NSW Heritage additions safeguard Sydney Harbour’s natural beauty

Sydney Harbour’s natural beauty is being safeguarded for future generations following the addition of six inner harbour reserves and parks to the NSW State Heritage Register.

The addition recognises their unique cultural, environmental, and industrial histories. Nestled across the harbour, the ‘green necklace’ is a series of cultural landscapes around the headlands and water planes that connect the northern and southern shores.

The ‘green necklace’ was coined in a 2018 cultural landscape study by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW. The listing follows extensive consultation with local councils, heritage experts, and community groups.

The Green Necklace is formed by:

• Badangi Reserve, encompassing Berrys Island Reserve and Wollstonecraft Foreshore Reserve

• Ballast Point Park, an acclaimed park in Birchgrove built on a former Caltex Oil site.

• Balls Head Reserve in Waverton, a rare surviving natural headland that was dedicated as a public reserve following an environmental campaign in the 1920s and 30s.

• Berrys Bay (Carradah Park) in Waverton, the former site of a BP refinery.

• Yurulbin Park and Foreshore in Birchgrove, an early example of the successful transformation of industrial land to public use, recapturing the qualities of an Indigenous landscape. It was the site of the launch of the Australian government’s Local Government Reconciliation Program in 1994.

These landscapes represent the ever-evolving nature of land and water use on Sydney Harbour, showcasing the change from undisturbed bush to industrial use to green space preservation.

Each park and reserve has its own story that has been shaped by thousands of years of Aboriginal connection and more recent layers of industrial, artistic and community history. They reflect how people have interacted with, altered, and valued the land over time.

Listing these landscapes means their heritage value will be safeguarded into the future, in a context where Sydney’s built environment is fast growing. The listing is a shift away from traditional listings such as physical buildings and instead recognises the importance of a cultural landscapes and the environment in NSW’s rich history.

NSW Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe notes “these parklands really are the jewels in the Sydney Harbour crown and their inclusion on the State Heritage Register ensures their stories, fabric and significance are preserved for future generations.

“They are not only green spaces but living archives of Sydney’s cultural and industrial evolution,

and a reminder of the rich and enduring Aboriginal history we are surrounded by.

“I want to acknowledge the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects for starting this listing process many years ago, and congratulate them on the wonderful outcome of their work and advocacy.”

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne advised “The addition of Ballast Point and Yurulbin Park to the State Heritage Register marks the final transformation of these former industrial sites to some of the world’s most beautiful harbourside parks.

“The advocacy of many people including Tom Uren and Paul Keating is what has led to this magnificent outcome.”

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW President, David Moir added “AILA commends the Minister for her foresight in protecting these critically important landscapes. These iconic landscape elements, integral to the internationally significant Sydney Harbour setting, are foundational to the city’s identity as a global destination.

“Through visionary landscape planning and design, once-derelict industrial sites have been transformed into inclusive public spaces where communities can connect with nature in an increasingly urbanised environment.

“Their inclusion on the State Heritage Register and the commitment to their ongoing conservation reflect enduring community values and a deep respect for our shared landscape legacy.”

Images from top. Berrys Bay Precinct Carradah Park Waverton Credit: Shutterstock; Green Necklace Heritage Listings; Ballast Point view; Yurulbin Park Birchgrove Courtesy: Andy Mitchell Wikimedia Commons