NEW SOUTH WALES

Location: Holdsworthy Georges River, Sydney

Threat: Development for housing

In proposing to sell this first parcel of 175 hectares of Holsworthy Army Base, the Commonwealth government will be disposing of land of unique heritage value, adjacent to some of the most developed suburban areas in Sydney. The NSW National Park Service has been suggesting this land be returned to public use as a Nature Reserve for the past 30 years

Holsworthy is of national historic significance as a rare cultural/natural landscape which illustrates a suite of events central to our national history. It was the meeting place for the Tharawal and Darug people for thousands of years, and was then the site of hostilities between colonists and traditional owners during the first phase of European settlement. Some of the earliest attempts to grow food and to develop industry took place on this land, and following its resumption by the military it has been used to train Australian soldiers for every major conflict since Federation.

This cultural landscape is enhanced by the extraordinary quality of the natural landscape which is representative of the sandstone flora and fauna that once dominated the entire Sydney region. Restricted access to the site has protected rare animals such as the Quoll, Koala, and Grey kangaroo and many plant species now endangered, including a large remnant of the once abundant

Cumberland Plain Woodland.

All of Holsworthy should be retained in public ownership. Its unique cultural and natural heritage should be protected and cared for as part of the national estate available to all Australians.