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Art Bridges Generations At Rose Bay Public School

Rose Bay art sessions will bring local seniors into Rose Bay Public School to create alongside Year 1 students, giving older residents and children a regular space to share stories, make art and build connections within their community.

The school is partnering with Dementia Friendly Woollahra to run four free sessions during September, inviting seniors from the surrounding community to take part regardless of their previous art experience.

Together, the older participants and Year 1 students will create artwork for Rose Bay Public School’s Annual Art Fair.

Rose Bay Art Sessions Connect Local Generations

The sessions will be held at the school in Albemarle Avenue from 10am to 11am on Wednesday 2 September, 9 September, 16 September and 23 September.

The format gives local seniors an opportunity to spend time inside a neighbourhood school while working directly with younger members of the community. Shared stories, new connections and a sense of local belonging are among the reasons given for bringing the generations together.

No artistic background is required. The sessions are intended to be relaxed, with seniors able to participate simply through an interest in being creative and spending time with children.

The artwork created across the four weeks will also give participants a direct connection to the wider Rose Bay Public School community through the Annual Art Fair.

Local Dementia-Friendly Program Joins School Partnership

Dementia Friendly Woollahra is led by Holdsworth in partnership with Woollahra Council and community members. The initiative works to improve understanding and inclusion for people living with dementia and their carers across the local area.

Its activities include sharing information about dementia and healthy ageing, helping local businesses better understand dementia, and providing opportunities for residents to become Dementia Friends.

The Rose Bay Public School sessions extend that local community work into an intergenerational setting, bringing older residents and primary school students together around a shared activity.

Transport Helps Seniors Take Part

Participation in all four sessions is free, and community transport can be arranged for seniors who need help reaching Rose Bay Public School.

Transport requirements can be raised when registering, while Beverley can be contacted on 1300 882 962 for questions or assistance getting to the sessions.

The final gathering will be held on Wednesday 23 September, with the artwork produced by seniors and Year 1 students intended for the school’s Annual Art Fair.

Published 21-August-2026

Lyne Park Playground Crowned NSW/ACT’s Best New Playground

Lyne Park Playground in Rose Bay has claimed top honours at the 2026 Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT Awards of Excellence, taking out the award for Best New Playground and earning a place in the national finals later this year.

Read: Future of Lyne Park Tennis Centre Sparks Strong Community Response in Rose Bay

The recognition celebrates the redeveloped harbourfront playground, which is popular with local families. The annual Awards of Excellence recognise outstanding parks, recreation spaces and community projects that deliver social, environmental and economic benefits.

In announcing the win, Woollahra Municipal Council said that while local parents already knew Lyne Park Playground was a winner, it was pleasing to receive official recognition from the industry. The organisation also thanked the project team behind the redevelopment and said the playground was designed for children of different ages and abilities.

A Playground Inspired By Rose Bay’s History

Set on the Sydney Harbour foreshore, Lyne Park offers a diverse range of recreation opportunities for the community. Alongside open lawns, sporting facilities, picnic areas and waterfront access, the upgraded playground has become a popular destination for families.

Its centrepiece is a large flying boat play structure, created as a tribute to Rose Bay’s aviation history. The aircraft-themed feature acknowledges the site’s past as the former Rose Bay International Airport for flying boats while providing opportunities for climbing, imaginative play and exploration.

The playground offers a variety of play experiences beyond the flying boat. Children can race along a double flying fox, cool off in the water play zone, explore the sensory walkway or enjoy the nature play area designed for older children. There is also a bike track, inclusive play equipment and an intergenerational activity trail designed for people of different ages.

The playground is fully fenced and includes inclusive play elements. It also features natural and sail shade, organic and rubber softfall surfaces, picnic seating and nearby amenities, making it a comfortable place for families to spend time outdoors.

Recognition On The National Stage

The Parks and Leisure Australia Awards of Excellence recognise projects and professionals that create meaningful social, environmental and economic benefits through parks, leisure and recreation.

According to Parks and Leisure Australia, the awards celebrate outstanding initiatives and innovative public spaces that contribute to healthy and inclusive communities. Regional winners automatically progress to the national stage, where they compete against projects from across Australia.

Lyne Park’s win means it will represent the NSW/ACT region at the national Awards of Excellence later this year.

