National Trust of South Australia
ANNUAL REPORT 2015 – 2016
02
PRESIDENT’S INTRODUCTION Substantial achievements mark the last financial year. The Trust moved out of deficit and into surplus. We fought a tough campaign on behalf of Martindale Hall as a public asset and helped build a new platform for heritage tourism in South Australia. We continued the great work of getting the Register of Classified Places online, including all our back files of information and photographs. We turned the costly enterprises of maintaining Beaumont House and Ayers House into profit making engines of our operation. In November we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our founding Act of Parliament with a gala dinner attended by a stellar cast of National Trust Patrons. The addition of 15 new generous donors this year increased the annual contribution of Patrons to more than $140,000 – a cornerstone of our hard-won financial stability. The foundation of all these achievements was the work of our core committees whose behind-the-scenes efforts I would like to commend in this report. The Audit, Finance and Governance Committee monitors our finances. It has been 100% committed to our bold investment plan. The cornerstone of the plan is that all large bequests and donations are invested rather than used to fund current operations. Our target of $5m held in income-generating investments is within sight and will be achieved when a pending settlement of a large estate bequeathed to the Trust is complete. When the investment fund reaches $5m, half of every additional gift or bequest will be reinvested so that we move rapidly toward a sustaining endowment of $10m. Freed from any obligations or funding from government, the Trust can speak boldly and fearlessly on heritage issues of public concern. NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
The Natural Heritage Advisory Committee cares for reserves and conservation parks. Many of these are remote and some are almost inaccessible, so much of the committee’s work consists of visiting and reporting. This year, thanks to the financial work of the Audit, Finance and Governance Committee, we were able to restore the position of Natural Heritage Manager to four days a week. However, the work of maintaining the reserves continues to be a drain on resources. The Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee maintains the Trust’s Register, considers nominations for new listings and alerts the community to heritage assets at risk of decay and destruction. Over the last five years the Committee has built up its expertise. Members now include three academic historians, two engineers, two heritage architects, a member of the Adelaide City Council, two qualified museum curators and an independent journalist. This range of talent and experience enables us to speak with authority in the public arena. On behalf of the Council I wish to record our appreciation for the thousands of voluntary hours put in by members of these committees. Professor Norman Etherington AM President
03
CEO’S REPORT In 2015/16 we marked the 60th anniversary of the Trust in South Australia. It was a year for celebrating and reflecting on six decades of protecting and preserving our heritage and a moment to consider the challenges and opportunities ahead. After some difficult years in the recent past, in 2015/16 the Trust continued in a positive direction with a strong financial result, yielding a net surplus of $123,020 and total income of $3,619,253, up 33% on 2014/15. Particularly pleasing is the growth of our operating income by more than 60%. While bequests and other gifts provide a sound underpinning for future financial security, our daily operations need to continue to operate profitably and to extend the reach and impact of our work, as well as generating income to invest back into our working assets, particularly the more than 130 properties in our care. Events such as the highly successful Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries costume exhibition at Ayers House reveal some of the many new ways in which we can raise the profile of our sites and achieve significant financial rewards. Advocacy has been another major focus in the past year. Martindale Hall has featured prominently as the Trust has sought to prevent the privatisation of this iconic South Australian heritage property. We have received enormous community support for our advocacy to keep Martindale Hall in public hands and for our own proposal to establish it as a major tourism destination along the lines of National Trust sites in the UK and Sovereign Hill in Victoria. We await the State Government’s response to our proposal.
After a vigorous campaign by the National Trust, spearheaded by the Port of Adelaide Branch, we were advised in June that the State Government was inviting the Trust to take over ownership of the historic Fort Largs at Taperoo. By December we will submit our fully costed proposal to convert the fort into a significant new heritage tourism site. Behind the scenes, we have started work on the new strategic plan for the Trust which will set out our path to 2020 and establish priorities and initiatives for achieving our mission. We continue to work with a wide range of organisations such as the Adelaide City Council, the Conservation Council of South Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia, the Children’s University and business partners such as Beerenberg, Bickfords and Geoff Hardy Wines, who all generously support our work in promoting South Australia’s heritage. People are at the heart of our enterprise. There are literally thousands to thank for their ongoing commitment and contribution in so many ways as volunteers, members and supporters. I am continually inspired by your efforts and determination to make the Trust the best it can be. I would particularly like to thank the President and NTSA Council for their dedication and wisdom in guiding the Trust and to express my gratitude to the hard working staff at Beaumont House and Ayers House who deal with a vast range of people and issues every day to maintain and continuously improve our operations. It is truly a pleasure to serve amongst you. Dr Darren Peacock Chief Executive Officer Annual Report 2015 – 2016
04
YEAR IN REVIEW
JULY – SEPTEMBER
Creating new futures for heritage places Fort Largs at Taperoo is one of the most important military history sites in South Australia. Part of the first national defence system comprising a chain of fortifications around the southern and eastern flanks of the Australian continent, Fort Largs was built in the 1880s to protect access to the Port of Adelaide. Subsequently upgraded through World War I and II as an army base and barracks, the complex was handed by the Commonwealth Government to the South Australian Government in 1961 and then served as the state’s police academy for 50 years until 2012. The State Government announced the sale of the site in 2014 and sought development proposals in 2015, generating considerable community concern about the future of the fort in any sale of the site. The Trust, through the Port of Adelaide Branch, led a campaign to save the fort and to secure state heritage protection for the World War II barracks and drill hall. Following representations to the Government from the Trust and other organisations, a parallel Expression of Interest process was established for the future conservation and management of the heritage buildings. We submitted our proposal for the Trust to conserve and operate these buildings in August. In July, an extension of the agreement with Beach Energy for the Trust to use the former Z Ward at Glenside for public tours and events was reached.
