Sydney private school Frensham to win ‘eco-hut’ spat

Frensham is poised to begin work a $7.6m bush campus despite its alumni waging war against the school due to fear the project would damage ancient wombat burrows.

Students at Frensham School in Mittagong.

One of Sydney’s most prestigious private girls schools appears poised to start work on a $7.6m bush campus modelled on Geelong Grammar’s famous Timbertop property, despite its alumni waging war against the school due to fear the property would damage ancient wombat burrows.

Southern Highlands institution Frensham – which counts Lucy Turnbull, Cathy Whitlam and Kim Wran among its former students – had boasted the environmental credentials and educational benefits of the new eco hut accommodation. However, its alumni alleged the development would have detrimental ­effects on its surrounds.

Known as the Holt Bush ­Accommodation, the project will be used to house 72 students during their time in year 9, similar to the Geelong Grammar campus near Mansfield, Victoria, and The Scots College’s Glengarry property in NSW’s Kangaroo Valley.

Lucy Turnbull. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Kim Wran Sheftell. Picture: Adam Taylor

In submissions to the NSW Land and Environment Court, the women opposing the project – which was due to be built on the “Lower Holt” – claimed the founder of the school, Winifred West, was a keen environmentalist and the proposed project would have been “an anathema” to her.

“From her published works we can easily ascertain that Miss West had purchased the Lower Holt ‘to be held in perpetuity for the students of Frensham, the ­animals and the refreshment of people’,” a submission from one alumni read.

“This is a repeated theme in her works, and I am aware that other Alumnae have referred to this issue in their own submissions and letters. The constitutions of Winifred West Schools Ltd forbid this land from being used in any way counter to the founder’s original intention.

“The founder specifically ­refers to this provision being made in her writings, and it can be found in the constitutions of Winifred West Schools. On behalf of the students, ex-students – in good faith I believe it would be a desecration of her memory to ­develop this land which she held so dear.”

Despite the attempts of the alumni to have the project moved elsewhere, the court’s acting commissioner, Paul Adam, said that he was “inclined to grant consent, subject to appropriate conditions being ­imposed”, which includes references to a “fauna safety plan” and protection of koala habitat.

Frensham Head of School Geoff Marsh.

Shortly after Mr Adam’s decision was handed down, Frensham Head of School Geoff Marsh wrote to parents and students that he was “pleased” to inform them of the decision, which would help students to gain “a lifelong respect for the natural environment”.

“The decision, which follows legal proceedings commenced in early 2022, is an important step forward for the project,” he wrote in the letter.

“The Holt Student Accommodation Project will deliver a unique learning experience for Frensham students and inspire a lifelong respect for the natural ­environment.”

While the alumni had stressed Ms West’s concerns about the wombats on the property, Mr Adam found the marsupials were not of particular concern to her, despite being a lover of flora and fauna.

“She undoubtedly stressed the importance of protecting fauna but those referring to wombats did not cite particular examples of statements where she had ­referred to wombats, and neither of the parties drew attention to any statements specifically about wombats which Miss West had made,” his judgment reads. He also said that while some submissions were “extremely critical” of the school’s approach to public consultation on the matter, “it is not a matter for the court”.

The Australian first revealed in 2021 that the plans had led to a backlash from Frensham alumni, led by Jane Stanham, from the area’s prominent Macarthur family of pastoralists.

The alumni has run an online campaign and petition – which racked up nearly 3000 signatures – to prevent the school from forging on with its plans, encouraging community members and those linked to the school to write to the head and deputy head.

The matter is due to return to court on Wednesday.