More Than A Playground

Lyne Park field (Photo credit: woollahra.nsw.gov.au)

Beyond the award-winning playground, Lyne Park offers a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities. The foreshore park includes large grassed areas, shady trees, basketball and tennis courts, sporting fields, picnic facilities and a café. Visitors also have access to the Rose Bay boat ramp, public and commercial ferry services, a commercial seaplane base and launching facilities for non-motorised watercraft beside Woollahra Sailing Club.

With its combination of waterfront scenery, recreation facilities and inclusive play opportunities, Lyne Park continues to serve as a popular destination for residents and visitors alike.

Read: Monster Jump Brings Giant Inflatable Obstacle Course and New Sports Arena to Rose Bay

Now recognised as the NSW/ACT’s best new playground, Lyne Park will head to the national Awards of Excellence in November, where it will compete for the title of Australia’s best new playground.

Published 31-July-2026

When Smallpox Struck Sydney Harbour In 1789

Photo Credit: National Museum Australia

The Sydney smallpox epidemic began around the harbour in April 1789. New modelling suggests it may have continued for up to 21 years and killed between 40,000 and 220,000 Indigenous Australians.

The outbreak appeared shortly after the First Fleet arrived in January 1788 and established a British settlement at Sydney Cove.

Many colonists had already encountered smallpox and developed some resistance. Aboriginal communities around the harbour had not previously been exposed to the disease and faced severe illness and high death rates.

Early colonial accounts described Aboriginal people found dead on beaches and in rock shelters between Sydney Cove and the Heads. Some were discovered beside small fires, with water left within reach.

Smallpox virus viewed through electron microscopy — *Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/National Museum Australia*

Smallpox Reaches Sydney Harbour

Smallpox caused fever, severe illness and a rash of pus-filled sores. Survivors were often left with permanent scarring, while some also lost their sight.

The disease spread easily between people. Once someone became seriously ill, however, travelling long distances became difficult.

How smallpox entered Sydney’s Aboriginal communities remained disputed for more than two centuries.

One theory blamed French visitors who stayed at Botany Bay after the British arrived. However, an outbreak caused by that visit would probably have appeared much earlier than April 1789.

Another theory suggested Makassan visitors introduced the disease in northern Australia before it travelled south through Aboriginal trade routes.

A third possibility involved preserved smallpox material carried with the First Fleet. Before vaccination was developed, doctors used infected material to deliberately give patients a milder form of the illness and build immunity.

The precise cause of the outbreak remains unknown. The research does not establish whether the preserved material caused the epidemic or whether any release was accidental or deliberate.

Aboriginal people near Port Jackson in historical artwork — Caption: *View of the Heads, at the entrance into Port Jackson* by Joseph Lycett.
*Photo Credit: National Museum Australia*

Modelling Tests The Competing Theories

Research published in Nature Human Behaviour on 10 July 2026 tested whether the disease could realistically have travelled from northern Australia to Sydney.

The model combined knowledge of smallpox with Aboriginal movement routes used for water, food, family connections, trade and ceremony.

Researchers allowed for faster travel and greater contact between communities, but the northern route still did not fit the timing of the 1789 outbreak.

The modelling instead strongly supported a Sydney origin linked to the British settlement.

Sydney Smallpox Epidemic Moves Inland

The disease may not have remained around Sydney Harbour for long.

The model suggests smallpox followed coastlines, rivers and established travel routes through south-eastern Australia. Major waterways such as the Murray and Lachlan rivers may have connected affected communities.

Under some scenarios, the epidemic reached as far north as Townsville and as far west as Adelaide. It did not spread to every part of Australia.

The outbreak may have continued for up to 21 years as it moved between communities across thousands of kilometres.

Using an assumed fatality rate of 60 per cent, researchers estimated that between 40,000 and 220,000 Indigenous Australians may have died.

The upper figure is a modelling estimate, not a recorded historical death toll.

Historical map showing the Sydney Cove settlement — Caption: *Sketch & Description of the Settlement at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson* by Francis Fowkes.
*Photo Credit: National Museum Australia*

Losses Extended Beyond The Death Toll

The deaths of Elders, children and pregnant women affected entire communities.

Families were separated, while languages, cultural knowledge and systems for caring for Country were disrupted. Survivors were often left without relatives or community leaders.

