National Trust NSW Magazine - Oct to Dec 2022

TRUST NEW SOUTH WALES

Inside

Welcome to our fourth edition of the National Trust New South Wales magazine for 2022. In this edition, we reflect on the power of heritage to help protect valuable places like the Bylong Valley and Berrima. Conservation Director David Burdon discusses the history and heritage of Parramatta and outlines a vision to enrich the city's many layers. Heritage-lovers looking for a unique country getaway can find out about some of NSW's intriguing heritage pubs. And we take an in-depth look at efforts to breathe new life into Cooma Cottage, one of the State's oldest surviving homesteads. Plus, there's a packed calendar of springtime events to explore.

Cover image

Detail of the stables at Cooma Cottage, one of the oldest surviving rural homesteads in New South Wales. Read about the National Trust’s plans to maintain this iconic heritage property on page 6 (photo by SGR Photo).

National Trust (NSW)

Observatory Hill, Millers Point, Sydney 2000

GPO Box 518, Sydney 2001 Telephone: (02) 9258 0123 nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

President: Mr Neil Wykes OAM

CEO: Debbie Mills

Editor: Andrew Sedger

Designer: Lauren Sutherland

Editorial Committee: David Burdon, Nick Corbett, Nicole Crabb, Susan Hunt, Debbie Mills, Lisa Siberry, Anja Stride, Leah Tasker, Jane Watters, Anne Weinman.

The National Trust New South Wales magazine is published by the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales). Published articles reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of the views of the National Trust. This magazine is printed by Enviropress, a division of Bright Print Group, on paper that is independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), carbon neutral and made with 100% recycled post-consumer waste in a chlorine-free environment.

Future Focus

BY NEIL WYKES OAM AND DEBBIE MILLS

Dear Members,

We were delighted to host community, business, government and political leaders at the recent Past & Future Cities Forum: Reimagining Parramatta. The forum generated frank discussion and practical solutions to the key issues facing the State’s heritage places. The National Trust calls on the NSW Government to adopt the forum’s full recommendations. You can read about the forum and the recommendations in this edition.

The National Trust will be working hard to give heritage and conservation a voice between now and the State election in March next year. Parramatta is a timely case study highlighting issues affecting many developing urban and regional areas. The clear and practical recommendations relating to heritage places and city planning are for leaders and communities to consider in the lead-up to the election.

We’re pleased to report that members adopted the revised National Trust (NSW) Rules at the recent Extraordinary General Meeting. The new rules allow us to address several areas that have become outdated over time, while ensuring we keep pace with a changing world and thrive well into the future.

We hope to see you at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 26 November to hear the highlights of the past 12 months. This year the AGM will be different. One of the benefits of the new rules is that members can now participate online. We encourage you to take this opportunity to participate in the AGM online if you can’t make it in person.

As this is our final magazine edition for the year, we’d like to thank our generous members, supporters, volunteers and staff. You have kept the National Trust moving towards its vision in a particularly challenging year. Our organisation can't do the work it does without your help. Thank you.

We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2023.

Best wishes,

Neil Wykes OAM, President

Debbie Mills, CEO

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE National Trust (NSW) Annual General Meeting

Saturday 26 November 2022, 3:30PM – 5PM

S.H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, Millers Point, Sydney

Please join us for the Annual General Meeting, where attendees will be treated to a special presentation and viewing of the 400-year-old Dutch Master painting, Still Life. Hear from those closest to the project about how this once-in-a-lifetime discovery was made.

RSVP

Attendees can participate in person or online. This is a fantastic opportunity to join in from any location. Please RSVP online at 2022-agm.eventbrite.com.au

National Trust News

Catch up on the latest heritage news and advocacy in New South Wales. Read about the revised National Trust rules, the outcome of the Everglades House appeal and the recent win to retain heritage shopfronts in Pitt Street. Stay up-to-date with the National Trust's election priorities and the campaign to protect cultural heritage in and around Barangaroo.

GENERAL NEWS

New Rules adopted

At the Extraordinary General Meeting on 20 August 2022, members voted to adopt the revised National Trust rules. The new rules will ensure the National Trust keeps pace with changes caused by technological advancements, the pandemic and other factors. Improvements include better connection with members through technology and virtual meetings, greater clarity of committee and branch structures, and closer alignment with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission governance requirements.

Everglades House appeal update

Thank you to everyone who donated to our recent Everglades House restoration appeal. We were delighted to exceed our target, raising more than $211,000 thanks to the generosity of members and donors! Works will commence soon to re-create the home’s 1930s glamour, including bespoke cabinetry and furnishings, electrical work, and windows and bathrooms maintenance. Thank you to all who supported the appeal – we will keep you updated on our progress.

Open for spring

After winter closures, we’re delighted to announce the re-opening of three of our properties this spring. Saumarez Homestead in Armidale, Riversdale in Goulburn and Cooma Cottage in Yass have all reopened their doors to visitors and are well worth a visit in the warmer weather. Check each location for opening days and times at nationaltrust.org.au/places-nsw

A win for Pitt Street’s heritage

A row of historical commercial terraces will now be retained thanks to National Trust advocacy. A recent design at 372-382 Pitt Street, Sydney, proposed to completely demolish the row of Edwardian-era shops. Following a National Trust submission and City of Sydney advice urging retention, the developer amended the plans to retain the complete front portion of these terraces and their individual shops below. This is a great outcome for Pitt Street’s heritage and a testament to the ongoing importance of advocacy.

