Barrenjoey Head: Fight on to stop plans for overnight visitors at spectacular Sydney lighthouse

A row has broken out over plans to allow tourists to stay overnight at a spectacular Sydney headland lighthouse that is featured in the TV series ‘Home And Away’

The lighthouse on Barrenjoey Head, at Palm Beach, has some of the most spectacular views in Sydney. Overnight visitors may be allowed to stay at he complex. Picture: iStock

Tourists could be allowed to stay at a historic Sydney lighthouse — seen in the TV series ‘Home And Away’ — as part of bold new plans for Australia’s second oldest national park.

And food trucks and coffee carts could be allowed at the base of the Barrenjoey Lighthouse complex, within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the city’s north.

But critics of the proposed commercialisation of the spectacular headland site at the northern end of Palm Beach, say it will destroy the character of the “jewel in the crown of Pittwater”.

The Barrenjoey Lighthouse complex at the northern bend of Palm Beach. There is a proposal to allow overnight visitors stay on the headland. Picture: Australian Network Productions

Close to 200,000 people a year visit Barrenjoey Head.

The lighthouse, which features in the closing credits and promotions for Channel 7’s TV series ‘Home And Away’, is a regular stop on tours of locations used for the popular soapy. In the show, it is known as the lighthouse on “Stewarts Point”.

A new draft management plan for the 14,900-hecatre national park includes proposals to make more use of the heritage-listed sandstone buildings surrounding the 141-year-old lighthouse.

It suggests that the Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage could be used for “short-stay visitor accommodation”.

Tourist’s would also be able to stay over in The Boatman’s Cottage at the base of the headland if the plan was adopted.

The ‘jewel in the crown of Pittwater”. A sunset view from the Barrenjoey Lighthouse complex. Picture Colin Gibson

The draft plan also raises the prospect of mobile food and drinks operators providing services to headland visitors.

National Parks and Wildlife Service says in its plan that “adaptive reuse of historic heritage buildings and collections can help preserve heritage values and provide greater levels of public appreciation”.

The cover of the new draft plan of management for Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park released for public submissions by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Picture Supplied

“There are several buildings at Barrenjoey Head that have the potential to be adaptively re-used for visitor facilities and experiences such as visitor accommodation, interpretation and/or used as caretaker accommodation,” the draft plan stated.

“It is proposed to investigate such use of the buildings and the potential to lease their use for this purpose.”

The Barrenjoey Lighthouse complex. Picture: Simon Cocksedge

Barrenjoey Lighthouse about 1910. Picture: State Library of NSW

Back in 2013 a similar proposal to commercialise the headland, including the introduction of a restaurant, conference centre, and kiosk was defeated after community protests, supported by the then Pittwater Council.

More than 9000 signatures from residents and overseas’ visitors were added to a petition opposing the move.

Hundreds of Pittwater locals protested in 2013 against proposed changes to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse precinct at Palm Beach. Picture: Simon Cocksedge

The community-based Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association said the lighthouse site was not suitable for commercial development.

Association president Richard West said on Thursday that it should be left untouched.

“The Barrenjoey headland is the jewel in the crown of Pittwater.

“We believe it should be preserved as it is for the use of this, and future generations.”

Mr West said access should remain only to people walking to the site and encouraged people to make a submission to NPWS, opposing the redevelopment of the headland.

“It’s one of the greatest walks in the world.

“We oppose the short term accommodation because the only eat to get up there is to walk, there is no access at night, there is no access in emergency situations.

Mr West said the lighthouse cottages should be restored, but only opened for day-trippers.

NPWS is also planning to build new toilet facilities on the headland “to cater for the growing

number of visitors”. It is also looking at providing a walking track and viewing area on the eastern side of the headland to allow viewing of the resident seal colony.

The draft plan of management is open for public submissions until November 22.