Thompson, Jacki Weaver and others, heartily sang the It’s Time slogan song in a series of ads devised by adman Paul Jones.
Whitlam chose the Blacktown Civic Centre, aka Bowman Hall, for his campaign launch because the area represented – symbolised even – the new outer suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where Labor was building a new constituency.
It typified all the urban policy failures of the time, through lack of planning and misallocation of resources at both Federal and State government level.
Bowman Hall was officially opened on October 25, 1965 by Phillip Henry (Pat) Morton, Minister for Local Government and Highways. Further extensions were added in 1980s.
Temple of victories
Mr Bali said Blacktown was always proud to be chosen for Whitlam’s launch, and again two years later, when forced back to the polls.
“The speeches delivered in Blacktown, and the subsequent election victories changed Australia forever,” he said.
Gough Whitlam undertook many reforms including free university education, funding for public hospitals, recognising Aboriginal land rights, establishing diplomatic relations with China, increasing the pension rate to reach 25 pe cent of the average wage and constructed the sewerage system for Western Sydney.
The Whitlam Government was the first Government to introduce the concept of multiculturalism which directly contributed to Blacktown’s population growth where today over 176,000 (44%) population born overseas from 188 cultures.
Whitlam ended white Australia policy regarding immigration; introduced the Racial Discrimination Act made it unlawful to unfairly discriminate against someone based on their ethnicity or national origin; establishment of multicultural radio services; and, introduced translation services for migrants.
Whitlam’s 1972 speech told voters that Labor “would prevent any government, Labor or Liberal, from ever again cloaking your affairs under excessive and needless secrecy”.
Mr Bali said it was “ironic” that in 2023, a Labor-dominated council “without any consultation with the community used the confidentiality tag to demolish Labor’s Temple of Victories.”
“Maybe the new property owners are willing to discuss how this special significant Australian working monument could either be saved from bulldozers or at the very least, have some appropriate recognition.”
Every 10 years, “Whitlam tragics” gather in Bowman Hall to remember Labor’s campaign launch in 1972.
What are your memories of Bowman Hall and I’d like to hear from people who was at the hall when Gough Whitlam delivered his 1972 speech, is his message to the people of Blacktown.
The Blacktown News invites readers’ comments on this issue. info@greaterblacktownnews.com.au
