Welcome, it’s Adrian Bo, from Ray White Park Coast, Eastern Suburbs. And this week as part of my local community history series, I’m inside the Randwick Environmental Park just off the Esperance development here off Bundock Street on the border of Randwick and Coogee, to talk about some of the institutions on Bundock Street, it’s evolution and a recent issue that is aimed to be resolved as we speak. Now, Bundock Street takes its name from James Bundock. And of course the parallel road being Bundock Lane. Bundock served as a Councillor in the Randwick City Council between 1897 and 1904. In the year 2000, a large parcel of defence land formerly a military barracks was turned into the Randwick Environmental Park which we’re a part in today. The Barracks included a rifle range and a horse training ground during World War I. This stunning hidden gem being the Randwick Environmental Park, includes 13 hectares of Parkland, Bushland and Wetland, zoned as “Environmental Protection”. It has over 100 species of indigenous plants and 3.6 hectares of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub which has been classified as a critically endangered ecology, having been reduced by 97% across the Eastern Suburbs and the only place on the planet that it actually grows. It also features another endangered plant in the Sunshine Wattle.

The Randwick Environmental Park is a very rare non-coastal bushland reserve in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Now Bundock Street recently hit the newspaper headlines for an incident that has led to a change on the street. For the past 20 years the street has been used to park caravans, trailers and boats, for extended periods, particularly at the Southern end between Hendy Avenue and Avoca Street. As there have been no parking time limits on the street, it appeared to be the ideal place to park large vehicles for those that don’t have space at home. Local residents gradually resented this happening and felt it was an abuse of their neighbourhood, which led to an unfortunate altercation between a local resident and a driver parking a boat and trailer on Bundock Street. The local resident suffered serious injuries unfortunately, having hit his head on the pavement, this became a catalyst for a solution to be explored. Apparently turning left at the south end of the street was often difficult if a boat was parked there. So, buses would struggle to pass each other on Bundock Street. Council have decided, therefore, to introduce a six month trial, after 75% of residents supported the idea, a sign stating, “No parking between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM “on Tuesdays, motor vehicles excepted,” will be installed on the southern side of Bundock Street from outside number 101 up to Avoca Street. The thinking being that by banning parking for non-motor vehicles on Tuesdays, it will address the long term storage of boat trailers and caravans. Those that opposed the trial largely felt that this trial would just move the trailers into other streets. It’s clearly a difficult issue and I guess the results of the trial will only be known over the coming months.

There is also a recommendation in play to restrict parking of all vehicles on Bundock Street opposite Canberra Street for 30 metres as bus drivers have also complained of continual issues there. Now, according to the records there are 61 houses and 4 units on Bundock Street, 85% being owner occupied, and 15% rented. The average owner occupier has been living on Bundock Street for 14 years and nine months with 53% of residents being in the area for over 10 years. Last year there was one sale being number 50 which sold in February of 2021 for $2.8 million, having been on the market for just 16 days. I just recently sold a four bedroom house in the Esperance development here being 17 Dooligah Street just a short stroll from Bundock Street, as well as a four bedroom house in 15 Hendy Avenue for $2.8 million. And also just behind me you might be able to see 4 Lomandra Place which I sold for $2,120,000 off market being part of the Moverly Green development. Bundock Street is a wonderful low density residential area with protected community space and the history of the Barracks. A new cycleway along here has been on the agenda for a while which will add further pleasure to the area as well. I think it’s important we retain the stories of the evolution of the Eastern Suburbs communities. I really hope you enjoy this beautiful autumn weather and always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.