Save Bydown Terraces from demolition - Neutral Precinct
Save Bydown Terraces from demolition - Neutral Precinct
The issue
Bydown Terraces, located at 27 to 37 Bydown St, Neutral Bay, stand as a rare intact example of workers cottages in this area. These charming and historic buildings are now under threat of demolition due to North Sydney Council DA 310/2025, which proposes an eight-storey building with three basement levels of parking. This development, if approved, would erase a significant piece of our local history and heritage that cannot be replaced.
The terraces represent a unique architectural and cultural history of Neutral Bay and are an irreplaceable part of our Military Road corridor's character. Unlike anything else in the area, these cottages symbolise the lives and stories of the working-class community, telling tales of the past that deserve to be cherished and preserved.
We call upon the General Manager, Mayor, and Councillors of North Sydney to urgently impose an Interim Heritage Order to protect these invaluable structures. Their preservation is not only a matter of honouring our history but also of maintaining the unique cultural fabric of our community. By imposing an Interim Heritage Order, we can ensure that these cottages remain a part of Neutral Bay's landscape for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
This is a critical moment for our community to act and save Bydown Terraces from being lost forever. The decision made today will impact the identity of Neutral Bay and its ability to weave our rich past into the future.
Sign this petition to join the force in preserving Bydown Terraces, safeguarding an important chapter of our history and preventing the erasure of our cultural heritage. Your voice can make a difference. Please sign and share to protect what makes Neutral Bay exceptional.
These terraces were previously considered for demolition but the previous North Sydney Council stopped that after a site meeting.
UPDATE 8.10.25
We have learnt that this has been put on the agenda for a Council meeting on 13.10.25 Glen Curyer from Neutral Precinct will be speaking at the meeting. The report for Council is available on their website. It doesn't sound positive, it reads as if the Council's Planning section is stretched approving new dwellings they have no time or resources to protect the old.
https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ecm/download/document-11662962
Update 12.10.25
Mosman Collective has published a well researched article on the proposed development and developer behind it, Yang Lui. They have also detailed the opposition. Viewable at Mosman Collective
If you would like to view the DA 310/2025 it is viewable at NSC you can also put in your objection there to the development (or support, if you prefer the eight stories!)
Be very clear, these terraces have stood for 130 years, but it will be this Council who decides if they survive or are demolished. The Low and Mid rise House reforms have encouraged development, these will not survive without heritage protection.
If you would like to let your GM, Mayor and Councillors know your feelings, even just one line, their details are:
Therese Cole, Chief Executive Officer <council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Zoë Baker <mayor@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Godfrey Santer <cr.Godfrey.Santer@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Nicole Antonini <cr.nicole.antonini@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor MaryAnn Beregi <cr.maryann.beregi@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Efi Carr <cr.efi.carr@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Chris Holding <cr.chris.holding@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Angus Hoy <cr.angus.hoy@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Jessica Keen <cr.jessica.keen@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor James Spenceley <cr.James.Spenceley@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Shannon Welch <cr.Shannon.Welch@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Neutral Precinct has written to Councillors yesterday, once response gave us pause when they said they supported Heritage items but wondered if this was difficult in light of the State Government’s reforms.
Even if you don't want to put in opposition to this DA or contact the Mayor or Councillors directly, if you could share this petition we would be grateful.
Next update after the Council meeting when we find out if the Councillors want to save or demolish these terraces!
Update 13.10.25
Positive news. Thank you to those who spoke at tonight's Council meeting. The great news is a unanimous decision was made to employ a consultant to assess if a Interim Heritage Order would be successful. While not a IHO in itself, this is a good first step. Interesting meeting, Cr Keen put the motion forward for the IHO, Cr Beregi amended that to employ a consultant to assess and the Mayor spoke about saving items of heritage. After the developer's heritage consultant spoke and said the terraces weren't the best examples of their style and should be demolished Cr Spenceley made the excellent point that to only keep the best means only keeping one of anything. Cr Santer spoke about attending a good chiropractor in one of the terraces and how the interiors were excellent in that terrace, again in direct contrast to the developers consultant.
Early days but a positive start.
