Introduction

Malabar Headland is an area of national significance for its natural and cultural values:

• The most diverse and highest quality area of coastal bushland in the Sydney region supporting over 283 endemic native plant species and more than 200 bird species.
• Home to the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, an endangered plant community recognised under both Commonwealth and State legislation.
• Aboriginal sites.
• World War II defence sites such as gun emplacements and a railway cutting.
• A beautiful ocean setting with spectacular views of the coastline, dramatic sandstone cliffs, and stunning coastal bushland.

For a brief description of the eastern and western bushland sections of Malabar Headland written by FoMH member Marg Vazey, click here.

Location

The location of Malabar Headland on Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs coastline is shown in this map:

This map is also available as a PDF.

Location of Malabar Headland (Google Maps).

Current and Future Status of the Headland

All of Malabar Headland was until recently owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. In December 2012 the Western Bushland section of 17.7 Hectares was handed to the NSW Government for the creation of Malabar Headland National Park. In March 2016 the Eastern Bushland section of 70 Hectares was also handed over to become the Eastern section of the National Park. These sections are currently being environmentally remediated and made safe for visitors, and are not yet open to the public.

The NSW National Parks & Wildlife service website has further details on Malabar Headland National Park here.

The NSW Office of Environmental Heritage has a Statement of Management for the Malabar Headland here.

The handover process is managed for the Commonwealth by the Department of Finance. The department provides information about their activities at their Malabar Headland web site.

Find out More about the Headland

An excellent resource containing a wealth of descriptive material, and a vision for the future of the Headland, prepared for the local and wider community by Friends of Malabar Headland and published in August 2002 – Proposal for Boora National Park on Malabar Headland – Draft Community Plan of Management (FoMH, 2002).

A list of birds seen in the Maroubra Beach and Malabar Headland area from 1998 to 2003, with some observations from previous years; prepared by Rod Gardner (formerly of UNSW) – Birds of Maroubra Beach and the Malabar Headland.

The Future of the Headland

With the establishment of the Malabar Headland National Park encompassing the Eastern and Western Bushland, our vision (as outlined in our Draft Community Plan of Management above) for the Headland is being fulfilled. Much of the natural and cultural heritage is now protected. The hard work of FoMH and many others has paid off.

However the Rifle Range, comprising half of the total Headland area, is not safe from development. A new 50 year lease has recently been finalised between the NSWRA and the Commonwealth, although the parties are still working to relocate the shooters to another facility at some time in the future. What will happen when/if the NSWRA is relocated?

We have established a new section on this website to discuss the future of the Headland. See the Future of the Headland tab at the top of this page. We welcome comments from the community.