Latest News: The Trust has submitted its proposal seeking approval of plans for Middle Head under the EPBC Act.
The Harbour Trust has referred the proposal for its Renewal Project for Middle Head / Gubbuh Gubbuh to the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water for a decision on whether assessment and approval is required under the EPBC Act.
The Harbour Trust proposes to demolish the three Heritage Timber Barracks and relocate the Parade Ground at Middle Head to create a pedestrian pathway, First Nations interpretation and landscaped open space for events.
HPG is of the opinion that demolition of the Barracks would have a ‘significant impact’ on the heritage of this nationally important site.
HPG wants the Trust’s Project to be declared a ‘Controlled Action’ under the EPBC Act to ensure a higher level of assessment and consultation before permission is granted for the Harbour Trust to proceed with its proposed developments.
The EPBC Act public portal is now open for your comment, but only until 5 December 2025.
HPG was formed more than 28 years ago in November 1996
Together with a coalition of other organisations, HPG ran a successful campaign to protect former Defence sites on Sydney Harbour from commercial development.
The campaign led to the creation of the finest foreshore park in the world by the return of former Defence sites on Sydney Harbour to the people of Australia. The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust was formed in 2001 by an Act of Federal Parliament. The Trust now manages these sites including Cockatoo Island, Woolwich Dock, Sub Base Platypus, Chowder Bay, Georges Heights, Middle Head, North Head and Macquarie Light Station.
HPG is, on behalf of its members and the wider community, forever vigilant in continuing to campaign to protect the heritage of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust sites for all Australians in perpetuity.
ABOVE: Headland Park incorporating Georges Heights, Middle Head and Chowder Bay is recognised as a beautiful oasis in a city of over 5 million people.
40,000+ years
Indigenous history
200+ years
Military history
28+ years
HPG campaigning
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Conserve, protect and interpret
HPG advocates for natural and cultural heritage and the prevention of inappropriate development of public lands. To facilitate these efforts and achieve these important objectives, we raise money from the community.
HPG’s focus is to save and protect public land around Sydney’s harbour foreshore from inappropriate development. The Sydney Federation Harbour Trust was tasked with rehabilitating these former Defence lands and conserving their natural and built heritage.
HPG members continue to work hard to ensure the Harbour Trust and politicians remain true to the original vision and ensure public foreshore land is protected in perpetuity “To provide a lasting legacy for the people of Australia by helping to create one of the finest foreshore parks in the world and provide places that will greatly enrich the cultural life of the city and the nation.”
In October 2013 the Headland Preservation Group was reactivated and re-formed, and successfully defeated a large commercial development for a private residential aged care complex on the Ten Terminal site on Middle Head.
Get Involved
Help us save and protect our beautiful headlands and parklands. All office bearers of the HPG are volunteers. We rely on our members and supportive community for our continued advocacy of the Harbour Trust and for financial support.
As always, HPG is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the cultural and environmental heritage of all Harbour Trust sites. Over the past 12 months, however, our focus has been particularly on matters at Middle Head.