Restoring a beacon in Kingston Work commenced on a major conservation project for the Cape Jaffa lighthouse at Kingston, following an agreement between the Trust and the Kingston District Council to share the costs. The lighthouse is an icon of the South East region, owned by the National Trust. Established on an offshore reef in 1872 and decommissioned a century later in 1973, the 40m lighthouse was brought onto land in a remarkable preservation project lead by the Trust. Since that time, the structure has suffered the effects of exposure to the elements in its new location on the foreshore and is in urgent need of extensive conservation work. This conservation and restoration work, to replace the structural iron bolts – many of them original – and to repaint and upgrade the rest of the structure is a major project, requiring the unique skills of professional steeplejacks to complete it. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Kingston District Council to return the lighthouse to its original glory and to secure its future as a tourism beacon for the region. A fundraising appeal was also launched to support the works, which are planned for completion by the end of 2016.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
05
YEAR IN REVIEW
OCTOBER – DECEMBER
Heritage at risk – Martindale Hall In August, we met with the Minister for the Environment, Water and Natural Resources to discuss the Trust’s proposal to assist with the management of Martindale Hall in Mintaro, responding to widespread public concern about the Hall’s future. The Minister advised us that the Government now had an unsolicited bid for Martindale Hall under active consideration and could not consider our proposal at that time. The unsolicited bid to Government proposed to convert the Hall into a private resort with extensive modifications to the heritage buildings and grounds. Public consultation on this proposal in September and October revealed strong opposition to the privatisation of a property that had been gifted to the people of South Australia. The Trust led a public campaign in the media to oppose such a proposal, winning widespread support as well as petitioning Parliament to prevent the sale of this public asset. More than 96% of respondents to a government online survey were opposed to the proposal.
Celebrating our 60th anniversary The occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Trust in 1955 was marked with two special events. A birthday party for National Trust members at Beaumont House in October included the official reactivation of the garden fountain. In November, our patron in chief, the Governor of South Australia, His Excellency Hieu Van Le AO, joined 120 guests for a gala anniversary dinner at Ayers House. Guests at the dinner were also able to enjoy a special preview of the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries costume exhibition.
The exhibition was officially opened by the Lady Mayoress of the City of Adelaide, alongside actor Nathan Page from the television series, costume designer Marion Boyce and series producers Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox.
Review of Crown land properties
New planning laws
In October, we entered into an agreement with the State Following the State Government’s planning review, new Government’s Department of Environment and Natural legislation was introduced into Parliament to establish a Resources to participate in a review of the status of 42 new planning system, with much greater centralisation Crown land properties managed by the Trust. These and a diminution of community and local council input properties, including heritage buildings and nature reserves, into planning decision making. In common with a number have been managed by the Trust, in some cases, for of other community organisations, the Trust raised more than 50 years. The care and maintenance of these concerns about the potential impact of these changes properties has required the investment of millions and participated in a large public forum at the Burnside of dollars and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours Town Hall organised by the Community Alliance. The to ensure that they are preserved and made accessible new planning laws faced a contentious passage through to the public. We are working to ensure recognition of the Parliament before finally passing in April. We await that investment through greater certainty and security of the next stage of legislative change proposed that will tenure for the Trust in respect of these properties. directly impact on heritage protections. Annual Report 2015 – 2016
06
YEAR IN REVIEW
JANUARY – MARCH
Works at Beaumont House A number of long standing maintenance items were completed at Beaumont House, including salt damp treatment, painting and timber work. Investigations began on options for upgrading the irrigation system to ensure the efficiency of the water supply at the minimum cost to sustain the garden over the summer months.
Grants for digital projects
Summer entertainment The Summer Sundays program at Beaumont House proved popular again, with more than 1,200 people attending the two events over the season combining music, food, wine and market stalls in a relaxed garden setting. Performers included musicians from the University of Adelaide Conservatorium of Music and the Royal Australian Navy Jazz Band. The Miss Fisher costume exhibition concluded in February with a huge crowd of more than 1,600 attending over the final weekend. Overall, there were more than 30,000 visitors to the exhibition and associated events in just under three months. This was the most attended event ever staged at Ayers House and the most financially successful. It was a massive logistical effort to manage an exhibition on this scale and we have learned a lot about how to do such things for the future. One of the most positive aspects was the recruitment of more than 100 new volunteers to assist with staffing the exhibition, a number of whom have continued as volunteers at the house since the exhibition. Other positive outcomes arising from the exhibition, include greater visibility and awareness of the Trust and of Ayers House, as well as new memberships, donations and partnerships.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
We were successful in obtaining project funding through History SA to implement a digital room guide for Ayers House. The guide will provide visitors with access to interactive information about the house and displays using a mobile app and iPads. We also secured funding through the State Government’s Music Development Office to develop a digital walking trail for Adelaide City Explorer about the city’s live music heritage, celebrating Adelaide’s recognition as a UNESCO city of music.
