proposed alterations to historic cottage

By admin | Published: July 7, 2018

The Hunters Hill Trust supports Council’s work to preserve the unique character and heritage of Hunters Hill and its conservation areas, and its stand to preserve the cottage at 18 Richmond Crescent Hunters Hill.  You can read the Trust’s detailed comments on the proposed alterations and additions to the cottage that are currently being proposed.

Council has previously rejected an application to demolish this cottage and build a very large new house in its place.  Late last year the Land and Environment Court dismissed an appeal from the owners of 18 Richmond Crescent. Key factors cited in the judgement included the heritage value of the existing cottage.

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new ‘Property Advisory Working Group’ at Council

By admin | Published: July 7, 2018

Changes to the Crown Land Management Act 2016 and the updated regulations have serious implications.

The Act allows for Crown land to be transferred from State Government to local councils and unfortunately in some cases, land will be under risk from land use changes and potentially sold off for development. You can read the HHT’s 2017 submission about the proposed changes.

Hunters Hill Council has endorsed setting up a Property Advisory Working Party ‘to look at all of Council’s property assets to determine if they are performing a community benefit; developing strategies for the future of Council’s assets; and investigating opportunities to invest/reinvest in property assets’.  There will be 3 Councillors and 3 community representatives on the working party.  We are especially concerned for our existing community facilities, heritage assets and open spaces.

The changes to the regulations also allows officials to ban people from taking part in gatherings on public lands – which can include town squares, parks, roads, beaches and community halls.  The Council for Civil Liberties (CCL) strongly opposes this and has stated: Read More »

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Prohibited from protesting on NSW beaches, parks, roads

By admin | Published: June 26, 2018

Image: newsmax.com

On 1 July, new Crown Land regulations will give the NSW Government vast powers to disperse or ban protests, rallies, and virtually any public gathering in approximately half of all land across NSW.

This includes public roads, local parks, beaches, or even standing in front of Parliament House.  Only cemeteries are exempt.

What country is this?  What have we become?

If you are horrified by the implications, please contact your local MP, and ask them what action they will take to make sure our democracy is protected.  You can check what NSW Council for Civil Liberties has to say about this here.

Simply sign & send the Petition using the link.  https://savingsydneystrees.good.do/ourrighttoprotest/  Do it now!

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Heritage of Alexandra, Mount, Ferdinand and Madeline Streets

By admin | Published: June 25, 2018

St Jude’s of Innisfree

(images K Presland)

Members of the Hunters Hill Historical Society and Hunters Hill Trust joined forces for the June guided walk.

We rambled through some wonderful Hunters Hill streets with interesting anecdotes provided by a wonderful cross section of locals – reminiscing about neighbourhood tennis courts, nosey telephone operators, missing mansions, stealing bread from the local baker and not being able to get near the local butcher because of her two growling dogs!

 

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5 leaders reflect

By admin | Published: June 23, 2018

panel seated L-R: David Gaunt AM, Alice Oppen OAM, Tony Coote, Ros Maguire, Brigid Dowsett (image Phil Jenkyn)

image Karen Presland

After the 2018 AGM business had been attended to on Thursday night, a panel of Trust luminaries outlined some of the issues that had characterised their time as leaders and how they addressed the threats to our built and natural heritage.  They also offered their perspectives on today’s challenges.

  • Alice Oppen OAM (President for 4 years in the 1970s and 80s)
  • Roslyn Maguire (President for 2 years in the 1980s)
  • Tony Coote (President for 9 years 2000-2017)
  • David Gaunt AM (President for 4 years in decade 2000-2010)
  • Beverley Sherry, (represented by Brigid Dowsett)

You can read Alice Oppen’s speech about the First Fifteen Years of the HHT , Beverley Sherry’s contribution: A Valuable and Enduring Trust and Phil Jenkyn’s observations about the Hunters Hill Trust’s 50th anniversary AGM.

