THE historic Killarney Heights picnic grounds have been listed for sale but the owner has promised he won’t necessarily be selling the prized Middle Harbour property to the highest bidder.

Claus von Hessberg said he was looking for a new “steward” to tend the 1.53ha lot and won’t be handing it over to anyone with plans for reckless development.

“I’m not just chasing a dollar,” he said. “After 20 years I have had a lot of emotional attachment to this land and I’m not just going to flog it off to the first developer that comes along.”

The site, which has previously been known as Green Point or Cockfighters Point, is wedged between two sections of Garigal National Park.

It was used as a picnic ground until it was bought by Mosman Rowing Club in the 1950s.

After years as the property’s caretaker, Mr von Hessberg bought the site from the rowing club in 2005 for $1.5 million. He lives on site with a handful of “housemates” and hires the property for corporate events, weddings and sports camps.

“It’s a difficult site, you need to be working it like a farm and that’s something I really can’t do forever – I’m not getting any younger,” he said. “It’s a nice place to live if you have the energy to manage it.”

The sale has been listed by Ballard Property in Woollahra, who claim the purchase is the “chance of a lifetime”.

It’s being touted as having its own deep-water jetty, sandy beach and enough space for a helicopter.

Long time Killarney Heights resident George Champion, is calling on the state government to buy the lot and wants it to become part of Garigal National Park.

“I nearly had a heart attack when I heard about the sale,’’ he said. “I just do not want some looney to come down and start putting up all sorts of things. Until we make it a national park there’s always this risk of development and these guys aren’t joking when they say they want to put a helipad in.’’

Warringah Mayor Michael Regan said there were no plans for the council to buy the site.

Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard said any government purchase of the land would have to be warranted considering the “pressing challenges’’ of health, transport and education.

What would you like to see happen to the old Killarney Heights picnic grounds?