The Hunters.:.:Hilli:TiUst lnc. The Hunters i#irlii.--J,,.r,ica.,,..,, .. ..1..E . ing..Auitruia's... ..P.iesei oldCst,.G, bn,Subu:nb: Trust Journi

e:r;r-"tt*\, k *a'Xlb1 -re . fr *-{ September,2@l "

Volume XXXX Number 3 tssN 03 t0{t I I

,"*ili"",.n" Trust is $25 a year for a hmily,

$ l5 single :ind *ffF - * -!\'- $5 for pensioners A lovely piece of real estate ofi the - about I8l and students. Life member $200 Not ..... I{appy ...... Jc

-f n. document Building tlrc sea transport division Those citizens a ,:, Thera's lore at www.intelvef .iom.auttrtrd L the Future, which ap- to Townsville? ing of the Revie peared in March 2001, And didn't the Defence tee on August 3t promoted a feeling of un- Department real estate de- considered that I'"1 Inside this issue. ease in the community partment produce artist's went well.

i when the Minister for Edu- impressions of how houses But why wasn't cation and Training, Mr. would look on the site. period ofconsul John Aquilina, said the Whoa. The State Educa- fore Building th Heriuge lixtng blurred recommendations in the tion Department was doing was amouncedl by presage ond greed report were not negotiable. t}te same thingwiththe Say laS yqr, or He withdrew this state- Lane Cove River site of the before that, whe WoofYridt - a walkfur- ment, but not before the High School. school's princip goren Hunters Hill community There was a difference. seconded to dep had been threatened that Withthe Commonwealth duties? Was Bu Why the Irust wonts to the high school was to be there was a period of Future, under ct sove tie high schal sold. across-the-table negotia- tionback then? The reason - the money tion. With the Education wasn't the coru Mr C-on's Fhq on was needed to finance the Department? It's been all asked for its vit Breshores lond ideas in Building the Fu- up hill for months. the way the De1 ture. This paradigm had a At last ttrere was a meeting Education and'l Counal stotes its pol,cy familiar ring. of the School Closures Re- runs its businesr on gordens Wasn't the Common- view Committee after the derteachers gr wealth Government going Parents and Citizens Asso- to get tlremselve That wrs the'year that t0 to sell the Woolwich Army ciation collected a number - Gil wos land to finance the move of of signatures. TRUST JOURNAL SEPTEMBER, 2OO I

Heritage listing is a contentious issue often further blurred by prestige and greed

writes Paul Coombes, aformer Alderman of Hunters Hitl Council.

original. The other was that heri- push in the market and have he battle over property heri- advised tage properties were too expen- the Heritage Council that well cared- tage listings can be billed sive for owners to properly main- for heritage properties are Snobs v. Slobs. the easiest tain. to sell and bring ilre highest prices. Those assembled at each pole are The next step in the argument The State Government either passionately for preservation and local was that it was bsfter to remove councils are pushing for higher den- of demolition. There is no middle these eyesores before they dete- sity developments. These can harm ground. They tout the advantages riorated further; also, their re- the amenity of surrounding houses of having their interest singled out moval would benefit more people because of overshadowing, p@r for special treatnent. These can be once the land released is ::::::j:::j:::ji::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::: landscapjng and mjnjmal individual properties, streetscapes developed into (mostly) boundary setbacks or areas such as parks and water- [|-6.:.:iffi.i: il16..... three-storey walk-up Heritage frontages. listing of proper- apartrnents. ties and streetscapes can Mostly, money is at the core of dis- The Heritage Council of help in putes involving individual proper- the battle against N.S.W. is prominent in these encouragd intru- ties. The so-called slobs (owners/ preserving properties. It sions. When councils and developers) want to get rid of heri- has worked hard to govemments are forced to tage properties and use the sites to counter myths about account for the impact make money by building habitable of listing and has been in- developments on listed ar- spaces on them - usually apart- volved in research over the past eas the Heritage Council says listing ments, but sometimes offices. Their 10 years and has found listing provides certainty for owners, negh- motivation is transparent. hasnt affected properfy values bors and intending purchasers. "This Those labeled as snobs love the ca- adversely. The report found that, is important when people are looking chet "my herit4ge listed home". in some instances, listing has had for a particular environment in which Heritage values, reflected in selling a positive impact. The council to live and work", the Heritage Coun- prices, are frequently less up front. argues the main reason people cil says. Heritage listing can also But to be fair beyond the name purchase hentage buildrngs is be- provide other benefits including land- calling, many people lvho want list- cause they like them. use concessions. restoration adr isory ings believe structures of historic Countering perceived negatives services, heritage valuations for land or intrinsic qualrty should be kept of heritage property ownership tax purposes and funds and loans in order to reflect 's heri- the council argues it places no earmarked for specified property tage. It is our story in materials, legal restriction on the sale or work. skills and shapes. leasing of properties. It says such To discover the status of a property One weapon developers/ properties are best cared for check the listing schedule in the demolishers used in their propa- when lived in and there are no council's local environmental plan ganda war against listing was that restrictions on renewing bath- and the State Heritage Register. Non- owners would lose control over rooms, kitchens and services. statutory authorities with lists are the what they could do with their prop- Sympathetic additions can be National Trust Register and the erties. made, u'arehouses can be con- Royal Australian Institute of Archi- The furphy was that all repairs, verted to residential and mainte- tects' Register of 20ft Century Build- maintenance, capital works and nance doesn't require formal ap- ings. changes in gardens were prohibited proval. Real estate agents fre- Reprinted the unless totally in keeping with the from quently advertise heritage listing Morning Herald, l8 July, 2001. features of a propertv to give it a SEPTEHBER,2OOI TRUST IOURNAL