NSW election advocacy

The National Trust is developing a set of priorities to make heritage an election issue in 2023. The State election is a prime opportunity to influence politicians, raise public awareness and garner election promises for heritage in NSW. We are developing an election ‘Heritage Priorities’ platform to highlight the State’s key natural, cultural and built heritage issues, which we will share with members in the coming months.

Update on Central Barangaroo

The National Trust is campaigning against the proposed development at Central Barangaroo. This project has attracted much public criticism due to the inclusion of a 73-metre tower directly blocking iconic public views to and from the Sydney Observatory. Alongside local residents, State MPs, astronomers and the City of Sydney Council, we are fighting to preserve this important heritage view for Sydney.

Opposite from top New rules (photo via iStock.com); inside Everglades House (photo by Georgie Conyngham Greene); Saumarez Homestead in spring (photo by lightcatcherimages).

From top

The historical terraces on Pitt Street (photo by the National Trust); Experiment Farm Cottage in Parramatta (photo by the National Trust); visualisation of potential impact to public views (image by Millers Point Residents Action Group).

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A Country Treasure

LIZ HARFULL, AUTHOR AND COMMUNITY HISTORIAN

Heritage-listed Cooma Cottage was the residence of famous Australian-born explorer Hamilton Hume and his wife, Elizabeth, for more than 30 years. The National Trust is launching an appeal to breathe new life into one of the oldest surviving rural homesteads in New South Wales.

Clive Lucas was a young architecture student when he first set eyes on Cooma Cottage. After making the unfortunate but understandable error of thinking it was located near the town of Cooma, he made his way to Yass, where he discovered a higgledypiggledy building with a front verandah drowning in wisteria, a rusty iron-tiled roof, collapsed ceilings and chickens inhabiting the south-west wing. Despite its dreadful state when he visited in the mid-1960s, the young restoration architect found Cooma Cottage intriguing. Not only is the original part of the house an archetypal example of colonial architecture, but it is linked to one of Australia’s best-known explorers. Born in Sydney, Hume was part of the expedition that first took an overland route from Sydney to Port Phillip in 1824. He is said to have fallen in love with the site while

camping there on his epic journey with William Hovell. The house is set on a low rise overlooking the Yass River and fertile lands traditionally occupied by the Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri peoples. While Hume was successful in acquiring other extensive grants in the area for the next phase of his life as a pastoralist, he missed out on the land he apparently wanted most, which was granted to Henry O’Brien in 1829. The original timber bungalow was built between 1830 and 1837 for O’Brien’s brother Cornelius and his wife, Rebecca. Diminutive in scale, it had a verandah and two light and elegant rooms at the front, facing north towards the river.

Hume eventually purchased the property and its accompanying 100 acres of land in 1839 for £601. He and Elizabeth lived there until he died in 1873. Despite having no children, they expanded the house considerably over the years, Hume adding his own version of Palladian-style wings and a Greek Revival portico as well as a handsome coach house and stables. The end result was “a conglomerate mess” of some 30 rooms. After Elizabeth died in 1886, the property passed on to a nephew. In the late 1890s, the house was used as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients, and in the 1920s the property became home to the Humedale horse stud.

A current National Trust (NSW) board director with a longstanding love of colonial architecture, Dr Clive Lucas OBE returned to the house in 1970 as an associate of Fisher Jackson and Hudson. By then it had been acquired by the Trust with assistance from Mary Griffiths, a Canberra resident who was given life tenancy. Unphased by its terrible state, Dr Lucas worked first as associate to John Fisher to save the building and its relatively intact complex of rural buildings. “It was one of the most difficult restoration projects I have done, but it was a pleasure. People said we couldn’t do anything with it, but that was part of the challenge and the thrill of it,” Dr Lucas said. Deciding it was important to take a sensitive approach and save as much original material as possible, the restoration team aimed for an “invisible mend”.

Left

The impressive coach house and stables at Cooma Cottage (photo by SGR Photo).

“It was one of the most difficult restoration projects I have done, but it was a pleasure”

From left

The drawing room in the original cottage, decorated with a reproduction of wallpaper found in the room, and a gaming table and chairs that belonged to Hume (photo by SGR Photo); a bedroom at Cooma Cottage (photo by SGR Photo).

Oppostie from top

An aerial view of Cooma Cottage showing its position overlooking the Yass River (photo by GS Aerial Imaging); exterior of Cooma Cottage (photo by SGR photo); Clydesdale horses and sheep are kept at the property, helping to bring the rural colonial experience to life for visitors (photo by SGR Photo).

Help us conserve Hamilton Hume’s historic home

Historic Cooma Cottage in Yass, home of explorer Hamilton Hume for over 30 years, is in urgent need of ongoing conservation. Donate today and help us give one of the oldest surviving homesteads in the State the attention it deserves. A donation of just $150 will help us maintain this heritage property for future generations.

We need your help to:

Repair and limewash historic walls

Repair external timber shutters

Repair Hamilton Hume’s original furniture

Upgrade lighting and security systems

The restoration effort initially focussed on “putting up the umbrella” – repairing the roof with reproductions of its imported English Morewood & Rogers patent iron tiles to make the house dry. The front of the original cottage had sunk so much it was impossible to open the doors and the floors sloped, so builders dug a trench and jacked up the front of the house. Work continued gradually over a period of about sixteen years as funding became available. After a final push the house was officially opened to the public as part of Australia’s Bicentenary celebrations in 1988.

