Return To Public Ownership
In 1989 the Department of Defence mooted plans to dispose of the property. Options considered have been the sale of the property to Notre Dame University and a transfer to the Government of Western Australia by way of a Centenary of Federation of Australia gift from the Federal Government. Progress in negotiations was stalled however, as the parties have requested the Commonwealth to provide funding to reinstate the site to a usable condition—then Premier Geoff Gallop announced in September 2003 that the Government had formally declined the offer.
Since 1997, a community based Cantonment Hill Residents Action Group has lobbied for its return to the City according to the original gift and its restoration and retention as public property with full public access.
On the 21st of January, 2010, the Prime Minister announced that Cantonment Hill, including Tuckfield Oval, would be sold back to the people of Fremantle. The Council will reportedly pay $76,000 for the land, and has plans to rehabilitate the vegetation and build walking paths and picnic facilities. The signal station will also be turned into a café and "Aboriginal interpretive centre". The handover is to be completed by March.
Read more about this topic: Cantonment Hill, Fremantle
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