22 July 2025
North Sydney Council is preparing to enter formal talks with Shore School over a proposal to part-close and sell a significant portion of Edward Street in North Sydney, directly adjacent to the school’s existing campus.
According to papers for next week’s Council meeting, the Sydney Church of England Grammar School formally approached Council in February seeking to purchase the section of Edward Street south of Lord Street. This portion of road is immediately surrounded by Shore-owned land and, if sold, would enable the school to consolidate its campus footprint further.
Council officers have recommended that the chief executive officer be authorised to commence negotiations and begin investigations into the implications of the potential sale and closure. Under NSW’s Roads Act 1993, councils can close and sell roads under specific conditions, including that the road is not required for current or future public use and that alternative access is available.
While the report confirms that Edward Street is believed to be a council-owned public road, its legal status must still be verified via formal application to the NSW Land Registry. Officers also flagged the need for broader due diligence, including assessments of traffic implications, infrastructure and easement impacts, and whether closure would disrupt local connectivity.
As a condition of the process, Shore will be required to lodge a $20,000 bond to cover the costs of Council’s investigations, with the potential for this amount to increase. Any formal move to close and sell the road would also be subject to community consultation under Council’s Community Engagement Policy and mandatory notification under the Roads Act.
The Council report notes that, should the road be sold, proceeds can only be used for works on other public roads under legislative requirements.
The move would not be without precedent. In November 2024, Council resolved to enter negotiations with SCEGGS Redlands regarding a similar proposal to purchase Monford Place, a cul-de-sac in Cremorne. While an earlier sale proposal in 2022 was rejected, renewed interest from the school had prompted Council to reconsider.
A further report will be brought to Council once investigations into the Edward Street proposal are completed.