Mt Sugarloaf and the Sugarloaf Range

Item details


Name of item:	Mt Sugarloaf and the Sugarloaf Range
Type of item:	Landscape
Group/Collection:	Landscape - Cultural
Category:	Historic Landscape
Primary address:	Mt Sugarloaf Road, West Wallsend, NSW 2286
Parish:	Teralba
County:	Northumberland
Local govt. area:	Lake Macquarie

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Mt Sugarloaf Road	West Wallsend	Lake Macquarie	Teralba	Northumberland	Primary Address
along Sugarloaf Range Road	West Wallsend	Lake Macquarie	Teralba	Northumberland	Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	SIGNIFICANCE - 1993: Mount Sugarloaf and Sugarloaf Range have high local and regional significance, as the most dominant geographical and visual feature in the district, and as a major influence on the economic and social history of the area. Mount Sugarloaf and Sugarloaf Range have been major factors in the social unity and the sense of identity and place amongst the mining villages which sprang up to exploit the coal resources of the West Wallsend area. This sense of identity is still evident today within the local community living "Neath Mount Sugarloaf". LEVEL of SIGNIFICANCE - 1993: State significance - low Regional significance - high Local significance - very high
	Date significance updated: 28 May 08
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Physical description:	PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS - 1993: Location: the summit of Mt Sugarloaf and the two spurs, enclosing most of the catchment of Lake Macquarie and defined by the length of the Sugarloaf Range Road, from its intersection with Wakefield Road in Awaba State Forest, north to the Sugarloaf Reserve, then east to its intersection with George Booth Drive. The listing of the Sugarloaf Range as a WW item (i.e. as part of the suburb of West Wallsend) is because its visual dominance over and influence on much of the City of Lake Macquarie first became evident while the consultants were researching these districts. DESCRIPTION: Mt Sugarloaf is the high point on Sugarloaf Range, which forms a north & west wall to the Lake catchment. The ridge is covered with dense scrub, but the peak is a bald rock with a lookout (& steel access steps donated by BHP). Below the lookout are car parks & picnic areas, reached via Sugarloaf Range Road which runs along the top of the ridge for the length of the Range. Next to the peak, are TV broadcast or microwave communication towers with associated buildings. The peak offers extensive views to all points including Newcastle & the ocean. The Range Road has panoramic views to the Lake. Viewed from the north of Lake Macquarie, Mt Sugarloaf is the most dominant natural feature & provides a very definite visual boundary for people living there. The mountain also seems to have an ever-watching and unifying presence, as shown in the title of the "'Neath Mount Sugarloaf" series of local history books.
Modifications and dates:	In the early European settlemnt days the big trees in the forests were mostly cut out for timber, especially for use in mining, but have since grown back.


Current use:	1993: circa 1971 about 500 hectares of treed land around the peak was declared as Mount Sugarloaf Reserve, zoned Open Space for Public Recreation.

History


Historical notes:	HISTORICAL NOTES - 1993: Captain Cook is reputed to have sighted & named the mountain as he sailed past in 1770. A nine acre reserve around the mountain top was notified on 3rd September 1887. Sugarloaf Range has greatly influenced the industrial history of Lake Macquarie, by separating it from the more fertile soil & more plentiful fresh water of the Hunter Valley.

Recommended management:


	RECOMMENDATION - 1993:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Statutory Instrument	List on a Local Environmental Plan (LEP)	02 Jul 08
Statutory Instrument	Nominate for State Heritage Register (SHR)	02 Jul 08
Recommended Management	Document and prepare an archival record	02 Jul 08

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2004	WW-46	19 Mar 14
Local Environmental Plan	Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014	212	10 Oct 14

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study	1993	WW-46	Suters Architects Snell, Dr J. Turner, C & MJ Doring Pty Ltd	Doring	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	various contributing authors	1988	'Neath Mount Sugarloaf, (Book 2 of 3)
Written	various contributing authors	1987	'Neath Mount Sugarloaf, (Book 1 of 3)

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1910245

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