The 2022 appeal aims to raise $120,000 for urgently-needed conservation work and maintenance to continue looking after this important property for future generations. Among the priorities are repairing and limewashing historic walls, repairing external timber shutters, and upgrading the property’s security and lighting systems. The National Trust also plans to conserve and maintain furniture on display in the house that belonged to Hamilton Hume and is keen to explore the potential to purchase more original pieces from the period that will help bring the house to life. Collections in the kitchen and pantry will also be assessed to create more authentic displays. Appropriate artworks will be purchased and original works reinstated to help decorate key rooms.

Support Cooma Cottage

We urgently need to raise $120,000 for the ongoing maintenance of Cooma Cottage for future generations to enjoy. Donate at: nationaltrust.org.au/donate-nsw

Plan your visit

Cooma Cottage sits on extensive grounds and is perfect for weddings, family picnics and lazy afternoons. Book your tickets now. Visit nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

Battle for Bylong Proves Power of Heritage

BY MEG QUINLISK, HISTORIAN AND HECTOR ABRAHAMS, ARCHITECT

Listing on the National Trust’s highlyrespected heritage register can play a vital role in supporting community-driven efforts to save places of historical, natural or cultural value, as demonstrated in the epic legal battle to stop mining developments in the beautiful Bylong Valley.

Since the first Landscape Conservation Area listing was added to the National Trust Register in 1974, the register has grown to include hundreds of landscapes, parks and gardens. Among them is the Bylong Valley, near Mudgee, which was added in 2013 because of its scenic qualities, prime agricultural land and scientific significance as the cradle of Natural Sequence Farming. Lying within lands traditionally occupied by the Wiradjuri, Gamileroi and Wonnarua peoples, this is a Great Dividing Range landscape – one of many valleys that form the western edge of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. The Bylong River flows through undulating open pasture and alluvial lands on the valley floor. Wooded hills rise into the Growee and Mt Tah Tah ranges, with sandstone escarpments enclosing the view in most directions.

It’s not only the landscape that has intrinsic significance. The home of numerous horse studs and fertile farms, the Bylong Valley is the birthplace of an internationally-recognised experiment in regenerative land management known as Natural Sequence Farming, which was initiated in the 1970s by racehorse breeder and grazier Peter Andrews on his property, Tarwyn Park. This method essentially slows down the flow of water through the landscape, reducing erosion, raising the water table and recharging the soil.

Taking on Goliath

The Bylong community was shaken when the Korean Electrical Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced plans for a combined open-cut and underground coal mine in the valley, after purchasing exploration licences in 2010. During the next seven years, the South Korean energy company acquired about 13,000 hectares of land for the $2 billion project, as well as the Bylong general store and primary school, and the Upper Bylong Catholic church and cemetery.

By the time KEPCO arrived in the area, residents had already organised to protest an earlier proposal for the Mount Penny coal mine, seven kilometres north of the town. They fought the good fight against a regulatory system and entrenched interests that turned out to have been rigged against them.

Granted in 2009, the mining licence was cancelled five years later after an ICAC investigation identified corruption. In 2021, the NSW Supreme Court found Eddie Obeid, Moses Obeid and former NSW resources minister Ian Macdonald guilty of conspiracy.

Residents believed KEPCO’s even larger proposal to mine 75 square kilometres spelt destruction of the valley’s scenic qualities and its rural community. The company’s land grab led to the closure of the school and the general store. Even Bylong’s famous annual mouse races were cancelled.

The Bylong Valley Protection Alliance swung into action in what was described as a David and Goliath struggle. After years of meetings, submissions and reports, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) rejected the proposal in September 2019, citing impacts on heritage values and climate change among the reasons for refusal. A judicial review in the NSW Land and Environment Court followed in August 2020. While the IPC declined to participate in the review (citing its need to remain impartial), the Alliance fought on, represented by the Environmental Defender’s Office. The appeal was rejected.

The NSW Court of Appeal unanimously rejected yet another appeal lodged by KEPCO in March 2021. Then in February this year the High Court of Australia refused to hear a further appeal against the IPC decision, finally bringing the epic legal battle to a close.

Battle not yet over

In June, Treo Resources withdrew its application to carry out metals exploration in the Bylong Valley. According to media reports, the company made the decision after learning of the National Trust listing. “The company and its tenement managers, Rangott Mineral Exploration, were not aware that the Bylong Landscape Conservation Area was within and in close proximity to the exploration license application area. Had the Company been aware, it would not have proceeded,” a spokesperson told the Hunter Valley News

But extraction industries are not finished with the Bylong Valley. In addition to the possibility that KEPCO, or another operator, might submit a revised proposal for coal mining, gas explorations are currently taking place, and an exploration licence for diamonds, rubies and sapphires has been granted.

With its last legal avenue exhausted KEPCO must surely consider handing the valley back to the locals, as is now happening in other places. Last year, the New South Wales government paid $100 million to Chinese state-owned company Shenhua to withdraw its mining lease for the Watermark mine on prime agricultural land in the Liverpool Plains. Shenhua has since sold its 16,500 hectares to twelve local farmers and an offshore buyer.

