Sydney Grammar School plans overnight dormitory at Gladesville amid petition, resident objections

An elite private school’s plans to turn a boat shed into an overnight dormitory is ruffling feathers on the exclusive street home to residents including cricketing great Mark Taylor.

An elite private school’s plans to turn a boat shed into an overnight student dormitory is ruffling feathers on the exclusive street with cricketing great Mark Taylor among the locals who have come out swinging.

A petition started by residents in Gladesville has called on Sydney Grammar School to rethink plans to transform its 100-year-old boat shed on Wharf Rd into overnight accommodation catering for up to 36 students.

The $250,000 proposal includes adapting the upper floor of the two storey boat shed into a dorm where students would sleep on mattresses and have access to change rooms, kitchen and gym.

A photo of Sydney Grammar’s boat shed.

The school’s plan stated the development would allow the students to train in morning and afternoon rowing sessions, before completing any homework in the dorm facility prior to lights out at 10pm.

Neighbours, in formal submissions to Ryde Council, have raised concerns over impacts on the “quiet and peaceful pocket of Gladesville’’ with one local describing it as a “waterfront hotel”.

Other residents fear the development could result in “students having parties, resulting in noise disturbance for residents.”

A photo of the current upper floor hall, which would be turned into a dorm for students.

The school, which plans to use the site three nights a week during the rowing season, said parties or loud music would be strictly off the curriculum with a plan of management banning any such behaviour.

Plans show students will be transported by a coaster style bus to the facility and then picked up by the same sized bus the following morning before being taken back to the school’s Darlinghurst campus.

Cricketing legend Mark Taylor, who has lived on the street for 23 years, is among locals who have written to Ryde Council objecting to the plans - naming traffic impacts as his key concern.

“My concern is not so much the boat shed - I love being on the water myself - but I’m concerned about the traffic and congestion,” he said.

“Wharf Rd is a dead end street - there’s only one way in and out and my fear is the dormitory will only add to the number of cars using the road.

“It will take the usage of the boat shed to the next step.”

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has written a submission opposing the development.

Roland Hawkins, who has lived on Wharf Rd since the 1980s, believes the development is “incompatible” with the residential area.

“It’s arguably one of the best streets in Gladesville and if you add buses into the mix, it will only accentuate the problems we have,” he said.

“Noise will no doubt be an issue and there is too much congestion in the street already – the street is narrow and it’s often very difficult to get in and out of your driveway.

“My grizzle is if there’s more traffic coming up and down the street it makes it: a) more dangerous and b) more of a pain in the neck because you can’t get out of your driveway.”

An architectural plan showing the mattress layout of the dorm.

The school, in its plans, said the proposal would not result in any unacceptable impacts upon adjoining properties or the streetscape.

“The existing rowing season usage of the waterway will remain (therefore) the proposal will not result in congestion or generate conflict between people using open space areas or the waterway,” the plans added.

Ryde Council’s planning panel, which met to consider the plans this month, have deferred a final decision on the proposal to allow the school more time to complete an updated plan of management which will include details of how the facility will be operated.

Plans for the development show it would also include an additional kayak shed on the eastern part of the site along with new pedestrian gates, toilets, and landscaping works.

A photo of the boat shed shortly after it’s opening in 1922.

Other features of the development include adding a new turning area to help buses manoeuvre in and out of the site.

Sydney Grammar was contacted for comment but did not provide a response at the time of publication.

The school has a long history of rowing and has produced multiple Olympic champions in the sport including Stuart Welch.