Woolwich E a walk forgotten

T r u public north-facing water- I front reserve, with a whiffof history, worth the short steep climb which is needed to get you back to familiar places? The Walk starts at the north end of Gladstone Street, behind the Woolwich Aged Care Retirement Village, which now occupies the grounds of the old Woolwich Pub- lic School. It descends rather steeply to a small public reserye with picnic tables by the Lane Cove River (see picture). For the last few months, a locked gate has barred the entrance, so the Friends of the Walk were understandably alarmed when they read the con- teirts ofa recent consultant's report to Council. John Chetham & Asso- relates to the viability of the Walk, was highly degraded, with difficult ciates had been asked to evaluate though the final recommendations access, high maintenance costs and were confined to Council limitcd use, confined mainly a the existing reserves along ,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,. :: ::i:::I to the Lane Cove river in trrJ Repo,ff,,,,btr; action on parts of the few strictly local residents. Such Woolwich area, and the GAnin|s Vernon Street and Wool- residents were also said to be so costs and benefits ofa re- ,.,.:EjutiHId..... wich Road properties. rich in large north-facing riverfront serve which might extend This article deals only gardens that they had no need for a from the Mornington reserve to the with the Woolwich Fore- public reserve. Woolwich baths.lry shore Walk. In summary, the con- While this article was waiting to go The only section of this water- sultant considered that the Walk {Conanued on page 4) front land currentlv rn public use is part of the Wooiwich Foreshore Walk. The hillsrde above most of The book The Industrial Wlage of Woolwich, the reserve is owned by the Marist by Connie Ewald has been reprinted Sisters College, who also control Copies arc available over the the waterfront land to the east, to- counter at the Hunters Hill Post Olftce, wards the Woolwich Baths. Public access across this land is prohib- Alexandra street for $1 2, ited. Other sections of the water- or postedfrom the Treasurer, front which Council had the right The Hunters Hill Trust fnc., to acquire, by donation or on pay- P, O. Box 85, Hunters Hill, 2110 for $14. ment of market value, were parts of The book has been published by The Hunters Hill Trust 16 Vernon St., near Mornington wharf reserve, and 688 Woolwich assisted by a grantfrom the Royal Australian Hktorical Rd, at the bottom of "Bond's Society from funds Lane" (See sketch). allocated by the Ministry for the Arts, New South Wgles. Much of the consultant's report TRUST JOURNAL 'EPTEMBER,2OOI Over the years, the vines and The only quiet, north-facing other weeds in the steep strip to the waterfront made access difficult. It picnic spot at Woolwich was a real discovery when students uncovered traces ofan old track (Continuedfrom page 3) from the cleared Marist land. Per- and made their way down to the to print, council decided that the haps it had already been cleared water in the earlyl98Os. The head- walk would be re-opened at some when it was acquired. The part of master, Graltam Le,l:nan, recom- future time, awaiting decisions on a the sixty foot strip closest to Wool- mended re-establishment of a track safety gate, minor repairs and pub- wich Road was incorporated in the to the local Bi-centennial Commit- lic liability. school playground, whic[ at least tee, which obtained a grant towards Brief history. in later years, was fenced at about expenses. Council negotiated a When the land for Woolwich the level of Vemon Street, and only right of way for a public path in Public School was notified for re- partly cleared. In 1893 the play- 1986, and this right persists, sumption in the Gazette of 28 grounds still included "about thirty though the land is now under the August 1888, most of it was be- indigenous shade trees, chiefly care and control of the Illawarra tween North Parade, now called stringybark", and even in the 1940s Retirernent Trust. Vernon Street, and Onions Point students could still play in the bush Council then constructed a fine Road (Woolwich Road). A sixty at the back of the school. However, track. Unfortunately, a small part foot strip, reaching from the main the same report recommended of it was found to lie on the prop- road to the Crown Reserve along plantrng of native trees on the north erty of the Marist Sisters, who the waterfront, was added at the and east sides, perhaps referring to erected a fence, and caused the eastern edge.lz; Perhaps it was a cleared sixty foot strip.l+1 public pathway to divert west, on a hoped to use the existing old stone Steps to the waterfront. steeper gradient. This is still quite jeffy, a little further to the east, to In ttre area close to the first pic- easy for walkers in profiled shoes, provide for scholars from along or nic table, old maps show a struc- though others might look wistfully across the river. The advantages of ture at the waterfront and a trig at the well-graded wooden steps swrmming battrs are noted in sev- station. A series of such trig points just on the other side of the fence. eral ottrer documents. For instance, was needed to map the shoreline Slight re-routing to the west to one of &e early offers of land for and to determine mean high and avoid the steepest section is hin- the school was for a block near the low water marks.The earliest avail- dered by the massive encroachment corner of Gale and Collingwood able register of Sydney trig stations of the neighbour's rubbish pile. Strrets, in which proximity to was produced in 1891. It refers to After closure of the school in "land proposed for boat sheds and a trig point about "one chain south- 1988, the land was about to be public baths" was noted.131 The east of small old stone jetty, south bought by a private developer, who school was opened n L892, and in side of Lane Cove River".(s) The withdrew from the contract follow- the following year the block to the jetty is also shown on a map of ing sustaured public protest against (now east 64 &,66 Woolwich 1883. 1oy It is about six metres wide alienation of public resources. The Road, occupied by retired Marist and eight mstres long, and does not group Friends ofWoolwich Fore- sisters) was offered to the Minister extend to the water at lowest tide. shore Walk was formed in 1991 to for Pubiic Instruction as land suit- It is more of a platform than a nar- keep an eye on the public reserve able for a teacher's residence, with row wallnvay to deep water. We and to remove exotic plants, as far the added advantage that it would still do not know the date of con- as possible, from the foreshore allow for "swimming baths in the struction or removal. It seems strip between the two picnic tables. river for scholars". The offer was likely that the stones from the old The work was done by volunteers, refused, and children had to wait jetty were used to build the stone one of whom was an expert regen- until the Woolwich Baths opened wall which extends across ttre wa- erator, and with the co-operation of about fifteen years later. ter&ont of the block to the east of Council. For reasons mostly be- Land clearing Why is the steep the public school strip. This block yond their control, the Friends ne- part of the Walk so full of weeds? was added to the Marist land many glected the track during the last We are not sure whsther it was years after the opening of the Col- two years. Some steps became slip- once cleared of its native vegeta- lege in 1908. pery and dangerous, and others tion or whether it was simply in- Construction of the present track (Continued on page 5) fected by exotic seeds spreading STPTE].IBER, 2OO I TRUST JOURNAL