The study was conducted through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures in collaboration with the Gujaga Foundation of the Dharawal Nation.

The researchers said the modelling was designed to sit alongside Aboriginal knowledge, memory and oral history rather than replace them.

Historical accounts and Dharawal knowledge record Aboriginal people returning to Sydney Harbour within weeks of the outbreak’s peak.

Communities continued fishing, living around the harbour, speaking their language and practising culture throughout the following century.

During the 1880s, remaining descendants were forcibly relocated to the government reserve at La Perouse. Dharawal culture and language continued to be practised and passed on there.

Published 13-July-2026

Monster Jump Brings Giant Inflatable Obstacle Course and New Sports Arena to Rose Bay

Monster Jump

Monster Jump is setting up at Rose Bay’s Lyne Park Mini Fields, bringing not only its giant inflatable obstacle course but also a brand new Monster Sports Jam arena — giving the Eastern Suburbs its own home-ground version of Sydney’s most popular school holiday attraction.

The Rose Bay site runs from 5 to 19 July 2026 at Lyne Park Mini Fields, with sessions daily from 10am to 4pm. It is the first time Monster Jump has come directly to the Eastern Suburbs, making this a school holiday option that does not require a trip across the city.

The Monster Jump obstacle course is the foundation of the event, a 280-metre inflatable playground with more than 30 challenges including climbing walls, dark tunnels, sky-high slides and bounce zones. At Rose Bay this year, the course takes on a rabbit-themed twist, adding a distinct flavour to the iconic purple monster mouth entrance that regular Monster Jump fans will already know.

The sports jam arena adds something new

What makes the Rose Bay location distinct is the addition of Monster Sports Jam, an adrenaline-fuelled second arena featuring basketball shootouts, medieval jousting and a wrecking ball zone, among other sporting challenges. It is a genuinely fun add-on for families with competitive kids, or for parents who want to have a crack themselves.

Two-hour session ticket options at Rose Bay cover a range of combinations. An Obstacle Course Only Pass for ages five and over costs $30, while Full Access combining the obstacle course and Monster Sports Jam is $40. Toddler passes for children under five are $45 for the course only and $55 for full access, with one parent or carer included in both cases.

Children under five must be accompanied by an adult on the course at all times. The All Day Super Pass, which covers both the obstacle course and Monster Sports Jam for the entire day, is $60.

Spectators enter free of charge.

Planning your visit to Lyne Park

Socks are compulsory on the inflatables. Shoes and bare feet are not permitted on the course, but if you forget socks you can buy a pair at the gate. Comfortable clothes, sunscreen and a water bottle round out the packing list. Cabanas are also available to hire as a shaded base for the day, seating up to six people, with sessions aligned to the 10am–midday, 12:10pm–2pm and 2:10pm–4pm blocks.

Sessions sell out regularly in advance, so online booking at monsterjump.com.au/sydneyrosebay is the safest approach. Tickets are available at the gate on the day subject to availability, but there are no guarantees once sessions fill.

Monster Jump operates through light rain but may pause or close during heavy weather or high winds. The Monster Jump Facebook page posts cancellation or delay updates by 9am each morning if wild weather impacts the day.

For tickets and full session times, visit monsterjump.com.au or contact info@ofa.net.au for booking changes or queries.

Published 25-June-2026

Future of Lyne Park Tennis Centre Sparks Strong Community Response in Rose Bay

Photo Credit: LyneParkTennisCentre/Facebook

A proposal to place Lyne Park Tennis Centre under new management has sparked a heated debate across Rose Bay, with thousands of residents backing the longtime local operator while Woollahra officials move towards awarding the lease to a larger multi-venue company.

The future of the popular waterfront facility came into focus in early June after Woollahra’s finance committee recommended accepting a tender from Tennis Nation, which operates multiple sites across Sydney. The recommendation would replace the current management team, which has run the centre for more than three decades, sparking immediate backlash from players, families, and community members who view the venue as a vital social hub.

A Tennis Centre That Has Served Generations

For many Rose Bay residents, Lyne Park Tennis Centre has been a staple of daily life for generations, hosting coaching programs, social competitions, and school holiday camps. General manager Anthony Bennett has worked there for 32 years, and many locals who learned to play under his guidance now enroll their own children.

