Flora & Fauna Survey & Ecological Assessment (pdf. 5MB)

Flora & Fauna Survey & Ecological Assessments – 35 Water Street Wahroonga
2 SITE DESCRIPTION
2.1 Location and Setting
Historic Rippon Grange is located in a fully developed residential setting in the suburb of Wahroonga, in Kuring-gai
Local Government Area. It is about one (1) kilometre from the Wahroonga Shopping Centre and
Railway Station and about 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD.
The suburb of Wahroonga was developed in the late 19 th Century, soon after the railway line was extended
to Sydney’s Upper North Shore (c. 1890). For many years, it was used as a private dwelling, and during that
time the grounds were developed and extensively landscaped.
The character of the surrounding area is described as
“…a well established leafy residential area. The Lots are larger than average found in Sydney,
and the gardens are landscaped and well maintained. The exception to the surrounding
residential dwellings is ‘The Bush School’, which is located opposite the site in Water Street”
(R. Olssen for Ku-ring-gai Council, December 2006).
The former John Williams Hospital site occupies land bounded by Water Street (north) and Young Street
(east) and backs onto residential development in Billyard Avenue (south) and Plymouth Close (west). The
original Property was once much larger, but it has been reduced in size as land was progressively sold off for
residential development.
The grounds have been extensively landscaped over a number of years, and include a significant arboretum
with specimen trees sourced from all parts of the world. Some native canopy trees have been retained;
most particularly a stand of Sydney Blue Gums (Eucalyptus saligna), and these been incorporated into the
original landscape design; growing over (exotic) garden plantings and lawns. These canopy trees are located
predominantly in the eastern and central parts of the Property (see Figure 1.2). Some of these Blue Gums
may be remnants of the original vegetation; while others (particularly those occurring in a straight line on
the Water/Young Street frontages) appear to have been planted.
In order to provide for the upkeep of a large pleasure garden and latterly a Hospital, parts of the Subject
Property were developed as ‘service areas’ (composting facilities, work sheds), while other areas were used
to provide food for the main house and latterly the Hospital (chicken coops, vegetable gardens and a small
orchard). Surviving plans and photographs show that these facilities were located in the south-western part
of the Subject Property, behind the Stables – an area which has now been identified for ‘reconstruction’ to
BGHF (UBM Vegetation Management Plan 2007).
From 1951 to 2005, when the Property was owned by the State Government and used as a hospital and
respite care centre, the grounds were generally neglected, with invasive garden plants and other weeds
growing unchecked and invading the remnant BGHF along the Water Street / Young Street boundary. The
understorey in this stand of BGHF trees is now wholly composed of introduced species and weeds.
UBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd Page 13