Heritage restoration and conservation

No heritage restoration or conservation works are currently underway at – or scheduled for – Chowder Bay / Gooree, Mosman. Continue to check here for updates. 

Heritage crane restoration

The Harbour Trust will be undertaking restoration work to the many cranes on Cockatoo Island. This will help to preserve them for future generations to appreciate the important role they played on the island during its time as a shipyard. During the works, access to the cranes may be restricted at certain times with fencing. Building 141 will also be closed to the public, this is to accommodate the painting of the cranes.

This work is expected to begin July 2024 and be completed by the end of the year. Please check the disruption page for the most up to date information on any closures or access restrictions.

Conservation of buildings 9 and 20

The Harbour Trust is undertaking work on Buildings 9 (B9) and 20 (B20) on Cockatoo Island. These heritage houses are being extensively repaired to allow the Harbour Trust to use the heritage homes as short-term accommodation for the public.

This work commenced in December 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of mid July 2024. During this time there will be no public access to Buildings 9 and 20.

No heritage restoration or conservation works are currently underway at – or scheduled for – Georges Heights, Mosman. Continue to check here for updates. 

Greenway Wall restoration

The Harbour Trust will be undertaking conservation works to the historically significant Greenway Wall, including some associated landscape works. The Greenway Wall is a remnant of the original Macquarie Lighthouse tower, which was designed by Francis Greenway and completed in 1818.

The aim of the conservation works is to restore the integrity of the Greenway Wall, as well as the land terrace it retains. The original full length of the wall will be interpreted through new landscaping design. Additionally, the works will incorporate First Nations concepts. Traditional stone conservation methods will be used to restore the wall, and new work will involve materials, colours and finishes which will be sympathetic to the character of the wall and its surroundings.

The intention of the conservation works is to restore the Greenway Wall, in part, to a known earlier form including the missing crenelated form. The wall has been previously damaged by the removal of some top course stones, as well as some erosion of the landscape behind it over time.

The Harbour Trusts expects the works to start in June this year and it is anticipated to run until the end of 2024, subject to the findings from technical surveys and site conditions.

To limit the disruption to residents, members of the public and businesses around the site, the working hours will be strictly limited to between 7am and 5pm.

No heritage restoration or conservation works are currently underway at – or scheduled for – the former Marine Biological Station at Camp Cove. Continue to check here for updates. 

No heritage restoration or conservation works are currently underway at – or scheduled for – Middle Head / Gubbuh Gubbuh, Mosman. Continue to check here for updates. 

Restoration of gun emplacements

The Harbour Trust has been undertaking work on the gun emplacements at North Head Sanctuary to better communicate their historical purpose and heritage values. This work has involved the removal of hazardous materials and structural repairs and the restoration of gun emplacement 2.

The work commenced in December 2023 and has now been completed. The ground floor of gun emplacement 2 at North Head Sanctuary is now open to the public. Gun emplacement 1 will be kept as a historic relic site and can be viewed.

The final installation of safety railings to gun emplacement 2 is currently underway, once this is completed the upper level will be reopened for public access.

Restoration of historic sandstone wall

Following extreme weather in March 2022, 2 sections of the sandstone wall at North Head Sanctuary collapsed. The Harbour Trust has been undertaking work to ensure that the sections of the wall can be repaired and reinforced to prevent this from occurring in the future.

One section of the wall has been repaired, with each stone replaced in its original position. Work is still underway to work in collaboration with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to repair the second section.

The first section of the sandstone wall, located near the North Head Sanctuary Visitors Centre has been repaired and reopened to the public. Work is underway to repair the second section of the wall in collaboration with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Further updates will be provided shortly.

Retort House repairs

The Harbour Trust is currently undertaking repair work to the historically significant Retort House at Sub Base Platypus. This work will allow the space to be used for public and community events.

We are undertaking maintenance work to the building fabric of the Retort House to ensure its ongoing preservation, focusing on hazardous materials removal and returning the building to a watertight condition to prevent further deterioration.

This work began in March 2024 and is expected to run until the end of August 2024. For the safety of everyone, an exclusion zone has been established around the Retort House for the duration of the works. We kindly ask that all visitors to the site please respect this zone and stay clear of the area.

No heritage restoration or conservation works are currently underway at – or scheduled for – Woolwich Dock & Parklands. Continue to check here for updates.