Update 16.10.25
It seems everyone thinks these terraces are worth the effort of saving, except maybe a few Councillors & some Council Officers who are worried about the cost. The Australian Financial Review did a delightful article today on these terraces - https://www.afr.com/property/residential/last-row-standing-the-battle-for-neutral-bay-s-beautiful-cottages-20251015-p5n2mp
20.10.25
Just wanted to share some of the historical connection the community was able to provide between this row of terraces and the local community.
The Buildings, Builder and the Architect
- The dwellings are a group of intact federation workers cottages, similar in age and style to the cottages that were heritage listed in Parraween Street, Cremorne in 2024.
- The Bydown St dwellings demonstrate material and fabric consistent with the time of construction around 1908.
- The builder Frank Harpham was a founding member of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club, and responsible for creating its name. The club continues to this day.
- The builder Harpham was closely associated with a pre-eminent architectural company, TW Hodgson.
- Thomas W Hodson was an alderman of North Sydney Council, and elected mayor to that council for 3 consecutive terms.
- Frank Hodgson, brother and also a principal of TW Hodgson, was mayor of Mosman and the Grand Masonic Architect of NSW.
Update 21.10.25
Shocked!
Just before closing of submissions for the DA the developer lodged renders of the proposed building. We can see why he lodged these just before closing, most will be horrified. This will one of the most dominate buildings in Neutral Bay, visible from the Heritage Listed Fire Station and Heritage Listed School. We trusted the developers Heritage Consultant when his report says:
The site is considerably visually separated from Neutral Bay Fire Station as both present to different street frontage and are well removed from one another. The works would make no changes to the fabric or curtilage of this heritage item which is interpretated (sic! Consultants mistake, not ours!) principally from Yeo Street. Where a small portion of the works may be visible when viewing Neutral Bay Fire Station from its principal street frontage, it would be as a receding element.
Or his description of the view from the school:
The site is significantly and visually separated in distance from Neutral Bay Public School. The works will make no changes to the fabric, curtilage or surrounds of this heritage item.
Was the consultant and developer being honest? You be the judge after looking at the renders.
The very sad thing about this is all the Councillors are not on board about protecting this row of heritage terraces. Councillor Chris Holding gave a great speech on the night of the 13th saying how he had protected Heritage items in the past, would vote for a consultant to look at the site, but didn't think he could support Heritage Listing going forward due to budgetary constraints. One would hope something could be moved to save these long term assets of Neutral Bay while there are short term cash flow problems. These terraces have been here since 1908, it would be a shame to lose the over some short term finance issues. This is a bit like selling your heart to pay for your credit card bill.
As always, if you are a fan of the new building, write to your Councillor or Mayor and let them know how enthusiastic you are about the latest monolith proposed for Neutral Bay Village!
Update 06.03.26
Great News!
Council's heritage expert has assessed the Bydown St cottages to meet the criteria for local heritage listing and accordingly Council staff have prepared a Planning Proposal to recommend progression of the process, that will be considered by the North Sydney Local Planning Panel on 11th. The Panel provides a recommendation, rather than making a decision.
Assuming the panel endorses the PP, it will go to Council for decision on whether the proposal should be lodged with the DPHI for Gateway determination.
In the meantime, the Interim Heritage Order appeal in the Land and Environment Court is scheduled for 19 March with an on-site visit at 9:30 AM. I assume the public can address the Commissioner.
This is great news news and we thank every single person for their support. It is nice to see your support has been backed up by expert opinion.
Thank you
View from Heritage Listed Fire Station
View from Heritage Listed School
View from Old Post Office
View from Military Road
View from May Gibbs Place
View from Near Ben Boyd road on Military Road
Update 29.10.25
Demolition started!
Absolutely shocked. We will just quote an excerpt from a residents letter to the Mayor and Councillors this morning, we couldn't put it any better:
As of 8:50 a.m. today, workmen were observed removing fireplaces and internal fittings from 29 Bydown Street, while similar works are programmed for 35 Bydown Street under a “remediation” scope issued by Aetos Pty Ltd.
These actions have occurred after Council’s resolution of 13 October 2025, where a unanimous motion was passed to seek urgent advice on issuing an Interim Heritage Order (IHO) for the group of dwellings at 27–37 Bydown Street and to review the area for inclusion in a new Heritage Conservation Area.
