North Head Sanctuary Foundation
is working with Government agencies
towards the establishment of
Car-rang-gel Sanctuary
on North Head
at the gateway of Sydney Harbour
- a flagship for Australia's
environmental resolve
and a celebration of
our natural and cultural heritage.
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Car-rang-gel Sanctuary on North Head, Sydney
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Progress
towards a Sanctuary since 2002
2002 - Forum hosted by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT) to discuss North Head as a Sanctuary
2003 - Jim Lynch commissioned to prepare a Sanctuary Concept Plan
2003 - Broad scale Plan of Management for all seven former defence sites around Sydney Harbour
2003-2005 - North Head Sanctuary Foundation conducted workshops to define values, meaning of Sanctuary, etc
2006 - Sanctuary Plan of Management is adopted by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
2006 April - Tender to prepare wildlife management plan was let to Australian Wildlife Conservancy
2006 May - National Heritage listing for the whole of North Head
2007 January 3rd - Announcement that NSW Govt handed title deeds of School of Artillery site to SHFT
2007 June - Formal opening of the former Gate House as the Visitor Centre for the Sanctuary
2007 April - Expressions of interest invited for occupation of buildings within the Sanctuary
2007 - Tender for wildlife management advertised
2008 - Preferred tenderer for wildlife management selected
2008 - Partnership Agreement between Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and North Head Sanctuary Foundation
2008 - Approval for Native Plant Nursery operated by North Head Sanctuary Foundation
2008 - Announcement of two grants to help set up the Nursery and the education program
2009 January - Education Centre begins operation
2009 April - Nursery ready for plants
2009 June - First seedlings planted out
2009 August - Official opening of Nursery
2009 November - Second bay of Nursery completed
2011 December - Official opening of the new Education Centre venue
2012 February - North Head Sanctuary recognised with new signage
2017 June - Introduction of pygmy possums and brown antechinus
2018 May - Ecological study of bushland response to fire
2018 June - Taxidermy displays introduced to Bandicoot Heaven
2019 April-May - Liaison with Indigigrow re shared interests
2019 May - 10 years of volunteering at North Head
2020 - Restoration work on 'Bandicoot Heaven' community education room
2020 October - Hazard reduction burn escape
2021 April - Planting of a new 'Lone Pine' beside Memorial Walk
2021 May - Biennial national bushfire conference North Head Field Day
2021 December - Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub upgraded to Critically Endangered
2022 February - Preparing frog habitat
2022 March - Huge rainstorm causes North Fort stone wall to collapse
2022 July/August - Nursery support for National Parks plantings in Fairfax Lookouts area
2023 February - Award-winning 'North Head Scenic Area' opened
2023 March - Signing of new Lease & Licence to operate
2023 September - Botanic Gardens Sydney and National Herbarium plant survey of Harbour trust land at North Head
2023 - Survey of echidna population 10 years on
2024 - Renewal of plant identification labels along bush tracks
2024 - Farewell to Australian Wildlife Conservancy: Welcome to Anderson Environment & Planning
2025 January-February - A new bushland ‘restoration’ project
2002
- Forum
In July 2002, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust together with the National
Parks and Wildlife Service organised a forum on North Head in the Artillery
School buildings at which various participants presented the possibilities
for the area to become an ecological sanctuary. The ways in which the
community could participate were discussed.
The importance of
integrated management of the whole of North Head, so as to protect and
conserve this amazing place, with its natural,
Aboriginal, built and cultural values, has long been recognised
by those with an interest in North Head.
Much
of its significance comes from the relative isolation derived from its
uses, both before and since European settlement - a place of peace and
tranquility, a place of refuge. As the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
has identified in its Draft Plan and subsequent work, North Head's relative
peace and solitude, to be found on the doorstep of our largest city, are
another important aspect of its 'sanctuary' value. North Head should,
as the Trust proposes become "a retreat, place of contemplation and reflection".
Pressure
for integrated management of North Head took a step closer to formalisation
when the North Head Advisory Committee was set up under Section 22 of
the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act in 1995.
In an
August 1997 address on the State Government's vision for Sydney Harbour
Foreshores, NSW Premier Bob Carr identified Sydney Harbour as "one of
the most notable and renowned natural urban features in the World". In
that same address, Premier Carr set down some important principles for
the hand-back of Commonwealth land to the State - principles which he
said were to "ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of
the people of New South Wales."
