109 Copeland Rd

Following the sale of Carmel on Beecroft Road, near the tennis courts a few years ago, another almost derelict house has recently been sold. This time the property is at 109 Copeland Road.

The original 4 lots upon which this property stands were acquired on the sale of the Field of Mars Common in 1887 by a real estate agent, George Dyson of Sydney. He presumably held it for speculative purposes. He sold the two corner lots in 1889 to William Allsopp of Picton a railway employee. The other two lots were sold in 1908 to Walter Herbert Nichols of Tilba Tilba, a butcher. The corner lots were then sold in 1896 to James Doran the Station Master at Beecroft and in 1916 James’ wife Eleanor Theresa Doran bought most of the other two lots. It is possible that James Doran was living on the site in 1912 and so presumably the house was built around this time.

From 1912 James Doran had his father living with him. The father, Patrick Doran, was a third cousin of Cardinal Moran, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney. Patrick came from Leighlan Bridge in Ireland and had lived in NSW for over 50 years – during which time he had worked at Muswellbrook Railway Station until he retired in1912.[1] Being an Irishman Doran called the house Glendalough – after the sacred monastery of St Kevin in Ireland.

After the death of the father, until 1920 the house was rented to Mrs Constance Mitchell. The present parcel was then sold in 1923 to Ann Elizabeth Firth of Beecroft, a widow.

Later that same year Mrs Firth sold the property to Leslie Alfred Redgrave (1882-1956) and he called it “Bellingara.” Leslie Redgrave was the sone of Charles Alfred Hurst Redgrave and Mary Jane (nee Bellingham). He was born in Newtown and married at St Leonards to Ruby Ella Bird (b 1886). Mr Redgrave had the telephone installed by at least 1931 and it remained in his name until 1944 with number Epping 1099. He was a school master and author. His books include Gwen: a romance of Australian Station life (1913), Scatch Cock: a booklet of the bright birds of our bushland pictured in colour and rhyme for children (1933), Feathered favourites: a booklet of bird verse (1932) and Little bungalows: a practical handbook for the homemaker (1937).

The property was transferred into the name of Ruby Ella Redgrave in 1931.

Leslie moved to live at Oura via Wagga in 1943 and he died in Wagga in 1956.

In 1939 Alice Walker, widow of Bondi, took out a Supreme Court injunction to stop her under aged daughter (Shirley) from marrying Ronald Leslie Redgrave the son of this household. The matter was settled by Shirley and Ronald agreeing to defer the wedding.

In 1956 the property was sold to Frank Gallaway and his wife Valda Elaine. He was a marine engineer.

1n 1959 it was sold to the most recent owner. It remained the owner’s home (and that of his family) from then until 2012.

JRPP Amended Plans

Yep, it's still going to be five storeys.  Here are the details of the amended plans now before the JRPP for consideration.

Closure of Murray Farm Road Bridge 30 June weekend

The Murray Farm Road Bridge over the M2 will be closed from 2pm Saturday 30 June to 5am Monday 2 July

JRPP Decision about DA 1305

The following is the full text of the JRPP's decision on this applcation:

The task of the panel at this meeting is to consider both the planning merits of this application and the relationship to character and amenity and the significant need for affordable housing. The Panel has visited the site and notes the existing character of the area and the zoning that supports it. The Panel notes that this site has particular attributes for the supply of affordable housing and accepts the pressing need for this accommodation, a true public interest application supported by the State government and it’s SEPP. Whilst the Panel's view is that the application is not approvable in its current form, it may, with amendments be capable of addressing the unsatisfactory planning design issues.

By following the topography of this site, Building 3, stepping the building down from 5 storeys, to 3, to 2 - the design has dealt better with height and bulk. This design feature has not been employed for Building 2 which places 5 storeys across the site, in the vicinity of 2 and 1 storey neighbouring residences which is unsatisfactory in terms of the relationship with the neighbouring Hannah Street properties.

The Panel will defer the determination to allow the applicant to amend the application, should it choose to do so, by submitting plans within one month which address the above issues and will make a determination upon receipt of these plans once assessed by council.

We recommend that the applicant meet with council planning officers to consider how the above matters of concern might be addressed and in addition to look at the following specific matters:

1. The relationship between Building 1 and 15 Hannah Street - the impact of the driveway, the batter, the height and materials of the fence and where it is to be placed, and the position of screen planting;

2. The relationship between Building 2, and 15 and 17 Hannah Street properties in

terms of overlooking of house and garden - the Panel also finds the rear balconies

where now placed to be unsatisfactory in those terms;

3. Reconsideration of the need for the through site driveway for the traffic and the

ability for increased landscaping in that area of the eastern side of Buildings 2 and

3;

4. The Panel remains concerned about disabled access to the shops and require it to

be further considered and improved.

5. The Panel notes the dissatisfaction of the council engineer with the information

provided about drainage matters.

6. Overlooking from lobbies and corridors of Building 3 to the rear of properties in

Copeland Road remains unsatisfactory and impact should be ameliorated.

DA1305 - 51 flats above Copeland Road

The JRPP hearing into the Uniting Care application to build blocks of five storey flats between Hannah Street and Copeland Road was attended by some 120 concerned residents all visibly and audibly opposed to the proposal.  Speakers against the proposal went first, which seems to give the developer an unfair advantage.  Anything we said he can refute without challenge.  Like, the developer's spokesperson said the five storey flats are "in character" with the single storey cottages in front and behind.  The panel appears to have accepted this despite everyone else including 250 respondents, Hornsby Shire Council, Greg Smith, and Michael Hutchense, and common sense, all saying it isn't.
Anyway the Panel's ruling was deferred, while some minor adjustments are made to the plans.  Their minutes of the meeting are at:
http://jrpp.nsw.gov.au/DevelopmentRegister/tabid/62/ctl/view/mid/424/JRPP_ID/921/language/en-AU/Default.aspx
Summarising, the panel says:

"Whilst the Panel's view is that the application is not approvable in its current form, it may, with amendments be capable of addressing the unsatisfactory planning design issues."

So what happens now?
"The Panel will defer the determination to allow the applicant to amend the application, should it choose to do so, by submitting plans within one month which address the above issues and will make a determination upon receipt of these plans once assessed by council."

In other words, no further public scrutiny of the plan!