Community & places · Woollahra Municipal Council
Estimated 3,000-plus rally puts Victoria Barracks sale at centre of Woollahra Council opposition
Resolution 715/2026 recorded an estimated turnout of more than 3,000 people at Kippax Lake and asked Mayor Sarah Dixson to write to federal and NSW political figures over the proposed sale.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
More than 3,000 people attended a Save Victoria Barracks rally at Kippax Lake, Moore Park, according to Woollahra Council’s recorded estimate, as the council reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed sale of the historic military site.
Resolution 715/2026, recorded as passed 11-0 at the 26 October meeting, described the rally as bringing together community representatives, veterans, business leaders and elected representatives. The attendance figure was recorded as an estimate in the unconfirmed minutes, not as an independently verified count.
The resolution reaffirmed council’s opposition to the sale and its commitment to advocating for Victoria Barracks’ military, historic and heritage values, along with meaningful community consultation about the site’s future.
It also asked Mayor Sarah Dixson to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Shadow Defence Minister James Patterson and other federal and NSW political figures named in the resolution.
That correspondence is an advocacy step. The resolution does not record any change to ownership of Victoria Barracks or any measure stopping the proposed sale. The minutes also do not record any response from the political figures named.
The rally was held on Sunday 25 October, the day before the council meeting. The public minutes supplied for review are marked unconfirmed, and this report relies on their account rather than an eyewitness report of the event.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution records council advocacy and requests correspondence, but does not record a change to ownership or a legal measure stopping the proposed sale.
The rally attendance is explicitly identified as an estimate in the resolution, so it should not be presented as an independently verified count.
The document is marked unconfirmed despite a closing certification referring to confirmation on 23 November 2026. This report treats the record as unconfirmed and does not claim that confirmation occurred.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What response, if any, will the political figures named in Part E give to the mayor's requested correspondence?
What is the current status of the proposed Victoria Barracks sale and any planned community consultation?
What method or source did council use to estimate rally attendance at more than 3,000 people?
What happens next
Resolution 715/2026 requests that the mayor write to the political figures listed in Part E; the supplied minutes do not establish that the correspondence has been sent.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Resolution 715/2026 recorded an estimated turnout of more than 3,000 people at the Save Victoria Barracks Rally at Kippax Lake, Moore Park, on 25 October 2026.
(Councillor Dixson) 715/2026 Resolved: THAT Council: A. Notes the strong community turnout, estimated at over 3000 people, at the Save Victoria Barracks Rally held at Kippax Lake, Moore Park on Sunday, 25 October 2026, demonstrating the depth of community concern regarding the proposed sale of Victoria Barracks.
Resolution 715/2026, Part A
Open original minutes ↗The quoted clause acknowledges community representatives, veterans, business leaders and elected representatives who came together in support of protecting Victoria Barracks.
C. Acknowledges the broad coalition of community representatives, veterans, business leaders and elected representatives who came together in support of protecting Victoria Barracks.
Resolution 715/2026, Part C
Open original minutes ↗The quoted clause expresses Council's strong opposition to the sale of Victoria Barracks and its commitment to advocating for protection of its military, historic and heritage values, together with meaningful community consultation about its future.
D. Reaffirms Council's strong opposition to the sale of Victoria Barracks and its commitment to advocating for the protection of its significant military, historic and heritage values, together with meaningful community consultation about its future.
Resolution 715/2026, Part D
Open original minutes ↗The quoted clause calls for the mayor to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Shadow Defence Minister James Patterson and other named federal and NSW political figures.
Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 12 E. Request the Mayor writes to the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor, Shadow Defence Minister James Patterson, NSW Senator Jess Collins and Dr Marjorie ONeil, member for Coogee, the Leader of the Australian Greens David Shoebridge, the Leader of the NSW Opposition and member for Vaucluse, Kellie Sloane, the NSW Minister for Veterans, David Harris MP, the Shadow NSW Minister for Veterans, Tim James MP, and Mr Alex Greenwhich, Member for Sydney.
Resolution 715/2026, Part E
Open original minutes ↗The motion was recorded as carried, with 11 councillors listed for the motion and none against.
The Motion was put and Carried. Note:In accordance with Council's Code of Meeting Practice a Division of votes is recorded on this matter. For the MotionAgainst the Motion Councillor Ardouin, Councillor Dixson, Councillor Jarvis, Councillor Mitchell, Councillor Parmegiani, Councillor Price, Councillor Regan, Councillor Robertson, Councillor Silcocks, Councillor Torsten, Councillor Woodgate None 11/0 11.4.
Resolution 715/2026 voting record
Open original minutes ↗The meeting's attendance list identifies the mayor as Councillor Sarah Dixson.
Present:Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Dixson, ex-officio Councillors:Hugh Woodgate (Deputy Mayor) James Ardouin Mary-Lou Jarvis Jeanette Mitchell (via Zoom) Julian Parmegiani Harriet Price Lucinda Regan Matthew Robertson Mark Silcocks (left meeting at 8:00pm during Item 15.3, returned at 8:47pm during Item 19) Torsten Staff:Rosemary Bullmore - General Counsel (via Zoom) Jennifer Chenhall - Manager, Governance & Risk James Dolton - Chief Financial Officer Rhys Johnson - Team Leader, Governance & Meetings Melissa Lee - A/Coordinator, Governance & Risk Sue Meekin - Director, Corporate Performance Tom O'Hanlon - Director, Infrastructure
Meeting attendance list
Open original minutes ↗The supplied record is labelled unconfirmed minutes of Woollahra Municipal Council's Ordinary Council Meeting held on 26 October 2026.
Ordinary Council Monday, 26 October 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 2 Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes of the Meeting of Ordinary Council held at the Council Chambers, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, on 26 October 2026 at 6:30 PM.
Document title and meeting details
Open original minutes ↗The closing certification refers to confirmation of the 26 October 2026 minutes at a council meeting on 23 November 2026.
We certify that the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Woollahra Municipal Council held on 26/10/2026 and confirmed by the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 23/11/2026 as a true and correct record of the meeting.
Closing certification
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from Woollahra Municipal Council’s public minutes for the Ordinary Council Meeting of 26 October 2026, including Resolution 715/2026. The minutes supplied for review are marked unconfirmed.
Key facts from the minutes
- Woollahra Council Resolution 715/2026 reaffirmed strong opposition to the proposed sale of Victoria Barracks, according to the unconfirmed minutes.
- The minutes record an estimated rally turnout of more than 3,000 people at Kippax Lake, Moore Park, on 25 October 2026.
- The resolution acknowledged participation from community, veteran, business and political representatives.
- The mayor was asked to write to federal and NSW political figures.
- The motion was recorded as carried, with the division listed as 11-0.
Why it matters
- The resolution records Woollahra Council’s opposition to the proposed sale of Victoria Barracks and requests that the mayor write to political decision-makers about the future of the military and heritage site.