Council reopens talks to sell public road to wealthy school amid financial pressure
An elite private school is a step closer to buying an entire street after North Sydney Council reopened talks to sell off a public road it rejected handing over just four years ago.
SCEGGS Redlands, where senior tuition fees reach $47,100 a year, is once again pushing to absorb Monford Place in Cremorne into its expanding campus, with councillors now advancing negotiations over the proposed closure and sale of the cul-de-sac.
The move throws a spotlight on the extraordinary reach of wealthy private schools on Sydney’s lower north, with Redlands – which counts television presenter Catriona Rowntree, Grammy-nominated classical saxophonist Amy Dickson and Chief Justice Helen Murrell among its notable alumni – having spent decades quietly buying up almost every property along the street before making a play for the road itself.
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On Monday night, North Sydney councillors resolved to progress negotiations over the possible closure and sale of Monford Place, despite having previously refused to proceed with the same proposal in 2022.
SCEGGS Redlands wants to acquire the public road beside its Cremorne campus. Picture: Supplied
A council spokesperson told News Corp that, subject to negotiations, the next step could be the formal statutory process to close and sell the road.
Any such move would include public consultation, although the proposed purchase price remains secret.
Sale unlikely to be quick
If the proposal ultimately proceeds, the process is still likely to take years.
Council papers show the road closure process, creation of a separate title and the required legal and administrative work are expected to take between 18 and 24 months.
The school has been trying to secure the road since 2021, after a property acquisition campaign that began nearly 40 years ago.
By the time it first approached council, Redlands had already bought every property bordering Monford Place, according to council papers, effectively leaving the short street stranded as a public road servicing school-owned land.
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Monford Place is a small cul-de-sac off Military Road in Cremorne. Photo: Google Maps
Council documents state Monford Place no longer connects to the wider road network and provides access only to land owned by Redlands, satisfying the criteria under the Roads Act for a council to consider closing it.
The school’s original proposal was laid out in a May 2021 letter from then-principal Stephen Webber.
“Redlands is willing to acquire Monford Place road at market value to facilitate the future expansion of our Senior Campus,” he wrote.
He said the school would also cover “all expenses incurred by North Sydney Council associated with the closure of Monford Place road”.
But the first attempt failed.
In June 2022, the council decided it would not proceed with closing or selling the road.
Redlands returned in March 2024 with the same request, and councillors later agreed to reopen discussions.
Private school’s bid for entire street returns
Since then, negotiations have gathered pace, with independent valuations obtained, a proposed price put forward and draft heads of agreement and a contract of sale prepared.
Exactly how much the school is offering has not been disclosed.
Council’s own financial strain appears to have helped drive the rethink.
“In considering its decision, Council was facing significant financial pressures arising from increasing operating costs, the cost escalation of North Sydney Olympic Pool, and a growing infrastructure backlog estimated at approximately $157 million,” council documents said.
Redlands counts presenter Catriona Rowntree, Grammy-nominated classical saxophonist Amy Dickson and Chief Justice Helen Murrell among its notable alumni. Picture: Google Maps
That has added another layer of controversy to the proposal, coming as North Sydney Council continues to wrestle with budget pressure and long-running frustration over the area’s large private schools, which are generally exempt from paying council rates.
Two years ago, the council asked independent schools to voluntarily contribute the equivalent of rates, arguing they occupy vast tracts of valuable land while residents and businesses carry the burden.
None agreed.
A suburb for the rich
Monford Place itself has become a striking example of that growing influence.
Property records show Redlands has spent years buying into the street, with some apartments selling for eye-watering sums.
Property records show two-bedroom units at 4 and 6 Monford Place each sold for $1.99 million in November 2019.
Other apartments in the street sold for $1.1 million in 2018 and $800,000 in 2015.
Yet one part of the street remains firmly public: the parking.
The cul-de-sac has 18 on-street spaces, including 10 unrestricted bays and eight one-hour spots.
North Sydney Council refused to sell for many years but are now open to negotiations.
When council first examined the proposal in 2021, its traffic and parking operations manager warned the spaces were “well used by the community”, with average occupancy of 88 per cent.
At the time, it was argued that removing them would put more pressure on surrounding streets.
A later 2024 council report, however, said the bays were “mainly used by SCEGGS Redlands staff and students or visitors and people doing business with the school”.
Even if the sale proceeds, the council will not be free to spend the money however it likes.
Under the Roads Act, proceeds from selling a former public road must be used to acquire land for roads or pay for road works.
North Sydney Council has said the funds could go towards projects in its integrated transport strategy, including footpath, walking and cycling upgrades and other road-related infrastructure.
Redlands would also be required to reimburse the council for agreed legal, valuation, surveying, registration and other costs.
