AGY-5004 | Ashton Park Trust

Full description

On 30 December 1908 an area of land of 142 acres 2 roods was resumed at Bradley's Head under the Public Works Act 1900. The land was initially vested in the Minister for Lands as Constructing Authority and as Trustee. The land was then declared to be a public park under the Public Parks Act 1902 to be known as "Ashton Park". (1) The area had previously included a Military Reserve, hotel and the Athol Gardens pleasure ground which were incorporated into Ashton Park so that the public could view the arrival of the American Naval Fleet known as the Great White Fleet. (2) The Ashton Park Trust acted to administer the area of land bounded by Taronga Park and Athol Bay to the west, Bradley's Head to the south and Taylor's Bay to the east. The Trust was comprised of citizens and aldermen representing Mosman Municipal Council. The Park was managed to remain as an area of natural bushland set aside for passive recreation. (3) On 22 April 1912 the dedication of an area of about 9 acres which had been part of Ashton Park was revoked. (4) On 24 April 1912 two areas comprising 43 acres of land which were part of the Ashton Park were granted as a site for Zoological Gardens. The dedication of two further acres of Ashton Park was revoked on 4 August 1915. Another nine acres were granted in April 1916 to the New Zoological Gardens Trust which later became the Taronga Zoological Park Trust. (5) In September 1916 further land at Bradley's Head was dedicated for public recreation. (6) The dedication of further land formerly part of Ashton Park was revoked on 29 November 1918 for additions to the Zoological Gardens. (7) Negotiations began in March 1969 for Ashton Park to become part of Sydney Harbour National Park which was to be created from various areas of bushland administered by Trusts. The new Sydney Harbour National Park was to be administered by National Parks and Wildlife Service. On 4 April 1975 the area of 35.860 hectares known as Ashton Park became part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. (8) Reference:
National Parks and Wildlife Service, Annual Reports, 1973-2003.
NSW Statutes, 1970-1990. Endnotes:
(1) NSW Government Gazette (No.150), 30 December 1908, pp.7112-7113.
(2) Craig Burton, 'Wharf Area Amphitheatre, Bradley's Head, Sydney NSW' (extract from Craig Burton, 'Nature as Culture: Sydney Harbour and Water as Place', Landscape Australia, 4-2000, pp.302-307) included on The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects web site http://www.aila.org.au/PROJECTS/NSW/bradleyshead/article.htm (accessed 24 August 2007).
(3) NRS 10693, Minutes books, Jan 1964-Feb 1975 [12/1608.1-.2].
(4) NSW Government Gazette (No.70), 22 April 1914, pp.2453.
(5) NSW Government Gazette (No.58), 24 April 1912, pp.2535-2536; Ibid., (No.141), p.4543; Taronga and Western Plains Zoo web site http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/content/view.asp?id=54 (accessed 24 August 2007).
(6) NSW Government Gazette (No.159), 15 September 1916, p.5584.
(7) NSW Government Gazette (No.151), 29 November 1918, pp.6122-6123.
(8) NSW Government Gazette (No.52), 4 April 1975, pp.1309-1310.