Supporters argue the centre’s value extends beyond sport, serving as a foundational space for lifelong friendships. The level of local passion became clear after news of the tender recommendation emerged, when an online petition garnered more than 2,000 signatures in just 24 hours.

Considering a New Operator

The controversy stems from a formal tender process where Council staff assessed competing submissions to balance community sentiment with fiscal responsibility.

According to council documents, Tennis Nation secured the staff’s recommendation by proposing a substantial $2-million investment in facility improvements, alongside a rental structure guaranteeing higher revenue for Woollahra over time.

While the council’s finance committee endorsed the infrastructure upgrades and financial returns, a final decision remains subject to approval by the full council.

Photo Credit: LyneParkTennisCentre/Facebook

Pickleball Emerges as a Key Point of Difference

One of the most contentious aspects of the proposal involves pickleball, a rapidly growing racquet sport. Tennis Nation plans to create additional pickleball facilities at Lyne Park by adding line markings to two of the six existing tennis courts and converting an unused toilet block into a dedicated pickleball space.

Because pickleball courts require less space than traditional tennis courts, the shift allows operators to maximise participation and revenue. However, traditional tennis players are deeply concerned about losing court availability.

Supporters of the current management argue that demand for tennis in Sydney’s eastern suburbs already exceeds available infrastructure. They contend that shrinking tennis capacity will price out or crowd out players seeking lessons, competitions, and casual court bookings.

The clash mirrors wider disputes across Sydney, where councils struggle to accommodate the growing popularity of pickleball while maintaining facilities for traditional racquet sports.

Community Connections Versus Commercial Opportunity

Ultimately, the standoff highlights two competing views of public asset management: prioritising longstanding local relationships versus maximising commercial capability.

Supporters maintain that local knowledge, established coaching relationships, and community trust are irreplaceable, regardless of financial projections. Conversely, the council’s tender process is bound to prioritise concrete operational capability, facility improvements, and financial return.

The finance committee’s recommendation must still proceed through the council’s decision-making process before a final outcome is reached.

Published 15-June-2026

Rose Bay Tower Bid Would Stand Three Times the Height Limit

A developer has lodged plans for a $28 million, eight-storey residential tower in one of Rose Bay’s most coveted streets, seeking to build a structure more than three times higher than what local planning rules allow.

Read: Hillcrest Collapse Renews Focus on Rose Bay Redevelopment Approval

The proposal, submitted to Woollahra Council in May 2026, targets 35-37 Wilberforce Avenue, a quiet residential street roughly 400 metres from the Rose Bay Town Centre that connects Old South Head Road and New South Head Road. The street sits within easy walking distance of Rose Bay Beach and the Royal Sydney Golf Club, and is well known for some of the most expensive real estate in Sydney.

Photo credit: Woollahra DA Tracker – 187/2026

The proposed tower would rise to 28.35 metres, well above Woollahra’s 9.5 metre height limit for the area. The 31-apartment building would also require excavation of more than 5,447 cubic metres of soil, against a council limit of 1,345 cubic metres.

Neighbours on both Wilberforce Ave and nearby Albemarle Ave would also experience reduced sunlight. Planning documents submitted with the application acknowledge that properties at 28 and 28a Albemarle Ave would see reduced solar access, though the documents argue the overshadowing would generally be limited to less than three hours on adjoining properties. The documents also acknowledge that any reasonable development on the site would create some adverse amenity impact on neighbouring properties.

The developer is relying on relatively new state housing policies that allow mid-rise apartment development in Sydney’s wealthier suburbs, provided a portion of units is set aside as affordable housing. Under the proposal, five of the 31 apartments would be allocated to low-income tenants. The affordable housing component is the mechanism through which the developer seeks to bypass Woollahra’s existing planning controls.

Two penthouses would each have access to private rooftop terraces, while ground-floor units would feature plunge pools. A two-level basement carpark with 31 spaces is also included in the plans.

Planning documents prepared on behalf of the developer describe the design, by Mark Shapiro Architects, as one that responds thoughtfully to the character of the Rose Bay area, pointing to what they describe as a diverse mix of architectural styles across the precinct.

