The following register of reports documents the development and release of a report entitled Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct—Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment by Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd in accordance with its Quality Management System. Godden Mackay Logan operates under a quality management system certified as compliant with the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Quality Management Systems AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008.
Introduction
Context
Site Description
The orientation of the main facade of the house is south, ending at the carriage loop and driveway off Oran Park Drive. The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church own five of these properties along Cobbitty Road and have current development approval for a proposed primary school.
Heritage Listings
NSW State Heritage Register
Although dominated by OPH's prominent hilltop location and distinctive garden, the Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct is made up of a number of parcels and owners. The main features and components of the grounds include the house, the carriage loop in front of the house, the tennis court and swimming pool, the two caretaker's houses, the carriage house, the dairy stables, dams, the two driveways and paddocks.
Camden Council LEP 2010
The house and associated elements are still noticeably dominant in the area, situated on a small hill in a semi-rural landscape;. The Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct is planned to be developed as a community of dwellings with associated educational, recreational, neighborhood and business facilities.
Non-Statutory Listings
Approach
This report represents Stage 1 of the interpretation planning process and will provide specific recommendations on how the cultural heritage significance of the Catherine Fields Area (Part) may be interpreted as part of the proposed development.
Methodology and Terminology
Limitations
Author Identification
Acknowledgements
Approach to Interpretation—Why Interpret?
Interpretation as a Conservation Process
Interpretation Principles for Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct
To apply these principles well, an analysis of the area's history (Section 3.0) includes the identification of key state history themes represented in the area.
History Overview and Significance—What’s the Story?
Summary History of the Precinct and its Context
- Background
- Aboriginal History
- A House Begins
- A House is Built
- A House is Leased; an Inheritance Questioned
- A Country Retreat; Subdivision Begins
- Grazing; Fringe Subdivision for Hobby Farming
- A Recreation Facility
- A Country Retreat
- Growth Centre Subdivision
In 1871 the 700 acres of Oran Park and the 1140 acres of the adjoining property to the west, Netherbyres, were sold to the Campbelltown grazer, Edward Lomas Moore. Edward Lomas Moore was a wealthy cattle rancher who became one of the largest landowners in the Campbelltown district.
The Significance of Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct
Statement of Significance Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct
A total of 24 comments were received on the plan from landowners and community members. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure is currently assessing all submissions received and will continue to work with the council, agencies and technical advisors to finalize the district plan and move on to the next stage of design development, the public realm master plan.
Implications for Interpretation
Historic Themes, Key Stories and Messages
The area was a pastoral estate on the outskirts of Sydney from the early decades of the nineteenth century, initially used for pastoral activities including small-scale dairy farming, grazing and occasional arable farming. The Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct still contains evidence of Camden's original and early road and subdivision patterns. Harrington Park's two 1815 grant boundaries remain: Camden Valley Way and the northern boundary of the Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct.
Oran Park House's role as a reflection of its socio-economic context; its relationship to its immediate and wider pastoral setting; and its current relationship with residential development in Camden as a South Western Growth Centre. Oran Park's association with Edward Lomas Moore, one of the largest landowners in the Campbelltown district; and John and Ashley Dawson-Damer, prominent in Australian and international motor racing.
Key Stories and Messages for Interpretation
Source: Camden Local Studies Library); and the internal roads of the Oran Park Estate in 1972. Rural retreat - Although founded in 1829 (with the Oran Park House built in the 1860s), the site was rented to many different people and had a variety of uses, including a dairy farm, a golf course and a trotting track. From 1968 it was owned by the Dawson-Damer family, who embarked on an extensive restoration of the property and redesigned Oran Park as a rural retreat, housing John Dawson-Damer's vintage racing cars in adjacent barns.
The land use pattern of large rural estates and small villages, established in the early nineteenth century, remained the pattern of development until the late 1990s. Source: Sydney Mail aerial photo of Oran Park when used as a golf course and jogging track. Aboriginal Stories—The local Aboriginal people in this area include the Darug, Dharawal and Gundungurra language groups.
Stories and messages regarding Aboriginal pre-contact history and post-European contact relations between Aboriginal and European people must be developed in consultation with the local Aboriginal community as part of the development of an Aboriginal Interpretation Strategy for the Precinct.
Endnotes
Interpretation Policy Development—What Resources Are Available?
Friendly contact was maintained between the Dharawal and some local landowners, especially the Macarthurs. In 2008, the 250 hectare Oran Park was purchased by Valad and research was conducted into the site's potential for a residential area.
Opportunities for Interpretation
- Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct Context
- Historical Archaeology
- Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
- Built Heritage
- Cultural Landscape
- Natural Heritage Values
The interpretation of the heritage values of the area was a key aspect in the preparation of the Indicative Planning Plan (ILP). The following interpretive initiatives in the exposed ILP envisage the interpretation of the heritage values of the area at a master planning level. The fabric and spaces, materials and finishes of the built environment all contribute to the experience of the site and reflect important aspects of its history of occupation and use.