Activating Z Ward As part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival, we hosted an art installation at Z Ward by Sydney artist, Rod McRae. The show titled ‘After Life’ questions our relationship with the natural world, in particular our treatment of animals. Rod’s large scale installations using real animal remains made for a controversial and striking display in the stark interiors of Z Ward. Z Ward also hosted a ‘speak easy’ pop up bar as part of the Miss Fisher exhibition in February.
07
YEAR IN REVIEW
APRIL – JUNE
Heritage Festival The National Trust Heritage Festival, a national event, ran from 16 April to 31 May, including Australian Heritage Week in April. The theme for the festival in 2016 was discovery and rediscovery, a perfect fit with the program of daily guided city walks around Adelaide we offered for those two months. More than 50 other events were presented across NTSA branches as part of South Australia’s History Month. The traditional Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Walk drew a record number of participants in May and the Victoriana Family Day of Play at Beaumont House was once again popular.
Martindale Hall
Fort Largs
After having argued vigorously against the proposal made After an extended wait, we were advised in April by to privatise Martindale Hall, the National Trust Council Renewal SA that we had been selected as the preferred determined that the Trust should make its own proposal operator to own and operate the fort as a public attraction. to manage the Hall to ensure that the site remained in We are now in negotiation with the overall site developer public hands and that its potential as a heritage tourism A V Jennings and Renewal SA on how to fund and manage destination was realised. After considerable thought and that project. The Government has agreed to provide the preparation, the National Trust made its own bid for Trust with financial support to undertake initial costing Martindale Hall to create a unique heritage based tourism work with a view to finalising a concept plan and costings attraction. Our bid was submitted in April and won by the end of 2016. immediate public support, through the media and in online forums. We have had offers of support from the UK National Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Honourable Trust and from the International National Trusts Organisation. Stephen Mullighan, announced the partnership between Renewal SA, A V Jennings and the Trust at the fort in June. Anne Lambert, lead actress in the classic Australian film Picnic at Hanging Rock, filmed at Martindale Hall, made a return to the site after 40 years to lend her support to the Heritage Tourism In April we participated in a one day workshop on Trust’s campaign to keep the Hall in public hands. heritage and tourism initiated by the Heritage Council and including delegates from local councils, tourism operators and a number of state government agencies. We presented on some of the Trust’s initiatives and the President delivered a strategy paper titled Heritage and Tourism: A wealth of opportunities.
Beaumont garden features in ABC-TV’s Gardening Australia The Beaumont House garden and our gardening team were featured on the ABC-TV program Gardening Australia and the associated magazine in June. It is terrific to see this national recognition for what has been achieved in recent years. Annual Report 2015 – 2016
08
FUNDRAISING Fundraising is a vital part of the work of the Trust. We raise funds for projects, advocacy and conservation works and to support our ongoing operations. The generosity of donors large and small is critical to our success and sustainability. We also raise funds on behalf of other organisations who are responsible for managing and maintaining heritage buildings, such as churches, community organisations and local government. In 2013, the National Trust patrons program was established to recognise the generosity of our major donors. We have also commenced an annual fundraising appeal to members to provide an opportunity for tax-deductible giving. These programs helped to double our fundraising results to more than $500,000 in 2015/16. We thank all those who made gifts or joined the patrons program. Your giving makes the Trust more effective and stronger for the future. We established a new fundraising vehicle, the South Australian Heritage Foundation, in 2014, for our major conservation project appeals. The Foundation is a new
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
way to promote the conservation activities of the Trust undertaken to preserve and protect South Australia’s heritage. Through the Foundation, we operate 16 current appeals for specific conservation projects across the state. In two years, Foundation appeals have raised more than $2m for heritage conservation works. Three new appeals were established in 2015/16 – for St Matthew’s Church, Kensington, for the Great Western Window at St Peter’s Church in Glenelg and for our own Bevington organ, believed to be one of the earliest in existence made by the leading nineteenth century pipe organ maker, Henry Bevington. The second of our fine crystal chandeliers at Ayers House, donated by the late Murray Hill AM, was restored and rehung in November following our successful chandelier appeal.
You can find out more about our current appeals by visiting saheritagefoundation.com.au
09
ADVOCACY The Trust’s advocacy work aims to ensure that heritage is protected and supported through legislation, policy and decision making. We advocate for outcomes which ensure that heritage places are recognised and protected from inappropriate development, damage, neglect or demolition. We undertake campaigns to support better legislation and policy and to oppose policy and proposals which will damage or diminish our heritage. Through our heritage registers we ensure that significant places and trees are known, documented and publicised. By recognising cultural significance through our South Australian heritage icons program, we aim to ensure that those aspects of our cultural life that define who we are can be identified and celebrated. In 2015/16 we ran two major campaigns to defend public heritage places from inappropriate development as well as playing an active role in debating the State Government’s new planning legislation. We also participated in a number of public forums, representing the Trust’s views to state and local government and to other community organisations. Our major campaign was focussed on the proposal to privatise Martindale Hall at Mintaro and convert it into an exclusive luxury resort. The Hall, built in the 1870s for the Bowman family at the height of the pastoral boom, is a unique architectural and cultural icon. Designed in an ornate and elaborate Georgian style in an Australian bush setting, Martindale Hall was immortalised in the much loved 1970s Australian film Picnic at Hanging Rock. Gifted to the people of South Australia from the Mortlock family, the property has been managed by the State Government since 1986.
