Margaret Hetherington papers related to the Mosman Parklands and Ashton Park Association

MLMSS 11945

fonds

1968-2000

9673365

0.16 metres of textual and graphic material (1 box)

The Ashton Park Association (the Mosman Parklands and Ashton Park Association from 1965 and now Mosman Parks & Bushland Association) was formed in 1964 by a group of residents who objected to the bulldozing of bushland in Ashton Park, now part of Sydney Harbour National Park. The association has always played a major role in preserving Mosman bushland, biodiversity and the environment, inspired by the bush care and regeneration methods of Eileen and Joan Bradley.
Eileen (1911-1976) and Joan (1916-1982) Bradley developed a keen interest in the natural environment around Neutral Bay, Sydney where they grew up. They walked regularly in Ashton Park, Mosman and from their observations devised a unique method of bush regeneration (known as the Bradley Method) which involved bringing back the bush by working from good bush towards infested areas and employing careful weeding rather than general clearing. They published on bush regeneration, weed control and bushfire prevention. From the late 1950s they worked on a five-year study of the Superb Blue Wren, which was published by the Royal Ornithological Union of Australia.
Reference: Library correspondence file

​Papers belonged to donor’s mother Margaret Hetherington who was a Mosman resident and member of the Mosman Parklands and Ashton Park Association for 24 years. Papers had always been in her custody.

Newsletters (1968-2000) and minutes
Notes on the creation of the Ashton Park booklet
Newspaper clippings and correspondence about the association’s activities regarding Balmoral Park (1974); Rawson Park (1975); enquiry into dying trees (1977); Reid Park (1979); Beauty Point (1985); Balmoral Bathers’ Pavilion (1996)
Miscellaneous papers on Joan and Eileen Bradley, the Bradley Bushland Reserve, Margaret Hetherington’s resignation from Mosman Parklands and Ashton Park Association, annual reports (1998-99) from the Mosman Parks & Bushland Association (formerly Mosman Parklands and Ashton Park Association).
Manuscript (likely unpublished) for ‘Ungardening: The Origins and Development of Bush Regeneration The Lives and Work of Eileen and Joan Bradley.
Bound copy of Weeds and Their Control by Eileen and Joan Bradley (bound and better condition than Library’s existing copy Q632.58/19)
VHS tape (duration 12 minutes) on the history of Mosman Parks and Bushland Association 1964-2004.

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales