Sydney Harbour is universally acknowledged as a place of extraordinary natural beauty. Sydney Harbour National Park, including the Strickland Estate, Nielsen Park and the Hermitage Foreshore precincts, are an integral part of the harbour's foreshore setting.
The master plan provides a long-term framework to protect, conserve, and promote the spectacular natural, cultural and historic heritage of Strickland Estate, Nielsen Park and Hermitage Foreshore Track, Sydney Harbour National Park and build a valued legacy for future generations.
The master plan shows how to improve the visitor experience and protect the natural, cultural, and historic heritage in the national park. This includes identifying:
- uses for existing buildings
- upgrades to visitor facilities and walking tracks
- interpretation and wayfinding
- improvements for public safety.
Project stages and timeframes
With the 2018 transfer of Strickland Estate to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the estate became part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, creating an exciting opportunity to strategically plan for the 2 parks along with the adjacent Hermitage Foreshore as a single integrated estate.
Phase 1: master plan pre-design (late 2021 to mid-2022)
During this time, the community was invited to participate in an initial online survey, contribute to an interactive map and attend a community workshop on 28 June 2022. Information gathered during this consultation period informed the design and development of the draft master plan.
Phase 2: draft master plan (mid-2022 to early 2024)
The master plan was drafted and placed on exhibition from Thursday 22 December 2022 to Wednesday 15 February 2023. The community was invited to participate in an online survey, contribute to the interactive map and attend a drop-in session on 5 February 2023. The information gathered during this stage informed the final master plan.
The Strickland Estate and Nielsen Park master plan – Engagement Summary Report provides a high-level overview of the key findings from the Phase 1 engagement and a summary of the findings from the Phase 2 engagement.
Since phase 2, we have been working to finalise the master plan and prepare it for publication. In March 2025, the Strickland Estate Nielsen Park master plan was approved.
Protecting park values and master plan delivery
Our national parks are managed to protect their unique values and provide for sustainable visitor use and enjoyment. This includes providing visitor experiences and site uses, where appropriate, that draw on the historic, cultural and natural values of these unique national park precincts as an integrated estate.
The master plan is underpinned by the guiding principles identified in the Sydney Harbour National Park plan of management (2012), which include:
- conserve natural and cultural heritage
- manage sustainably
- improve accessibility
- welcome all visitors
- improve transport linkages
- conserve for the future
- partnerships and collaborations.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will deliver items identified in the master plan as funding allows. Priority will be given to items that improve visitor safety, access, and protection of the site's natural, historic, and cultural heritage values.
Construction will be subject to environmental and heritage approvals before commencing. This includes consideration under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the NSW Heritage Act 1977 and the Commonwealth Environmental Planning and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.