An eleven-year battle in the Southern Highlands also came to a close last year when Hume Coal sold off the 1,300 hectares it had amassed for an underground mine at Berrima. The proposal was knocked back by the IPC in late 2021, citing potential impacts on groundwater, air quality and farming, following a protracted campaign by the Southern Highlands Coal Action Group and Battle for Berrima.

The National Trust made two submissions to the assessment process for the Hume Coal project. It was well placed to advocate, having listed the Village of Berrima Urban Conservation Area in 1976, the Exeter/Sutton Forest Landscape Conservation Area in 1998, and the Berrima Memorial Park 1914-1918 Landscape Conservation Area in 2000.

Another coal mine proposal currently before the IPC threatens the historic Hunter Valley homestead, Ravensworth, listed by the National Trust in 1976. Watch this space.

Opposite

The beautiful Bylong Valley (photo by David South, Alamy.com).

Below

Rylstone is a popular stop for people touring the area (photo by Ben Jeayes, Alamy.com).

“Extraction industries are not finished with the Bylong Valley”

Find out more about those who contributed to the Bylong result at bit.ly/3dRaSjy

Enriching the Layers of Parramatta

BY DAVID BURDON, NATIONAL TRUST CONSERVATION DIRECTOR

The National Trust recently held a Community Forum in Parramatta to discuss the important history and heritage of that city and the way that it can be meaningfully retained into the future. This is an edited extract of the keynote speech delivered by the National Trust's Conservation Director, David Burdon.

When I consider the rich series of layers in Parramatta, I am reminded of the words of that great urbanist Jane Jacobs when she said: “Designing a dream city is easy; rebuilding a living one takes imagination.”

Parramatta is very much a living city and, despite the destruction that has occurred, there is still an extraordinary array of heritage for us to see today. Setting aside places such as Hambledon Cottage and Elizabeth Farm, a short walk around Sorrell Street in North Parramatta reveals a wonderful array of beautiful historic houses. Just as we have preserved the streets of Paddington, Glebe and Surry Hills to make a ‘city of villages’ around Sydney, for the same reason, we must also preserve these parts of North Parramatta and Harris Park.

When the National Trust prepared its first register of historic sites in NSW in 1946, seven of the 39 listings were in Parramatta, including Experiment Farm and Old Government House, which the Trust has since saved and restored. We currently have nearly 270 items listed in the Parramatta Local Government Area, or at least we thought we did – our Parramatta Branch recently conducted a review and found 26 had been demolished. With many more places under threat, if we are not careful, it will be a death by a thousand cuts.

It is not just our historic buildings that are under threat, but also our public spaces and places. With an increasing population in need of more quality green space, this most important of public assets needs to be valued now more than ever. Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square is a wonderful historic square fronting a cathedral and a theatre, yet there is a proposal that will cover half of it in shadow from tall towers to the north. Just as there are strict controls regarding the overshadowing of Sydney’s Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park and the Domain, these sorts of impacts upon valuable public spaces in Parramatta need to be stopped before it is too late. Parramatta deserves more than half a park.

The same threat exists for Centenary Square, with St. John's Anglican Cathedral and the Town Hall. This incredibly important place was the setting for the Aboriginal and European Annual Meeting Days, which occurred here between 1814 and 1837. The record of the 1826 meeting is fascinating. After a short speech guests sat in a semi-circle on the ground in tribal groups and were served boiled beef, soup, and plum pudding. Each group was represented by a leader, including Bungaree from Broken Bay; Dual from Appin, who accompanied Hamilton Hume to Berrima; and Jubbinguy, who had been captured and imprisoned by Governor Macquarie in 1816. It is remarkable

“It really is a now-or-never moment for this very important place”

Below, clockwise from top The Annual Meeting of the Native Tribes at Parramatta New South Wales by Augustus Earle c.1826 (image courtesy of National Library of Australia); proposed towers flanking St John’s Cathedral at Parramatta (image via ArchitectureAU); St. John’s Anglican Cathedral today, showing the same grounds where the annual meeting days took place in the early nineteenth century (photo by National Trust).

Opposite David Burdon, National Trust Conservation Director (photo by National Trust).

how little this place has changed since then and how it has continued to be a real cultural melting pot. Yet here again we will have a tower placed to the north that will involve the demolition of the 100-year-old church hall and will cast an afternoon shadow on the two landmark church spires incorporated into the design at Mrs Macquarie’s suggestion.

So what can be done for the heritage of Parramatta? It could start with little things such as applying a coat of paint or the retention of an old house, but perhaps we should dream a little bigger. The government could simply purchase the Roxy and turn it into a wonderful theatre to sit alongside Sydney’s Capitol and State theatres, or we could look at the Female Factory and realise that it could be to Parramatta what The Rocks is to Sydney.

Our cities are enriched as we add layers to them, and it is only through a process of gradual restoration, not incremental demolition, that Parramatta can retain any sense of history, variety and human scale. We should embrace its rich heritage, not isolate it. This will give us the fine grain, the variety, the places that are fit for people. We need to think a little harder about what we have now, and what we can have in the future because it really is a nowor-never moment for this very important place in terms of protecting its heritage.

Watch the video of David's Forum presentation at bit.ly/3Skfhui

Heritage Pubs

BY PETREA M C CARTHY

Thoughtful restoration and adaptive repurposing are bringing new life to historic hotel buildings in regional New South Wales, as three shining examples from Moree, Tenterfield and Tarcutta so ably demonstrate.

