Historic Harbour Site Slated For Housing
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday June 4, 2001
One of Sydney Harbour's most historic sites is likely to be sold for luxury housing development, under plans being prepared by the Defence Housing Authority.
However, heritage groups have warned ``there would be a major public reaction" to any commercial development on the former Marine Biological Research Station at Watsons Bay.
One of Sydney Harbour's most historic sites is likely to be sold for luxury housing development, under plans being prepared by the Defence Housing Authority.
The research station, established by public subscription in the 1880s, was the first in the Southern Hemisphere.
In recent years, it has been used for Defence housing, although it is listed on the Register of the National Estate.
Dr Brendan Nelson, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Defence, says the Defence Housing Authority is ``the owner" of the property and is now ``considering options for its sale".
In a letter to Mr Poland, Dr Nelson said the authority was ``very much aware of the heritage value of the property" and it would be sold only ``in compliance with the relevant legislation".
However, his May 22 letter is in direct conflict with a commitment made by Bronwyn Bishop as Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel in 1995, who said it was ``desirable to preserve [the station] for public purposes. The Defence Housing Authority ... has informed me that it will very shortly open discussions with the NSW Government to explore a mutually acceptable basis for transfer of the station to State ownership."
Nearby sites, including Green Point, Gap Bluff and the Inner South Head Hornby Lighthouse had long since been made harbourside national park. The research station and its land could also be added to create an extended Sydney Harbour national park.
The Herald understands the Federal Government's Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, which now controls former Defence sites at North and Middle Head, Woolwich, Cockatoo Dock and the Macquarie Lighthouse at South Head, has had informal discussions about adding the station to its portfolio a possibility also supported by the Australian Heritage Commission.
According to Mr Michael Rolfe, president of the Vaucluse Progress Association, developed sites nearby have sold for around $7 million.
A previous suggestion by Defence for a townhouse subdivision, ``even allowing for the heritage protection of the station building itself, would obviously realise a very high sum", given the superior location of the site.
In reality, he said, ``the site belongs to the NSW public by virtue of the public subscriptions" towards its establishment.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald
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