Mission
Founded in the same year as the National Trust 1945, the Protection League is considered one of the oldest organisations campaigning to protect and conserve the cultural heritage of the remote shack communities.
Goals
The Era-Burning Palms Protection League was formed in 1945 to prevent the destruction of the cabin communities and is credited as being one of the earliest conservation organisations in NSW. The Protection League celebrated its 65th Anniversary in 2010.
Protect
The Protection League aims to protect the cultural heritage of the remote communities and the cabins themselves.
conserve
These unique cabins sit amongst the prestigious Royal National Park. Collaborating with the NPWS and our stakeholders ensures that wildlife, nature reserves and Aboriginal historic sites are conserved for future generations.
Educate
Through guided tours, art and storytelling, The Protection League and the cabin communities aim to ensure the history of the farmland, the National Park and the Living Heritage sites are shared and celebrated.
“The historical and social development of the shack areas is highly significant, as it is a rare illustration of a community, building group and cultural landscape developing in the absence of amenities, regulated planning, building codes and vehicular access. Self-regulating communities are becoming increasingly rare within NSW ”
Brooks, Conservation Management Plan, 2005
History
The shacks were built in the first half of the twentieth century, many during the Great Depression c1920’s. They were built by private citizens using their initiative, resources and labour. None of the three communities are accessible by road and all materials were carried down through steep bush tracks or around the shoreline. There were once similar shack communities up and down the NSW Coast, however, sadly, most are now swallowed up by coastal developments.
The RNP Shacks are the largest remaining group of coastal shacks in Australia. Their heritage significance has been recognised with their listing on the State Heritage Register in 2012 and previously by the National Trust, the Australian Heritage Commission and Wollongong City Council.
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