Green care calms the butteflies fluttering over ridge developments – RESIDENTIAL: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 04 May 2001: 41.
Abstract
Adjoining the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on the edge of Wahroonga, one of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs, land parcels of any size rarely become available here.
At the time it was virgin bush similar to the surrounding national park. The landscape, dotted with scribbly gums and red bloodwoods, banksias and bottlebrush, is typical of the sandstone country of the northern Sydney basin.
Situated along a ridge, it is one of the highest points in metropolitan Sydney. Its location means it is an important meeting and mating point for 20 different species of butterfly. An entomologist with the CSIRO, Dr Don Sands, was employed by the developers to ensure their continued survival. The trees on which they congregate and a number of rare plants have been preserved or replanted.
Full Text
THE first time developer Michael Fornari saw the property now known as Grosvenor Ridge he was determined to buy.
Adjoining the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on the edge of Wahroonga, one of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs, land parcels of any size rarely become available here.
Originally earmarked by the state Government for development as a school, the land was auctioned 1995.
At the time it was virgin bush similar to the surrounding national park. The landscape, dotted with scribbly gums and red bloodwoods, banksias and bottlebrush, is typical of the sandstone country of the northern Sydney basin.
“I stood at the edge of the old sandstone quarry beside the estate and was taken by the long views and the aspect,” Mr Fornari says. “You can see 20 to 30 kilometres, all the way beyond the Hawkesbury River. It is an all-green view. We expect the people who buy will have an affinity or love of the Australian bush.”
The purchase of the property was only the beginning of what was a “very, very difficult” development application for the $30 million Grosvenor Ridge.
Although council officers supported the creation of a medium- density housing estate, the often greener than green Ku-ring-gai councillors rejected the proposal.
It was finally approved by the NSW Land and Environment Court in 1998.
After all the controversy, the results are now there for everyone to see.
Of the 33 single and two-story courtyard homes 15 are now complete. Prices range from $590,000 to $735,000.
The council and Finori’s company, Chanrich Properties, agreed that only native plants, preferably from the area, would be used throughout.
Situated along a ridge, it is one of the highest points in metropolitan Sydney. Its location means it is an important meeting and mating point for 20 different species of butterfly. An entomologist with the CSIRO, Dr Don Sands, was employed by the developers to ensure their continued survival. The trees on which they congregate and a number of rare plants have been preserved or replanted.
The butterflies do not cope well with concrete, and the local sandstone has been used extensively. Even the colour and texture of the ring road through the estate has been designed with the butterflies in mind.
Landscape architect Stuart Pittendrigh said many of the plantings of indigenous trees were purely to attract the butterflies. “Much of the thought on how we designed the landscaping was to encourage the complete return of the butterflies,” he said. “The development got up because it was sound environmentally.”
Also originally controversial was the fate of a cairn marking the site of the Cook Trig Station, established in 1883 as part of the early trigonometric survey of the northern regions of Sydney. This too has been maintained as a feature of the estate.
The unique style of the housing at Grosvenor Ridge comes directly from the experiences of the architect Roger Charlesworth, a Wahroonga local.
He says he sold his large house because he was sick of spending so much time looking after it, but promptly found there was nothing to buy that suited him or his wife.
Each house is different, but they all have in common expansive living areas, large bedrooms and interesting nooks. Many of the purchasers are expected to be empty nesters who, like the architect, have become tired maintaining the large mansions that characterise the area.
Thus the houses Charlesworth has designed are capable of supporting not just a couple but have plenty of room for visiting grandchildren — or adult children who want come back to stay. “You never know what’s going to happen,” says Mr Charlesworth, reflecting the experience of many a parent.
Also reflecting his own taste and needs, the houses all have studies, sometimes two.
“The people in this area don’t want to live in townhouses or flats,” he says. “Friends of ours who have gone to live at the Toaster at Circular Quay, or in units, wonder where to put their furniture, much less the kids when they come to stay.”
Illustration
Caption: City and country:; Photo: Photo