Goat Island Conservation Management Plan

Goat Island is of national and state heritage significance for its exceptional ensemble of built, natural and archaeological features that represent three important historical periods within one place: Aboriginal (pre-1830), colonial (1830-1900), and maritime (1901-1993). The island retains its isolation from the city and surrounding foreshore development.

Goat Island aerial view, Sydney Harbour National Park Goat Island is the second largest of the eight remaining islands in Sydney harbour and is situated at the entry to Darling Harbour. It is registered as a heritage item on the NSW State Heritage Register.

This conservation management plan (CMP) was commissioned to provide a clear, concise and well presented analysis of the heritage values of the island and to develop policies from the analysis and assessment of significance to provide clarity in the development of a masterplan that will guide the future of the island as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park.

To achieve this, this report relies on Volume 2: Goat Island: A Contextual History for information on the historical development of the island, and this CMP provides:

an historical summary,
a chronology
historical analysis of the island’s cultural landscape
physical analysis of the place
assessment of the significance of individual elements, sites and the geographic context and
strategies, guidelines and actions for the conservation of the heritage significance of Goat Island.

The CMP provides a clear direction for the future management of the island in consideration of its heritage resources.