Hawkesbury City Council is set to initiate the local heritage listing process for 19 historic slab barns by submitting a Planning Proposal to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a Gateway Determination.
This decision, made during Tuesday’s Council Meeting, follows recommendations from the Hawkesbury Local Planning Panel and insights from the recently adopted Timber Slab Barns and Outbuildings Study.
The slab barns and outbuildings in the Hawkesbury Local Government Area hold significant historical importance as they are rare remnants reflecting the region’s agricultural development, dating back to as early as 1794. Notably, these structures exhibit a distinct architectural style that has persisted through time, highlighting their resilience against frequent flooding and other challenges.
The study, conducted by heritage architects Lucas Stapleton Johnson and Partners along with Graham Edds and Associates, in partnership with historian Dr. Terry Kass, identified 112 slab barns across 86 properties, building on prior research.
The current Planning Proposal aims to implement the study’s recommendations by seeking local heritage listings for 19 barns that lack statutory protection, proposing their addition to Schedule 5 Part 1 of the Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan 2012.
The proposed listings include a variety of historic structures such as single and two-story barns, lofts, sheds, and stables, located in Bowen Mountain, Cattai, Central Colo, Ebenezer, Freemans Reach (3), McGraths Hill, Richmond, St Albans, Tennyson, Upper Colo, Upper Macdonald, and Wilberforce (6). Once the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure reviews the proposal, community consultations will be organized later this year.
