Some councillors and community members are calling for preservation works on the Shepherd’s Hill Observation Post, a military relic of Newcastle’s past.
During a council meeting on Tuesday March 23, Councillor John Church and Councillor John Mackenzie put a notice of motion forward that requested the urgent restoration of the Shepherd’s Hill Observation Post, and to repurpose the site to benefit the wider public.
“The Shepherd’s Hill Observation Post delivers one of the best viewing spots in Newcastle, but it is in desperate need of some repairs and preservation,” Cr Church said.
“As it is located in a prominent and highly visible location, its ongoing degradation is rapidly becoming a neglected eyesore.”
He said the historic building was positioned on an environmentally exposed and corrosive site, which meant steelwork had rusted and there was evidence of concrete cancer.
“I want to bring forward an idea that we should get some advice from heritage architects and expert engineers to preserve the site and prevent any further deterioration,” Cr Church said.
“Afterwards, we would form a working party full of experts and local knowledge to determine what can be done to make it accessible and to repurpose it.
“It’s been locked away, unavailable for public use for too long.”
Cr Church said a working party inclusive of local historians, heritage architects, engineers, councillors and community representatives would oversee the complex’s engineering and feasibility study.
He said this would assess the available options and suitability for future repurposing, including safe public access and funding options.
In July 2010, the site was listed as a heritage item of state significance under the NSW Heritage Act 1977 and listed on the State Heritage Register.
Cr Church noted that due to the site’s role in WWII and its subsequent State Heritage listing the council had responsibility as its Trustee for Weatherproofing, Fire Protection, Security and Essential Maintenance.
Friends of King Edward Park President John Lewer expressed his full support for the motion.
“As an integral element of the NSW State Heritage-listed Reserve, the Observation Post demands the city’s attention and care,” Lewer said.
“Most welcome, too, is the proposed working party.”
He also noted that Novocastrian and internationally renowned architect Brian Suters had produced concept plans in 2018 that re-envisaged the Shepherd’s Hill Defence Reserve Military Installations.
Cr Church also highlighted the need for additional urgent remedial works to stabilise and protect the Shepherd’s Hill Observation Complex from further deterioration.
“Significant investment had already been made by council in restoring the neighbouring Shepherd’s Hill Cottage … the sites combined have the potential to become a tourism drawcard for the city,” he said.
“Bathers way is very popular, and this is a small detour off the walk. Together with Fort Scratchley and Fort Wallace, I believe it could be a tourist attraction in its own right.”
A whale-watching station that showcases Newcastle’s rich military history is among Cr Church’s grand plans for the site’s repurposing.
He said this would replicate its wartime role as a Naval Observation Post that monitored the coastal waters for enemy shipping by naval personnel.
Council’s infrastructure and property director commented that works associated with the management and upgrade of the heritage structures were “significant and beyond the capacity of CN as the Crown Land manager”.
The director noted that City of Newcastle had already “invested more than $1 million in the restoration of the Shepherd’s Hill Cottage”.
At the meeting, Council endorsed an amended notice of motion to write to the Minister for Defence to seek funding for feasibility investigations and concept plan for the adaptive reuse of the Shepherds Hill Observation Post, which could include activities such as whale watching.
Cr Church said he believed the minister would “far better respond” to a formalised business plan than a “generic letter requesting funding”.
“Let’s do the work first. Let’s not jump immediately to consultants, and let’s engage with the community,” Cr Church said.
“The working party with local people and local expertise can create a scope of works and we can use that as a business plan to take to the government for funding.
“Once we preserve it and develop a plan, we need to work with the government to help us fund it.”
Cr Church revealed that he still supported the formation of a working party for the site, whether part of the council or an independent community group.
Maia O’Connor