l{ O }l{ll{ &ToBr LANE IoVE RIVgR t€tE S.fc Wool-\-r/ tcl{ Foe,€syo[.g v/ALk llrA sl} . r"irffJ-g tr,r(€trv6 t-r \r|inr.tOR \l+{+rl.. t tt{ g 6.e t9 tl!. m,|Atgf \ o ,) Bi r'l, t1&TEa.5 C oLL tttg\rgo, o rrRE &8, t Rf ' I] LolLf tii (,4 'laarrt I l1 .rLt Le€,5 {.i (,) "l rr.r 6 6tL \r"., tt t{ I r-,r€ru ?Af\k t I Woolwich foreshore walk m

(Continuedfrom page 4) Walk total estimates were $58,000, las 5t,ggested that the old Wool- were overgrown. A locked gate of which $16,000 was allowed for wich Public School building, part was installed in about April of this lights and rails alone. The applica- of which has been restored for use year. tion of such a judgment to bush- by both the retired people and the Total expenditure on the track land reserves seems highly un- rest ofthe community, might be- by Council, 1991-1996, was likely. It would be the end ofthe come a resource center for visitors probably ofthe order of$1000, an Great North Walk, let alone the interested in local history. Other average of$200 per year. The ma- tracks in the Blue Mountains Na- possible uses have also been sug- jor items were removal of a patch tional Park. gested. Once visitors get as far as of prickly pear from the neighbour- It is true that all Councils and the old school they may also try the ing Marist land, and occasional other authorities face increasing Walk. track clearance. More frequent costs of insurance for public risk. Locally, not every resident of the rubbish removal, track clearance In this case some of the steps do municipality has access to the and weeding were carried out by not accord with current standards. "large and well-landscaped gar- volunteers. During this period the A few minor alterations could be dens" mentioned in the report. Fer- track was in reasonable condition made fairly easily.As well, legisla- dinand Street reserve is the only and quite frequently used by pic- tive changes on public liability are other north-facing sheltered spot nickers and family groups, not due to be considered by the NSW suitable for a small picnic. Local strictly local. We know of no re- Parliament before long, and there is advertisement would probably in- ported accidents or claims against some chance that more common crease the use and the appreciation Council for negligence. sense may prevail. ofboth reserves. Possible future users Future of the Walk Misleading aspects of the consult- One of the limitations ofthe ex- Faced with what they saw as an ant's report isting culde sac walk is lack of imminent threat, the Friends Various criticisms ofthe report advertisement of its existence. This quickly cleared the track and re- were presented to Council in some might change if many more people moved some of the worst weeds detail. One of the most contestable visit the Woolwich area, after the from the foreshore section. The features was t}re estimate of the former defence lands are re- Parks & Trees Committee recently costs of rehabilitation and upgrade, designated, and the connections visited the site and recommended to especially those associated with through Kelly's Bush to Woolwich Council that the track should be public liability. The report claimed Road are shown on public maps. kept open, the locked gate replaced that, following a recent court Visitors may note that within the by a pool-gate, and the Marist Col- judgement, "it may be necessary to Woolwich area, ttre foreshore of lege offered assistance in control- provide handrails and night lighting the Walk is the only quiet north- ling some of the worst weeds over- on public stairways in remote loca- facing picnic spot, sheltered from hangrng the reserve. Volunteers tions". For Woolwich Foreshore cold southerly winds. Phil Jenlqm (Continued on page 6) PAGE 6 TRUST JOURNAL SEPTEMBER.2OOI will continue to keep the track clear. Questions of public liability for Why the Trust wants to heritage steps will remain, for some time, both here and in many other parts of the municipality. Trust save the School members could help resolve these problems. If you lnow of other The Trust prepared a submission on the Government was considering Councils where similar problems heritage of the site of the Hunters Hill closing High School as its conlribution down our high school and selling offthe exist, you could write to the Pre- to the negotiations on the proposal to close land for real estate development - the mier, urging rationalisation of pub- the Hunters Hill High School, Reiby very thing that &e Hunters Hill lic liabilrty issues. In the meantime, Road, and sell the site. Trust was formed to combat 33 years and as soon as the lock has been The submission wqs sent to the Minister ago. removed, trythe Walk in the mid- for Education and Training, Mr. Since the announcement of the sell-off dle of a winter's day, or on a sum- Aquilina. plan, the Trust has been very active mer evening. Low tide is best. It A copy was also given to the chairman in the fight to save the school. Trust gives an illusion of continuing pub- of the School Closures Review Commit- members have been involved with lic space. tee, Mr. Vernon Dalton. This is the the P and C, have attended meetings protests, Acknowledgernorts to many people wording of a letter given to the School and have written to the who helped togather the historical infor- Closures Committee. paperc and to various ministers, and we mation, especially Greg l,arkir:" who Tt. Hunters Hill Trust was formed have prepared a detailed submission searched out old tifles and provided land I by local citizens in 1968. This was in response to tlte Government's white maps. in response to a proposed tovrn plan, paper, Building the Future. (1) John Chetham & Associates. Acqui- which, if implemented, would have In our submission to the Building the sition assessment report for potential destroyed the unique heritage and char- Futures Document, which has already linkages in foreshore open space in acter of the municipality. been submitted to this committee, we Woolwich between Mornington Re- It would aryued against the closure of the school serve and Northumberland Street, have replaced fine old houses and leafy Woolwich. streets with 3 storey walk-up home for the following reasons, (2) Sunnyside North subdivision of lot units and carparks. l12, granted to T.D. Edwards in The Trust is also committed to, Community disquiet. 1839. BlockE, lots l-5, register . The preservation ofall features of No one in Hunters Hill wants the school vo192l / folio232. Strip to waterfront Hunters Hill having beauty, to close. Opposition to the closure from is shown as Lot DP 795382.on l, architectural and historic value. residents, parents, former pupils and contemporary maps. Old title, . To ensuring that any planning of many other interested people has been 8k.434, no. 566. The strip marked Hunters Hill should pay regard ovennhelming. the boundary between two separate firll to protecting grants to T.D.Edwards. It was also and improving the amenities Balance the boundary, Lot 1, of the Village of enjoyed by residents. and equity in the community. Woolwich. The western boundary, One of the aims of the Trust's draft plan The closure of the High School will re- north of Vernon St, is only marked prepared in 1968 was tle preservation sult in an unacceptable lack of by two nails. ofthe harbour foreshores and it in- choice in the community for secondary (3) State Records Oflice, Archives, cluded a specific proposal for school pupils, leaving Riverside Woolwich Public School. Letter,C. "Permissive Public Occupanry of a 50 Girls High as the only state high school Joubert to Minister for Public Ia- foot wide waterfront strip north of Hunt- in a Municipality that has been a struction, I 9 Jue, I 888. ers Hill High School". centre for learning since tlle mid lgth (4) Archives, Woolwich Pulic School. century. Memo. to Dept. of Technical Educa- Last year Hunters Hill Council signed a tion from Albert Gale, 20 July, 1893. 20 year lease with the State Government (5) Register of Trigonometrical Stations for the land now occupied by the 3 Pa- The Heritage of the site. for Crty ofSydney aad Enyirons, triots walk along the foreshores of the In our submission we document the his- second edition, 1891. Departrnent of High School grounds. The walk was tory of the site from the fishing lands, Sydney. funded by a Centenary of Federation grounds of the Wallumedagal people (6) Map transmitted to the Surveyor grant from the Commonwealth Govern- who lived on the banks of the Turan- General with report 84/8,25 March ment and was constructed by Hunters burra prior to European settlement, to 1884, by John W. Deering. Map 12- Hill Council. When the walk the pleasure grounds of the mid 19th 440, sheet 4. was opened on May 12 this year the Trust's century, the Figtree film studios of the 30 year old dream became a reality. 1930s and 40s through to the Half way through the construction of the establishment of the first corducational walk, we learned that the NSW (Continued on page 7) PAGE 7 TRUST JOURNAL SEPTEMBER,2OOI

