About us

opposING Department of Defence sites sell-off plans

The Headland Preservation Group (HPG) was originally established in 1996 by the community in response to the proposed sale and development of former Department of Defence sites in Mosman on Sydney Harbour, including Middle Head, Georges Heights and Chowder Bay. At the same time, other groups formed to oppose sell-off plans of other Defence sites at Cockatoo Island and Woolwich Dock.

In the late 1990s, HPG publicised the irreversible threat of sell-off of this priceless public land. 

At the time, the Member for Warringah, the Hon. Tony Abbott, took a personal interest in the campaign. Linda Bergin OAM, the late Don Goodsir OAM and the late Dr Peter Jones AM led HPG. Their concerted community campaign generated widespread publicity and support nationally.

HPG developed the vision and model for a ‘harbour trust’ modelled on the Presidio Trust of San Francisco.

NSW Premier Bob Carr and other environmental luminaries such as Tom Uren, Minister for Urban and Regional Development in the Whitlam Government, who established the Australian Heritage Commission and Jack Mundey, who led the Green Bans which saved the Rocks, added their political weight to the campaign.

Finally, the former Prime Minister, John Howard, in September 1998, announced the future of priceless public land on Sydney Harbour by establishing an Interim Sydney Harbour Federation Trust:

“…probably the world’s greatest harbour. It is one of the great natural beauty spots of our nation. It is the cradle of European settlement in Australia and it is one of those parts of our country which gives immense pride and immense pleasure, not only to the residents of Sydney, but also to all Australians because it wins such wide acclaim around the world.”

“…[the establishment of the Trust] will prevent any ad-hoc treatment of the return of the land to the people and it will ensure that there is maximum weight given to the desire of all Australians that the maximum advantage be derived in open space and recreational purposes in relation to the land.”

Linda Bergin, other members of the Headland Preservation Group and supporters of like-minded community organisations, including Phil Jenkyn OAM and the Defenders of Sydney Harbour, affected Councils, and the Australian Democrats political party, particularly Senator Andrew Bartlett, were directly involved in drafting The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act legislated by the Australian Government in 2001.

READ THE ACT HERE →

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust was formed in 2001 by an Act of Federal Parliament to manage the former Defence sites following HPG's successful campaign to protect them "for everyone, forever".

The lands included North Head, Middle Head/Georges Heights/Chowder Bay, Woolwich Dock, Cockatoo Island, Snapper Island, the former Marine Biological Station at Watson's Bay and the Macquarie Lightstation at Vaucluse.

SAVING MIDDLE HEAD FROM INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT

Some 17 years after HPG’s founding, on 31 October 2013, at the busiest time of the year in the lead-up to Christmas, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust announced they had received a development application (DA) from a private company for a private residential aged care complex on the Ten Terminal site, Middle Head. The proposal required amendments to the Trust’s Middle Head Management Plan to accommodate this DA. 

In November 2013 community members launched the Save Middle Head Campaign. From November 2013 to November 2015, when the Harbour Trust withdrew its development approval, Linda Bergin sought assistance from people in the community, including former members of the Headland Preservation Group, to oppose the proposed development of the Ten Terminal site. 

The Headland Preservation Group was officially reactivated on Sunday 5 January 2014, by Linda Bergin, Peter Jones, Julie Goodsir and other members of the community supporting the Save Middle Head campaign. "Reactivating HPG allows us to think and plan beyond the Save Middle Head campaign," Linda Bergin said. "The Harbour Trust is also responsible for North Head, Manly and the Platypus site on Neutral Bay. These sites might also be threatened with private residential development in the way Middle Head now is."

Helping to retain the Harbour Trust in perpetuity

The Harbour Trust and the Act of Parliament under which it operated had a limited life at the outset. The Trust was initially responsible for managing the former Defence sites for 10 years, later extended to 30 years.

In late 2019, the Government announced it would undertake an Independent Review of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, and subsequent amendments would be made to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 based on the reviewers' recommendations.

While the intention had been signalled earlier in the year, the period between the announcement and the December 21 deadline for submissions occurred at the busiest time of the year, leading into Christmas.

As the outcome of this review was critical to the preservation of the lands under the management of the Trust, HPG, under the leadership of President Jill L'Estrange galvanised widespread community support and that of other community organisations. Through this effort and persistent advocacy, HPG ensured the public voice was properly heard. HPG's key position was to retain the Harbour Trust in perpetuity and a cap on commercial leases, so there would be no alienation of public land.

During the drafting of the Amendment Bill, HPG kept the pressure on through productive dialogue with the Government, the Opposition and other Members of both Houses. Jill L'Estrange and HPG were gratified to receive acknowledgement by many of these politicians during the debate of the Bill. When the Bill passed into law, it ensured the Harbour Trust would manage the lands in perpetuity and that there would be no long leases.

HPG’s ongoing advocacy

Over the years, HPG has worked constantly behind the scenes to make politicians stay true to the cause of protecting our precious headlands and historical assets and keep the Trust true to the Objects of the Act. HPG's vigilance means that the community can challenge small incursions appropriately, for example, the use of synthetic turf on Middle Head Oval and Georges Heights Oval, the installation of lights at the Drill Hall netball courts, and the Trust's leasing policy.

HPG continues to support the Harbour Trust in its endeavours and advocates for much-needed funding to rehabilitate and adaptively reuse the 10 Terminal precinct on Middle Head. Since 2014, HPG has made numerous submissions regarding the reactivation of 10 Terminal, including a world-class Interpretation and Visitors Centre as an integral feature.

More recently, in 2023, HPG has been working to protect Middle Head's heritage following the Harbour Trust's release of a draft Master Plan for the whole Middle Head Precinct. While there are 'actions' in the Draft Master Plan that HPG does support, there are many that it does not. HPG seeks to have the Draft Master Plan withdrawn and instead supports progressing with a Concept Plan for 10 Terminal and Parklands

HPG Committee

President: Jill L'Estrange
Vice President: Julie Goodsir
Deputy Vice President: Bruce Rolph
Secretary: Barbara Sullivan
Treasurer: Nathan McCullum
Communications: Marta Sengers
Ordinary Members: Peter Barnes, Tony McCormick, Lisa Paulsen, Alan Toner