The interpretation of OPH's built heritage values as part of the larger estate could be provided through the implementation of interpretive devices in the coach house, in the public open space near the silo, or in the park area adjacent to the southeast of OPH . . Creating and interpreting new views of the house from the knoll in the eastern district. Retention of the remaining trees in the paddock south-east of OPH adjacent to the main dam as part of the proposed streetscape.
Careful consideration of the location of such information is essential to avoid potential disruption.
Potential Audiences for Interpretation of the Catherine Fields (Part) Precinct
Interpretation of endangered flora and fauna (particularly the bittern) can aid conservation by including information in walking trails for the public and environmental education programs for schools.
Endnotes
Draft Interpretation Strategy—What’s Proposed?
These wild mushrooms were found in considerable quantities along the banks of the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers. Berries, Banksia flowers and wild honey were also recorded as foods of local people (Collins 1798 [Kohen 1985:9]). Some of the earliest British interest in the vicinity of the study area revolved around a runaway herd of cattle that escaped the colony in July 1788.
It was clear that during the seven years that the cattle were missing from the colony, the local Aboriginal inhabitants of the Nepean area had come into contact with the cattle numerous times. Corroborees and other large gatherings of local Aboriginal people were documented on other properties in the area, including at Denham Court, situated to the north-east of the study area (Liston 1988:24), as well as on the Denbigh property to the west. of the study area (Kohen 1993:18). Robbins also laid out a formal garden to the front of the house and established a new entrance drive from Camden Valley Way lined with trees.
They built a jogging track at the back of the site and converted Oran Park into an 18-hole golf course, with Oran Park House as the clubhouse. In 2011 the Department of Planning and Infrastructure commenced precinct planning for the Catherine Fields (Part) area as part of the release of Catherine Fields under the NSW Government's Precinct Acceleration Protocol. Retention of existing trees along the full length of the eastern side of Oran Park Drive (former Cobbitty Road) ramp should be strengthened and ramp intersections should be minimized to prevent loss of trees.
Interpretation Recommendations
- Interpretative Objectives to Engage and Stimulate Audiences
- Interpretation Objectives
- Potential Interpretative Media
- Potential Interpretative Media Locations
Key message: Historical links of road alignment to early land grants and the transformation of the landscape from a rural haven to a center of urban growth. Key message: Early European occupation of the city and the transformation of the landscape from a rural refuge to a center of urban growth. Key message: early history and pastoral use, changing appearance of the area as a reflection of its historical uses and changing uses within the area.
Throughout: historical naming—place, park and street names should be drawn from all the above identified themes.
Implementation
Suggested Interpretative Media and Locations
Potential interpretation initiatives Appropriate names may include words from the local indigenous language or names of prominent landowners in the area, historically significant figures associated with the area or names of local indigenous plant types (refer to Appendix A). Potential interpretive initiatives Interpretive signs for the Ward should be located at key locations to communicate historical information that reflects the layers and significance of the Ward. Potential Interpretive Initiatives Native or historical artifacts uncovered in archaeological deposits (if any) may be presented as part of an exhibit in the carriage house or Eastern Knoll Park (depending on use).
Possible interpretive initiatives An annual open day giving access to the house, its gardens and outbuildings, guided tours and picnics in the OPH gardens (possibly as part of the Sydney Open). The ILP's potential interpretive initiatives and public domain and landscape strategy preserve views to and from heritage objects. Archaeological Monitoring, Management, and Adaptive Reuse of Dawson-Damer Drive and Moore's Prospect as Pedestrian and Bicycle Routes.
Source: Aecom Landscape and Visual Analysis) Proposed to preserve Dawson-Damer Drive as a pedestrian/cycle route that preserves archeology and axial views of OPH.
Appendices
Campbell Street: Oran Park Estate was originally part of an 1815 grant to William Douglas Campbell. Cadell County: Thomas Cadell, farmer, who leased and operated Oran Park as a dairy in the 1880s. Cleary Road: Daniel Cleary, a local rancher and contractor re-divided the land of Oran Park and Graham's Farm to form two subdivisions big in 1946.
Golf course: In the 1960s, Oran Park was converted into an 18-hole golf course with OPH as the clubhouse. Motorsport/vintage racing cars: John Dawson-Damer (as he became known), a motor racing enthusiast, was drawn to Oran Park partly because of its proximity to Oran Park Raceway. In the old milking sheds and stables at the back of the property, he housed his racing and vintage cars, later around 1990, and built a larger modern shed for his new purchases.
Angophora Street: the remains of a broad-leaved apple tree (Angophora Subvelutina) were located in the eastern part of the enclosure.