In recent
years local voices in support of integrated conservation management across
North Head have strengthened, until in July 2002, the Sydney Harbour Federation
Trust (SHFT), in conjunction with the National Parks & Wildlife Service
(NPWS) hosted the North Head Sanctuary forum. While the SHFT is currently
responsible for planning for the School of Artillery site, the State Government
controls most of the land on North Head.
A group
of people from community, scientific, educational and other interests
came together at that conference to champion the need for a North Head
Sanctuary. From that group came the North Head Sanctuary Foundation -
now incorporated as a not-for-profit community-based organisation that
has obtained tax-deductible status and a place in the planning and management
of a North Head Sanctuary.
2003
Sanctuary Concept Plan
In 2003 the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT) commissioned New Zealander
Jim Lynch (the champion and driving force of the Karori Sanctuary in Wellington)
to prepare a draft Concept Plan. In January 2004, Andrew Woodmansey was
appointed by SHFT to manage the North Head project and has added more
detail to the draft Concept Plan.
The North
Head Sanctuary Foundation had a place at the planning table, together
with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, the National Parks & Wildlife
Service (subsequently renamed as Dept of Environment and Climate Change
- DECC) and Aboriginal interests.
2003
Plan of Management for seven former defence sites
The Sydney Harbour
Federation Trust prepared a draft plan for management of all seven former
defence sites in Sydney Harbour. This draft plan, which included an outline
of a plan for a sanctuary on North Head, was available for public comment
towards the end of 2002 and was adopted by the Federal Government by the
end of 2003.
By July,
2004 SHFT had appointed a Scientific Committee to assist with biodiversity
management planning and was recruiting a Natural Resource Manager for
North Head's former School of Artillery site.
2003
- 2005 Planning processes
North
Head Sanctuary Foundation, through its subcommittees, organised a series
of workshops to define what the community meant by the word "Sanctuary"
and to produce vision statements for aspects of the proposed sanctuary
- Aboriginal heritage, Built
Heritage, Natural Heritage.
A further workshop produced a statement outlining criteria
for uses for buildings and spaces on North Head that would be
compatible with being part of a Sanctuary.
2006
Plan of Management for Sanctuary is adopted
The Concept Plan prepared by Jim Lynch was modified by Andrew Woodmansey
and, during 2005, was used as a basis for the preparation of a Plan of
Management for the School of Artillery site.
During 2005, Sally
Hamilton was appointed by SHFT to manage North Head projects. These included
bush regeneration, invertebrate survey, bird survey, bandicoot monitoring
and rabbit control. NHSF members voluntarily assisted with some of these
projects. In addition there were maintenance works and upgrades of buildings
including the preparation of a Visitor's Centre.
Early in 2006, the
Plan of Management for the School of Artillery site was ready for public
comment. Via a workshop and subsequent collation of contributions, NHSF
made a submission to this process. That Plan was eventually adopted by
the board of SHFT as the official Plan of Management.
2006
- Plan for natural environment management
In April 2006, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (who manage 14 Wildlife
Sanctuaries in Australia) was the successful tenderer for the task of
preparing a management plan for the natural environment of the School
of Artillery Site.
2006
Heritage Listing
On May 12th, 2006, The Hon Tony Abbott formally announced that the whole
of North Head has been added to the National Heritage List. The listing was triggered by a nomination prepared by NHSF, and provides
another layer of protection for the area, including requiring that any
new development at any of the sites on North Head cannot proceed without
approval from the Federal Minister for the Environment. This may influence
what is permissible at the Quarantine Station, North Fort and the Police
College.
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust commissioned a Conservation Management
Plan for the built heritage of the School of Artillery Site.

North Head Sanctuary
Foundation celebrates the Heritage Listing of North Head in May, 2006
The Hon Tony Abbott,
Federal MP for Warringah, said while announcing the National Heritage
listing of North Head on 12 May 2006 that this Listing is especially
important and timely given the State Government's refusal to agree to
the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust's plan to protect former defence
lands on North Head.
Federal-State
impasse over the future of the Sanctuary
The Trust had proposed
to spend $20 million restoring heritage buildings and establishing an
ecological sanctuary subject only to the State Government providing
title over the School of Artillery site to the Trust while the work
was being completed.
