Sydney’s Barrenjoey Head could be set to offer short-stay holiday accommodation

HOLIDAY-MAKERS could soon grab a priceless piece of Palm Beach real estate and bunk down beside Barrenjoey Lighthouse itself, under plans to rent out the head-keeper’s humble cottage.

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THE cottages atop Barrenjoey Head will be available for short-stay holiday accommodation under a concept plan that has gone on display for public comment.

There are three: the head lightkeeper’s cottage and two assistant lightkeepers’ cottages.

The view over Palm Beach from Barrenjoey Headland.

The two fishermen’s cottages at the foot of the headland will be partly rebuilt and repaired. A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said these are “in poor condition, having extensive termite damage, wet rot and requiring asbestos remediation”.

Despite the long family connection between the cottages and their former occupants, the NPWS refused to sign leases for the cottages.

Short-term accommodation at the cottages on Barrenjoey headland could soon be an option for holidaymakers.

In its 2014 Plan of Management for Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the NPWS flagged the “adaptive re-use of buildings at Barrenjoey Head will be investigated and implemented subject to environmental assessment processes and approvals under the NSW Heritage Act” and said “the construction of a new low-key public toilet facility at Barrenjoey Head will be investigated and may be implemented subject to environmental assessment processes and approvals under the NSW Heritage Act”.

Fearing commercial development atop Barrenjoey Head, a public rally by hundreds of people was held at Palm Beach in July 2013.

Barrenjoey Headland Picture: Braden Fastier.

Now the NPWS is seeking public comment on its concept plans.

“Barrenjoey Head attracted nearly 200,000 visitors in the past 12 months and to cater for these visitors NPWS is preparing to connect the headland to the town sewerage and water supply to allow for a future public toilet, drinking water and additional firefighting water supply,” the spokesman said. “The NPWS is also considering re-using the cottages for short-stay holiday accommodation.”

One of the lighthouse cottages at Barrenjoey.

The NPWS proposes to hold an open-house information day on the site on Saturday, April 2, to coincide with the public exhibition of the concept plans.

The cottages will be open from 9am-1pm. The plans will be at each building. The plans will be displayed on the Office of Environment and Heritage “Have your say’’ page by Wednesday, April 20 or at environment.nsw.gov.au/parkmanagement/barrenjoey-head-concept-plans