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Heritage Listing of Beautiful Old Church Site in Naremburn
1 min read

Particularly close to my heart is the beautiful old Church on Donnelly Road in Naremburn built in 1913.

I attended St Leonards Catholic Primary School on these grounds and received my sacraments in the Church with Father Holland in 1980’s, and much later I was married in this Church.

Every time I drive by this location I wonder about the fate of this site.

Over the past couple of years I have read about the desired plans for the site including residential development and a rejuvenation of the parish by the Diocese of Broken Bay.

Willoughby City Council has now taken a decisive step to safeguard the historical integrity of the 43 Donnelly Road site in Naremburn by implementing an Interim Heritage Order, encompassing all currently unlisted parts of the land, including the Church, Presbytery, and school buildings.

The move comes amid an ongoing appeal before the Land and Environment Court of NSW regarding the Willoughby Local Planning Panel’s decision to refuse a development application pertaining to 43 Donnelly Road. The application sought to demolish the school buildings while introducing alterations to the existing presbytery building.

Expressing concern over proposed demolitions of the school buildings, significant alterations to the Presbytery, and unsympathetic subdivision, Mayor Tanya Taylor “emphasizes the potential harm to the historic structures. While the Church itself is protected, an independent preliminary heritage assessment has revealed that the surrounding buildings also hold local heritage significance.”

Willoughby City Council recognizes the importance of the buildings located at 43 Donnelly Rd, adjacent to the Church. In line with the completion of the Heritage Review later this year, the Council is considering their inclusion in The Willoughby Local Environment Plan. Such an inclusion will allow for a comprehensive understanding and protection of the site's full heritage significance.