What the rules allow in Rose Bay

Under the Woollahra Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2014, maximum building heights in Rose Bay vary by zone. In low-density residential areas, the height limit sits at 9.5 metres, roughly equivalent to three storeys. In the commercial village centres, that rises to a maximum of 17.2 metres, or about five storeys. The Wilberforce Ave site falls under the lower residential limit, meaning the proposed 28.35 metre tower would exceed even the most generous height allowance in the area by more than 11 metres.

The application is one of a growing number of significant residential proposals across Sydney as the state moves to address a housing crisis marked by a relentless rise in rents and property prices.

Read: Inside Delta Goodrem’s New Luxury Home In Rose Bay

Earlier in 2026, the Independent Planning Commission approved the $1.5 billion Timberyards project in Marrickville and signed off on a 46-storey, $163 million rental tower on Victoria Avenue in Chatswood that will deliver 260 rental dwellings above commercial space.

The proposal affects one of Sydney’s most expensive residential streets, where a four-bedroom home on Wilberforce Ave sold for $6 million in 2023. The application is now before Woollahra Council for assessment.

Published 12-June-2026

Rose Bay Courts Proposal Responds To Growing Demand For Local Netball Space

Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil

At Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 in Rose Bay, a proposal for two new netball and basketball courts is being shaped around a familiar local sporting pressure: growing demand for training space, particularly for girls’ sport, in an area where court access remains limited.

Rose Bay Courts Proposal Centred On Local Sporting Demand

Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 already carries a busy sporting role in Rose Bay, with cricket using the ground in summer and rugby union in winter. The latest proposal for the site does not seek to replace that role, but to add another layer to it through two dual-use courts for netball and basketball.

The draft plan would place the courts at the northern end of the oval, creating a hard-surface area line-marked for both sports. Each court would have reversible netball and basketball rings at both ends, while four additional netball rings would be installed along the sides of the courts.

The proposal has been shaped by an identified shortage of netball and basketball courts for training and casual use. That shortage has been linked to the recent growth of girls’ sport in the local area, with feedback from schools, clubs and families pointing to limited nearby space for netball training.

Local netball demand is a key part of the proposal. Existing facilities in the area include two hard-surface netball and basketball courts at Christison Park in Vaucluse and one grass netball court at Lough Playing Fields in Double Bay. The proposed Rose Bay courts would add more training and casual play space without removing cricket or rugby from Woollahra Oval 2 and 3.

Rose Bay proposed court layout — Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil

New Courts Designed Around An Existing Oval

The proposal would require the three existing cricket practice nets to be shifted about 45 metres east towards Kent Road. The relocated nets would not be lit.

That change is intended to make room for the courts in the northern section of the oval, where the space between the rugby fields and boundary fence narrows from west to east. The layout is designed so the courts can sit within the existing sporting area while current cricket and rugby matches and training continue.

The proposed playing surface would be an acrylic painted coating on a concrete or asphalt base. That surface is already used at the netball and basketball courts at Christison Park in Vaucluse and the basketball court at Lyne Park.

Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 currently includes two rugby playing fields, an artificial grass cricket wicket and three cricket practice nets. Rose Bay Community Garden is also located within the park.

Woollahra Oval sports court plan — Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil

Lighting Plan Tries To Limit Nearby Impact

The proposal includes sports lighting for the new courts, but not for the relocated cricket nets.

The lighting design would use eight poles, with four poles for each court. Each pole would be eight metres high and fitted with one luminaire. The design is intended to direct light onto the court surface while reducing spill and glare outside the court area.

The lighting would be designed to meet Australian Standards for outdoor netball and basketball training and recreational play, as well as standards that deal with the effects of outdoor lighting on nearby areas.

Court users would activate the lights through a push-button system beside each court. Each activation would last for 30 minutes, and the lights could not be switched on after 9pm.

Bookings would be available from 7am to 9pm on weekdays. Weekend bookings would be limited to daytime hours, with no bookings accepted after 5pm. When the courts were not booked, small groups and individuals could use them free of charge between 7am and 9pm each day.

Netball training bookings are mainly associated with the winter season, while basketball training can occur throughout the year, particularly during school terms.

Netball and basketball court concept — Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil

Feedback To Shape The Rose Bay Proposal

Community feedback on the draft plan opened on Wednesday 27 May 2026 and closes at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 8 July 2026.

A pop-up information session is scheduled at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 on Tuesday 16 June, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Feedback can also be submitted online, by email or by mail.

