HMAS Penguin on Middle Head is not for sale. On Sunday 11 October, the Headland Preservation Group is bringing the community and like-minded organisations together at Balmoral to say so — loudly, publicly, and in person.
The federal government wants to sell off around 11 of the 16.64 hectares that make up HMAS Penguin at Middle Head. We've spent the past year building the case against it through submissions, political outreach and participating in a Senate inquiry that has now backed almost everything we've argued. On 11 October, we're taking that case to the street.
The details
What: The “Not For Sale” rally
When: Sunday 11 October 2026, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
Where: Balmoral Rotunda
Cost: Free — all welcome
Supported by Mosman Council
Hear from
Senator Jess Collins
The Hon. Peter Garrett AM
Maj. Gen. Gus McLachlan AO (Retd)
Senator David Shoebridge
Zali Steggall OAM, Federal Member for Warringah
Why now?
This isn't a symbolic gesture. Momentum is genuinely on our side. A Senate committee inquiry into the management of Defence estate assets tabled its interim report on 16 September, and it is damning of the government's approach: the case for these divestments is ‘contested and unsupported’, the audit behind them was not genuinely independent. The Senate committee has recommended the entire divestment program be halted.
HMAS Penguin featured throughout that report. Our President, Jill L'Estrange, gave evidence correcting Defence's own claims about the site's heritage protections; it's covered by three separate Commonwealth Heritage listings, not one, as Defence had told the committee. Neighbouring groups and Mosman Council told the same inquiry that the site's Angophora Forest is irreplaceable habitat for threatened species, including the Powerful Owl and the Grey-headed Flying Fox, and that once a harbourside site like this is redeveloped, it can never be recovered.
The final Senate report isn't due until February 2027. Between now and then, public pressure is what keeps this issue in front of the politicians who can act on it, which is exactly what the rally is for.
What we're asking for
Our position is simple: don't sell it, transfer it. HMAS Penguin should follow the same path as the former HMAS Platypus site in North Sydney, handed to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust as public parkland in 2005, kept in public hands, open to the community, and properly protected.
How to get involved
Come to Balmoral on 11 October. Bring family, friends and neighbours — the bigger the crowd, the louder the message.
Sign the petition. It's the fastest way to show your local member this matters, and it feeds directly into our campaign to bring a formal petition before Parliament.
Spread the word. Share this article and the rally details with anyone who loves Sydney Harbour — you don't need to live in Mosman to have a stake in this.
Make a donation to HPG to help offset the campaign costs.
This is bigger than one headland
HMAS Penguin has been earmarked for sale twice before, in 1988–89 and again in 1996, and both times, public pressure stopped it. We believe we can stop it a third time.
Bring your family, your neighbours and your best friends.
This headland belongs to all of us — let's keep it that way.
See you at Balmoral on 11 October.
