Killarney Heights: Historic Bantry Bay dance hall site could be returned to public

A historic harbourside property — with a colourful past — is up for auction and the NSW Government is looking at buying it and returning it to public hands.

Prime privately-owned waterfront land on the northern beaches — with a colourful and curious past — could be bought up by the State Government and returned to public hands.

Environment Minister Matt Kean and Planning Minister Rob Stokes have been lobbied to buy the ruins of a 1920s dance hall — and the beautiful 1.53ha of land it sits on — at Killarney Point.

The private property at Killarney Point, in Bantry Bay, which may be returned to the public as part of Garigal National Park. Picture: Manly Daily

It has now been confirmed that the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is looking at buying the historic block, which juts into Bantry Bay at Killarney Heights, when it comes up for auction later this year.

NPWS has been urged by a community campaign, led by Liberal Northern Beaches Councillor Stuart Sprott, to purchase the land and add to the surrounding Garigal National Park.

Mr Sprott has the support of Liberal MP for Wakehurst Brad Hazzard.

Killarney Point in 1943. Picture: SIX Maps

And late last year the council voted to write to the State Government and urge it to buy the block at 107 Killarney Pde, currently zoned for “private recreation”.

Mr Kean's office had previously advised Mr Hazzard that if the property came on the market that NPWS would consider buying it.

The property is listed for sale with Colliers International and it is understood, will be auctioned before the end of the year.

A Sunday school picnic at Killarney Point around 1920. Picture State Library of NSW

On Friday Mr Hazzard’s office confirmed that NPWS’s Sydney North Area Manager has advised that its Reserve Establishment Team was aware of the upcoming sale and had “commenced the assessment process”.

This team assesses and approves land to be potentially become, or be added to, a national park.

“Mr Hazzard recognises that acquisition of 107 Killarney Dr would be beneficial to our community in a number of ways and this confirmation from NPWS is a positive step forward,” his office said.

The burnt out former dance hall on Killarney Point in 2018. Picture: Manly Daily

The property’s colourful history included the construction, by John Dunbar, of a dance hall and picnic grounds in the early 1900s where revellers would arrive on ferries from Sydney.

The dance hall was replaced twice with the last structure built in 1928.

His family operated the business until 1957 when it sold the property to the Mosman Rowing Club, which used it as a training base.

In 2005 it was sold to the Green Point Sports Foundation for $1.5 million. Then in 2012 it was sold to a private investor for $3.6 million.

Then in November 2015, police raided the property where a clandestine drug lab was found. Two Chatswood men were charged with manufacturing a commercial quantity of the drug ice.

Four months later the former dance hall was destroyed by a deliberately lit fire.

The property was sold again in December 2017 — this time for $1.5 million — to a private company.

In July this year a private company bought the land for an undisclosed price.

“I will continue to keep putting the pressure on the State Government to see Killarney Point returned to the public,” Mr Sprott said.

The open space — great for picnics — at 107 Killarney Dr, on Killarney Point. Picture: Manly Daily.

“It’s been great to see Brad Hazzard get on board and offer his support.

“Hopefully this will help see the land, in tune with the heritage of the area, become a fantastic picnic ground in the national park for people to again come together and enjoy themselves.”