(Contiruedfrom page 6) will have to pay for the increased us- high school in the Sydney age ofthe local infrastructure, such as . The failure of the Government to Metropolitan area in 1958. Every roads, garbage services, libraries etc upgrade and maintain the facilities at stage ofthis rich history is repre- that will flow from any development Hunters Hill High in the last 20 sented on the site and all ofthis that increases the local population. As years. will be lost or severely compro- well, if other recent developments are . The failure of tlte Government to mised if the school is closed. anything to go by, the local community respond to the challenge of private will be forced to suffer the ugliness of education as a factor in the falling The public domain. anotler poorly designed and inappro- enrolments of local children at The school is a community resourre priate development on what is now one Hunters Hill High. that is used by many different of the few remaining accessible . The disparity between the facilities groups, including the Chatswood stretches of the Lane Cove River. at private schools and those at Evening College, the Korean cul- Even if the State repaid the Council for Hunters Hill High. tural group, sporting groups as well rates plus interest for all the years that . The dedication ofparents continu- as the community at large. The the school gtounds have been ex- ing to zupport the school despite this Moocooboola Festival, the annual empted this could never hope to com- disparity. Hunters Hill community event, was pensate the community for the loss of . The betrayal ofthese parents that is held at the High School in August the school and its gounds. Once the caused by the clo$re of the school. and is a good example of how the High School site or any part of it is . Our astonishment to see a redevel- school and its facilities are used by sold offit will never be returned to the opment model published in the Syd- the wider community. public domain because the cost will b€ ney Morning Herald on June The school also makes an irreplace- prohibitive. 15,2001 showing the school build- able contribution as public open ings replaced by houses. space. Government f,'oreshore Policy . A request that the minister properly The grounds form an important In our submission to the Building the consult with the community and that part of the "lungs" of the munici- Future we include a statement issued the Trust should be included in the pality containing a significant area by Premier Bob Carr in August 1997 consultation process. of remnant bushland as well as six entitled Sydney Harbour Foreshores, trees which have been includd in whose guiding principles include, ff the school is closed Council's Significant Tree Register. . maximising public access to fore- The Trust is commifted to fighting The grounds provide a buffer be- shore land, . the retention ofpublic for the preservation of Hunters Hill tween the river and the increasingly ownership of such land High School. However, if all of our dense housing development sur- . the preservation of all items of heri- efforts to prevelt the closure of the rounding it. tage significance . the retention of key school prove fruitless, then the Trust Except for the brief period when it waterfront industrial sites is committed to fight for the reten- was a film studio, the High School tion of the school site as public land. site has been part ofthe public do- The sale of the High School site will The Trust will join with all other main. If the school is closed the breach these guidelines which were interest groups to argue, lobby and land will be privatised and will no specifically designed to protect the do whatever is necessary to prevent longer be in the public domain and foreshores from the continuing this part ofthe Sydney Harbour fore- accessible to all. prcssures of private housing dwelop- shores from being sold for private ment. development. A loss to the community The population of Hunters Hill has Since the 1950s when the High Attempts to communicate with the declined from 13,017 in 1976 to School was establishd, the lard Minister 11,969 in 1996. However it is pro- has been exempted from paytng The Trust has written to tlte Minister jected that by 2003 the population rates to the Hunter Hill Council. of Education, John Aqualina a number will be back to 13,000. If the school The local community has subsi- of times since as we first heard ru- is closed and housing is built on the dised the school to the tune of mil- mours of the sell-off. So far we have school site this too will increase tlre lions ofdollars in rates foregone. If have not received a single reply, not population of the municipality. the State Government closes Hunt- even an acknowledgement of receipt. ers Hill High the Government will Here is an ironic paradox. The clo- make a profit and the local commu- Some of the points we made in our let- sure of the school will lead to an nity will lose out. ters to the Minister include, increased demand for high school . Our dismay at the failure to rebuild places in the Municip.riity. The community will lose all those the heritage listed school hall - Tony Coote services and amenities that are now destroyedby arson in October 2000 President of the Hunters Hill Trust provided by the school. The com- and the neglect ofthe school grounds munity will suffer from increased because of the lack of a flrll-time vehicular traffic in the area and it groundsman. PAGE 8 TRUST JOURNAL SEPTEMBER, 2OO I

