Historical land could be for sale

The 2.8 hectare site is owned by the Howick and Districts Historical Society.

The society is understood to be considering opening the grounds to development, with a medical centre and housing on the cards.

But the council's environment and urban design committee has given council officers the go-ahead to investigate buying or leasing the site for public open space.

Botany Community Board chairman Michael Williams told the committee the property is an historic jewel of the Botany area and would be a valuable piece of open space or parkland.

The centrepiece of the property is the Hawthorn Dene Farmhouse.

It was built in the 1850s and was owned by the Hattaway family from 1873 to 1992, at which point it was bequeathed to the Historic Places Trust.

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