ORAO

Myles Dunphy Reserve

• Threat of development
ORAO objects to any sale of the land of
the former Bowling Club and the possible
threats development of this site would
have to the Myles Dunphy reserve.

• Council commissions study
ORAO is most concerned that space
designated as community land is to be
sold. The Leader newspaper reported on
3/10/06:

"Council has agreed to commission a
feasibility study for future options of this
site. The site investigations will establish
whether the ground is suitable for
redevelopment. The 27/09 Council meeting
agreed to provide $70,000 to be made
available for these site investigations and
to generate future sales revenue of
approximately $3 million."

However, it appears that Council has
already made a decision on the proposed
used of this land.

Minutes of the meeting of the council held
on 27th September, 2006, Resolved "that
Council approve an allocation of $70,000
from Asset Development Reserve to
undertake a detailed feasibility study to
determine the suitability of developing the
former Oatley Bowling Club site for aged
care facilities."

Myles Dunphy (1891-1985) was a tireless publicist
for the wilderness cause. In 1914 he formed the first
bushwalking club, the Sydney Bushwalkers, to
explore trackless wild places in Australia. It was
through bushwalking that his vision of wilderness
protection grew.
In 1932 Myles formed the National Parks and
Primitive Areas Council, which for the next 25 years
campaigned for a national park reservation system
from the Snowy Mountains to the Hastings River,
including the Greater Blue Mountains National Park.
These reserve proposals laid the foundations of the
current national parks system in NSW. He also
pioneered the first wilderness reserve in Australia,
the Tallowa Primitive Reserve near Bundanoon in
1934.
Myles was an Oatley resident who was sometimes
referred to as the “Father of Conservation”.
Hurstville Council agreed to name the Myles Dunphy
Bushland Reserve at its meeting of 11 December
1991 following a suggestion from the Oatley Flora
and Fauna Society.