Mr. carr's policy on foreshore lands

r providing siting and desigrt f n August 1997 The Premier of New $ All items of heritage significance principles for newbuildings and ISouth Wales. the Hon Bob Can is- should be conserved and enhanced' entitled and sued a statement on Woolwich g) The first step in determining the fu- waterside structures; Sydney Harbour Fore shore.. locations with poten- ture use ofa surplus foreshore site o identi$ing docu- The comprehensive nine-page access. should be to establish whether the tial for foreshore ment detailed the government policies for The document stated that although of waterfront land' site or part of the site is suitable on the development the REPs do not cover the Lane Cove the draft and lmallY significant The statement foreshadowed regionally River, "it should be noted that the Plan (DCP) be- the Dwelopment Control open space that will enhance Office of Marine Administration Department of Ur' ing prepared by the harbour foreshore open space net- (OMA) which is resPonsible for as- ban Affairs and Planning and the Of- along work. sessing activities within and fice of Marine Administration to pro- not re- the Lane Cove River, will use this provisions than h) Any develoPment on land vide more detailed document when assessing these pro- current quired for regional open space should those contained in the then posalsunderPart 5 ofthe Environ- Erwironment Plan and character ofits Sydney Regianal be in the scale mental Planning and Assessment Act 22 - Parramatta River and pro- (SREP) No. foreshore location. Signffi cant 1979. No 2 j - SYdneY and Middle SREP ceeds ftom develoPment of this land The new SREP22 and SREP23 were Harbours. December 1998. shouldbe used to con8ibute to the promulgated in concluded: "This statement Mr. Carr of vision for all Sydney IIar- establishment and maintenance reveals our River Study bour develoPment". public oPen sPace. A study of the Lane Cove River com- A volume erfilleA DraJt Developrnent 1) In order to maintain the commercial missionedbY the DePartment of Ur- Control Plan and Working PaPer for con- viability ofthe Port of Sydney' from con- and its Tributaries ban Affairs and Planning Sydney Harbour be given to the sideration should sultants has been comPleted. A was prblished in December 1997' lt retention of keY waterfront indus- ofuse ofthe high school site ran io 31 pages, plus maps of ecologi- change possible, pub- should notbe undertaken until this cal communities and landscape char- trial sites. Wherever report has been considered. acter types. lic access through these sites to tlte The Plan began by repeating the Guid- foreshore should be Provided' ing Principles given by Mr. Carr' They go are: Improve the environment Rates will 3. Guiding PrinciPles The working paper added: "The stratery 3.1 The NSW Government has devel- under also includes the preparation ofthis higher oped the following gurding principles draft Development Control Plan (DCP) for determining the future use of pub- which provides guidelines for develop- amalgamation licly owned Harbour foreshore land: activities of public and pri- to, and use menl and a) Maximise public access urte.t flill average rate is the vately owned land in and around Sydney I-f of, land on tlte foreshore. I ltrigtrest in NSW desPite the public ac- Harbour and its tributaries. The draft b) Land made available for fact that Hunters Hill has one of the Plan will help im- cess and use should be retained or Development Control lowest if not the lowest ad valorem placed in Public ownershiP' prove the natural and urban environ- rate in NSW, This is because ProP- prUti. existing i) access linksbetween ments along the foreshores of Sydney erty values are high in Hunters Hill, foreshore open space areas should be, exacerbated bY com- and Middle Harbours and the Par- but it is also retained and enhanced mercial properties being charged the other ramatta River. d) Significantbushland and same rate as residential propertres' the REPs by establish- natural features along the foreshore ...it supplements In other municipalities the commer- avail- and ac- should be conserved and made ing guidelines for development cial ad valorem rate is two to three able for the public's use and enjoyment tivities with the aim of: times the residential rate. So Hulrters in- c) Any change in foreshore land use r minimising impacts on ecological Hill collects alarge amount of per household although if we should Protect and enhance the communities come Har- were to be amalgamated into anY of unique visual qualities of the r ensuring that the scenic qualit-v of (Continued on Page 9) bour. the area is Protected or enhanced 7

