Exploring the heritage perspective, HAA was part of a consultant team led by Cox Architecture to prepare a master plan for the rehabilitation and activation of the North Head Sanctuary. The client, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, was established in 2001 and took over management from the Department of Defence. Although many buildings have since been restored and a Conservation Management Plan written to guide conservation and development, the Trust felt something was lacking and aspires to breathe new life into the place.

HAA’s principal contribution to the final masterplan was to give a fresh way to see the place and guiding proposed changes in respectful and exciting ways. Our strategy team perceived that reaching back 47,000 years offered a long-term view of the impact of significant geological changes to not only North Head, but also to the entire harbour and the people who lived there. Until the presentation of this different approach, the thinking about North Head Sanctuary had mainly focussed on European and military use.

A site heavily represented by military buildings, HAA pieced together a holistic understanding of North Head Sanctuary to include Aboriginal, ecological, and military values. This resulted in a master plan that retains the current military-built environment while elevating the places Aboriginal and ecological values.

The consultant team submitted the master plan in September 2023, invigorating the Trust’s ideas for North Head. This plan has been taken to the community for public consultation.

Cultural Landscape Assessment, Strategic Advice, Advocacy.

Today the view from North Head is of the ocean and Sydney Harbour. Standing there 20,000 years ago, you looked down at the lower reaches of the Parramatta River system as it headed towards the coastline, then 15 kilometres away to the east.