Saving the headland in the Harbour

Mosman
Middle Head is a remarkable natural and cultural landscape in the heart of Sydney harbour.

Title Image: Headland Preservation Group

Somewhat protected from development through 200 years of exclusive military use, this exquisite piece of Australia’s heritage was threatened by development just 25 years ago, and it took an inspired campaign to save it.

In 1996, a large area of former Department of Defence lands in the heart of Sydney harbour were proposed to be sold off for development, and the Headland Preservation Group (HPG) was formed by the community to oppose the sell-off plans, instead with the vision for a “harbour trust” to look after the headlands for their natural and cultural values in perpetuity.

The campaign mobilised public opinion, generating the support of the NSW Premier Bob Carr, Jack Mundey who led the Green Bans, and eventually, then Prime Minister, John Howard:

“…probably the world’s greatest harbour. It is one of the great natural beauty spots of our nation.”

This led to the establishment of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust in 2001, to protect these extraordinary sites on the harbour “for everyone, forever”.

The remarkable campaign to save middle head and surrounds from being sold off for development

Just as with democracy, the preservation of nature is one that requires eternal vigilance. Just 12 years after the founding of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, the Trust in 2013, just before Christmas, announced a development application for a large commercial residential aged care complex on the site of middle head. The Headland Preservation Group again had to spring into action to ensure the proposal was dropped and to protect the headland.

The HPG to this day continues to remain ever vigilant to the cause of protecting these precious headlands and historical assets that are part of the natural and cultural heritage of all of us: Headland Preservation Group

Headland Heritage

Some of the rich natural heritage of the headlands of the Mosman Peninsula

Walks

Middle Head Forts Loop Walk

30 mins return

800m return

Powerful Owl

The Powerful Owl is the largest of Australia's owls, frequenting the moist forests of Australia's east. A large owl with a small head, brown and white barred colouring, and distinctive yellow eyes.

Read more

Mosman Wildlife

Dozens of species of native animals frequent the remnant moist gullies and bushland of the Mosman peninsula, from the Eastern Water Dragon to Peron's Tree Frog and the endangered Powerful Owl

Read more
Walks

Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay

2 hours return

4km each way one way


Phill Pullinger
Phill Pullinger
Phill is a GP, conservationist, author of Tarkine Trails, and co-founder of Kuno. Phill has broad...


Share

You might like...

Adventure Bay, view down beach

A National Park for Bruny Island

Bruny Island hosts an exquisite microcosm of the natural beauty of Tasmania. An inspiring long term vision for Bruny is to consolidate unprotected forests and existing reserves into a magnificent Bruny Island National Park

Read more
David clode se M6i8g J7d0 unsplash

Growing up wild and healthy

For Friends of North Bruny Chair Simon Allston, his love of nature blossomed in his late teens, when his family moved to the bush and he was introduced to healthy eating and organic gardening. He has grown his own food ever since.

Read more
Banks Peninsula from the Summit Rd Helen Cushing

Around Christchurch ~ Cycle from Sea to Summit

Writer Helen Cushing recounts a wonderful day's cycling over the hills near Christchurch in New Zealand with views across to Lyttleton Harbour and the Banks Peninsula

Read more
Edith Shum turtle fieldwork 2 small

Sea turtle spark

I had an experience where I was volunteering with sea turtles in Costa Rica, writes ecologist and University of Tasmania PhD student Edith Shum. It was my first trip abroad and that kind of made me. It was the first time I was really out in nature on my own, and made me realise how small I was. It sparked a lot.

Read more

Newsletter

Sign up to keep in touch with articles, updates, events or news from Kuno, your platform for nature