Bounded by national park, and directly accessible from Sydney only by crossing Wisemans Ferry, St Albans seems at no risk of being subsumed by the city's outward march of suburbs.

But change is bearing on St Albans. It is bearing in the form of a potential overhaul of what has been a feature of the village since 1824, when a "common" was created for use by those living near St Albans.

The state government is proposing to reform the management of about 200 commons across the state. What this means in practice is not exactly clear. But the commoners of St Albans are wary of the threat it might pose to their control and enjoyment of about 1000 hectares of land.

"It can bring the community together or it can divide the community," Sherri McMahon, the secretary of the St Albans Common trust, said of the common, which runs in a long rectangle adjacent to the village proper.

"But the thing is, since this has come up and the minister wants to take it, everyone has come together to fight to keep the land."

The St Albans common, on which commoners run horses, cows, and host community events, is managed under a trust. That trust is pursuant to a deed granted in perpetuity by Queen Victoria in 1853, say trustees, though the common had been in use for about 30 years prior to that.

There are about 200 commons in NSW, according to the NSW Department of Industry and Lands. Most were established more than a century ago, on the outskirts of towns, for locals to use to graze or spell stock, or collect firewood.

At St Albans the common was also associated with the pattern of development in the area.

"These blocks were so small when they were first made, a lot of them are 11-acre lots that came from first settlers or ticket of leaves," said James Brigden, another trustee.

"In England you could live on 11 acres. So the common was created to depasture stock. What people did was they put their pregnant heifers on the common, because they were no use back at the farm until they were milking," said Mr Brigden.

Like at St Albans, other commons in the state are managed by trusts established under the Commons Management Act 1989.

But late last year, as part of broader reforms to the management of Crown land, the government proposed repealing the Commons Management Act. A strong reaction, including from those associated with St Albans, meant this proposal was withdrawn.

The government is still proposing changes to the management of the state's commons. Department of Lands documents say the traditional rationale for many commons across the state has changed. The government also argues the management and enjoyment of commons should be democratised.

"It is increasingly less appropriate for a small number of people to benefit from how the land is managed and used," the documents say.

The commoners at St Albans, however, say they have managed the land well, and there are opportunities for a variety of people and groups to use the land.

"The common's weed load is probably not as good as a well-run private property around here, but it is very close," said Mr Brigden.

The trustees also point out the trust charges low rates to run cattle and horses on the property. This would not be possible if rates were raised. "I can see if the minister takes over the common it will turn into a commercial enterprise," said Ms McMahon.

A spokesman for the Lands Minister, Paul Toole, said the government would include provisions relating to the management of commons in a piece of legislation to be introduced to parliament this year. The spokesman said the legislation would take into account the "significant social, cultural and environmental value" of commons.

"Whilst no decision has been made, the government has committed to ensuring the control of commons remains with local communities and the expertise of existing commons trusts and trust board members is retained," the spokesman said.

But Bob Bolin, the president of the trust, said that if trustees were appointed by the minister, they could "come from anywhere ... rather than the valley itself."

"We would lose the history if we lost the somewhat control I guess of the common and the use by the locals," said Mr Bolin.