READ WHAT THE NATIONAL TRUST  HAS TO SAY ABOUT SHACKS IN THE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK.

http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/news/era.asp

 INTRODUCTION TO RNP SHACK COMMUNITIES.

There are approximately 200 coastal shacks in the Royal National Park (RNP) in four communities from north to south:

• Little Garie
• Era
• Burning Palms
• Bulgo

The shacks were built in the first half of the twentieth century, many during the depression. They were built by private citizens using their own initiative, resources and labour. None of the communities is accessible by road. All materials were carried down steep bush tracks or around the shoreline.

There were once such shacks up and down the NSW Coast, however most have now gone, swallowed up by coastal development.

The RNP Shacks are the largest remaining group of coastal shacks in Australia. Their heritage significance has been recognised by the National Trust, the Australian Heritage Commission and Wollongong City Council.

The Protection League is the organization representing shackholders at Burning Palms, Era and Little Garie (The Bulgo community has its own organization, the Bulgo Protection League)

The Era - Burning Palms Protection League was formed in 1945 to prevent the destruction of the shack communities and is credited as being one of the earliest conservation organizations in NSW. The Protection League is celebrating its 60^th Anniversary in 2005.

It has been successful in lobbying to:

• Save the land from sale and development in 1950
• Have the heritage values of the shack communities recognised
• Have NPWS policies of shack demolition overturned.

The Protection League has negotiated an Agreement with the National Parks and Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Climate Change for licences for the majority of shacks at Little Garie, Era and Burning Palms communities. These licences will be for a period of twenty years and require the shack owners to maintain the shacks according to agreed Condition Standards.

The Protection League will continue to work to have the heritage values of these unique communities protected for future generations.

 Location maps on  "About Us" page.

  MEDIATION AGREEMENT SEES SHACK CASE SETTLED

FOUNDATION LAID FOR FUTURE  For more information see our Media page.

 Photos from  the fund raiser art auction at the Mori Gallery are on our Photos page. (Then double click Album).    

 Era from the mid Era ridge

Size of print  90  X 26 cm

RNP Shacks info site - updated April 17th 2008