Long time Hunters Hill Trust member, author and historian, Dr Beverley Sherry’s recent publication ‘Our Stories Our Lives: 1955 Seniors of Brisbane State High School’ is now available to download.
This important social history opens a window on the years 1955-2015, through illustrated life stories of former students of Brisbane State High School.
Thomas Stubbs, Inspector of Nuisances City Council (Sydney) July 1847
Thomas Stubbs must have been a multi-talented individual. Apart from being Inspector of Nuisances he was a composer, concert performer, persuasive auctioneer, journalist and farmer.
In 1836 he bought 18 acres at the southern end of Tarban Creek. The Surveyor General at the time noted ‘nobody but a madman would want to buy’ this land. Stubbs built a stone house and along with his family, established a vineyard, gardens and an orchard with ‘40 kinds of fruit’.
William Weaver (kneeling centre) George Turner, Didier Joubert, Charles Moore, Mr Pennington and members of the Blaxland family, circa 1860
The Marist Fathers bought Stubbs’ farm in 1847 and renamed it Villa Maria. They commissioned the architect William Weaver to design a Georgian mansion in 1857. A new wing with Gothic details was added in 1876. We know it now as The Priory.
HHT luminaries Roslyn Maguire and Diana Drake wrote a detailed history of the building and its site. This is now available as a FREE download.
Hunters Hill Council is currently considering options to ensure the long term survival of The Priory.
Parkland or carpark-landSend your comments on the future plans for Boronia Park. Check the post below for full details of the issues. If you hate writing letters, you can download, sign and send our Form letter instead.
You have until 4:00pm Wednesday 16th September to speak up.
xanthorrhoea arborea (Image: friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au)
The Revised plan of Management for Boronia Park has many positive additions, including some suggestions we made in our original submission. BUT some changes may damage the character of the park:
Read the Hunters Hill Trust’s submission to Council for the full picture, including concerns about:
Of course your own personal letter is best, but if you haven’t got time to write your own, you can use our Form letter.
Comments must get to Council at Box 21 Hunters Hill 2110 or by email to vollmerj@huntershill.nsw.gov.au before 4pm Wednesday 16th September.
Source: Daily Telegraph, 16 August 2015
With only 13,900 residents, Hunters Hill Council is the smallest of all LGAs in NSW. It is now facing the prospect of being amalgamated with Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Willoughby and two-thirds of Ryde Councils to form a mega council.
In this scenario, Hunters Hill residents would be represented by less than one Councillor (0.68) in a massive new region.
Residents may complain that our local Council has let us down in the past and has not acted in the best interests of the community. The question is now: what would happen to Hunters Hill with just 0.68 Councillor to represent us?
This is a major change in the democratic process. After years of talk, and promises that there would be ‘no forced amalgamations’, it seems that the State Government is about to take action. Check the latest news and what action you can take: Save Hunters Hill Municipality Coalition or Save Our Councils NSW.
National Trust Vienna Cottage Committee invites anyone interested to attend a presentation by Roslyn Burge, Member of the National Trust Landscape Heritage and Conservation Committee.
Sunday 13 September 2.30pm, Hunters Hill RSL Hall, 58 Alexandra St
Enquiries John Birch 9816 1794 jabirch@bigpond.com
Further details on our What’s On page.
The new plans for Gladesville Shopping Village will have EVEN GREATER ADVERSE IMPACT on the community than the scheme that was withdrawn last year after the community rejected it. The latest scheme totally ignores the planning controls set down in the Hunters Hill Local Environment Plan 2012. Tower B would be 55 meters above the podium level – 39 meters higher than what is allowed. The scheme:
It is hard to imagine a building 101 meters in height. Based on the drawings on display recently, and allowing approximately 3 meters per floor, we have estimated the number of stories:
We urge Council to reject this scheme out of hand and also to reject any proposals from the developer to change the planning controls.
Read Hunters Hill Trust’s submission to Council in full.
Council has updated the Draft Plan of Management for Boronia Park.
Check Alister Sharp’s detailed review of the How this Draft Plan compares with 2014 Draft Plan. Important changes include:
There still appears to be no provision for off-leash exercise of dogs.
Download details from Council’s website here.
The Trust is heartened by council’s commitment to review and enhance the Hunters Hill DCP 2013 with the objective to improve the amenity of the commercial precinct of Gladesville. However we also have serious concerns.
The new DCP:
Read the full report here: HHT review of Development Control Plan
Figtree House Image: Tony Coote
33 significant native trees have been cut down on a development site in Barons Cresent, despite a Land and Environment Court ruling that the retention of these trees was in the community interest.
The DA approved the removal of 10 trees but by using Code 10/50 the developer was able to measure 10 metres from SIX neighbouring properties to take out 33 trees. He was stopped from removing two because they were 11 metres from a dwelling.
The Rural Fire Service failed to protect the Riparian Zones (the interface between land and the river) in the Greater Sydney Basin.
The Riparian Zone is significant because of its role in soil conservation, habitat biodiversity and the influence on fauna and aquatic ecosystems. This is especially true on this steep block in Barons Crescent.