This information
backs up a previous media report in the Sunday Telegraph on 8th January
2006 that suggested the Federal Government might axe its $20 million
plan for North Head if it cannot get a green light from the State Government
for the rehabilitation and refurbishment of the site proposed by Sydney
Harbour Federation Trust.
2007
Resolution and action
Eventually
the disagreements between State and Commonweath were resolved. On 3 January
2007, Hon Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, announced that the former School of Artillery
site had been transferred from NSW State Government to Commonwealth control
in a joint announcement with NSW environment Minister Bob Debus and the
Hon Tony Abbott MP for Warringah.
The Hon Greg Hunt stated that the 72 hectare site will be managed by the
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust who will create a wildlife sanctuary on
North Head, the adaptive reuse of the Military buildings on this site
will complement the sanctuary, the public will be able to access the site
and the Indigenous heritage of the site will be preserved.
Click
here to read the Media Release issued by North Head Sanctuary
Foundation on 3rd January, 2007.
2007
Opening of Visitor Center
The Sydney Harbour
Federation Trust was able to conduct a formal opening of the North
Head Sanctuary on 1st June, 2007.
John Moriarty
gave an Aboriginal Acknowledgment of Ancestors. The Hon Tony Abbott,
MP, and Geoff Bailey (CEO of SHFT) gave speeches.
The North Head
Sanctuary is now open 10am to 4.00pm daily. There are volunteers
in the visitor's centre to give information about the Sanctuary
and there are walking tracks to explore.
You can download
a guide from www.harbourtrust.gov.au.
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Geoff Bailey,
John Moriarty and The Hon Tony Abbott, MP making speeches
at the opening of the Visitor Centre for the Sanctuary on 1st June,
2007.
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2007
Leasing process begins
In April 2007 the
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust called for Proposals for leasing the Former
School of Artillery, North Head. The proposals have to be compatible with
the Sanctuary. and community groups were encouraged to apply to occupy
spaces it their use was compatible with the Sanctuary.
North Head Sanctuary
Foundation applied for lease space under Community Users guidelines.
Our focus is on a range of community-oriented actives
- North Head environmental and heritage study centre
- Community based indigenous plant nursery
- A Sanctuary outreach progam.
The closing date was
8 June 2007 and as of July 27th 2008, we have not been formally advised
whether our application is being viewed favourably. We believe that the
Nursery is being considered separately from the total application for
space.
The Australian Institute
of Police Management (AIPM) has leased some buildings in the former School
of Artillery (now the Sanctuary) while the AIPM site in Collins Beach
Road at Spring Cove is being considered for redevelopment. The site was
originally part of the Quarantine Station. The AIPM now wish to redevelop
the site by "replacement of residential blocks, so that the number of
beds can be increased from 30 to 60, and administrative and academic office
accommodation from 35 to 45 employers."
However this development
puts at risk the Little Penguins, an Endangered Population, which use
the Harbour foreshore cliffs as home. About 18 pairs of the colony of
Little Penguins have their nests within metres of the proposed development.
The site is also used by Long-nosed Bandicoots for foraging.
2007
Tender for wildlife management
The Wildlife Management Plan prepared by Australian Wildlife Conservancy
was adopted by the Trust and suitably qualified organisations invited
to tender for management of Natural Heritage. In 2008 Australian Wildlife Conservancy was selected as the successful tenderer.
2008
Successful Wildlife Management tenderer selected
As of July 27th, 2008, the news is that the successful tenderer has been
selected but not yet announced.
2008
Partnership Agreement
We were delighted to report that a Partnership Agreement has been organised
between Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and North Head Sanctuary Foundation.
Shed and former
truck washing bays approved for use as Native Plant Nursery. The area was adapted for use in propagating North Head flora species
for use in bush regeneration areas within the Sanctuary and nearby.
The front section was for a community education centre featuring
information about Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub. During December,
volunteers helped to prepare for construction of the Nursery.
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2008
Nursery approved
North Head Sanctuary Foundation applied to use the truck washing
bays and adjacent shed for a community
nursery propagating North Head flora species for use in
bush regeneration areas within the Sanctuary and in nearby places
on North Head.
The front section
of the shed is for a community education centre featuring information
about Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub. During December, volunteers
helped to prepare for construction of the nursery.
