For the past 16 years a skilled team of engineers, community planners, designers, and landscapers have invested countless hours creating the spectacular, master planned community that is now Harrington Park. The project drew to a close with those involved reminiscing over the developments most memorable moments.

But perhaps the one whom remembers the most is Lady Mary Fairfax. Her husband Sir Warwick Fairfax purchased the land over 65 years ago, his vision was that he and his wife would one day create an idyllic community on the property he loved so dearly.

In 1981 Sir Warwick approached Camden Council with an application to rezone the Harrington Park estate. It took five years for approval and the land was rezoned from rural to urban in 1986. Just as things were beginning to progress, Sir Warwick passed away after a long illness. Lady Mary Fairfax stepped in and began to spearhead the next stage of development to see her husband’s dream fulfilled.

In 1992, Lady Fairfax met and appointed Terry Goldacre (Project Director) to take up the challenge of overseeing the development of Harrington Park – this proved to be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. In 1993, the scrapers broke the ground and construction on Harrington Park officially began.

The following year, the first stage of Harrington Park (Lakeside Village) was released for sale on 12 June 1994. On the morning in question, Terry Goldacre arrived at the office at 8am to find that more than thirty people had camped out in the middle of winter for an opportunity to purchase their own piece of Harrington Park. He collected deposits for 22 homesites that first day.

As Harrington Park’s reputation spread, each new release of homesites was followed by overwhelming demand. An unexpected by-product of this phenomenon was the strong friendships and social ties that began to be forged among those waiting to purchase their properties. This warm community spirit now marks the atmosphere of Harrington Park today.

On 14 October 1995, Harrington Park was officially opened by the Hon. Craig Knowles, Minister for Urban Planning and Housing, with Lady Mary Fairfax unveiling the commemorative plaque.

In that year, the first residents moved into the estate. The Harrington Park Community Welcome Program was established by the development team, presenting each new family with a welcome pack including bottles of wine, chocolates and postcards to provide to friends and family with new contact details. This program spun off into a number of other social clubs and associations run by the residents themselves, including the Harrington Park Community Association, Harrington Park Youth Arts, the Over 55s and various sporting clubs.

Over the next decade, Harrington Park won numerous awards including Master Planned Residential Lifestyle Development Award and Community Development of the Year. Designed with broad, tree-lined streets, beautiful lakes and numerous parks and ovals, Harrington Park boasts some 2000 homes and facilities including a school, childcare centre, shopping centre and sports facilities to cater for the needs of the community.

As Harrington Park moved inexorably towards completion, Harrington Grove – the next phase of Sir Warwick’s vision – was waiting in the wings. Encompassing one of the largest private conservation areas in Sydney, Harrington Grove is a luxurious new development where homesites dwarf the average size in Sydney.

The first precinct, Araucaria, was completed in September 2008, and in the manner of Harrington Park, was greeted with keen anticipation. In March 2009, Harrington Grove Country Club was officially opened, marking a new era in Harrington Estates history.