SEPTEMBER,2OOI TRUST JOURNAL Council states its policy on gardens

The Trust has received the following stone kerbing, historic street planting letterfrom Don Cottee Manager, Pub- schemes, appropriate pavement fin- lic li/orks and Infrastructure, Hunters ishes, and that new amenities such as Hill Council. bus shelters seats and wombat cross- GARDENS OX' HUNTERS EILL ings, are treated in a consistent and I refer to the Trust's letter concern- appropriate manner. " Council has a Iing issues in relation to the presen- poliry of retaining existing stone tation and management of the cultural kefting. Stone kerb is not replaced by landscape within the Municipality of other materials with the exception Hunters Hill. The first issue raised: where perambulator/disabled ramps " The preservation oftraditional gar- are provided. In the last 10 yea$ great dens, plantings and species that are in care has been taken in maintaining been achieved private ownership. " It is necessary to through tlre creation ofa this resource. Council engages in Significant have an understanding of &e powers Tree Register and associated community consultation on the devel- vegetation. under which Council operates. The Numerous listings have been opment of tree planting schedules and made property provisions of the Local Government with the co-operation of &e removal of trees which are senes- owners. The Trust is Act 1993 and the Environmental Plan- invited to make sub- cent or causing problems. Great carc missions ning and Assessment Act govern most for listing if it has not already is taken in this area and the Trust is done so. In response "The of the planning issues in the area. to invited to be briefed on Trust Council has powers to:- Approve: is fearfrrl that modern the processes Council fashions in garden landscap- St6.n.G Building works and associated land- undertakes through &e ing scape design work at the time are altering the tradi- Parks & Trees Advisory of ke1nE|;HUi .,i Development Consent.- Approve: tional landscaping of Hunt- Committee andBushland ers more Applications under Council's Tree Hill, vigilance on Committee in this regard. the part ofCouncil is neces- rdtA:in:e:d Preservation Order. Council does not Council has adopted a sary other than the require- have powers otherwise to make orders standard design for bus ment for a landscape plan in relation to trees or existing land- as shelters and this was de- part of processes." scaping. There is no provision in the the D.A. Council con- veloped in conjunction with Council's siders that due diligence is existing legislation which would en- exercised within Conservation Advisory Panel some the powers available to Council. able Council to manage all existing Council years ago. Additionally, Council uses landscapes. However, Council is con- cannot exercise more vigilance when the a lesser shelter structure. These stmc- enabling powers cerned about the character and existing do not exist to address the tures were well received when pro- concerns of Trust.The plantings in the area, and has taken the the second issue con- vided in Ferry Street. Following repre- cerns the private initiative to improve the awareness and ability of owners not only sentations from the Trust, Council is to garden promote traditional plantings. This has alter the layoul but also change not entering into agreements for com- the whole 't shape of the site through exten- mercial advertising shelters at this sive excavation work. The extent ofexcava- (C.ontinued time. from page 8) tion and variation levels in in conlunction Council has been using a consultant to the adjoining Councils our rates with building works is taken into consid- list and assess the health would double or treble According to ofall street eration at the time of Development Con- trees on road the draft strategic management plan Council's reserves. sent. It is to be noted that Hunters Hill has These together the amount spent on heritage and with significant trees very high standards for soft landscaping have been plotted and recorded conservation in 2000/2001 was in requiring 50% ofsite. Rock outcrops in Council's $35,800 which was made up Geographic Information of the some localities are protected (e.g. foreshore following System. Additionally, it is advised that items building lines). Dwelopment Consent is for the past 9 months Council has Heritage Consultant $26,500 required for cutting or filling of more tlan been using a suitably qualified land- Salaries and allowances $4,300 500mm and this relates to garden areas. scape architect to assss development Heritage week $1000 Council has intervened in cases where this applications with respect to the land- Heritage data base $2500 has occurred making the necessary orders scape component. As the Trust is rep- Office Expenses $1100 to remediate sites where consent was not resented in the This is out of the total e4penditure CAP, it should have obtained. Council carefirlly examines exist- been aware of some on development and enyironment of of these initia- ing vegetation and levels at the time of as- tives. It is somewhat disappointing S658,300 and a total operational to sessment. The final concern is the public Council that the Trust put expenditure for Council of did not its domain - Hunters Hill streetscape. views to Council publicly $7,672,950. before stat- "The Hunters Hill Trust believes that more ing its concerns. care could be taken in retaining traditional SEPTEMBER,2OOI TRUST JOURNAL PAGE IO That was the year that was