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Nursery construction
Click here to see more about
the Nursery |
2008
North Head Sanctuary Foundation receives two grants
One
grant is from the Threatened Species Network and the other is from
Coastcare. These grants will help fund the construction of the Nursery,
the purchase of necessary equipment, the setup of the Education
Centre, the formation of a plant database, the production of educational
materials and the operation of workshops.
2009
January - Education area ready for visitors
Volunteers cleaned and painted the floor of the education area and
set up the furniture and initial displays. The education area was
ready for visitors and volunteers began staffing the centre in the
weekends. Volunteers sanded and painted the wooden sections for
the construction of the Nursery.
2009
April - Nursery ready for plants
The
first Nursery Bay was completed, benches installed and seeds planted.
2009
June - First seedlings planted out
The first seedlings from the Nursery were planted in the grounds
of the former School of Artillery in consultation with staff of
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
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Nursery Education
Centre
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2009
August - Official opening of Nursery
An
official function was held to celebrate the opening of the Nursery.
The local Member of Parliament, the mayors of four local councils
and senior staff of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust attended.
2009
November - Second Bay of Nursery completed
Volunteers
helped to complete the second bay of the Nursery. The second bay
is designed to be a "hardening up" area for seedlings
before they are ready to be planted out. During the year more than
12 benches were built by volunteers to support the trays of plants.
Planting out continued as seedlings matured.
2011 December -
official opening of the new Education Centre venue
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust gave permission during 2011 for
North Head Sanctuary Foundation to move the Education Centre from
Building 21 to Building 20. This is a much larger area and is
right on North Fort Rd so more people notice it as they are walking
past.
2012 February - North Head
Sanctuary recognised with new signage
New signage was erected near the archway across the road from Manly
Hospital - this signage advertises the various uses of North Head
and gives a prominent place to "North Head Sanctuary".
2017 June -
Another re-introduction of species formerly known to be on North Head
There have been several successful re-introductions of species, such as bush rats and
pygmy possums
, to North Head since the Sanctuary has been established.
Click here to read about the re-introduction of the brown antechinus.
2018 May -
Ecological study of bushland response to fire
Working with staff from Fire &Rescue NSW, the Harbour Trust's Peter Jensen, and fire ecologist Dr Kate Hamill, NHSF
volunteers documented the responses of plant species across quadrats burnt at differing intensities during a planned
Hazard reduction burn.
2018 June - Taxidermy displays introduced to Bandicoot Heaven
With assistance from Northern Beaches Stop Roadkill and former Australian Museum taxidermist George Hangay, a
Powerful Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, juvenile Brushtail and Ringtail Possums and a slightly scrawny Long-nosed Bandicoot
were added to Bandicoot Heaven’s displays.
2019 April - Liaison with Indigigrow re shared interests
As part of recognition of NHSF’s achievements during the first decade of Nursery and Community education activities,
information and visits were exchanged with the LaPerouse-based Aboriginal plant Nursery, Indigrow.
2019 May - 10 years of volunteering at North Head
As part of our agreement with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, we regularly record our volunteer effort, both in the
native plant Nursery and in Bandicoot Heaven & community outreach, as well as in our opportunistic ‘citizen science’
projects. Taking 2018-2019 as a fairly typical year since our agreement with the Harbour Trust was established, our
Nursery volunteers contributed 3144 hours of plant propagation, planted 2260 plants of 63 different species and
maintained these across numerous sites agreed with the Harbour Trust. Community education volunteers interacted
with 5128 visitors, and our volunteers also conducted approximately 150 hours of citizen science research.
2020 - Restoration work on ‘Bandicoot Heaven community education room
COVID resulted in a shut-down of all activities except critical maintenance of Nursery plants. This provided an
opportunity to refresh and do minor restoration work and repainting of Bandicoot Heaven community education room,
taking care to respect the significance of the building as part of North Head’s built/cultural heritage.
2020 October - Hazard reduction burn escape
A planned Hazard Reduction burn near Sydney Water’s Sewerage Treatment Plant escaped despite extensive
preparation. It burnt approximately 62ha. Australian Wildlife Conservancy did outstanding short-term recovery work
following this fire.
