Update

National Trust News

Catch up on the latest heritage news and advocacy in New South Wales. Read about two new heritage support grants and options to recognise and protect heritage homes. Find out about the National Trust's decision on Willow Grove and the fate of a development proposal for the Chief Secretary's Building.

GENERAL NEWS

Grants support heritage innovation

New ways to experience heritage are on the horizon thanks to two grants from Museums & Galleries NSW. Miss Porter’s House in Newcastle has been awarded a grant to produce an audio tour of the historic property. The recording will include oral histories about the house, its collection, the Porter family and some significant events in Newcastle from 1909 to 1997. Grossmann House in Maitland received funding to develop a short virtual tour that will allow people to see the grand Victorian house like never before.

Recognise heritage homes

If your home is heritage listed by the National Trust, why not make it known by placing a discreet National Trust plaque on your front door or gate? These beautiful bronze plaques denote heritage status and act as a symbol of recognition and protection. The plaques are hand-forged and available in green or bronze. To find out more visit nationaltrust.org.au/services/national-trust-nsw-plaques

A time for festive celebration

The 2022 Australian Heritage Festival is over for another year, but the celebrations continue as we reflect on the successes of the vibrant and diverse festival and the 210 NSW-based events and activities that were on offer. We sincerely thank everyone who hosted events and those who took up the call to spark curiosity about local heritage. The Australian Heritage Festival was proudly supported by the NSW Government through Heritage NSW.

ADVOCACY NEWS

Update on historic Willow Grove

The National Trust has long opposed the NSW Government’s decision to demolish and re-create historic Willow Grove to make way for the Parramatta Powerhouse development. We have recently reviewed the dismantled remains of Willow Grove and sadly concluded that it cannot be authentically reconstructed. Given that our fears for the future of the historic building have come to pass, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Willow Grove Community Reference Group.

Advocating for heritage

Ahead of the recent Federal Election, the Australian Council of National Trusts released its 2022 Federal Election 'Heritage Priorities' Statement. The Statement addresses the need to future-proof heritage places and organisations and offers solutions for communities to build resilience, inclusivity and diversity through their heritage to help them thrive as a dynamic part of the tourism sector. In NSW, the National Trust sent the Statement to 69 lower house and nine upper house NSW candidates and invited them to meet to discuss heritage policy.

Proposal knocked back

In a big win for heritage, the NSW state government has rejected an unsolicited proposal to develop 50-52 Phillip Street Sydney. The Chief Secretary’s Building – described as a “poem in stone” – was in danger of being permanently disfigured by plans to build a hotel in a part of the public building and a 200m tower overhanging it. The National Trust applauds the decision, and we thank the community members and organisations who advocated alongside us to protect this remarkably significant building.

Opposite from top New grants (photo via iStock); National Trust plaque on house in Kenthurst, NSW (photo courtesy of National Trust Archives); Heritage Festival event in The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (photo by Rick Stevens).

From top Willow Grove (photo via Alamy); Advocating for heritage (image supplied); Chief Secretary's Building in 1967 (photo courtesy of National Trust Archives).

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