In 2014, the Government announced that it was looking for alternative management arrangements for Martindale Hall as it was no longer prepared to subsidise the running costs for the site. Although the Trust stepped forward with an offer of assistance, the State Government soon announced and eagerly advocated an unsolicited bid for a private development of the site. A public outcry about the proposed development encouraged us to begin a campaign to raise awareness of what was at stake if this proceeded. Through a news and social media campaign we rallied thousands of people to oppose the hasty and ill-considered sale into private hands of one of the State’s most loved heritage assets. The support we received from all across Australia encouraged us to develop our own alternative vision for Martindale Hall which we put to the State Government in April. In June, our earlier advocacy campaign to protect the heritage buildings at Fort Largs bore fruit when the State Government invited the Trust to take on the future management of the fort. It is heartening that the community’s concerns about the future of the site were finally heard. The Trust’s advocacy work makes extensive use of online media, through our website Heritage Watch (www.heritagewatch.net.au) and a large mailing list and Facebook sites such as /sharethelovemartindalehall.
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
10
PROPERTIES Ayers House
Z Ward
In mid-2015 we restructured the operations of the museum to implement a bold new vision for Ayers House to become one of the State’s pre-eminent cultural attractions and tourist destinations. We have successfully begun to reposition the museum as an innovative contemporary cultural destination through fresh programming, strategic partnerships and investment in new experiences, marketing and technology.
An extension of the agreement with Beach Energy to use the former Z Ward at Glenside for public tours and events was achieved to allow the Trust to continue to operate the site. The popular night tours conducted by Adelaide’s Haunted Horizons and a range of day tours, as well as performance and art events ensure that this significant building is publicly accessible and well utilised.
As a result, in 2015/16 we had our most successful year ever, hosting our first blockbuster touring exhibition, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition between November and February which brought 30,000 visitors to the museum and returned the operation to profitability after years of operating losses. We also launched Adelaide Heritage Walks in April, a program of guided historical walks around the city to explore places of interest and significance, supplemented by the latest wireless headset technology and aided by our mobile app Adelaide City Explorer which provides rich digital content for walkers using their own devices. In one year these two initiatives have increased our visitation five fold, from 7,500 in 2014/15 to more than 38,000 in 2015/16, drawing thousands of new visitors from all around the state, the country and the world, many of whom had never heard of Ayers House before. We will continue to develop and present new and exciting experiences for visitors to our flagship site.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
In 2015/16, we had thousands of visitors through the building for events ranging from contemporary music performance, to art installations and a 1920s ‘speak-easy’ pop-up bar as part of the Miss Fisher costume exhibition. The Adelaide Fringe Festival staged its program launch for 2016 at Z Ward in December, signalling its arrival as a unique space for cultural events.
11
Beaumont House
Roachdale Reserve
Beaumont House continues to grow its popularity as a private and public events venue, whilst also serving as the main administration office for the Trust.
A special event was held at Roachdale Reserve in December to mark the reopening of the walking trail at the reserve following the devastating bush fire at the start of the year. The event was well attended, as friends of the reserve, including an echidna, tested the re-established trail. A number of new partnerships have been established as part of the restoration project, with sponsorship support from Bank SA and the Stirling Markets.
Our garden volunteers continued their work to create a first class Mediterranean style garden. The garden is now a favoured feature for wedding parties and visitors for public events such as the Open Garden Day, Summer Sundays and the Victoriana Family Day of Play. More than 2,800 people attended these public events in 2015/16 and enjoyed music, food, wine and market stalls and relaxed in the beautiful grounds of the house, which are fast becoming an attraction in their own right.
Old Adelaide Treasury The Trust has been operating tours of the old Treasury building and underground tunnels for 15 years. These tours offer a great insight into the history of Adelaide and South Australia from the founding of the colony, through the gold rush era to Federation, the World Wars and beyond. In 2015/16 we increased the frequency of our Treasury tours, trained new guides and introduced a curriculum based visit program for school groups. This has made the tours more popular than ever. We work closely with the operators of the Adina Hotel, who are part of the TFE hotel chain that has recently become a strategic partner of the National Trust, offering guest discounts for members at TFE properties across Australia.
Stangate House Located in the heart of Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills, Stangate House is set in four acres of land and overlooks one of the most beautiful camellia gardens in Australia. The gardens have been recognised by the International Camellia Society as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence, one of only three in Australia and only 30 worldwide. In 2015/16, the house, designed by architect Eric McMichael and built in the 1940s, benefitted from some extensive exterior paintwork, undertaken in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board, who provide opportunities for skills training in the conservation of heritage places.