president's Report. May 10, 2001 I the journal comes out on time. Gil is particularly on the peninsul4 do not also responsible for the web site which support Hunters Hill High and send This year has been one of much activity has received 25,000 hits to date. their kids to private schools outside the and notable achievement for the area. Trust and I think you have been well Green Book It is ironic that the success of the Trust served by those elected to the cornmittee The Heritage of Hunters Hill (or the all those years ago may be partly to at last year's AGM. During the year green book) has been one ofthe most blame for this lack of commitment to Celia Roberts left to study in England. useflrl and important accomplishments the local community. Her departure has meant tlat the aver- ofthe Trust but there are no copies left. Today, the majority of those people who age age of the committee has gone up by Committee member Robyn Christie is started the Trust most probably a couple of decades. Glenys Murray had continuing to investigate how we can could not afford to live in Hunters Hill, to resign because ofwork pressures, and best upgrade it. yet it was their success in preserving our Treasurer Chris Rumble, most un- the suburb that has made it such a feiitunately, after sterling work keeping Christmas Party sought-after and expensive the accounts in order, not be will up for A very successfirl Christmas party was address. re-election this year. Thanks to Celia, held at life member Marian lbrahim's Chris and Glenys for the time and place and included an inspiring talk The community spirit that existed in energ/ they have contributed. During from Rick Leplastrier of the Harbour Hunters Hill 35 years ago is not i,rc year we were joined by Stephen Federation Trust. We are very gratefirl exactly sharedby those who have 4 }:,amsery who maintained the west of the to Marian and Nabeel Ibrahim for their Mercs in the garage and whose main flxpressway push on the committee. generosity volunteering their house for activity is scrambling up the greasy Thanks to the other committee mem- the party. We rely on the generosity of pole of success and status. rers, Secretary Len Condon, Vice Presi- members each year for this key event in Keeping an eye on developments dent Gil Wahlquist, John Bircb, Robyn our calendar. The Trust continues to monitor devel- Christie and Sally Trust Gaunt, repre- opment proposals in Hunters Hill. sentatives on various local and council Closure of Hunters Hill High School This is done through its represenlation committees As you are aware, the completion of on Council committees, by maintaining The Trust continues to be represented on the 3 Patriots Walk hasbeen ourbig- an overyiew of Council business and by Hunters Hill Council's Conservation Ad- gest project this year. The possible clo- being available as a listening post for visory Fanel and The Parks And Trees sure ofthe High School has been our the concerns oflocal residents and committee. We are also represented on biggest prot€st. The Trust has been ac- Trust members. the Defenders of Sydney }larbour Com- tive in fighting for the retention of the We have made submissions to Council mittee, the Foreshores 2000 and the Na- high school which we see as an invalu- on a number of matters including vari- tional Trust's Historic Houses Commit- able local community resource. Com- ous Development Applications" the im- tee, Hunters Council Photographic Hill mittee members have been involved plementation of Councils fence poliry Project. The Trust has been closely in- with the P and C. have attended meet- and the need to preserve historic gar- volved with an ambitious project devel- ings and protests. have written to the dens aad trees as well as the buildings. oped by Hunters Council's Heritage Hill papers and to various Government Successes this year included the Land Offi@r, Greg Patch. The idea of the ministers. Gil Wahlquist prepared a 30 and Environment Court's rejection of a prole€t is to photograph and document page submission as part of the P and proposed mega mansion at No 1 Ferry wery building in Hunters Hill. This will C's response to the Government's white Street, and tlre rejection fu Council of help immensely in the upgrade of the paper and as well, he is preparing the the Adshell Bus shelters which would heritage listings and it will help estab- Trust's own response to the paper. have filled our streets with illuminated lish a better understanding ofthe char- advertising signs. acter ofthe area and the nature ofits One ofthe reasons put fonvard by the culhral landscape. Education Department for the closure The pressure for development in Hunt- ofthe school has been the lack of sup- ers Hill continues to be a major The Trust Journal and l4/eb site. port for it from the local community. problem and the fight against gross and Gil Wahlquist once again is to be con- This argument is quite irrelevant, the inappropriate proposals is getting more gratulated for the Trust Journal. school, after all, attracts students intense and complicated. To illustrate This has to be one of the best looking from far afield who come because they this, here are a number of examples publications ofany local voluntary and their parents appreciate the from my experience on Council's Con- group in Australia. He puts in an enor- school's fantastic riverside location, its servation Advisory Panel. mous amount of work ensuring that the green grounds and its fine academic There is a proposal, currently under content is vital and interesting and that record. However, it is a fact that locals, consideration. to demolish No 29 Dick SEPTENBER, 2OO I TRUST JOURNAL cinct, there are hundreds of examples in the original heri- of old houses where people are happily tage listing because living with all the required mod cons' they were not in the These people chose to live in these green book. We an- houses because they appreciated their ticipate that these heritage. lomissions will be They love the houses for what they are, rectifled when the and they do not want to turn them into inventory of Heri- something theY nwer were. TheY