The Scenic Hills is the local name given to a vast tract of gently rolling hills and valleys that cradle the city of Campbellown and provide its scenic backdrop. Running from Denham Court in the north to the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan in the south and beyond, the Hills are rich in aboriginal and European colonial history, and one of the last remaining colonial rural landscapes left in the Cowpastures area.  In 1974 Campbelltown City Council officially moved to protect the area for future generations by zoning it Environmental Protection - Scenic.  However, because of its location -  45 minutes from Sydney’s CBD and 45 minutes from the Southern Highlands - the Hills have suffered ongoing encroachment from Sydney’s growing population.

The Scenic Hills Association was formed on 17 March 2010 when it became clear that the Hills’ zoning would not be enough to ensure its survival. At its core is a group of residents and landowners who live in or near the Scenic Hills, principally in the suburbs of Varroville and St Andrews but with “Friends” now extending across the Campbelltown area and as far north as Queensland. Read More.

1. South West Business Park. In 2007 land developer the Cornish Group bought approximately 300 acres of the Scenic Hills and an interest in the adjoining Scenic Hills Riding Ranch - around 800 acres in all of the historic 1810 Varro Ville estate of Dr. Robert Townson 1762- 1827 - and started proceedings to have the area re-zoned for industrial purposes, leading to protests from the local community...Read More
   
2. The VarrovilleTruck Rest Area. In 2009 the community uncovered a plan by the RTA to build a major truck rest area of 77 bays on archaeologically sensitive land in the Scenic Hills Protection zone as part of the F5 Freeway upgrade...Read More
3. AGL's Northern Expansion of the Camden Gas Project. In 2010 AGL put on Public Exhibition plans to mine for coal seam gas in the South West Sydney Metropolitan Area - with its gas wells, gas lines and other infrastructure located in the Scenic Hills Protection zone and on land designated for new residential estates in Camden...Read More
4. NSW Coalition Government Breaks Pre-election Promise to give Planning back to Local Communities. Less than 10 months into office, the O'Farrell Government has announced it will override local councils and accept applications from land developers, reminiscent of the disgraced Part 3A legislative process it abolished in 2011...Read More