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
12
NATURAL HERITAGE The National Trust manages 27 nature reserves across the State. A number of the first properties acquired by the Trust were places donated to preserve and provide habitat for native plant and animal species. Natural heritage conservation remains fundamental to our purpose. After three years with the Trust, Janet Pedler resigned her position in 2015/16 to pursue other opportunities. We have since engaged Christopher Grant as the new Natural Heritage Manager. We thank Janet for her dedication and contribution to the Trust, particularly in leading the recovery work after the devastating bushfire at Roachdale Reserve in January 2015.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the enormous value of our sometimes overlooked natural heritage assets and how integral they are to this organisation, including some which are the best examples of our natural heritage in the State. Our Natural Heritage properties amount to more than 1,500ha of land representing beautiful and diverse examples of native flora and fauna as well as exceptional geological features. To mention just a few: Murray River floodplain with majestic River Red Gums at Overland Corner and Heron’s Bend; the rainbow cliffs of Wilabalangaloo; fine old, gnarled mallee at Lenger; restored Grey Box woodland at Watiparinga; Sheoak and Mallee woodland at Mulbura Park; shrubby gullies with secretive Southern Brown Bandicoots at Nurrutti; stunning Coral Ferns Bogs, Candlebarks, Stringybarks and sclerophyllous shrubs at Engelbrook; and the delightful orchids and rare Long-leafed Box forest of Roachdale Reserve. There are many more, and I encourage everyone to explore them.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
The past year has seen us put a lot of effort in particular into Roachdale Reserve in the wake of the Sampson Flat fire of January 2015. As a member of the CFS I was myself involved in fighting the fire for two days at Cudlee Creek. The fire at Roachdale was extremely hot, killing many old eucalypts, but also encouraging other species. Since the fire we have re-fenced the reserve and new signs have been erected to welcome visitors. The nature trail has been re-defined and innumerable fallen trees removed. The two bridges and board walk which were nothing but ash after the fire have been rebuilt. The trail was officially re-opened for public access in December 2015. The vegetation has experienced a remarkable recovery, in particular the understory which has recovered with a vengeance. The wet winter has been particularly helpful, and in spring Roachdale was a mass of orchids for which it is renowned, as well as having stunning glades of flowering Goodenia, Guinea Flowers, Purple Cockatoos, Running Postman, Vanilla Lilies, wattles and many more. I encourage everyone to visit this reserve as well as the many other gems we hold. They are yours to enjoy. Christopher Grant Natural Heritage Manager
13
PROJECTS Education programs
Adelaide City Explorer
New National Trust website
The National Trust has been welcoming school teachers and their students into our heritage properties for decades. With the adoption of a new Australian Curriculum a few years ago, teachers are seeking learning experiences closely aligned to the curriculum in terms of content and skills development. In 2015/16 we introduced two new learning programs at Ayers House Museum that involve experiential learning activities exploring life in the nineteenth century for children, servants and the Ayers family. We also offer curriculum-based learning programs at our museums in Gawler, Tea Tree Gully and Willunga.
Adelaide City Explorer is an app and mobile website presenting information about heritage places in the City of Adelaide using geo-tagging to support self-guided exploration of the city’s heritage. Developed in partnership with Adelaide City Council, Adelaide City Explorer includes 16 themed walking trails, including more than 175 heritage places across the city.
In December 2015 we launched a new website for the National Trust of South Australia jointly with the seven other National Trust organisations across Australia. For the first time, we share a single website, bringing together all of the properties, activities and events occurring across the nation and connecting our 60,000 members. Each state retains its own unique entry point, ours being www.nationaltrust.org.au/sa or you can view the whole at www.nationaltrust.org.au
We also partnered with the History Teacher’s Association of South Australia to develop a new annual competition for students in primary and secondary schools to research aspects of their local heritage.
In 2015/16 four new trails were launched including a trail of live music venues, heritage ‘reborn’ a guide to recently adapted heritage buildings, an East End discovery trail developed in partnership with the East End Co-ordination Group and a guide to the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout as designed by Colonel William Light. The app is used in conjunction with our guided walks program.
The new website has many new and advanced features and includes an online shop and facilities for online membership sign ups and renewals. We will continue to add new content about our South Australian properties, activities and events and integrate the website with our social media and other digital communications.
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
14
BRANCHES The National Trust of South Australia supports a network of local branches across the state.
Left | Mount Barker guided walk with one of three groups on the day.
There are 47 local area branches:
Adelaide Metropolitan Burnside Gawler Port of Adelaide Tea Tree Gully Ceduna Cleve Koppio Streaky Bay Tumby Bay Whyalla Auburn Burra Clare Jamestown Port Pirie Barmera Berri Overland Comer Renmark Waikerie Beachport Glencoe Keith
Kingston SE Millicent Mount Gambier Naracoorte Penola Robe Coromandel Valley Goolwa Hahndorf Kingscote KI Mount Barker Mount Lofty Penneshaw Port Elliot Strathalbyn Victor Harbor Willunga Ardrossan Central Yorke Peninsula Kadina Minlaton Moonta Wallaroo
In 2015/16 a new branch was formed at Glencoe, adding a ninth within the Limestone Coast region, with particular responsibility for the historic Glencoe Woolshed.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
Branch members undertake a range of activities to preserve and manage buildings, nature reserves and collections. Most present public programs through museums, tours and events. Some are primarily focussed on advocacy work to protect heritage places. Many participate in local as well as state-wide events such as History month.