The developer’s conduct now appears to be a deliberate and unlawful attempt to interfere with the Council’s heritage assessment process by removing physical evidence of architectural significance. Immediate enforcement action is required under the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW), the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), and the North Sydney LEP and DCP 2013.
Update 30.10.25
Last night Neutral Precinct emailed the Mayor and requested, due to the behaviour by the developer Mr Yang Lui, that Council impose an Interim Heritage Order on these terraces, at least until the Heritage Assessment is finished. We are aware there are limitations in what Council can do, but these are unusual times.
It is hard to believe that these terraces, which the developer wants to pull down, urgently need maintenance on the heritage items only, like original windows, doors and fireplaces - just before being pulled down. People could believe this was done purposely to circumvent the heritage assessment. Even if the heritage order was just for 30 days, it would not materially affect the developer as his DA has not yet been determined, but would stop this destruction of heritage items within the terraces until after the heritage assesment
Further update 30.10.25
The developer is still going on taking the heritage items out of these terraces before the assessment, even after Council officers attended yesterday. The developer is proving a lot more agile and faster moving than Council in this matter.
07.11.25
Awesome News!
Yesterday, after a confirming Heritage Report, North Sydney Council granted an Interim Heritage Order on the Bydown Terraces. Still a way to go from a permanent order, but valid for 12 months. Thank you to the Councillors of NSC.
Update 06.03.26
Great News!
Council's heritage expert has assessed the Bydown St cottages to meet the criteria for local heritage listing and accordingly Council staff have prepared a Planning Proposal to recommend progression of the process, that will be considered by the North Sydney Local Planning Panel on 11th. The Panel provides a recommendation, rather than making a decision.
Assuming the panel endorses the PP, it will go to Council for decision on whether the proposal should be lodged with the DPHI for Gateway determination.
In the meantime, the Interim Heritage Order appeal in the Land and Environment Court is scheduled for 19 March with an on-site visit at 9:30 AM. I assume the public can address the Commissioner.
This is great news news and we thank every single person for their support. It is nice to see your support has been backed up by expert opinion.
Thank you
564
The issue
Bydown Terraces, located at 27 to 37 Bydown St, Neutral Bay, stand as a rare intact example of workers cottages in this area. These charming and historic buildings are now under threat of demolition due to North Sydney Council DA 310/2025, which proposes an eight-storey building with three basement levels of parking. This development, if approved, would erase a significant piece of our local history and heritage that cannot be replaced.
The terraces represent a unique architectural and cultural history of Neutral Bay and are an irreplaceable part of our Military Road corridor's character. Unlike anything else in the area, these cottages symbolise the lives and stories of the working-class community, telling tales of the past that deserve to be cherished and preserved.
We call upon the General Manager, Mayor, and Councillors of North Sydney to urgently impose an Interim Heritage Order to protect these invaluable structures. Their preservation is not only a matter of honouring our history but also of maintaining the unique cultural fabric of our community. By imposing an Interim Heritage Order, we can ensure that these cottages remain a part of Neutral Bay's landscape for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
This is a critical moment for our community to act and save Bydown Terraces from being lost forever. The decision made today will impact the identity of Neutral Bay and its ability to weave our rich past into the future.
Sign this petition to join the force in preserving Bydown Terraces, safeguarding an important chapter of our history and preventing the erasure of our cultural heritage. Your voice can make a difference. Please sign and share to protect what makes Neutral Bay exceptional.
These terraces were previously considered for demolition but the previous North Sydney Council stopped that after a site meeting.
UPDATE 8.10.25
We have learnt that this has been put on the agenda for a Council meeting on 13.10.25 Glen Curyer from Neutral Precinct will be speaking at the meeting. The report for Council is available on their website. It doesn't sound positive, it reads as if the Council's Planning section is stretched approving new dwellings they have no time or resources to protect the old.
https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ecm/download/document-11662962
Update 12.10.25
Mosman Collective has published a well researched article on the proposed development and developer behind it, Yang Lui. They have also detailed the opposition. Viewable at Mosman Collective
If you would like to view the DA 310/2025 it is viewable at NSC you can also put in your objection there to the development (or support, if you prefer the eight stories!)