After the feedback period closes, responses will be reviewed before the proposal moves to its next stage. If the plan proceeds, an environmental review would be prepared and assessed before any construction.

The project timeline indicates the courts could open in 2027, but only if the required review is approved and the works go ahead.

Published 5-June-2026

Inside Delta Goodrem’s New Luxury Home In Rose Bay

Photo Credit: Laing+Simmons

Delta Goodrem has added a luxury Rose Bay mansion to her property story, with the singer and husband Matthew Copley securing a harbourside home in Sydney’s east for less than $11 million.

Delta Goodrem’s New Rose Bay Home

Delta Goodrem and Matthew Copley are preparing for a new Sydney chapter after buying a luxury mansion in Rose Bay.

The singer and her musician husband purchased the four-bedroom, three-bathroom harbourside residence for less than $11 million. The sale was recorded on May 27, below the property’s earlier asking price of about $13 million.

The purchase comes shortly after Goodrem represented Australia at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, where she performed Eclipse and placed fourth. The timing adds a public backdrop to the move, but the centre of the story is the couple’s new home in one of Sydney’s best-known harbourside suburbs.

Goodrem and Copley married in Malta on June 16 last year. Their Rose Bay purchase gives the couple a larger Sydney residence with formal living spaces, landscaped outdoor areas and a private pool setting.

Delta Goodrem at Eurovision — Photo Credit: Laing+Simmons

French and Italian Influences Shape The Home

The Rose Bay mansion sits on a 626sqm block in a quiet, tree-lined harbourside setting. The home combines French Provincial and Italian influences, with interiors arranged around formal and informal living areas.

Inside, the residence includes imported Italian marble fireplaces, marble finishes and a warm neutral palette. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, butler’s pantry, dual dishwashers, a wine fridge and extensive storage.

High ceilings, French oak herringbone floors, ducted airconditioning, a security system, Control4 automation and lift access are also included. The main bedroom has a marble ensuite and a garden outlook, while the broader floor plan includes four bedrooms, oversized bathrooms and a flexible fourth bedroom or home office opening to a sunlit terrace.

The home also includes a double lock-up garage with storage, landscaped front gardens and several alfresco entertaining areas.

Rose Bay mansion garden — Photo Credit: Laing+Simmons

Rose Bay Mansion Framed By Designer Gardens

The outdoor areas give the property much of its character. The residence is surrounded by established gardens designed by landscape architect Paul Bangay, with planted front and rear spaces arranged for outdoor living.

A bougainvillea-covered terrace sits at the front of the home, while the rear opens to another alfresco area, level lawn and heated pool with a cascading water feature. The layout gives the property a private garden setting while keeping it close to harbour beaches, village cafés and private schools.

For Goodrem, the purchase marks an upsizing from her known Sydney apartment base. In 2019, she bought a two-bedroom apartment in Darlinghurst’s The Residence development overlooking Hyde Park for $4.825 million. The complex includes a 20-metre lap pool, gym, spa, sauna, steam room, wine room and concierge.

Luxury home with heated pool — Photo Credit: Laing+Simmons

Sale Handled Through Double Bay Office

The Rose Bay sale was handled by D’Leanne Lewis of Laing+Simmons Double Bay. Goodrem and Copley were represented by Simon Cohen of Cohen Handler.

The property was previously owned by Plato Investment Management’s Dr David Allen and his family. Allen paid $8.9 million for the residence in 2021 after returning from London, where he had worked for JP Morgan.

Goodrem’s plans for her Darlinghurst apartment remain unknown. The couple have also been linked to reports of house-hunting in Brisbane with Cohen, although no Queensland sale has been confirmed.

Published 4-June-2026

Hillcrest Collapse Renews Focus on Rose Bay Redevelopment Approval

The partial collapse of the historic Hillcrest villa in Rose Bay has drawn renewed attention to issues raised during the property’s redevelopment approval process.

Read: Rose Bay Seniors Housing Plans Draw Focus To Excavation And Groundwater Concerns

Located at 780-786 New South Head Road, Hillcrest dates back to around 1890 and was originally built as a pair of semi-detached houses before being converted into six residential units. The property later became the subject of a $9.9 million proposal to redevelop the site into five luxury dwellings.

