Kelly's Bush is the site of the worlds first "Green Ban". Back in 1972, Jack Mundy together
with the NSW Builders Labourers Federation pioneered these
bans after appeals from a small group of local residents who
were trying to save one of the last green areas in the suburb
of Hunters Hill. Its seems they were being stood over by
greedy developers. Today green bans are credited with saving
hundreds of green pockets in this country and throughout the
world. They are still a thorn in the side for many
developers, but they send a clear message to them that their
big dollars won't always get them their own way.
For the full story of the green bans, click here, it makes quite interesting reading.
The cache is located in the bushland area, close to the track
but hidden from view of the average bush walker on this short
section of the Great North Walk. Unfortunately the green bans came
along too late for much of this peninsula, which is why this is one
of the few suburbs where the G.N.W. has had to rely on the suburban
streets to pick up it's continuity. It's still quite a pleasant
suburb to walk through though, all things considered.
Have fun finding Mundy's Joy, but also take a moment to
contemplate how different this place would have looked if it wasn't
for the green bans.