tage items is uP- bought the house, not the real estate' graded. Our challenge is to educate would-be The Heritage assess- heritage owners to this view. ment of Tannadice (from House was made bY Other qreas of concern the future At the walk opening on May 12, 2001 left): Tony far a leading firm of There are a couPle of things which Coote, Don Cottee, Gil Wahlquist, Cr' Susan Hoopmann' Gaunt' Heritage consultants have recently come up and which will Senator Marise Payne, MP' Sally and it recommended no doubt become issues for the Trust against demolition. in the near future. With the NSW Gov- Street Henley, a 1916 house on the wa- However, a second rePort bY the same ernment proposal for inner city Coun- terfront with a wonderfrrl old garden' firm was presented to the Conservation cil amalgamations, and the associated No less than four heritage architects Advisory Panel on the night of its meet- rhetoric about increased efficiency and \ryere present when the Conservation ing. We were told that the first heritage cost savings, it is almost inevitable Advisory Panel visited the site, and to a report had been sent out by mistake be- that Sydney's smallest local govern- of maY againbe man they supportsd the demolition fore it had been ProPerlY checked' ment area, Hunters Hill, given was the house. The main reason The second report recommended ttnt the considered for amalgamation. par- that the existing house was of no house did not warrant preservation' Another NSW government initiative, pro- ticular importance, and was not suit- These two examples illustrate a trend' the white paper "PLAN FIRST", able for modern living. Increasingly Heritage Consultants are poses significant changes to the plan- becoming the hired guns of building ning procedures right across tlte state' 4 The Trust disagreed with the Heri- owners and developers' Their main role Near the top of its goals is "Certainty tage Consultants' assessment and op- is to support the wishes of their employ- for Business and Investors"' This can posed demolition. However this view ers. Obviously, a developer will shop oftenbe code for the relaxation of was not supported by the majority of around until he gets the Heritage report planning controls including those on sup- the panel and will probably not be he wants. There is a clear need for the heritage. Committee member John be ported by Council. The result will establishment of an independent heritage Birch has prepared a brief submission the demolition of the house and garden rwiew process to prevent this rorting of on the white paper whictr, while wel- glass and the construction ofa and the system. coming the goals of enhanced effi- steelbox. There canbe no real doubt ciency and transparency, expresses that the house and garden are The Corridor House mncern about its priorities and meth- worthy ofpreservation ( go and check Another unforhlnate trend we have no- ods and requests further consultauon its it out for yourse$. Thanks to the tice.d is the "corridor house". This prior to the Government finalising weight and thickness of the heritage is a term CAP member. councilor lvlar- pruposals. consultants' reports, Council's gfiret Christie coined. lt describes u'hat So much for the struggle. liorv for the decision will mosi probably be rnade' happens when you take a small hentage vision, not on the merit of the case, but on listed cottage, and "make it suitable for whetlter it believes it could successfirlly the needs ofa modern house holder"' Sydney Harbour Federation Trust defend rejection ofthe This is achieved by building a huge, out The passage of the SYdneY Ha$our demolition proposal in the Land and of scale, two storey addition up the back' Federation Trust legislation through Environment Court. The original modest dwelling bcomes Federal parliament represents a tri- merely a corridor which leads to the umph for a number of communitY proposal to de- joins Another similar is the "real house". The "corridor house" groups and local councils. These fine molish No 9 ToocooYa Road, a the first- floor "pop up" as a totally inap- goups and Councils came together to Federation Arts and Crafts bungalow propriate model for alterations and addi- oppose the Government's original dating from 1918. This house is in the tions to heritage houses. scheme to sell offmuch of the lands Conservation area with otler houses of The argument that an old house should for dweloPment. a similar vintage on either side. The be demolished or changed beyond recog- The Trust was well represented on the house is also known as Tannadice nition simply because it is unsuitable for Defenders of Sydney Harbour Commit- item' House, but is not a listed Heritage current needs is totally spurious' tee, and on the Foreshores 2000 com- This is one of a number of properties in Whether it is in Hunters Hill, Padding- miuee by Gil Wahlquist Trust member Hunters Hill which were not included ton, the Rocks or any other heritage pre- Fhil Jenlnm has been outstandinq and THE HUNTERS HILL TRUST INCORPORATED Members and friends Address mail to Hunters Hill Trust lnc. are invited to our P. O. Box 85, Hunters Hill, 2l l0 Christmas Party Ttr. Hunters Hill Trust Christmas Party will = I be held on Thursday, November 29,2001 at the home of Carl and Alysoun Ryves, 5 Wer- ipresiaent- Ton)f Coote; 981 7 3k;S ' . ambie Street, Woolwich. Vice-president * Nicola Jackson: , The party will be held from 6.30 p.m. to I p.m. : Secretary Len Condon, 9t316 "", - 2i96-" Carl and Alvsoun are long-time members of the Treasurer Birch, 98! 6 44.15. , - John Trust. They have been at the forefront of the iournal editor, - Gil Wahl(uisr ' campaign to save the Woolwich Army Land lComrnittee; Sally Gaunt, Robin Chrlstii,, from development. Stephen Ramsey, Birch, frttiot" rrn, Alysoun is an accomplished maker of quilts and 1 John litt i Brendan Stewa.G Gil Wahlquist took part in a program to make quilts to aid the i staging of the Paralympic Games in Committee meetings are held,at I p.nr o,h ' Sydney last year. In : 2000 Alysoun was named ,the second Thur.sday :oi rn"rtf, at Hunters Hill "rti Citizen of the Year. jVienna Comge, Aler