|
A public forum was held on 3rd July 2009. The following article is the text of a speech presented to the forum by Society President Jackie Green.
I am Jackie Green, President of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society Inc and my family and I have lived in the Glenfield and Macquarie Fields area for nearly 28 years. I am therefore affected in both capacities by the proposed sale of the pasture land at Hurlstone Agricultural College.
Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society represents approximately 200 members who are passionate about their local community and protecting its natural and built heritage. Many members have expressed their concerns about the threatened sale of land at Hurlstone and have requested that I convey their concerns to those responsible for decision making. Some of our members are historians and researchers and I have used Society publications as a reference.
The land that Hurlstone stands on has been devoted to agriculture and animal husbandry since the first years of European settlement as it is part of the Cowpastures area. I am sure that everyone here is familiar with the true story of the 2 bulls and 4 cows which escaped from the government farm in 1788 and by 1795 had grown into a herd of over 40 animals. The area they had settled in was named Cowpastures in their honour.
The land the State government threatens to sell is very significant to the local community as it is part of Governor Macquarie’s 1816 land grant to his hardworking surveyor, James Meehan. Meehan’s Macquarie Field estate has been highly productive since prior to 1822 and as such has been integral to the local culture and economy. The Hurlstone land retains its traditional view of Macquarie Fields House on the hill. Housing development in the 1980’s onwards has put an end to agriculture in the Glenfield area everywhere except at Hurlstone.
The northern section of the Macquarie Field estate was sold to the State government in 1923 for the establishment of Hurlstone, the Glenfield Special School and the Glenfield Veterinary Research Station. The Vet Research Station opened in 1923 and Hurlstone, which had been established in the now suburban Ashfield since 1907 opened in its new rural location in 1926. When the functions of the Vet Station moved out of the area in 1990 the site and buildings were taken over by Hurlstone. All these buildings are therefore significant due to their age and connection with veterinary research, and high quality agricultural and general education. These buildings must be conserved, even if in the future an Agricultural College with little or no pasture land is found to be unviable.
The land surrounding Hurlstone and the Special schools provides a buffer zone between Campbelltown, Liverpool and the burgeoning Camden area. These buffer zones are essential to maintain air quality, water run off, and wildlife corridors. The area is already quite densely populated, which makes the preservation and conservation of this remaining green space even more vitally important.
The Hurlstone Memorial Forest has reportedly been saved from sale, but if the surrounding land is developed as a housing estate the future preservation of one area of woodland is unlikely in the long term. The forest is dedicated to the memory of former Hurlstonians who gave their lives defending their country.
Hurlstone may be viewed as an elite school but the proposed sale of its land threatens the heritage of the entire Campbelltown area as well as that of the school itself.
In light of this and on behalf of the Committee and members of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society Inc I call upon Mr. Peters and the commission of inquiry to totally reject the land sale proposal.
On a personal note, I call upon the four local State members of Parliament who profess to be against the land sale to actively represent the opinion of their electors and reject the sale.
|