The Priory, 1857 (image Sardaka)

The Hunters Hill Trust is a community organisation with over 50 years’ proud history of helping to preserve the unique heritage of Australia’s oldest garden suburb.

 

Established on 4 January 1968 after the construction of the Gladesville Bridge and associated freeway to Lane Cove destroyed many historic buildings, one of the Trust’s first actions was to call a public meeting – which filled the Town Hall to overflowing.

 

In response to community concerns, the Trust distributed over 4000 plebiscite forms regarding the onslaught of unit building and 90% of responses opposed overdevelopment and heritage destruction.  Since then, our surveys show that this view has not changed, supporting one of our main objectives ie to limit the spread of high density and inappropriate development in order to preserve the distinctive historical and environmental values of our municipality.

 

The Trust has been a leader in the battle for our public lands, notably at Kelly’s Bush, when we supported the Battlers in their efforts to save this unique and well-loved bushland which subsequently became the site of the world’s first green ban.  We worked alongside others to preserve public lands around Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Defence Lands.

 

The Trust has more than 430 members across the municipality, nearly half of whom are families.  Many contribute their time, energy and expertise in support of our goals.   We contribute to various community forums and organisations including.

1. Council’s Conservation Advisory Panel (CAP):  Lucy Miller Creagh
2. Bushland Management Advisory Committee:  Brigid Dowsett & Jenny Craigie
3. Public Transport and Traffic Advisory Committee: Alister Sharp (2009 – 2020)
4. Cultural, Arts and Events Advisory Committee: Karen Presland
5. Sustainability Advisory Committee

Hunters Hill Trust office bearers

Over the  past 50 years, many good people have dedicated themselves to protecting our built and natural heritage.  Here is a list of people who have been President, Treasurer or Secretary during this time.

Current office bearers

President: Karyn Raisin

Vice President: Alister Sharp

Treasurer: Karen Presland

Secretary: Maureen Flowers

Committee: Brigid Dowsett, Caroline Mackaness, Mel Malloch, Lucy Miller Creagh, Annette Gallard

Hunters Hill Council Committees

Conservation  Advisory  Panel  (CAP)

• Graham Atkins—community representative (alternate)
• Lucy Creagh—representative of The Hunters Hill Trust
• Bronwyn Doutreband—community representative
• Kathleen Higgins—Heritage Advisor, Hunters Hill Council
• Steve Kourepis—Director of Development and Regulatory Services, Hunters Hill Council
• Michael Lehany—independent heritage landscape expert
• Brian McDonald—independent heritage planning expert
• Bob Moore—representative of the Australian Institute of Architects
• Jim Sanderson—Councillor
• Helen Temple—community representative
• Ross Williams—Councillor and Chair

Bushland Management Advisory Committee

• Brigid Dowsett (HHT)
• Sally Gaunt
• Jenny Craigie
• Liz Hinton
• Bev Debrincat
• Heather Armstrong
• Sandra Heath
• Bob Hayes
• Allan Coles
• Steven Buchert

Local Planning Panel (until February 2024)

Chairs TBA

Expert Panel Members:

1. Sheridan Burke
2. Peter Watts
3. John McInerney
4. Ann Warr
5. Chris Young
6. David Logan

Community Representatives:

1. Virginia Wise
2. Meredith Sheil
3. Phillip Hart
4. Barry Buffier

Each meeting comprises a Chair, two Expert Members and one Community Representative.

Community Representatives Sydney North Planning Panel

1. David Logan
2. Barry Buffier (Alternate)

Wallumedegal, traditional custodians

Wallumedegal well, pre-European settlement (Image: Len Condon)

Hunters Hill Trust acknowledges the traditional custodians of Hunters Hill and shows respect to Elders past and present.

The Wallumedegal were custodians of this part of Sydney for thousands of years. The northern side of the Parramatta river, now known as Hunters Hill and Ryde, was called Wallumatta. There is extensive evidence of the lives of the Wallumedegal, especially along the foreshores. There are 51 registered archaeological sites in Hunters Hill that include axe-grinding grooves, rock engravings, hand stencils, middens, shelters with art, burial sites and wells.

By the 1830s when the first European settlers came to the area, large numbers of the Wallumedegal people had died from smallpox or been driven from their land.

Flora and Fauna

coastal banksia Image: saveourwaterwaysnow

powerful owl image: ABC.net

There are 35 hectares of bushland in the Hunters Hill area which is home to 82 different species of wildlife.

More than 200 plant species have been recorded and many are now locally and regionally scarce due to urban development. Hunters Hill Trust is committed to protecting green spaces and the plants that provide the habitat that is essential for native animals.