Ginninderra Falls, Wallaroo has had a complicated history.
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have been caught up in a bitter spat over a famous Aussie ‘ghost town’ and waterfall.
The complicated history of the stunning Ginninderra Falls and the fight over access to it, has returned to the public eye courtesy of the much-hyped upcoming Netflix film Apex starring Charlize Theron, Eric Bana and Taron Egerton.
Located in the spectacular wilderness north of Canberra, Ginninderra Falls was once one of the area’s most popular tourist destinations.
MORE: Huge promise Hemsworths made about Byron Bay
The waterfall stars in Charlize Theron’s latest movie Apex.
It features as a primary setting for Apex, a wilderness thriller about a woman who retreats to the outskirts of civilisation seeking solace but instead becomes caught in the web of a serial killer.
It’s hard to imagine a more fantastic setting for a wilderness movie – Ginninderra Falls plunges more than 60m into the gorge below – however the privately owned holding has been closed to the public for over 20 years largely due to safety concerns and public indemnity issues.
“I love looked everywhere around the world and there is nowhere like this,” owner John Hyles told local identity Tim the Yowie Man.
MORE: Aus pub’s $500m collapse, staff owed $7m
Apex was filmed in the rugged area.
Hyles has had the 56 hectare property on Parkwood R, Wallaroo, listed for sale since October last years.
Hyles said he and wife Anna put the revered area including The Falls, up for sale because it no longer fitted in with their core business Tharwa Sands.
The business’ website says Tharwa Sands is Canberra’s leading supplier of sand and gravel and also provides building and landscaping supplies to Sydney, Goulburn and the Southern Highlands.
However Hyles also said a key motivation for offloading Ginninderra Falls – referred by many as ‘Canberra’s Kakadu’ – was because of the strong calls for public access to the area to be renewed.
The public has been unable to access the site and it’s decaying tourist infrastructure described as “abandoned” and a “ghost town” since it was closed off in 2003.
MORE: Wild reason Aussie has 300 homes
Ginninderra Falls is likely to remain in private ownership.
The closure has been a source of contention among locals ever since, who have argued it is a significant natural site that should not be private.
Locals had been hopeful that government would snap up the land, but an agent involved in the ongoing sale told The Daily Telegraph that the ACT Government had confirmed it had no intention to buy Gininderra Falls
Ray White Rural Canberra/Yass said that it seems likely that the site will now fall into private ownership.
“The ACT Government (on Monday) confirmed that they are not interested in the site at all,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of questioning and petitioning around that through a number of politicians. It looks like it’ll be going into private hands.”
MORE: Coalition urged not to block 80,000 new homes
Eric Bana, Taron Egerton and Charlize Theron star in the upcoming Netflix film Apex, filmed at Ginninderra Falls.
Located on the borders of the ACT and NSW in Wallaroo, Ginninderra Falls is known for its picturesque scenery and namesake waterfall.
It sits just 25 minutes drive from Australia’s democratic seat of power Parliament House
Apexwas filmed at the falls, with Mr Southwell saying it was an economic boon for the area and a “proud moment” for the owners and marketing team.
Stars arrived in the country for the filming of Apexin late January, with Theron spotted leaving in May.
No release date for the film has been confirmed.
MORE: Aus worse off as RBA rate cut panic sets in
The falls were once a tourism hotspot for the region.
The long ‘abandoned’ tourist infrastructure has ‘ghost town vibes’ Picture: Daily Motion
The decision which has frustrated locals for two decades
The site was closed due to reported public liability concerns, and even while closed, several injuries were alleged to have occurred there.
An injured woman was rescued from the site by the ACT Fire and Rescue Vertical Rescue Crew after a fall in February 2019, and a teenage boy sustained a broken arm and an injured pelvis after he fell from Ginninderra Falls in December 2015.
MORE: Sudden rise in Aus wealth stuns experts
It has been an eventful few years at Ginninderra Falls.
The massive land holding has been privately owned by the local Hyles family for over 40 years.
Mr Southwell said the owners would prefer to see the site reopened to the public.
“They would like to see the asset they have enjoyed as a private family property for a long time be opened up to the public,” he said.
ACT Greens MLA for Ginninderra Jo Clay has supported local petitions calling for Ginninderra Falls to be reopened to the public.
Greens MLA Jo Clay has petitioned for the site to be purchased by government. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai.
Ms Clay said the community has been pushing for support of ecological conservation and the First Nations heritage of the site.
“When it was opened it was truly a spectacular place to visit,” she said.
“Surprisingly, the ACT Government has not considered the potential tourism benefits from reopening Ginninderra Falls, nor have they discussed public access with the NSW Government and Yass Valley Council.
“Many people in Canberra have no idea this gorgeous spot even exists because they have never been able to access it.”
Two petitions have been launched to get the NSW and ACT Governments to work with the Federal Government to establish the falls as part of a national park.
MORE: Where your luxury car can come to dinner
Petitions to establish the falls as part of a national park have been unsuccessful.
Aussie actor Eric Bana also stars in Apex. Picture: Netflix
Chief Minister Andrew Barr first told press last October that the ACT Government was unlikely to purchase the property, with the government confirming this decision this week.
While he could not disclose a price guide, Mr Southwell said larger holdings nearby have sold to the ACT Government for $10-12 million.
These two sales, he said, were based on agricultural value, and do not possess the commercial or development potential of Gininderra Falls.
According to Mr Southwell, interest in the falls has come from far and wide.
“We’ve received over 350 enquiries from right around the world including Canada, the Middle East and America as well,” he said.
Expressions of interest for the property close on November 28.
“With a rich history and a bright future this former tourist destination has a very rare combination of residential, resort, retail, eco-tourism and environmental zoning,” the listing reads.
“Family disposal creates opportunity to control the destiny of an Australian icon, whether it be to enjoy on your own, develop or open to the public once again.
No responses yet