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Wonderful news - Local member Joe Hockey announces a $25 million Australian Government commitment to save Graythwaite. Labor Candidate, Mike Bailey, provides bipartisan support

In truly fantastic news, local member and Federal Cabinet Minister, Joe Hockey, has announced that the Australian Government will provide a total of $25 million to help save Graythwaite. The Hockey package is carefully crafted to both meet the legal requirements of the Trust established by Sir Thomas Dibbs to care for our returned soldiers and sailors and to provide for the restoration of the historic mansion, which has suffered significant deterioration over the past 25 years.

Full details are provided in this media release. To summarise, the Australian Government will put a proposal to the Supreme Court that ownership of Graythwaite be transferred to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust with the Government providing $20 million to the NSW RSL to be spent on aged care facilities for veterans. In addition the Commonwealth will provide $5 million for the restoration of the Graythwaite mansion. The grounds would be leased to North Sydney Council to provide a much need park for the North Sydney CBD, while the mansion would in part be used by the RSL to be used as the headquarters of its Lifecare services.

Labor candidate for the seat of North Sydney, Mike Bailey, has offered bipartisan support for the saving of Graythwaite, issuing this media release that says in part: "I am pleased to announce today that, provided Mr Hockey's proposal for Graythwaite is sound, Kevin Rudd and Labor will fully support it."

However, it will still be up to the Supreme Court to decide the future of Graythwaite. We believe that the Commonwealth's proposal is a compelling one that meets all of the needs of both the Dibbs Trust and of all of those interested in Graythwaite. However, that does not guarantee Court agreement.

If the Supreme Court does accept the Australian Government's proposal then WE HAVE WON!!!! and Graythwaite will be saved for the public for all time!

Veterans face fight over Sydney Mansion

News Video | Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:52:00 +1000 | Duration 2m 3s | broadcast Tuesday National news
The NSW Government is in court to challenge a 90-year-old trust, which bequeathed a house for war veterans to use. Play the video

Graythwaite and the Red Cross

To read some of the sad stories about the ANZACs who lived and died in Graythwaite and how it was used as an ANZAC Hostel for the most incapacitated of those who came back from the Great War read this piece by well known historian, Associate Professor Melanie Oppenheimer.

Formation of Friends of Graythwaite Estate

Following confirmation that NSW Health wants to go ahead with its sale plans for Graythwaite and the offer by North Sydney Council to by the property, local residents, other interested persons and members of the Dibbs family who have been caring for and campaigning for Graythwaite for many years decided to form the Friends of Graythwaite Estate. See the press release here. To join Friends of Graythwaite click here.

Help needed urgently

We need your help if we are to win this battle. In particular we need people with the following skills:

Graphic design
Public relations
Photography

We also need volunteers to help man market stalls and to help convince local businesses to support Graythwaite by displaying posters or distributing our postcards.

If you can help please email us at info@graythwaite.org.au.

North Sydney Council

bids to buy Graythwaite - write now to the Premier now in support of this bid.

Graythwaite Gardening Group

meets at the Union Street side of Graythwaite every Sunday at 9.30 (8.30 December - February). All tools and morning tea provided. New gardeners always very welcome.

Graythwaite hits the airwaves on 702 ABC Sydney

on the Sally Loane morning program 10 September 2002. Below is the transcript of an interview with Tim Phillips of Hope Healthcare, who manages the current nursing home on behalf of the Health Department. The fact that the Health Department would not provide a spokesperson speaks volumes for their plans for Graythwaite and their total lack of transparency in the process.

Join the 'Friends of Graythwaite' email list now: click here to add your details to our email list so we can keep you up to date and informed of critical developments.