Be very clear, these terraces have stood for 130 years, but it will be this Council who decides if they survive or are demolished. The Low and Mid rise House reforms have encouraged development, these will not survive without heritage protection.
If you would like to let your GM, Mayor and Councillors know your feelings, even just one line, their details are:
Therese Cole, Chief Executive Officer <council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Zoë Baker <mayor@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Godfrey Santer <cr.Godfrey.Santer@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Nicole Antonini <cr.nicole.antonini@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor MaryAnn Beregi <cr.maryann.beregi@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Efi Carr <cr.efi.carr@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Chris Holding <cr.chris.holding@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Angus Hoy <cr.angus.hoy@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Jessica Keen <cr.jessica.keen@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor James Spenceley <cr.James.Spenceley@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Councillor Shannon Welch <cr.Shannon.Welch@northsydney.nsw.gov.au>
Neutral Precinct has written to Councillors yesterday, once response gave us pause when they said they supported Heritage items but wondered if this was difficult in light of the State Government’s reforms.
Even if you don't want to put in opposition to this DA or contact the Mayor or Councillors directly, if you could share this petition we would be grateful.
Next update after the Council meeting when we find out if the Councillors want to save or demolish these terraces!
Update 13.10.25
Positive news. Thank you to those who spoke at tonight's Council meeting. The great news is a unanimous decision was made to employ a consultant to assess if a Interim Heritage Order would be successful. While not a IHO in itself, this is a good first step. Interesting meeting, Cr Keen put the motion forward for the IHO, Cr Beregi amended that to employ a consultant to assess and the Mayor spoke about saving items of heritage. After the developer's heritage consultant spoke and said the terraces weren't the best examples of their style and should be demolished Cr Spenceley made the excellent point that to only keep the best means only keeping one of anything. Cr Santer spoke about attending a good chiropractor in one of the terraces and how the interiors were excellent in that terrace, again in direct contrast to the developers consultant.
Early days but a positive start.
Update 16.10.25
It seems everyone thinks these terraces are worth the effort of saving, except maybe a few Councillors & some Council Officers who are worried about the cost. The Australian Financial Review did a delightful article today on these terraces - https://www.afr.com/property/residential/last-row-standing-the-battle-for-neutral-bay-s-beautiful-cottages-20251015-p5n2mp
20.10.25
Just wanted to share some of the historical connection the community was able to provide between this row of terraces and the local community.
The Buildings, Builder and the Architect
- The dwellings are a group of intact federation workers cottages, similar in age and style to the cottages that were heritage listed in Parraween Street, Cremorne in 2024.
- The Bydown St dwellings demonstrate material and fabric consistent with the time of construction around 1908.
- The builder Frank Harpham was a founding member of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club, and responsible for creating its name. The club continues to this day.
- The builder Harpham was closely associated with a pre-eminent architectural company, TW Hodgson.
- Thomas W Hodson was an alderman of North Sydney Council, and elected mayor to that council for 3 consecutive terms.
- Frank Hodgson, brother and also a principal of TW Hodgson, was mayor of Mosman and the Grand Masonic Architect of NSW.
Update 21.10.25
Shocked!
Just before closing of submissions for the DA the developer lodged renders of the proposed building. We can see why he lodged these just before closing, most will be horrified. This will one of the most dominate buildings in Neutral Bay, visible from the Heritage Listed Fire Station and Heritage Listed School. We trusted the developers Heritage Consultant when his report says:
The site is considerably visually separated from Neutral Bay Fire Station as both present to different street frontage and are well removed from one another. The works would make no changes to the fabric or curtilage of this heritage item which is interpretated (sic! Consultants mistake, not ours!) principally from Yeo Street. Where a small portion of the works may be visible when viewing Neutral Bay Fire Station from its principal street frontage, it would be as a receding element.
Or his description of the view from the school:
The site is significantly and visually separated in distance from Neutral Bay Public School. The works will make no changes to the fabric, curtilage or surrounds of this heritage item.
Was the consultant and developer being honest? You be the judge after looking at the renders.