Finding great country pubs is one of the pleasures of an Aussie road trip. Whether you stay the night or just want a cold beer and a good feed, your support helps to keep these historic places alive. Throw into the mix renovations that combine heritage features with contemporary accommodation standards, chefs showcasing regional produce and oldfashioned hospitality, and it’s hard for twenty-first century travellers not to be tempted.

Tradition with a twist in the south-west

A tiny town halfway between Sydney and Melbourne has recently gained a community asset. Emma and Brendon Reynolds took over the Tarcutta Hotel in January with the aim of bringing the community together. A great-great niece of explorer Hamilton Hume, Emma hails from Dubbo. “The hotel was closed for 15 months after the area suffered drought, bushfires, a mouse plague, C OVID -19 and flooding,” she says. “We took a chance on it.”

The couple opened the bar and accommodation in early March, followed closely by the dining area. The kitchen’s reputation

is growing, with diners travelling up to 100 kilometres for its locally-sourced fare. The upstairs accommodation was refurbished in a style complementary to its era, featuring appropriate colours and decor, with a modern fresh country twist. Bathroom facilities are shared, which surprises some guests. “We are doing our best to manage expectations about accommodation in a true 1940s pub,” Emma says.

The Reynolds also encourage guests to connect and rediscover the old-fashioned art of conversation. “We want people to drop in, relax, put the phone away and talk. Everyone has a story,” Emma says. With young children of their own they also aim to make the pub family friendly, so there’s a kid’s room to allow parents some child-free space.

The Hume Highway now bypasses Tarcutta, making it a quieter and more attractive stopover, so grab a hotel room or camp for free behind the pub. Enjoy a cold one and a meal while supporting a small town’s recovery.

Art deco luxury in New England

Another socially conscious pub is the Commercial Boutique Hotel in Tenterfield. After burning down twice, it was rebuilt in 1941 and traded until 2006. The hotel reopened eight years later, transformed by an extensive renovation designed to make the most of its art deco features.

The signature exterior of local red brick displays the symmetry and simplicity associated with the style. Inside, colours are sympathetic to the period. During the renovation many original features were highlighted: mirrors in the upstairs hallway

brighten the space without interfering with the silky oak architraves, and the hardwood floors have been polished. The lounge area’s decorative ceiling cornice is intact and the old fireplaces were re-discovered under tacky 1970s versions. Some of the original plans and other period memorabilia are displayed in the foyer and bar.

Upstairs, eighteen original bedrooms have become seven luxurious rooms with ensuites, while the old staff quarters downstairs is now a wheelchair accessible room that is also pet friendly. In the restaurant on the ground floor a French-trained chef prepares contemporary seasonal fare as well as more casual dining options. Craft and mainstream beers are on tap and there is an extensive list of locallysourced wines.

In a bold move, the present owners have rejected the easy profits of gambling facilities. This is a challenging business model, but they prefer their historic venue to have a positive social impact and a progressive outlook.

Reimagining heritage in the North West

The Imperial Hotel in Moree is in the centre of town, at the intersection of Heber and Balo streets. Built in 1929 by brewers Tooth & Co after the previous weatherboard building burnt down, the brick and tile hotel retains its

Edwardian style while offering guests a very different experience.

Today the ground floor houses a variety of businesses, where patrons once stood at the front bar. Upstairs, however, the accommodation section has been fully renovated in the original style to cater for seasonal workers and visitors. The balustrade, gable vents, parapet and rafters are all still in place.

Owner Paul Shiels opted to offer rooms only. There has been a revival in country areas due to new industries, mining, agriculture and infrastructure work and he saw the need for quality short-term accommodation. He points out how country towns have changed: “They used to have three or four hotels, but many of these towns now have only one or two trading, and the others have found alternative uses. Most of them, even if they’re closed, tend not to be demolished. Many are heritage listed, or have heritage orders on them, so they can’t be knocked down. They just get repurposed, although some do just remain empty, which is a shame.”

These three hotels are only a small sample of the many options for travellers within NSW. In a time of challenging travel a road trip could be rewarding, enjoyable and so much less hassle than air travel. So grab the car keys and go.

Above The Imperial Hotel at Moree (photo courtesy of Paul Shiels).

Opposite from left

The Tarcutta Hotel (photo courtesy of Emma Reynolds); the Commercial Boutique Hotel (photo courtesy of the Commercial Boutique Hotel).

“We want people to drop in, relax, put the phone away and talk. Everyone has a story”

Calendar

Step into spring with the National Trust (NSW). See spectacular gardens in bloom, inspiring new art collections, exhibitions, tours and workshops. Celebrate the festive season with loved ones in style at one of our beautiful heritage properties.

Event details are correct at the time of printing. Please check nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for updates and to purchase tickets.

FOLLIES AND FROLICS

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

6 OCTOBER – 19 FEBRUARY, THURSDAY – MONDAY, 10AM – 4PM

Follies and Frolics is a celebration of revelry, parties and bacchanalian feasts! This exhibition features Norman Lindsay’s artworks depicting life’s joy in all its spontaneity and foolishness.