2021 April - Planting of a new ‘Lone Pine’ beside Memorial Walk
Nursery volunteers participated in the planting of a Lone Pine which they had cared for fir the Royal Australian Artillery
History Company, as a replacement for a Lone Pine lost during the escaped fire.
2021 May - Biennial national bushfire conference North Head Field Day
NHSF volunteers assisted with planning for and conduct of the field day as part of the NSW Nature Conservation
Council’s biennial bushfire conference.
2021 December - Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub upgraded to Critically
Endangered
After an extensive review process the New South Wales Scientific Committee upgraded the status of Eastern Suburbs
Banksia Scrub from Endangered to Critically Endangered.
2022 February - Preparing frog habitat
In February Nursery volunteers began putting rocks and logs in place to improve the habitat for frogs in a ‘soak’ area off
the end of Bluefish Drive. Heavy rainfall followed quickly and frogs were soon living in this new ‘Frog Habitat’
2022 March - Huge rainstorm causes North Fort stone wall to collapse
A torrential rain event on 9 March (in which more than 130mm fell in one hour) caused lots of damage, including that
caused by a wall of water that rushed down the track from near the Third Cemetery. It crashed into the sandstone wall
near the Harbour Trust’s Visitor Centre, then continued on past Bella Vista café, laden with rocks and debris. Over time,
heritage contractors to the Harbour Trust did a good job of restoring the wall.
2022 July/August - Nursery support for National Parks plantings in Fairfax
Lookouts area
Nursery volunteers diligently propagated and cared for substantial numbers of seedlings of several local species to
assist NPWS in restoring the work areas below the North Head car parks and on the way to Fairfax lookouts. In all,
around 1,000 seedlings were provided for planting out in this area.
2023 February - Award-winning ‘North Head Scenic Area’ opened
After a long process of design, planning and construction new sandstone lookouts and surrounding walking tracks at
North Head were opened by then State Environment Minister and Manly MP James Griffin. It is pleasing for NHSF
volunteers to know they played a part in the restoration of the area by providing appropriate local plants for the area.
2023 March - Signing of new Lease & Licence to operate
After almost three years of intermittent dialogue, NHSF was pleased to sign with the Harbour Trust both a 3-year lease
and a licence to operate our native plant Nursery, Community Education and occasional Citizen Science projects. While
much more detailed than the original Memorandum of Understanding, the agreement enables continuation of our
conservation activities on North Head, with leasing costs offset by the volunteer hours we work.
2023 September - Botanic Gardens Sydney and National Herbarium plant
survey of Harbour trust land at North Head
After considerable background research, preparation, and a familiarisation visit, a team of botanists and other
professional staff from the Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium spent an intense day of field surveying and
specimen collection to document the plant-life on the Harbour Trust’s North Head site. A small number of long-time
NHSF members were fortunate enough to be invited to guide and assist the visiting team in this endeavour, which
greatly enhanced knowledge of the plant life on the site.
2023 - Survey of echidna population 10 years on
A repeat of the citizen science survey of echidnas living on North head in 2013-14, suggests an increase in the
population of these spiky little monotremes, from an estimated 18 adults in 2013-14 to 34 in 2022-23.
2024 - Renewal of plant identification labels along bush tracks
After more than five years in place, it was time to replace damaged and fading name tags on 40 of the Eastern Suburbs
Banksia Scrub species that are found on track edges across the Harbour Trust site. Each sign includes a QR code
which takes the visitor to an information page on our website about that species.
2024 - Farewell to Australian Wildlife Conservancy: Welcome to Anderson
Environment & Planning
After many years of collaboration, we were sad to farewell Australian Wildlife Conservancy from North Head as a result
of changes to the Harbour Trust’s leasing arrangements, which saw the environmental management role put out to
tender. The contract was taken up by Anderson Environment & Planning.
2025 January/February - a new bushland ‘restoration’ project
Nursery volunteers are in the early stages of planning a new restoration planting project for the degraded bushland area
opposite houses along St Barbaras Avenue.
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Mike Baird,MP, at the opening of Building 20

Pygmy possum
Pygmy possums and brown antechinus
were re-introduced to North Head in June 2017
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North
Head Sanctuary Foundation, P.O.Box 506, Balgowlah, NSW 2093
Email:
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This page was coded for the North Head Sanctuary Foundation
by Judith Bennett.
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and Disclaimer
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