15
2015 Award recipients Our annual awards recognise the important contributions made by volunteers to the work of the National Trust. In 2015 the following awards were made at the Annual General Meeting in November.
Honour Award Mr Geoff Lock Geoff has served on the Coromandel Valley & Districts Branch Committee for 10 years. He has actively promoted history in classroom lessons and organised and conducted school visits for several years. He assisted State Office in preparing for the new Schools’ History Cirriculum. He has facilitated many of the Bakehouse Museum open days and is a key military historian for the Branch. Geoff has donated over 400 objects to the Collection, including 148 oral history recordings, books, photographs and other items. He continues to contribute to Branch activities and research.
Distinguished Service Awards Mr John Northwood
NTSA President Professor Norman Etherington presents awards to Geoff Lock (top) John Northwood (centre) and Don Goldney (bottom).
John has been a Member of Millicent Branch for 35 years, serving in the offices of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer for intervals during those years. He has also served on the National Trust Audit, Finance & Governance Committee and Council for the last few years. John was involved in the expansion and growth of the Millicent Museum and in particular the Collection of over 100 horse drawn vehicles, and the Helen Hughes Costume Collection. He also applied for government grants, negotiating and driving projects, and transported horse drawn vehicles from Adelaide to Millicent in his own time.
Mrs Evelynne Bowden Evelynne has served as Secretary of the Penola Branch of the National Trust for 15 years. During that time she worked on many Branch projects, including copying the photographic collection, creating the John Riddoch Centre’s local history display, and managing the Penola Branch collection of historical artefacts, including the collation and entry onto the Mosaic database. She has contributed to the maintenance of National Trust buildings and gardens in Penola, organised the marketing and sales of Branch publications, and set up media exposure to promote the Branch and the National Trust. She is a regular attendee at Regional meetings and has also been involved in the preparation and guiding of historic walks. In 2011 she was named Penola Citizen of the Year. Evelynne has dedicated many years to the National Trust and has just recently retired from Committee work.
Mr Don Goldney Don has been a member of the National Trust of South Australia for over 15 years, serving as Branch Chair for 11 years and Vice Chair prior to that. He helped establish the Combined Meetings of the Historical and Heritage groups in the Adelaide Hills, regularly attended Regional meetings and organised the guided walks through Mount Barker for many special events. He helped with the planning, design and installation of plaques for historic buildings, including the Quaker burial monument. He has devoted much of his own time to the Speaker Program and the preservation, conservation and presentation of historical artefacts, and also worked with Local Government on significant issues. Over the years he has developed an extensive collection of photographs of the built environment of the Mount Barker region.
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
16
volunteers & members The National Trust of South Australia depends upon the generosity of many people and organisations to achieve our purpose. As a membership-based community organisation, we rely on the support of our members through their annual subscriptions, participation in our activities as volunteers and guests and as advocates for our work in conserving and promoting South Australia’s heritage. At the 30 June 2016 we had 2,747 current memberships, the majority of which are household memberships representing two or more people. There were 366 new memberships in 2014/15. Overall, our membership numbers increased by 14% in 2015/16. Members enjoy a number of direct benefits, including free or discounted entry at 800 National Trust properties around the world, quarterly magazines about contemporary heritage issues in South Australia and across Australia and exclusive member only offers and events. We will soon be part of the first comprehensive survey in ten years of the more than 60,000 National Trust members across Australia to ascertain how we can further develop our membership program. Volunteers are the backbone of our organisation. In 2014/15, more than 1,350 registered volunteers across the State generously donated in excess of 122,000 hours to activities to maintain and care for our properties and nature reserves, to look after our collections and museums and to promote awareness and enjoyment of the State’s heritage through tours, events and unique experiences like the Burra Passport and the Moonta Railway. The economic value of this contribution is estimated at more than $3m per annum. Our volunteers bring diverse skills and many years of experience to their work with the Trust. We are committed to providing a high level of support to ensure that volunteering is as rewarding for volunteers as it is beneficial for the Trust. We aim to create an environment of best practice management for our volunteers in accordance with the new National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. National Trust organisations are working across Australia to develop new ways to recruit, develop and support our volunteer base.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
17
supporters
PATRONS 2015/16
In 2013, the President initiated a patrons program for the National Trust of South Australia. Over three years, the program has welcomed the support of more than 50 individuals, couples and families. In 2015/16, 15 new patrons joined the program. We greatly appreciate your support.