The very sad thing about this is all the Councillors are not on board about protecting this row of heritage terraces. Councillor Chris Holding gave a great speech on the night of the 13th saying how he had protected Heritage items in the past, would vote for a consultant to look at the site, but didn't think he could support Heritage Listing going forward due to budgetary constraints. One would hope something could be moved to save these long term assets of Neutral Bay while there are short term cash flow problems. These terraces have been here since 1908, it would be a shame to lose the over some short term finance issues. This is a bit like selling your heart to pay for your credit card bill.
As always, if you are a fan of the new building, write to your Councillor or Mayor and let them know how enthusiastic you are about the latest monolith proposed for Neutral Bay Village!
Update 06.03.26
Great News!
Council's heritage expert has assessed the Bydown St cottages to meet the criteria for local heritage listing and accordingly Council staff have prepared a Planning Proposal to recommend progression of the process, that will be considered by the North Sydney Local Planning Panel on 11th. The Panel provides a recommendation, rather than making a decision.
Assuming the panel endorses the PP, it will go to Council for decision on whether the proposal should be lodged with the DPHI for Gateway determination.
In the meantime, the Interim Heritage Order appeal in the Land and Environment Court is scheduled for 19 March with an on-site visit at 9:30 AM. I assume the public can address the Commissioner.
This is great news news and we thank every single person for their support. It is nice to see your support has been backed up by expert opinion.
Thank you
View from Heritage Listed Fire Station
View from Heritage Listed School
View from Old Post Office
View from Military Road
View from May Gibbs Place
View from Near Ben Boyd road on Military Road
Update 29.10.25
Demolition started!
Absolutely shocked. We will just quote an excerpt from a residents letter to the Mayor and Councillors this morning, we couldn't put it any better:
As of 8:50 a.m. today, workmen were observed removing fireplaces and internal fittings from 29 Bydown Street, while similar works are programmed for 35 Bydown Street under a “remediation” scope issued by Aetos Pty Ltd.
These actions have occurred after Council’s resolution of 13 October 2025, where a unanimous motion was passed to seek urgent advice on issuing an Interim Heritage Order (IHO) for the group of dwellings at 27–37 Bydown Street and to review the area for inclusion in a new Heritage Conservation Area.
The developer’s conduct now appears to be a deliberate and unlawful attempt to interfere with the Council’s heritage assessment process by removing physical evidence of architectural significance. Immediate enforcement action is required under the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW), the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), and the North Sydney LEP and DCP 2013.
Update 30.10.25
Last night Neutral Precinct emailed the Mayor and requested, due to the behaviour by the developer Mr Yang Lui, that Council impose an Interim Heritage Order on these terraces, at least until the Heritage Assessment is finished. We are aware there are limitations in what Council can do, but these are unusual times.
It is hard to believe that these terraces, which the developer wants to pull down, urgently need maintenance on the heritage items only, like original windows, doors and fireplaces - just before being pulled down. People could believe this was done purposely to circumvent the heritage assessment. Even if the heritage order was just for 30 days, it would not materially affect the developer as his DA has not yet been determined, but would stop this destruction of heritage items within the terraces until after the heritage assesment
Further update 30.10.25
The developer is still going on taking the heritage items out of these terraces before the assessment, even after Council officers attended yesterday. The developer is proving a lot more agile and faster moving than Council in this matter.
07.11.25
Awesome News!
Yesterday, after a confirming Heritage Report, North Sydney Council granted an Interim Heritage Order on the Bydown Terraces. Still a way to go from a permanent order, but valid for 12 months. Thank you to the Councillors of NSC.
Update 06.03.26
Great News!
Council's heritage expert has assessed the Bydown St cottages to meet the criteria for local heritage listing and accordingly Council staff have prepared a Planning Proposal to recommend progression of the process, that will be considered by the North Sydney Local Planning Panel on 11th. The Panel provides a recommendation, rather than making a decision.
Assuming the panel endorses the PP, it will go to Council for decision on whether the proposal should be lodged with the DPHI for Gateway determination.
In the meantime, the Interim Heritage Order appeal in the Land and Environment Court is scheduled for 19 March with an on-site visit at 9:30 AM. I assume the public can address the Commissioner.
This is great news news and we thank every single person for their support. It is nice to see your support has been backed up by expert opinion.
Thank you
564
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Petition created on 5 October 2025