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SOME 70 years ago boats were still pushing off from the Kenmore Pleasure Grounds, putting out for a day’s picnicking or fishing.
The grounds, established around the turn of the century, loomed large in Goulburn’s social life and thrust the Wollondilly River forward as a popular recreation spot.
Now a landowner is hoping the council can resurrect just a little of that popularity and even restore the 100-year-old boatshed on site. Council agreed at its most recent meeting to purchase a 3870 square metre strip, including the boatshed, at the bottom of Wollondilly Avenue, adjoining the river.
It will pay $46,000 for the land, based on a Land and Property Information valuation. The strip was part of developer Graham Irving’s proposed 28-lot subdivision on the former Seventh Day Adventist camping ground and conference centre. His firm, appropriately named Boathouse Developments Pty Ltd, bought the land last year.
But the riverside portion was zoned ‘public recreation’ under the Council’s Local Environmental Plan, meaning it had to be set aside as a public reserve. As such, Council was bound to acquire it from the developer.
The block contains the former boatshed, remnants of the old wharf and a barbecue, steps descending to the riverbank, signs of picnic huts that once graced the site and other archaeological gems. General manager Chris Berry told councillors the strip would create a link between Kenmore and the city, building on the riverside tracks already in place.
“It’s part of a long term planning strategy going back to the 1980s,” he said.
“…This is one of the very few areas (identified as public recreation) where we don’t own land.”
Cr Neil Penning questioned who was responsible for the boatshed’s maintenance and pointed out it was both “old and significant.”
Mr Berry replied that just because something was old, it didn’t mean it was ‘heritage.’
The Burra Charter, which defined heritage conservation values, was very clear on this, he said. Mr Irving has described it as a “jewel in Goulburn’s crown.”
“It’s a facility that has never been repeated in Goulburn’s history since its closure all of those years ago when the Seventh Day Adventists bought the site,” he said.
“Its potential return to the public domain is in our opinion a chance for Goulburn to gain a facility which provides an enormous boost to the region.”
A 1934 ‘Lilac City’ publication shows well dressed people boating on the Wollondilly River near Kenmore.
The “beautiful and well kept gardens at Kenmore (were) open to inspection by visitors” and the “nearby Kenmore Pleasure Grounds had boating, swimming, camping and picnic facilities available.”
“The scenery at Kenmore is delightful, both in the gardens and on the river,” the publication stated. The grounds ceased operations in the mid 1950s but signs of a past era remain.
Mr Irving said Council could reclaim it as a public space, allowing canoeists to paddle along the river and people to enjoy the view.
Pedestrian access would be from Wollondilly Ave. Moreover, many of the block owners in his subdivision would enjoy “fantastic views,” and all would have river access. Mr Irving gained approval for the first seven lots in the subdivision in the past few weeks.
He hopes to build infrastructure for them this year and develop another 21 blocks, ranging from 700 to 850 square metres. “
I think they will appeal to people who want blocks with a pleasant outlook,” he said.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening around there with the development of Kenmore Hospital.”
Mr Irving has previously developed housing in Gourock Avenue, following Council’s refusal of his neighbourhood shop proposal on the site.
He unsuccessfully challenged the decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court. Council’s land and property manager Ken Wheeldon had not responded to the Post’s requests for comment on the riverside area’s possible development by the time of going to press.