The redevelopment was approved by the Land and Environment Court after Woollahra Council opposed the proposal, arguing it would adversely affect the building’s heritage significance and that proposed setbacks would create unacceptable acoustic impacts.

In her judgment, Commissioner Joanne Grey found that the development would have an acceptable impact on the heritage significance of the building and that the proposed setbacks were appropriate in the context of the site.

Hillcrest was subsequently listed as a local heritage item following a process supported by Woollahra Council.

On 12 February 2026, part of Hillcrest’s upper levels and roof collapsed during construction works. Public statements issued following the incident attributed the collapse to what was described as flawed geotechnical advice. No independent findings on the cause of the collapse have been publicly reported.

Concerns Raised During Approval Process

While Woollahra Council’s objections focused largely on heritage and planning matters, neighbouring residents sought to raise concerns during the approval process about excavation risks and potential impacts on surrounding properties.

They commissioned an independent report from geotechnical engineer Warwick Davies of EI Australia, who argued there was insufficient information available to properly guide the planned excavation works.

The court ultimately approved the development despite those concerns. Commissioner Grey concluded that structural stability could be maintained, subject to further investigation of site conditions and compliance with engineering requirements attached to the consent.

The relationship, if any, between concerns raised during the approval process and the February collapse has not been established in any publicly available findings.

Some local representatives have since cited the Hillcrest collapse when calling for changes to development assessment processes.

Cr Merrill Witt said the damage to Hillcrest demonstrated why complete hydrogeological and geotechnical reports should be available before development applications are approved.

Council has also resolved to investigate the feasibility of obtaining independent geotechnical reviews for complex development applications involving basement excavation.

The issue comes amid ongoing concerns in Rose Bay and Double Bay about the impacts of some redevelopment projects on neighbouring properties.

Read: St George Church Rose Bay Disputes Heritage Site Designation Proposal

Meanwhile, Positive Investment Enterprise, the developer behind the Hillcrest project, has stated that it is committed to restoring the damaged façade, subject to the necessary approvals.

The collapse has also prompted discussion about how future developments are assessed in established neighbourhoods, particularly where heritage buildings and complex excavation works are involved.

Published 30-May-2026

Three Rose Bay Schools Ranked Among NSW’s Best Private Primary Schools

Three Rose Bay schools have been named in a new ranking of NSW’s top 100 private primary schools in the Catholic and independent sectors. Kambala, Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, and McAuley Catholic Primary School all made the list.

Read: Rose Bay Public School Outperforms Neighbours In 2025 NAPLAN

Kambala

Kambala, located at 794 New South Head Road, was the highest-ranked of the three local schools, coming in at 26th in the state. Founded in 1887, it is an independent early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school for girls, with a current enrolment of 986 students.

The school describes its educational approach as focused on preparing students to be “agile, adaptable and aspirational,” with curriculum design centred on cognitive flexibility and emotional intelligence alongside academic outcomes. Kambala is an IB World School and a member of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools.

View Kambala profile here

Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart

Photo credit: Facebook/Kincoppal-Rose Bay School

Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart ranked 59th, with a current enrolment of 851 students. It is an independent Roman Catholic early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school, predominantly for girls.

The school offers a full continuum of education from early childhood through to the HSC, as both a day and boarding school.

View Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart profile here

McAuley Catholic Primary School

McAuley Catholic Primary School, at 8 Carlisle Street, ranked 95th with an enrolment of 273 students. The school was established in its current form in 1967 by the Sisters of Mercy and carries the motto “Seek the Truth.” It is part of the Sydney Catholic Schools system, a network of 147 low-fee Catholic schools in the Sydney Archdiocese.

The school’s principal, Mrs Karen Blacklock, describes its teaching approach as placing strong foundations in literacy and numeracy at the centre, supported by inquiry, creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. McAuley maintains a close connection to the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Rose Bay.

View McAuley Catholic Primary School profile here

NSW schools made up six of the national top 10 private primary schools in the rankings, and nearly half of the national top 250 list. The rankings were drawn from an analysis of more than 2,000 private primary schools nationwide.

Read: Kincoppal–Rose Bay Leader Appointed Head of Knox Grammar Prep

It assessed 2025 NAPLAN Year 3 and Year 5 results across five subjects, student attendance rates, student-teacher ratios, and ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) scores, with data sourced from ACARA.

Download the National Results

Published 30-May-2026