Sir George Kingston Patrons
Edmund Wright Patrons
Mr James & Mrs Diana Bruce Mrs Carlsa Carter Mr Derek Carter Mr Philip & Mrs Suzette Chisholm Prof Norman Etherington AM & Prof Peggy Brock Mr George & Mrs Eleanor Hobbs Mr Chris Hughes Mr H Edwin Michell Dr Patricia A Michell Mr Peter & Mrs Susan Morgan Mr Ian Wall OAM Mrs Pamela Wall OAM
Mrs Janet Angas Mrs Joan Beer Mrs Margaret Bennett Mr Clive Brooks Mr Hugh MacLachlan & Mrs Fiona MacLachlan OAM Mrs Deborah Morgan Mr Antony & Mrs Mary Lou Simpson Mr Peter & Mrs Pamela Thomson
Colonel William Light Patrons Mrs Kali Hunter Constantine Dr John Davenport Mrs Olive DeCaux Dr Barbara Hardy AO Mr Richard Harvey Mrs Brenda Keen Ms Alison Kinsman AM Mrs Margaret Lee Mr Skip & Mrs Lilly Lipman Mr Ian H Lloyd Mrs Rosemary de Meyrick Mrs Josephine Prosser Ms Valerie Rivers Mr Jim & Mrs Doody Taylor Dr Barbara Wall Mr Cedric Wells OAM & Mrs Marion Wells Mr Ian Young Mrs Pamela Yule Mr Ian Young Mrs Pamela Yule
Foundation Patrons Mr Michael Abbott AO QC Mr Alastair Angas+ His Honour Judge Michael Boylan QC Cavill Power Products Pty Ltd Mrs Eve Shannon-Cullity+ Mr Robin & Mrs Helen Greenslade Mrs Cecily Harvey+ Mr Anthony Hurl Mrs Anne Jolly The Hon Dr Diana Laidlaw AM Mrs Skye McGregor Mr John P Maddern+ The Hon Rod Matheson AM QC & Mrs Leonie Matheson The Hon Dr Kemeri Murray AO+ Mr Robert (Bob) Piper AO & Mrs Margaret Piper Lady Porter Mr John Phillips Mrs M P Schroder Mrs Sue Tweddell Mr R J Whitington QC Mrs M P Schroder Mrs Sue Tweddell Mr R J Whitington QC
In 2015/16 we also continued to benefit from the generosity of our corporate supporters Wines by Geoff Hardy, Beerenberg, Bickfords, Theodore Bruce and Thomson Geer. We also welcome the support of Bank SA and the Stirling Market in the recovery project for Roachdale Reserve.
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
18
VALE
Enid L. Robertson AM 1925 – 2016
In 2006 Enid received the Dr Mildred few years ago. Through her practical experience here she developed her Mocatta Award acknowledging her ideas in the “Watiparinga Reserve “outstanding voluntary contribution Management Plan”, published by to the growth and development of the National Trust in South Australia.” the Trust in 1984. The earliest plans Enid’s association began when written for remnant vegetation conservation in SA were for the Trust’s her aunt, Alison Ashby, generously Roachdale and Watiparinga Reserves. donated Watiparinga Reserve, In 1999 her much expanded and with an endowment, in 1957 and more detailed second edition, continued until her death. Enid was “Restoration of Grassy Woodlands: a highly skilled taxonomic botanist with a passion for the conservation of Watiparinga Management Plan” was our native vegetation who pioneered published, with proceeds of sales to the NTSA. Enid was always a very the, now widely adopted, Minimum hands-on volunteer, directing and Disturbance Approach for the participating in work programs and restoration of degraded bushland. activities on the Reserve. This helped lay the foundation for much of the Trust’s policy and practice Enid was a key founding member of in natural heritage conservation. the Nature Preservation Committee. Enid served as Chair of the Watiparinga During her 19 years the members Management Committee for 26 years travelled regularly, inspecting NTSA reserves all over the State to and continued as a member until a
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
document their condition, compile flora lists and recommend actions. During this time the NPC initiated two other innovative grant-based projects: Landscape Evaluation Studies (1976–1984) and the Significant Tree Register (1982–present). In 1989 Enid played a major role in the formation of the Friends of National Trust Reserves on Engelbrook, Nurrutti and HK Fry Reserves. Not only was she a regular volunteer for the NTSA but also for National Parks. Enid mentored many students and volunteers, providing expert guidance, encouragement and always willing to share her immense knowledge of our flora. Picture above | Enid Robertson at Watiparinga in January 1991 showing Isopogon ceratophyllus thriving having been planted from tube stock. Photograph by Denys Slee.
19
VALE
Ruth Baxendale OAM 1926 – 2015
Ruth Binney was descended from four pioneering families of the Willunga district (Binney, Couchman, Lewsey and Elliott). Her family connection to these areas goes back to 1840, when her great-grandparents, James Binney and Elizabeth Boundy Binney, arrived in South Australia. Binney Road, McLaren Vale, is a reminder of this history. After leaving school, Ruth was apprenticed to a dressmaker before she took employment at Goode’s store in Willunga. Marriage to Alec Baxendale and the birth of their three children followed. She was involved with many school and community groups, especially supporting her husband in his work for the McLaren Vale Rotary Club for which she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.
In 1995, Ruth was named Citizen of the Year by the District Council of Willunga. On Australia Day 2000 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for ‘the preservation of local and family history and heritage sites in the Willunga and McLaren Vale areas’. Ruth was a member of the Willunga Branch of The National Trust of South Australia for 46 years, serving on the Committee for 41 years. She completed 21 years as Branch Chair in 2000, followed by 11 years as Branch Historian.
publication covering 108 of the major attractions in the farmhouses, shops, dwellings, parks, ruins, cemeteries around Willunga. In 2007 Ruth received the Dr Mildred Mocatta Award, the highest tribute The National Trust of South Australia can pay to an individual. It acknowledges the significance of her exceptional voluntary contribution to the Trust. “I wear the hat of local history”, she said, “because I believe you need to know something of the past to look to the future.”
