Shore School Graythwaite Project

Having taken the time to view the plans for the redevelopment of Graithwaite House, I wish to express my support for the project. I believe the plan provides well for the restoration and preservation of a beautiful heritage building which currently stands neglected and unused. It preserves a large green space in the North Sydney area and I truly believe that this sympathetic restoration will provide many future generations of school children with ongoing opportunities which will come from this wonderful piece of history having a new, valuable purpose.

I wish to register the support of my wife and myself, for the project application that has been put forward by Shore School for the development of Graithwaite. We whole-heartedly support he school's proposal is to restore and preserve this beautiful and important heritage building. The plans ensure that the area in front of the building will never be built upon; preserving the beautiful vista from the street and maintaining important, open, green space in the congested North Sydney precinct.
This provides and excellent outcome for the school and the community, as the organisations available with sufficient resources to tackle this huge and expensive restoration project without building extensively on the sight in order to recoup costs; would be very limited.
Many young people from the North Sydney and surrounding catchments will have the opportunity to benefit from this wonderful development.
I feel that the plans put forward have been carefully and sympathetically designed with a view to causing the minimum visual impact.......importantly, the residents of North Sydney will notice little change when viewing the building from street level.

The proposal is a patently suitable re-use of the historic buildings that provides community use, societal good via the educational use and all at no cost to the public.
There is no external affectation by the proposal in terms of noise, overshadowing, overlooking or streetscape. It should be approved immediately to enable the work to commence.

I support the project

I support the project

My son attends Shore School and I think that the revised proposal will provide an excellent outcome for the school and the wider communities of the North Shore. I particularly support the proposal as it preserves a large green space close to the city and North Sydney, which will provide additional space for over 1,200 boys to play at morning recess and lunch time (there is only a relatively small space currently available); and it will ensure that the Graythwaite National Heritage Buildings will be preserved - to have a renewed useful life.

The revised Concept Application will also provide the school with opportunities for development of new educational facilities in the future so that enhanced educational options can be provided for the students.

SUBMISSION RE THE RESTORATION OF GRAYTHWAITE BY SHORE SCHOOL

As a resident in North Sydney municipality I support the restoration of the Graythwaite Estate by Shore School and its plans prepared by Architect Howard Tanner to restore the House and site.

As a local I am aware of the money and effort spent on the cottage Nutcote once owned by May Gibbs (an author who is rarely read by children today - too scary and language not understood by them). This house has limited opening hours (11am to 3pm Wed through to Sunday). It was originally left to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (who could not keep the house) but Gibbs's relatives (second cousins) from Western Australian lead the push for Nutcote to be restored. The now defunct booksellers Angus & Robertson gave over $1m, and with other community support North Sydney Council was able to acquire the property.

Tulkiyan House at Gordon is another such `museum.' This was given to Ku-ring-gai Council. Friends of Tulkiyan open the house a few times a year to the general public and occasionally to groups by arrangement. This house has limited use but unlimited costs.

The Thomas Walker Estate Rivendell at Concord is used as a facility for children with psychiatric problems. The Eadith Walker Estate Yaralla which is next door had been used for dialysis patients but I understand that this is no longer the case as the building is deemed not suitable for such use. See:
http://www.concordheritage.asn.au/chs-yaralla.htm

The mansion "Swifts" at Darling Point has recently been restored by heritage architect Clive Lucas, at enormous cost. The house is owned and restored by the Moran family. It is used as a family home by Dr Shane Moran and his sister, Mrs Kerry Jones allows the house to be used to raise money for charity.