Hunters Hill Trust office bearers

Over the  past 50 years, many good people have contributed their time, energy and expertise to protect our built and natural heritage.  Here is a list of people who have been President, Treasurer or Secretary during this time.

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Committee changes

By admin | Published: June 22, 2018

Some longstanding members of the Trust Committee, who have made huge contributions of energy, expertise and plain hard work have decided to call ‘time’ and will pass their batons to a new group:

Tony Coote who served 21 years, including 9 years as President and 1 year as Vice President

David Gaunt who served 10 years, including 4 years as President

Justin Parry-Okeden who served 3 years as Treasurer

Gully Coote who served 3 years on the Committee.

We thank them.  They all left their mark and will be sorely missed. Luckily Tony will continue to provide his expert input as HHT’s representative on Council’s Conservation Advisory Panel (30 years so far).

The new HHT Committee

So now for the good news:  Barbara Dorsch, Jenny Craigie, Maria Good and Mel Malloch were all elected to join the committee at last night’s AGM.  The 2018-19 Committee includes:

President:                Alister Sharp

Vice President:       Karen Presland

Treasurer (Acting): Maureen Flowers

Secretary:                Brigid Dowsett

Membership:          Maureen Flowers

Committee:            Jenny Craigie, Barbara Dorsch, Maria Good, Caroline Mackaness and Mel Malloch.

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Friends of Kelly’s Bush

By admin | Published: June 21, 2018

“Kelly’s Bush is a symbol of our lost land. Take away Kelly’s Bush and you take away

one more assurance that, in man, is left a possibility for the future.

The unborn Australian will ask for his birthright and be handed a piece of concrete”

Kylie Tennant, resident of Hunters Hill, author, historian and social justice advocate.

The Friends of Kelly’s Bush newsletter has been written by Liz Hinton for the Bushcare volunteers who work to regenerate the bushland at Kelly’s Bush that was saved for future generations by community action.  The new online version is by Maureen Flowers and can be read here.  

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Gladesville hospital walk

By admin | Published: May 28, 2018

Bedlam Bay community garden, Image M Flowers

Gladesville hospital, Image D Baglin

Peter Colthorpe, from Friends of Gladesville Hospital, led Hunters Hill Trust’s May walk.  He took 30 people through the site and introduced the main heritage buildings in the old asylum area, the foreshore and the cemetery.

Gladesville Hospital, originally known as Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylum, was designed by the Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis.  The site contains many buildings that are listed on the Register of the National Estate.

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Latest edition of the journal

By admin | Published: May 24, 2018

The latest edition of the Hunters Hill Trust Journal has been posted to all members.  You can also read Vol 56, No 1. May 2018 here.  It includes:

  • From the President’s desktop, Alister Sharp
  • Latest news on St Peter Chanel DA
  • New Local Planning Panels, Tony Coote
  • Save the Powerhouse
  • Fred Stamp (1926-2018)
  • Cultural heritage lottery, David Throsby
  • Mysterious George Hedgeland, Beverley Sherry
  • Battle to save Thompson Square, Windsor.
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Kelly’s bush: heritage conserved through protest

By admin | Published: May 12, 2018

Image: NSW Portraits, OEH, 2018

‘Portrait of NSW’ 2018, published by Office of Environment and Heritage NSW celebrates the 40th anniversary of the NSW Heritage Act.  It recognises what has been achieved by community protest in the conservation of heritage and cites the Battle for Kelly’s Bush as an example.

Download ‘Portraits of NSW’ here.

Kelly’s Bush is now listed as an item on the NSW Heritage Register due to its ‘high local significance as a remnant of natural bushland located on the foreshores of the Parramatta River in Hunters Hill. The site has State significance as the site of the first “Green Bans” of the 1970s when a group of local residents enlisted the assistance of unions to oppose development of the site.’ See details of the heritage listing of Kelly’s Bush here.

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