Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Sites

Harbour Trust: The Sites

Former School of Artillery, North Head: Projects and Activities

The following list in an summary of current and completed projects and activities at the School of Artillery. The list is not exhaustive.

List of Current and Completed Projects and Activities	Read Details
Filming: Blue Water High (ABC-TV) ABC-TV leased several buildings for filming of a new series	Click here
Sanctuary Manager Appointment Project Manager appointed for the Environmental Sanctuary	Click here
Building Rehabilitation Works Project Manager appointed for the Environmental Sanctuary	Click here
Advertisements Filmed on site A number of television commercials have use the former School	Click here
Managing the Fire Risk Projects to minimise bushfire risk completed	Click here
On-going Environmental Management Projects that conserve the natural environment	Click here
Sanctuary Forum Successful forum draws 900 delegates to North Head	Click here

Projects and Activities

Blue Water High filmed in grounds of former School

ABC-TV and Southern Star Productions have completed filming of the first series of a new children's drama show - Blue Water High - which was co-located at the former School of Artillery.

Filming began in 2005 and finished around April 2005.

For more information about Blue Water High, click here to go to the website.

Sanctuary project manager appointed

Andrew Woodmansey has started with the Harbour Trust as Project Manager for the North Head Sanctuary. Andrew will work with all the stakeholders to finalise the detailed concept for a sanctuary.

Once the concept is agreed, Andrew’s challenge will be to turn this into a reality by creating conservation, business and operational plans, and establishing a timetable leading up to opening.

A Scientific Committee has been establshed to advise on the project. The panel has been drawn from academia and industry to provide valuable input and advice on the information and education centre, walking track and visitor lookout.

Building Rehabilitation Works

Work on the roof of Sergeants Mess

Works have been finished on the former Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess and former Roden Cutler Club to enable these buildings to be reused.

The focus was on roof and gutter repairs, joinery repairs, upgrading of bathrooms and commercial kitchens, disabled access, and on electrical work to enable installation of the smoke and fire alarms and exit signage.

External and internal painting of the Officers Mess has also been completed.

Wizard Home Loans Advertisement filmed

A number of advertisers and production companies have used the site and facilities of the School of Artillery during 2004.

Wizard Home Loans filmed a commercial which prominently featured the expansive parade ground and commando course.

Managing the risk of fire

A considerable amount of work was carried out in 2004 to protect the School of Artillery from the risk of fire.

An asset protection zone has been reinstated around the third quarantine cemetery and overgrown roads and trails around buildings and the perimeter of the site are now cleared. This will allow emergency vehicles easy access to the site in case of fire.

Environmental Management Programs

Bush Fire Management on North Head

The Harbour Trust is carrying out bushfire mitigation activities at North Head, involving maintaining existing asset protection zones (ie. fire breaks) and fuel free areas. In the longer term a formal Bush Fire Management Plan will be prepared and implemented, incorporating biodiversity conservation objectives and the specific requirements of endangered species and threatened populations such as the long-nosed bandicoot.

Rabbit and Fox Control

Feral pests such as rabbits and foxes are a problem at North Head and Middle Head-Georges Heights. Rabbits cause damage to the landscape and can modify vegetation types, affecting biodiversity. Foxes, while less numerous, can severely affect other animals, such as endangered populations of the long-nosed bandicoot at North Head.

The Harbour Trust is working with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in fox baiting and a range of programs to discourage rabbit proliferation on the sites.

Long-nosed Bandicoot

The Harbour Trust has an ongoing program with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to monitor the long nosed bandicoot population at North Head.

Agreement on a Sanctuary for North Head

Together with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Harbour Trust held a forum in July 2002 on the potential for North Head to be declared a sanctuary for its wildlife, habitats and plant communities.

Nine hundred delegates attended and there was overall support for a sanctuary at North Head. At the end of the forum a draft vision statement was prepared which called for a sanctuary that would be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

Active members of the local community formed the North Head Sanctuary Foundation.

The Harbour Trust, NPWS, the Sanctuary Foundation and the founder of Karori Sanctuary in New Zealand, Jim Lynch, have developed a concept plan for the creation and operation of the sanctuary.

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