Leo Schofield restored Bronte House owned by Waverley Council, again at great cost. He paid rent to the Council and was required to open the house a few weekends a year. But the web entry below and Leo's book `The Garden at Bronte' note the obstacles he had to overcome and the huge cost.
http://www.brontehouse.com/history/history_owners.html

From the above it is clear that historic houses are difficult to be used for current living styles. These problems are highlighted by the National Trust with its funding limits and the likely closure of some of its properties as reported by the National Trust's "eNews of November 2011". See also:
http://smh.domain.com.au/lights-go-out-at-historic-homes-20111029-1mpcb.html

I have been a member of the Australian Garden History Society Inc, including 9 years as National Treasurer. During that time I became acutely aware of the fragile nature of old homes and gardens as well as the huge drains they are on most budgets, as well as their often limited use.
The Historic Houses Trust has used some funds to restore houses then sell them off for present day use for example Lyndhurst at Glebe.
www.hht.net.au/discover/highlights/insites/lyndhurst

With Shore School taking responsibility for the restoration of Graythwaite and its grounds - especially under the guidance of Howard Tanner - there should be a win, win result for the school, the community and Sydney in general. I hope that the proposal is given strong support.

Yours faithfully,
Robin Lewarne (Mrs)

60a Shell Cove Road, ph. (02) 9953 1916
NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089 mob. 0425 242433
1 December 2011

I support the Project Application as it represents an excellent outcome for the School and wider communities. It will ensure the preservation of a most significant element of the National Heritage and give it a renewed useful life; it will preserve a large green space within five kilometres of the city centre. The Concept Application will provide the School with opportunities for development of new educational facilities in the future to enable it to enhance the educational options for its student body and maintain Shore as one of Australia's leading Schools.

I support the Project Application as it represents an excellent outcome for the School and wider communities. It will ensure the preservation of a most significant element of the National Heritage and give it a renewed useful life; it will preserve a large green space within five kilometres of the city centre. The Concept Application will provide the School with opportunities for development of new educational facilities in the future to enable it to enhance the educational options for its student body and maintain Shore as one of Australia's leading Schools.

A great proposal and outcome for the local community and school.

I support the Project Application which represents an excellent outcome for the School and wider communities. It will ensure the preservation of a most significant element of the National Heritage and give it a renewed useful life; it will preserve a large green space within five kilometres of the city centre. The Concept Application will provide the School with opportunities for development of new educational facilities in the future to enable it to enhance the educational options for its student body and maintain Shore as one of Australia's leading Schools.

I would like to register my support for the proposed development of Graithwaite by the Shore School. I believe the development is most appropriate for the site. Providing a balance between new development and green space. I feel it is important to support all education institutions whether public and private in providing the best available grounds and educational facilities. It is an investment in the future development of our children and country.

I would like to register my support for the proposed development of Graithwaite by the Shore School. I believe the development is most appropriate for the site. Providing a balance between new development and green space. I feel it is important to support all education institutions whether public and private in providing the best available grounds and educational facilities. It is an investment in the future development of our children and country.

I would like to register my support for the proposed development of Graithwaite by the Shore School. I believe the development is most appropriate for the site. Providing a balance between new development and green space. I feel it is important to support all education institutions whether public and private in providing the best available grounds and educational facilities. It is an investment in the future development of our children and country.

I support the use of Graithwaite by the Shore school in this DA application.

I am in favour of this project.

I support the application

The Project Application appears to represent a good outcome for both the wider community and the School. It ensures the preservation of a most significant element of the National Heritage and will give Graythwaite a renewed and useful life.

In addition it will preserve a large green space in close proximity to the city centre.

I support this proposal for the renovation of Graythwaite.

This application will ensure the preservation of Graythwaite and give it a renewed life, preserving a large green space within the North Sydney CBD. Upon approval both the school and wider community will benefit. The Concept Application will provide the School with opportunities for development of new educational facilities in the future to enable the school to enhance the educational options for its student body and maintain Shore as one of Australia's leading Schools.

This project application represents an excellent outcome for the School and wider communities. It will ensure the preservation of a most significant element of the National Heritage and give it a renewed useful life; it will preserve a large green space within five kilometres of the city centre and it will give opportunity for the development of new facilities to enable one of Australia's leading Schools to enhance the educational options for its student body.