Tickets: Members free, adults $17, concession $15, family $45, children under five free

PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD

S.H. ERVIN GALLERY, OBSERVATORY HILL

16 SEPTEMBER – 6 NOVEMBER, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM – 5PM

The Portia Geach Memorial Award is Australia’s most prestigious art prize for portraiture by women artists. View the finalist exhibition featuring the incredible work of artists from across the country. (Artwork: Last Flight from Eden by VR Morrison).

Tickets: Members $4, adults $12, concession $10, children under five free

GHOST NIGHT

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA

21 OCTOBER & 18 NOVEMBER

With more than 200 years of history, Old Government House is no stranger to eerie encounters. Learn of our colonial past as you retrace the steps of those who walked its corridors – if you dare!

Tickets: Members $32, adults $35

INSPIRATION TO CREATION

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

22 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER, THURSDAY – SUNDAY, 10AM – 4PM Chat with the Artists of the Round Yard and learn about their creative process and artwork on display at this exhibition. Artists will be onsite and giving live demonstrations.

Tickets: Free

UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF THE GOLDEN VALE GARDEN: CORSAGE FOR BEGINNERS

GOLDEN VALE, SUTTON FOREST

28 OCTOBER, 10AM – 1PM

Unearth the history of Golden Vale's much-loved walled garden before foraging for flowers and foliage to create your very own corsage under the expert guidance of a local florist.

Tickets: Members $135, adults $150

PHOTOGRAPHERS’ BREAKFAST

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

29 OCTOBER, 6AM – 8:30AM

Gain rare access to the grounds of Retford Park to capture the beautiful morning light spilling across the gardens as the property awakens. After, enjoy breakfast on the sunny front verandah.

Tickets: Members $40, adults $50, concession $45

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW SAUMAREZ HOMESTEAD, ARMIDALE

30 OCTOBER – 15 JANUARY, VARIOUS DAYS AND TIMES

Don’t miss your chance to discover the perilous, fascinating and often quirky history of health in the early colony as this popular travelling exhibition makes its final NSW stop.

Tickets: Prices vary, visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw

SPRING TWILIGHT TOUR

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

5 NOVEMBER, 5PM – 7:30PM

Make the most of the lengthening days with a magical twilight tour of the garden in spring, followed by drinks and canapés on the front verandah as the sun sets.

Tickets: Members $45, adults $55, concession $50

CONNECTING PASSAGES

EVERGLADES HOUSE & GARDENS, LEURA

6 – 27 NOVEMBER, THURSDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM – 3PM

Julie Martin’s Connecting Passages photographic exhibition is a homage to and expression of love for everything beautiful created by both nature and people.

Tickets: Members free, adults $15, concession $10, family $35, children under five free

RIVERSDALE GARDEN PARTY

RIVERSDALE, GOULBURN, 6 NOVEMBER, 10AM – 2PM

Immerse yourself in the stunning garden at Riversdale and enjoy scrumptious eats, treats, local stalls and loads of family fun.

Tickets: Free

PRIZED POSSESSIONS: WORKS IN THE NATIONAL TRUST’S COLLECTION

S.H. ERVIN GALLERY, OBSERVATORY HILL

12 – 27 NOVEMBER, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM – 5PM

See some of the finest pieces from the National Trust collections in this first major exhibition of our works, including the recently revealed 400-year-old Dutch master painting, Still Life

Tickets: Members $4, adults $12, concession $10, children under five free

MENDING AND RECYCLING AT MISS PORTER'S HOUSE

MISS PORTER’S HOUSE, NEWCASTLE WEST

13 NOVEMBER, 1PM – 4PM

Discover how flour bags can be turned into clothing, what an egg has to do with darning and how the Porter family practised sustainability in the early twentieth century.

Tickets: Members free, adults $10, concession $8, family $25, children under five free

NATIVE BEE WORKSHOP

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

18 NOVEMBER, 9:30AM – 11:30AM

Learn why native bees are essential for ecosystems and how you can make your garden bee friendly in this much-loved workshop. Morning tea and a guided tour of the grounds included.

Tickets: Members $55, adults $65, concession $60

ART IN THE PARK – PAINT THE HOUSE

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA

19 NOVEMBER, 10AM – 2PM

Take inspiration from the skilled convict artists that stood on the same grounds and learn how to paint your very own masterpiece of Old Government House in this leisurely guided workshop.

Tickets: Members $70, adults $90, concession $80

BUS TRIP TO HISTORIC GOULBURN

18 – 20 NOVEMBER

Hop aboard a three-day bus trip to Goulburn and visit several must-see local attractions both in and outside this historic city including Riversdale ( pictured). Accommodation, a special tour and most meals included.

Tickets: Members from $430, adults from $460 Enquiries: Bmnt1814@gmail.com or 0420 288 978

OLD HIGH STREET HERITAGE WALK

HIGH STREET, MAITLAND

19 NOVEMBER, 2PM – 5:30PM

Take a guided heritage walk down High Street, lined with history and stories of early Maitland. Later, enjoy a splendid afternoon tea at historic Brough House.

Tickets: Members $20, adults $25

Stay in touch

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LAST CHANCE

MAKING GOOD: CONVICT ARTISANS IN EXILE OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA

TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 10AM – 4PM, UNTIL 27 NOVEMBER

FINAL CURATOR'S TOURS, 27 OCTOBER & 24 NOVEMBER, 2PM – 3PM

Don’t miss your chance to explore the lives of convict artisans who used their skills to transform a place of exile into a thriving modern settlement. Browse the exhibition, or go behind the scenes on an exclusive tour. (Photo by Cassandra Hannagan)

Tickets: Prices vary, visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw

THE SPECTACLES –

A LITTLE BIT OF ROCK, POP AND SOUL

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

19 NOVEMBER, 6PM – 9PM

Local band The Spectacles will get you up and grooving! Bring a picnic, chairs and your loved ones and enjoy a fun repertoire of rock, pop and soul favourites played under a starry sky.

