Berrima Heritage Matters

07/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GDbeSZ61t/

The National Trust has made a submission outlining our concerns in relation to the proposal to develop the Berrima Gaol into a commercial site.

The gaol has been listed on the National Trust Heritage Register for 50 years. It is considered to be a rare and unusual heritage site and is of great significance to the local community.

Read more about the submission https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/news/berrima-gaol-development-proposal/

Image: National Trust Archives.

04/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BSkD5yHtS/

The NSW Government has been accused of a ‘lack of due diligence’ in protecting the heritage significance of Berrima Gaol.

04/12/2025

Thanks and more myth-information

Thank you to friends of Berrima Gaol for supporting the campaign over the past 10 months. We closed the pop-up last Sunday 😢 but we will continue to campaign for a better proposal for the gaol.

We believe we reached and surpassed our objective to get 50 objections to trigger the Independent Planning Authority as the consent authority for the Berrima Gaol proposal.

Currently NSW Planning Dept is collating submissions, including objections.

We have a list of confirmed objections which we’ll check against what is published on the NSW Planning Portal.

We are surprised/not surprised to read the National Trust of NSW’s submission on the proposal which they’ve published on their website.

In its submission on the proposal the NTNSW says:

“The National Trust expressly refute the claim made in the Environmental Impact Statement (p.18) and Heritage Impact Statement (p.6) that “the proposed design has undergone a rigorous review with the National Trust” and that the design has responded to any feedback given.

“This statement makes it appear that the design that has been proposed has resulted from some form of consultation with the National Trust, and indeed that any suggestions made by the National Trust have been incorporated into the design.

“The National Trust wish to make it very clear that we completely refute this claim. In no way has the National Trust undertaken any form of documented “rigorous review” of the proposal.”

Extreme myth-information.

PSA: Last week there was some nonsense on social media about Berrima Heritage Matters blocking people from commenting on our Facebook and Instagram. We said a couple of times this wasn’t the case but that didn’t stop the nonsense.

To clarify, again, we have blocked three people on Instagram (women touting for business). We haven’t blocked anyone on our page (Facebook is too complicated and we don’t know how).

It’s our view that if you post something snarky or negative on social media it’s a reflection on you and we'll leave it there to do that job.

26/11/2025

All welcome.

26/11/2025

Berrima 1917

One of the delightful aspects being in the pop-up for 10 months is having people share information, memories and in this case some pencil drawings of the goal and the court house from 1917.

Thank you to those who've submitted objections. And if you're still inclined to do so please go to our website berrimaheritagematters.com.au/objections/

Public exhibition period ends tonight, Wednesday 26 Nov, at midnight.

25/11/2025

Countdown

After 10 months, 46 documents, 3700 pages, 28 days then 42 days (thanks for messing up your EIS docs Blue Sox), dozens of Planning Portal IT troubles, 1700 visitors to pop-up (including the 7 who like the proposal), tomorrow is the last day to submit your objection.

The deadline for objections is midnight Wednesday 26 November.

We’ll be in the pop-up at 2/13 Old Hume Highway on Wednesday from 10am-1pm (or longer if we need to), to talk to visitors or to help people with Planning Portal difficulties.

There have been some absolute heroes who have battled the IT hurdles. (NSW Planning Portal have admitted the system has issues but are now providing excellent support service).

We know people care about the future of Berrima Gaol and the impact inappropriate over-development will have on the gaol and the village. People tell us every day.

We appreciate every visit from Berrima and Southern Highlands residents, and visitors from Sydney, Mudgee, Illawarra, Port Macquarie, Central Coast, Goulburn, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Yackandandah ...

But also from Wales, Bath, Yorkshire, and Canada.

Berrima’s economy is a tourism economy and where you come from isn’t important – it’s how much you appreciate Berrima’s history and heritage, plus buy a jar of jam from , a bag of something from the , a cupcake from , have a pub lunch or a schooner at , have a delicious caramel slice from or sit at the and enjoy a flat white or a pie from .

It all counts.

25/11/2025

Support your school

Berrima Public School is holding its Christmas Market on Sunday 14 December 9am-1pm.

You can support your school and get your photo taken with a Highland cow. Wow!

23/11/2025

Myth-information and hyperbole

A recent social media post claimed “If the [Blue Sox proposal] project doesn’t proceed – for example, if the Blue Sox development plans are blocked by objections – the site could revert to state and council ownership and ratepayers may end up footing the bill for on-going maintenance” isn’t true.

How do we know?

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) said in a statement, “The site is now owned by Blue Sox Group and ownership would not automatically revert to the NSW Government if the owner was unable to fulfil its obligations”.

It says “Following settlement, Blue Sox is responsible for future use of the property”.

And in his Dear Neighbour letter of 16 October, Blue Sox owner Joe Wehbe told Berrima residents and business owners that its proposal is “consistent” with what was proposed to the NSW Government in the sale process so Blue Sox would “consider it would be a breach of trust that the NSW Government has placed in the Blue Sox group to not deliver upon the promises made in acquiring the site” is not correct.

In a statement DPHI said, “DPHI is unaware of any ‘promises’ or conditions in relation to the sale of the former Berrima Gaol”.

We have been careful with our information - it can all be sourced. We urge others to avoid myth-information and hyperbole.

23/11/2025

Nevertheless Lionel persisted

Lionel, 89 of Moss Vale, has a regular Thursday morning excursion with a carer.

Last Thursday morning Lionel dropped in to say hello and find out what is planned for the gaol.

We had a good chat and Lionel headed off. Three days later I received an email from Lionel's sister who told us he was so upset about what may happen to the gaol he wanted to submit an objection.

As many of you have found, the NSW Planning Portal IT system is not user-friendly for most people let alone people with limited IT experience.

Thanks to Lionel's sister for stepping in to help so that he could submit his objection.

We know that the NSW Planning Portal is clunky because we've been told by many people. Plus if you don't have an email address, you can't object, ie no paper objections.

Thank you Lionel for dropping in, chatting to us, and submitting your objection.

If you intend to submit an objection, be like Lionel. Persist, ask for help, have your say.

We've spoken to around 1700 people since 21 Feb. We're here to listen, answer questions, record information, and encourage objections if people want to know what they can do to help.

22/11/2025

Oh! What a lovely war

Moss Vale resident, Bruce Stannard AM, is a journalist, author, and advocate for our marine environment and maritime heritage.

Bruce recently wrote about Berrima Gaol's German internees from WW1 for the .museum Australian National Maritime Museum's Signal, Autumn 2025.

Read Bruce's article about this fascinating chapter of the gaol's history. Go to our website to download the 8p 2mb PDF.
www.berrimaheritagematters.com.au/downloads

22/11/2025

Pop-up democracy

On a rainy day in Berrima, we welcomed and talked to 12 people - from Berrima, Southern Highlands and Sydney.

What they had in common is they were all astounded that the proposal was even being considered seriously.

In summary, they thought it out of size and scale for Berrima, fails to respect heritage, doesn't understand why people come to visit and/or live in Berrima or Southern Highlands.

Five days to go for OBJECTIONS. Go to our website for more info including some how-to documents as it's a clunky process.