The North Head Quarantine Station is a series of heritage-listed buildings located within a 30 hectare site at North Head near Manly and is part of Sydney Harbour National Park.
The complex operated as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1984. Quarantine was a period of isolation imposed upon ships and persons on arrival at a port when they were liable to be or suspected of carrying an infectious or contagious disease. Quarantine stations, where the period of detention was spent, were established at each of the major ports of entry to Australia, and for some migrants the first experience of their new country was to be detained in a quarantine station. During its life 580 ships were detained at North Head and more than 13,000 people were quarantined.
Today, the site offers accommodation, tours, restaurants and conference/event facilities.
Visitor management plan
- Quarantine Station Visitor Management Plan (PDF 3.4MB) (2005) includes the visitor access strategy, the security plan, and the emergency and evacuation plan.
Environmental management plan
- Erosion and sedimentation control plan (PDF 85KB) (2005)
- Noise management plan (PDF 72KB) (2005)
- Waste management plan (PDF 128KB) (2005)
Conservation works program
Heritage landscape management plan
- Heritage landscape management plan (PDF 16.6MB) (2006) including a heritage landscape master plan and inscriptions conservation management plan.
Integrated monitoring and adaptive management
Interpretation Plan
The Quarantine Station – Interpretation Plan (PDF 2.63MB) for the conservation and adaptive re-use of the North Head Quarantine Station.
North Head Quarantine Station Comprehensive Audits
Comprehensive audits are to be conducted every 5 years from the commencement of the conservation and adaptive reuse project in accordance with the Ministers Conditions of Approval (MCoA) 228.
The Lease commenced in 2006. Capital works commenced on the site in early 2007 and the hotel and associated facilities commenced operation in April 2008.
- North Head Quarantine Station Comprehensive Audit 2018–2021
- Compliance Audit Report Quarantine Station, North Head (PDF 2.96MB) covers the years of operation between 2011 and 2018.
- North Head Quarantine Station Conservation and Adaptive Reuse Project Environmental Audit (2011).
North Head Quarantine Station Annual Environmental Reports
In accordance with the Conditions of Approval, the Quarantine Station Annual Sustainability Report summarises the operational performance of the North Head Quarantine Station conservation and adaptive reuse project, which is being undertaken within Sydney Harbour National Park.
- Q Station Annual Environmental Report – January 2020 to December 2020
- Q Station Annual Environmental Report – July 2018 to December 2019
- QStation Sustainability Report 2015-2017
- QStation Sustainability Report 2013-2014
Visitor information
Visit the Quarantine Station website Q Station for more information.
Photo: Wharf, Q Station, North Head, Sydney Harbour National Park (previously known as North Head Quarantine Station) / J Yurasek/DPE
