Mystery wall could be a historic find
Mystery wall could be a historic find
April 30, 2009
Section: News
WARREN JONES
A MYSTERIOUS stone wall found on a Figtree development site has sparked an investigation by Wollongong City Council and the Department of Planning, and caused the developer to avoid doing work that will damage the walls.
Figtree resident and Wollongong Against Corruption member Vickie Curran had written to the council and the Department of Planning about the wall, which was apparently hidden through thick scrub but well known to local children.
She said she believes the wall could have been built by convicts and needed to be assessed properly before it was ruined by development.
The dry stone wall is in some bushland at the Redgum Ridge subdivision off O’Briens Road, Figtree, the site of a new housing estate.
A council spokeswoman said the council had requested the developer leave the wall alone for the time being.
“Council is investigating a matter involving existing stone walls at the Redgum Ridge subdivision,” she said.
“Following concerns raised by a resident, council has requested that the developer not continue works that would impact upon the walls while their history and significance is properly researched.”
A spokeswoman from the Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning said the department “received a request from members of the local community for the Minister to make an Interim Heritage Order (IHO)” on the wall.
“The Branch is working with Wollongong City Council to investigate if an IHO is warranted,” she said.
