History
Prior to European settlement, there was a rich and diverse Aboriginal life in the Little Bay area. Evidence of this can be seen through Aboriginal sites in and around Little Bay; including middens, rock engravings, axe-grinding grooves and an ochre site. The modern day Aboriginal community maintains an ongoing interest and custodianship of their cultural heritage.
A brief outline of the history of the property is outlined below:
- 1881-1940
- The property was part of the Coast Hospital grounds and used primarily as productive gardens and open paddocks.
- 1959
- Ownership of the property was transferred to UNSW.
- 1960’s-1970’s
- Sand mining was conducted on the property, altering the natural topography, creating tailings dams, and exposing 22 million year old Miocene sediments and ochre deposits.
- 1960-1987
- Much of the property was filled with waste material (primarily building materials and domestic waste).
- 1980’s
- The sporting fields and amenity buildings were progressively developed.
- 1984
- The UNSW Biological Resources Centre was constructed to accommodate the breeding and housing of animals associated with UNSW research projects.
- 1992
- The exposed Miocene sediments were inscribed on the Register of the National Estate as a geological site of scientific and educational significance.
- 1992
- The UNSW solar research building (Solarch) was constructed and operated as one of Sydney’s first solar energy research centres.
- 2007
- The Solarch building was destroyed by fire.
- 2007
- UNSW received approval to develop the property into a residential subdivision.
- 2008
- The land was purchased by Charter Hall in August 2008.