​Dear Members and Supporters

The public meeting held at the Mosman Club, Thursday evening, 21 May 2026, by Headland Preservation Group (HPG), in conjunction with Mosman Parks & Bushland Association.

​The meeting was attended by an estimated 500 people with many turned away when the venue reached capacity.

​The meeting was organised because the Albanese government plans to sell Defence sites across Australia, including HMAS Penguin, which has caused concern in the community. 

In the weeks leading up to the meeting a team of 20 volunteers letterbox- dropped 12,000 flyers informing the community about the meeting and amplifying their concerns.  

HMAS Penguin includes heritage-listed buildings and six hectares of ancient Angophora Forest.

Community members expressed anger that the deeply flawed decision to sell public land has already been made in the absence of:

• an impartial and professional audit;

• meaningful community consultation;

• due diligence regarding heritage and environmental protections;

• assessment of the loss of public benefit; and

• a transparent cost-benefit analysis.

Our Speakers

A panel of eminent speakers addressed the meeting, including Senator Jess Collins, Chair of the Senate Inquiry into the Management of Defence estate assets, Senator David Shoebridge, Inquiry Committee Member,  Maj. Gen. Gus McLachlan (Ret’d.)  and Nick Hollo, former Deputy Executive Director, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

Senator Shoebridge was critical of the process used to justify the proposed sale, stating: “I want to be clear about one thing, this has been sold as a Defence audit … This was not done by auditors, it was not done to the standards of an audit, it was not impartial and professional.”

Major General Gus McLachlan (Ret’d) told the meeting that surplus Defence land should remain public land, stating: “If Defence does not need this land, then the land belongs to the community and we should give it back, not hand it to property developers.”

The meeting also heard from 10 year old Billy Brell, a local Year 5 primary school student, whose speech drew a strong response from the audience: “I often hear adults say, ‘We must protect the environment for the next generation’.  Well…I am the next generation. And I am asking you to protect this one. Because once this land is sold, my generation doesn’t get a choice.  We only get what is left over.”

View speaker videos and/or read full transcripts here ➞

​Please support us by signing our Open Letter opposing the sale of HMAS Penguin

​If you missed our recent public meeting, or couldn't get in after Mosman Club's auditorium reached capacity, please sign our Open Letter to key Albanese government ministers, and Zali Steggall MP, Member for Warringah.

​By signing, you join us in opposing the proposed partial sale of HMAS Penguin.

You can read the Open Letter and add your name as a signatory here ➞

Public meeting resolution

The meeting resolved unanimously that HMAS Penguin is Commonwealth land, managed by the Department of Defence, and belongs to all Australians:

“If defence has no further use for part of HMAS Penguin, the part to be divested must be retained by the Commonwealth Government and managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (Harbour Trust) , a statutory authority, with heritage and environmental obligations and appropriate infrastructure and expertise to manage the site.”

Thursday night’s meeting was the start of a wider public campaign to keep HMAS Penguin in public hands and protect its heritage, environment, and community value for future generations.

RSL Australia and RSL NSW thank the Headland Preservation Group

RSL Australia and RSL NSW thanked HPG for its hard work and advocacy to address the partial divestment of HMAS Penguin.

Both RSL Australia and RSL NSW acknowledge that HMAS Penguin is one of the most important Defence sites in Australia, has irreplaceable military and community value, and is home to an ancient Angophora tree forest.

They have committed to supporting and collaborating with HPG and other organisations to preserve the military and community heritage.

Read RSL Australia's Statement to HPG here ➞

Please monitor the websites for updates and further information in relation to the campaign to Save HMAS Penguin and the Angophora Forest: hpg.org.au and mosmanparksandbushland.org.au

Kind regards
Jill L’Estrange