Australian Technology Park

Eveleigh Railway Workshops
now Australian Technology Park

The Australian Technology Park (ATP) is a business and technology centre in Eveleigh, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located about 3 km south of the Sydney central business district, adjacent to Redfern railway station, spread over 13.9 hectares of land.

Australian Technology Park 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 of Australia [1].

History and project development[]

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.

However, very little is known about the actual conception of the ATP which 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, the details of which can be sighted at http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/scan00039.pdf

It is also known that 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 USA, but also in the UK (Cambridge), Japan and Sweden. It can be reasonably assumed that the vision for the then proposed and named 'Advanced Technology Park' was formulated following a review of this report.

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 OAM 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 Railway 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.^[1]

The Australian Technology Park Interim Board engaged Farrel Management to prepare a business plan. A budget of AUS$22 million over five years was approved by Premier John Fahey on 29 August 1994.

Criticism and support[]

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.

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. There was some worry about the interaction of the Park's proposal and the City West Regional Environmental Plan for the Eveleigh precinct.

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. Wollongong University 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 and Traffic Authority, Telstra and AGL. In addition, the project received endorsement from the Japanese consulate.

Mission and achievements[]

The Park, under the leadership of the Board and Tom Forgan, has successfully promoted the growth of technology-based industry in New South Wales, improved the competitiveness of Australian industry, attracted international companies to relocate to the Park and created employment opportunities.

The Mission of the Australian Technology Park has been the following:

Provide international standard research and development facilities to link the resources and skills of three major universities with the industrial objectives of private companies and government
Provide a discrete physical location and advanced infrastructure, together with access to the latest applied research in the universities and encouragement of innovative technologies to assist the development of novel high value-added products and new industries
Broaden access to research findings and technological opportunities
Facilitate technology transfer between research institutions and industry
Provide incubator facilities for the early stages of commercialisation of new technologies
Encourage synergy among researchers, designers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers
Contribute to the long-term economic and social interests of the community.

The Australian Technology Park transformed the railway workshops and landscaped the grounds. The Park developed a holistic approach to the commercialisation of Research & Development, which has gained it international recognition. The Park has also developed an education and skills training program, and an Advanced Manufacturing Centre. The Park has housed the Australian Graduate School of Engineering Innovation and the Optical Fibre Technology Centre.

The Australian Technology Park's let space grew from 1,000 square meters in its first year to 22,500 square meters in its third year, with an inquiry list of 120,000 square meters and $42 million in new buildings. Tenancy has included technology companies, venture capital companies, banks and legal firms.

In 1998, the Board of the Park established the National Incubator Company under the chairmanship of Peter Fritz and with Stan Jeffrey as General Manager.

Tenants of the Australian Technology Park have benefited from the proximity to other technology related companies and linkages to companies in related parks in other countries, which has facilitated entry into those markets. Tenants have also benefited from access to information on technological developments, skilled staff and resources from the three universities (University of Sydney, University Technology Sydney and University of New South Wales). Through the Park, the three universities have had increased opportunities to develop joint programs with industry that have created new revenue sources and employment opportunities for students.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/australian-advanced-technology-park-from-conception-robinson/

Filming[]

The Seven Network moved their production studios from Epping in Sydney's north west to the ATP. Global Television (Australia) also set up studios in one half of the new building.

Since ATP's opening, numerous advertisements, music clips, photo shoots and filming productions have been filmed within the conference centre at the park, including the 2008 Australian MTV Awards, MasterChef Australia, Junior MasterChef Australia, some parts of Australia's Next Top Model and for the episode 56 of The Renovators. it is currently the production site for the Seven Network serial Home and Away