Tickets: Members $22, adults $25, concession $22

HEALTH ON THE HOMEFRONT TOUR

SAUMAREZ HOMESTEAD, ARMIDALE

20 NOVEMBER – 8 JANUARY, EVERY SECOND SUNDAY, 11AM – 12PM, CLOSED 25 DECEMBER AND 1 JANUARY

Join a fascinating tour about staying healthy and avoiding infectious diseases in early twentieth-century Australia. Learn how the White family contributed to health care in the area and how it shaped their lives.

Tickets: Members free, adults $15, concession $10, family $35, children under five free

UNDER WESTERN SKIES

DUNDULLIMAL HOMESTEAD, DUBBO

26 NOVEMBER, 2PM – 9:30PM

Enjoy an array of artists, craft beer, kid-friendly activities, food, art and local stalls at this lively celebration of Dubbo’s contemporary music and culture.

Tickets: Adults $35, juniors $15, children under ten free

TELLING TALES

EVERGLADES HOUSE & GARDENS, LEURA

3 – 31 DECEMBER, WEDNESDAY – MONDAY, 10AM – 4PM

From stunning embroidery to beautiful hand-painted banners, Telling Tales highlights the remarkable work of the Everglades community and National Trust volunteers.

Tickets: Members free, adults $15, concession $10, family $35, children under five free

SPOWERS & SYME

S.H. ERVIN GALLERY, OBSERVATORY HILL

3 DECEMBER – 12 FEBRUARY, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM – 5PM

CLOSED 24 & 25 DECEMBER AND 1 JANUARY

Celebrating the artistic friendship of Melbourne artists Ethel Spowers and Eveline Syme, this National Gallery Touring Exhibition will present the changing face of interwar Australia through the perspective of two pioneering modern women artists. (Artwork: School is Out by Ethel Spowers)

Tickets: Members $4, adults $12, concession $10, children under five free

ALL THINGS GREAT ARE SMALL

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

8 DECEMBER – 12 FEBRUARY, THURSDAY – SUNDAY, 10AM – 4PM

CLOSED 24 & 25 DECEMBER AND 1 JANUARY

Marvel at the fine detail and craftsmanship of this exquisite collection of miniatures. Appreciate the delicate brushwork and gem-like colours, and maybe even take one home!

Tickets to exhibition: Free

Have Yourself a Heritage Christmas

VIENNA COTTAGE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE

VIENNA COTTAGE, HUNTERS HILL

25 NOVEMBER, 3PM – 8PM, 26 – 27 NOVEMBER, 10AM – 4PM

Find the perfect Christmas gift at heritage-listed Vienna Cottage. Choose from gourmet foods and hampers, handmade jewellery and accessories, decorative homewares and delicious wines.

Tickets: Free

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

2 – 23 DECEMBER, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 10AM – 4PM

Have yourself a very Victorian Christmas with decked halls, a set table and carols drifting in from the drawing room. Hang a wish on the tree and make a Christmas lantern to take home.

Tickets: Members free, adults $15, concession $10, family $35, children under five free

TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS MAGIC

MEMBERS-ONLY VIEWING: 1 DECEMBER, 4PM – 7PM

GENERAL ADMISSION: 8 – 22 DECEMBER, THURSDAYS, 4PM – 7PM

Join us for a glass of sparkling wine and canapés as the light softens over Old Government House, beautifully adorned with Christmas decorations and greenery for the festive season.

Tickets: Prices vary, visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

10 DECEMBER, 7PM – 9PM

Gather your loved ones for a joyous evening of carols with a World Heritage-listed backdrop. A special jolly guest is anticipated to appear – but only if you’ve been good of course!

Tickets: Gold coin donation upon entry

THE RETURN OF THE DUTCH MASTER

– CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WOODFORD ACADEMY, WOODFORD, 10 DECEMBER, 10AM – 4PM

As a special Christmas gift, the recently restored and globally recognised seventeenth-century Dutch Master painting, Still Life , returns to Woodford Academy for viewing for one day only.

Tickets: Members $10, adults $15, concession $8, family $25, children under five free

CHRISTMAS WITH THE PORTERS

MISS PORTER’S HOUSE, NEWCASTLE WEST

11 DECEMBER, 1PM – 4PM

Experience an Edwardian Christmas and see how the Porters celebrated with cards, recipes, decorations and toys. Homemade goodies will be for sale.

Tickets: Members free, adults $10, concession $8, family $25, children under five free

GROSSMANN HOUSE'S VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS GROSSMANN HOUSE, MAITLAND

11 DECEMBER, 10AM – 4PM

Take a tour of the house, dressed for a splendid Victorian Christmas. Snap a special festive photo and enjoy the garden. Enjoy homemade cakes, pies, sweets and more.

Tickets: Members free, adults $10, concession $8, family $25, children under five free

ALFRESCO AFTERNOONS

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

16 & 17 DECEMBER, 4PM – 7PM

Enjoy Christmas drinks and canapés, beautifully decorated house interiors, relaxed seasonal shopping and a late afternoon stroll through the stunning gardens at Retford Park.