Ruth’s sustained and extensive work on local history remains with us. It is reflected in the records of the Willunga Branch, her advice to many local people and organisations, and the informative Willunga Walks
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
20
OFFICE bearers Members of the National Trust of South Australia Council during 2015/2016.
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
Professor Norman Etherington AM, President Mr Brian McMillan, Vice President Mrs Sue Scheiffers, Vice President Ms Glennys Carse (Retired November 2015) Dr Robert Dare (Appointed November 2015) Mr George Hobbs Ms Melanie Kiriacou Mr Peter Langhans Ms Caren Martin (Appointed November 2015) Mr John Northwood Mr Chris Perriam Ms Kath Rayner Mr Richard Stewart Mrs Robyn Wight
21
FINANCIAL RESULTS For the year ended 30 June 2016
Summary of Income & Expenditure The financial recovery of the National Trust continues with another overall surplus recorded in 2015/16. Total income increased by 33% to $3,619,253 from $2,718,997 in 2014/15. The net surplus, after expenses, depreciation and other accounting charges, was $123,020, following a surplus of $238,366 in 2014/15.
$4,000,000 $3,500,000 $3,000,000 $2,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 2013/14
2014/15
Income
2015/16
Expenditure
SOURCES OF INCOME 5.6%
4.1%
13.8% 27.8%
14.4%
6.2%
12.2% 6.8%
Membership fees
9.2%
Property leasing
Admissions and tours
Fundraising and donations
Sale of goods
Bequests
Grants and sponsorship
Other income
The Trust’s operating income has grown by 59% over the past two years, through a range of new activities and the success of events such as the Miss Fisher costume exhibition. This growth in income and the return to operating surplus enables us to continue to build the balance sheet and undertake necessary capital works on our properties. The result was boosted by two significant bequests from the estates of Brian Maxwell Whibley and Marie Yvonne Carter. All bequest income is preserved within our investment fund to secure the financial future of the Trust. As at 30 June 2016, the total value of assets held by the Trust stood at $28,735,044. In the past two years, the balance sheet has been boosted through substantial bequests and successive operating surpluses. A revaluation of property and collections assets, adopting a fair market value, has been undertaken to more accurately reflect the current value of the Trust’s assets.
Investment income
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
22
STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS For the year ended 30 June 2016
NATIONAL TRUST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ABN 45 432 652 725
2016 $
2015 $
146,882
153,175
1,006,978
505,095
Sale of memorabilia
439,762
278,027
Grant and sponsorship income
334,426
128,864
Lease income
224,288
268,105
Bequests
498,693
–
Donations and fundraising
520,045
255,954
Interest income
64,396
57,360
Dividend income
144,563
119,954
Other income
203,810
592,160
–
360,303
35,410
–
3,619,253
2,718,997
Depreciation expense
(115,056)
(111,839)
Employee benefit expense
(816,893)
(639,253)
Occupancy expense
(232,352)
(230,892)
Repairs and maintenance expense
(541,586)
(321,544)
Advertising expense
(207,987)
(77,379)
Fundraising and special events expenses
(40,160)
(54,944)
Loss on sale/revaluation of investments
(311,424)
(88,433)
Administration expense
(416,956)
(414,547)
Contractor/consultant fees
(301,940)
(41,672)
(9,000)
(4,903)
(502,879)
(495,225)
(3,496,233)
(2,480,631)
123,020
238,366
Revenue Membership fees Admission and tours income
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment Realised gains on investments
Less Expenses
Grant expenditure Other expenses
Surplus for the year
NATIONAL TRUST of South Australia
023
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION As at 30 June 2016
NATIONAL TRUST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ABN 45 432 652 725
2016 $
2015 $
3,455,411
4,247,797
Trade and other receivables
321,946
229,870
Inventories
125,328
113,935
3,902,685
4,591,602
1,887,226
2,005,907
Property, plant and equipment
24,021,884
6,878,934
Total Non-current Assets
25,909,110
8,884,841
Total Assets
29,811,795
13,476,443
853,042
1,700,342
79,196
37,979
144,513
179,235
1,076,751
1,917,556
Borrowings
–
10,000
Provisions
–
17,845
Total Non-current Liabilities
–
27,845
1,076,751
1,945,401
28,735,044
11,531,042
21,552,839
4,439,796
7,182,205
7,091,246
28,735,044
11,531,042
Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents
Total Current Assets
Non-current Assets Investments
Liabilities Current Liabilities Trade and other payables Provisions Other Liabilities Total Current Liabilities
Non-current Liabilities
Total Liabilities Net Assets
Members funds Reserves Accumulated Surplus Total members funds
Annual Report 2015 – 2016
With thanks to our corporate supporters
The National Trust of South Australia is a community-based membership organisation established in 1955. We work to preserve, protect and promote our built, natural and cultural heritage with the support of our members, volunteers and supporters. This document is available from www.nationaltrust.org.au/sa
National Trust of South Australia Beaumont House 631 Glynburn Road Beaumont SA 5066 T (08) 8202 9200 admin@nationaltrustsa.org.au www.nationaltrust.org.au/sa ABN 45 432 652 725