Help Save Glenlee – a property of cultural and environmental significance on the Georges River.

Glenlee is a 2.5-hectare historic property fronting the Georges River on the Lugarno peninsula. The National Trust has listed Glenlee for its significant Early Settler History and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. Well-preserved evidence of Aboriginal life on the site is also listed on the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System.

 Over its 110-year history Glenlee has become home to a wide range of native wildlife including Swamp Wallabies, Echidna, Powerful Owl, Eastern Osprey. A significant number of endangered species forage and nest amongst the 80-100-year old trees and their understory.

Glenlee was settled by the Matthei family in 1908 and has been in the family ever since.  

The Friends of Glenlee was set up as an incorporated association in 2021, and has campaigned since to preserve Glenlee and bring it into the public domain.  We have lobbied all areas of government and while there is overwhelming support for preserving Glenlee, both Georges River Council and the state government are reluctant to fund its acquisition.  

We have fought off one Development Application which sought to destroy over 200 mature trees on the site and the wildlife corridor, but the property is again on the market, through One Commercial.

The former state government declared an interim heritage order over the property, only to allow this order to lapse without the necessary assessments being undertaken for a final determination. Prior to the 2023 elections the now State Minister for the Environment committed to issuing a new interim heritage order for the site and to ensure that a proper heritage assessment took place.  Neither of these things have been enacted.

The biodiversity of Glenlee cannot be overestimated and its removal would have a huge impact on the health of the surrounding area and particularly the river system. We need more pressure put on the state government and Georges River Council to find the funding to buy Glenlee before it is too late.

We ask you to sign the petition, to join Friends of Glenlee and encourage your friends to do so too.  Go to www.saveglenlee.com