In autumn 2005, Superb Fairy-Wrens were observed feeding young birds in Norma Hawkins’ backyard in St James Avenue and it is very likely that they represented the last breeding event of wrens in Glebe. In July 2006, a group of local residents, including Fiona Campbell, Judy Christie, Roberta Johnson, Jeanette Knox and others, who were members of The Friends of Orphan School Creek, submitted an application to the City of Sydney’s Environmental Grants Program seeking $10,000 in funding to carry out a local environment project to ‘help our wrens’. 

The project aimed at surveying our Blue Wren population, developing a conservation plan and carrying out a range of education and habitat-enhancing activities. The application was successful, however, the funds could not be awarded as The Friends group was an unincorporated organisation. Thus, it was decided to accept an invitation to become a Subcommittee of the Glebe Society (which is incorporated) and to resubmit the grant application.

The grant was awarded, and in mid-2007 the Blue Wren Subcommittee was established under the leadership of David Mander-Jones. Sue Stevens, an ecologist and urban small bird habitat specialist, was appointed as a consultant for the project. Sue’s landmark report was entitled Superb Fairy-Wren Habitat in Glebe & Forest Lodge: a community based conservation project (2008).  Her report was released in 2008 and accepted by the City of Sydney and launched on their website.

More about blue wrens.

Funds from the Grant also supported a habitat planting day, attended by over 200 people in Paddy Grey Reserve in Hereford Street, and participants also collected wren-friendly plants for their gardens – the overall project was declared a great SUCCESS!

Where are we today?

So, where are we today?  Sue Steven’s blue wren report has withstood the test of time and is now recognised as an outstanding reference work for those establishing habitat for wrens and other small insect-eating birds. 

Unfortunately, soon after 2008 the wren habitat was progressively removed from our suburb, and also from the grounds of the University of Sydney and most small birds disappeared. 

The Subcommittee, however, through the work of its more than 20 bushcare volunteers continues to plant native flora in our local parks. New patches of flora add to wildlife corridors and will permit small birds to move into and around Glebe and hopefully to permanently return. For example, in recent years wrens have been briefly observed in the foreshore park opposite The Anchorage home units and at the western end of Rozelle Bay.

Another important activity of the Subcommittee is the Society’s annual spring bird survey – it was initiated by Sophie Golding, the City of Sydney’s Urban Ecology Coordinator, and is now in its 11th year and led by Judy Christie.

The Subcommittee’s work has been supported by generous donations from the estate of Jan Craney and also by local residents Norma Hawkins, Mary Holt, Roberta Johnston and Chris Newton. These donations have funded eight annual biodiversity lectures and seven biodiversity teaching grants awarded to our local preschools and schools.

Glebe’s Hill

In 2019, the Subcommittee first considered what could be done about Glebe’s Hill, the 0.6H of Crown Land between the Harold Park Tramsheds and the light rail line?  It is a fenced-off area of contaminated land which was originally a garbage tip. As the public did not have access to the site, we wondered whether it could become a wildlife refuge?

So, two years ago the Subcommittee decided to apply to the City for an Innovation and Ideas Grant entitled “Glebe’s Hill – unravelling its biodiversity secrets and potential”. We were fortunate that we had the enthusiastic support of Professor Deiter Hochuli, leader of the University of Sydney’s Integrative Ecology Group.

The $45,000 Grant was awarded to the Society and funded the University of Sydney to make observations of the fauna and flora at Glebe’s Hill and six other bush restoration sites in the local government area. 

Read more about the Glebe’s Hill project and its findings.