Tickets: Members $47, adults $58, concession $50

Lindesay Christmas

LINDESAY, DARLING POINT

Meet a Volunteer

INTERVIEW BY PETREA M C CARTHY

Long-term Dundullimal volunteer Sis Honner loves helping out at the historic property, but she makes sure to find time to pursue her other passions, particularly travel.

When Sis Honner retired from teaching 16 years ago, her friends reckoned she would be so bored she’d soon be back at work. Sis didn’t think so but started looking for more to do.

A friend who volunteered at Dubbo’s 1840s heritage-listed Dundullimal Homestead talked her into joining the National Trust crew there. Between volunteering at Dundullimal and the local Royal Flying Doctor Service base, and road trips with her husband David, Sis hasn’t had time to even consider returning to work.

From the beginning, there was an understanding that Sis would not be around for Dubbo’s cold winters. “When I started… I said we will travel. I will volunteer while I am here, but we will be away for the winter”. Unlike some organisations, this was no problem. “You’ve got to look after your volunteers,” Sis says. “As I say to the girls at Dundullimal when they apologise if they can’t make it, you’re allowed to have a life outside volunteering.”

And Sis certainly has a life outside Dundullimal. The Honners have done a couple of laps around Australia in the motorhome they purchased when Sis retired. They’ve also motor-homed all 50 states of the USA. Sis has always liked travelling and feels fortunate that David enjoys driving. She appreciates this because she has known many couples where one half wants to travel and the other doesn’t. “We’re both keen travellers. We try to get away every year if we can, even if it’s only a short trip…we have it pretty well organised. We can be self contained, although quite often we stay in

caravan parks or showgrounds, or we free camp. Sometimes we camp with friends.”

They tow a small vehicle for exploring independently of the motorhome.

Sis recommends gathering information at visitor centres but also values local knowledge. “We went out to White Cliffs a few years ago. It’s in the middle of nowhere. They don’t have an actual visitor centre, so we went to the store for a chat and they gave us a sheet of what you could see at White Cliffs. It’s great to get the local input.”

Below

Along the road, western Queensland (photo by Sis Honner).

Opposite, clockwise from top Free camping beside the Jordan River, Jericho Queensland (photo by Sis Honner); on the Oodnadatta Track, South Australia (photo by Sis Honner); Sis Honner (photo by Adorie Tink).

Sis and David are not particularly looking for history on their travels but sought out historical sites on the Atherton Tablelands because David’s father trained there during World War II. More recently, Sis and the other Dundullimal volunteers spent three days visiting the National Trust properties of Everglades House at Leura, Retford Park in Bowral and Harper’s Mansion in Berrima.

This year’s trip for Sis and David is what they regard as a ‘short one’ – a quick jaunt through western Queensland to Karumba and then a break at Mareeba, a favourite stop on the Atherton Tablelands, before returning home as the chilly weather recedes.

Volunteer with us

Volunteering with the National Trust is a great way to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and support our valuable work. If you or a family member have been thinking about volunteering, we'd love to hear from you. Visit: nationaltrust.org.au/volunteers-nsw

Cheers!

Gift Giving Time

BONUS OFFER

WINE

PACK

This Christmas, delight your family and friends with a National Trust Gift Membership from just $90*. As well as access to over 800 special places, galleries, and gardens, every Gift Membership comes with a delicious Laithwaites wine gift pack, valued at $65. Each gift pack includes a pair of elegant stemless glasses and a bottle of McLaren Vale Deep River Shiraz. There’s also a subscription to the National Trust Magazine to enjoy. To get your gift delivered before Christmas, order by 12 December 2022.

Purchase

*Annual

Patrons, Corporate Members and Sponsors

The National Trust (NSW) acknowledges and appreciates the support we receive from these generous individuals and organisations

Patrons

G Arnott

R Butler OAM

R Burge & C Nadai

J & L Calluaud

Emeritus Professor

D Carment AM

J Church

K & M Eadie

P & R Flick

A & B Hayward

T Heazlewood OAM

H Hewitt

P Homel & L Taggart

The Kimalo Foundation

The Nell & Hermon Slade Trust

The Pratten Foundation

C Sutherland

A & P White

C Wilkinson OAM Anonymous (7)

Corporate Members

Allen Jack & Cottier Architects

Cox Architecture

Design 5 Architects

GML Heritage

Hector Abrahams Architects

Lucas, Stapleton, Johnson & Partners

Melgrand Sydney Metro

Winten Property Group

Wollongong City Council

Corporate Partners

Art Gallery of NSW

International Conservation Services

Laithwaite’s Wine People

Museums & Galleries NSW

Supporters

L Cox AO

David Sheedy Foundation

The Denbigh Foundation

The J Permsew Foundation

I Kaiser

The Mallam Family Fund

The Maple-Brown

Family Foundation

N Paton

S Pickles

T Strachan

S Thomas

K Valder

P & R Wade

S White OAM

Australian Heritage Festival and National Trust Heritage Awards

The Australian Heritage Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through Heritage NSW

S.H. Ervin Gallery Supporters

Allen & Unwin

Art Gallery of NSW

Holding Redlich

Margaret Olley Art Trust

National Trust Wine Service

Perpetual