REFLECT
The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) Annual Report Financial Year 2018/19 A reflection of the conservation, communication, celebration and community that brings heritage to life in New South Wales.
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Cover image: Riversdale, located in Goulburn, has benefited from restoration works supported by a NSW Government grant and the generosity of a National Trust (NSW) donor.
Contents
Below: Cooma Cottage in Yass has brought heritage to life with various crowd-pleasing events this year.
President’s Report
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Chief Executive Officer’s Report
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Conservation: Bush Management Services
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Conservation: Properties & Collections
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Communication: Advocacy & Public Affairs
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Celebration: Events & Festivals
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Community: People of the National Trust (NSW)
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Financial Report
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Trust Honours
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Vision: The National Trust (NSW)’s vision is to bring the heritage of New South Wales to life for future generations.
Mission: • Advocate for the conservation of built, cultural and natural heritage by engaging with the community and government. • Identify, conserve and protect our built, cultural and natural heritage by example, advice and support. • Educate and engage the community by telling our stories in ways that awaken a sense of place and belonging.
Values: The National Trust (NSW)’s leadership, staff and volunteers uphold our values: • Independent – operate without fear or favour. • Trustworthy – uphold the highest standards of ethics, professionalism and governance. • Inclusive – embrace diversity. • Inspirational – awaken awareness and galvanise support for our causes.
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Our Leadership Team (As at 30 June 2019)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brian Powyer (President) Susan Hunt (Deputy President) Neil Wykes, OAM (Treasurer) Noel Burgess Kate Dezarnaulds The Hon. Garry Downes AM QC Meredith Hutton Fenella Kernebone Dr Clive Lucas, OBE Debbie Mills (Chief Executive Officer) Keith Parsons John Richardson Ian Stephenson EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM Debbie Mills: Chief Executive Officer Richard Silink: Deputy Chief Executive Officer Nicole Crabb: Director, Development, Membership, Philanthropy & Bequests Graham Quint: Director, Conservation Gaetano Sanacore: Director, Bush Management Services Soma Somavarman: Director, Finance Lyndal Stuart: Director, Marketing and Communications Anne Weinman: Director, People
President’s Report Annual reports provide an opportunity to reflect on a year of achievement. It is wonderful to report on a year in which we planned to pave the way for our future and the ongoing conservation, protection, education, celebration and advocacy for heritage in New South Wales.
We have seen great success in the achievement of our Vision and Mission in the 2018/19 financial year at the National Trust (NSW). I am proud to say as our President, and on behalf of my fellow directors of the Board, that we also took bold steps forward this year to plan for our future.
“We need to have an evolving and ambitious vision for the future.”
We have consolidated and focused our efforts over the past 12 months to ensure that we are in a strong and stable position – this has provided us with solid foundations on which to progress as an organisation. We are here to protect the heritage of New South Wales, and also to celebrate it. We value our members and volunteers as the heart and soul of our community. We are and will always be grateful for the support of our donors, Patrons, corporate members and partners – and our family of National Trusts across Australia. We will relentlessly advocate for the protection of built, cultural and natural heritage. We need to have an evolving and ambitious vision for the future that embraces richer diversity and inspires younger generations. We will achieve this, in part, with inventive storytelling that captivates the imagination and makes use of digital communication. We need to care for our natural environment because, without it, all heritage is lost. The National Trust (NSW) will play a vital role in achieving these things over the next five years and into the future. Our bold plan is captured in the National Trust (NSW) Strategy for 2020–2024. It is a remarkable achievement to report that we have this roadmap for our future, and I thank the many people from across the organisation who contributed to its creation. Please enjoy reading about the various achievements you have contributed to over the past 12 months in this report. Brian Powyer
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Chief Executive Officer’s Report As we report on the 2018/19 financial year it is important to recognise the contributions of our members, volunteers, staff, Patrons and Guardians, donors and stakeholders. To thank all the people who are the lifeblood of our organisation, who have contributed to a very successful year. This year for the first time in 12 years, we made an operating surplus through the outstanding work in BMS, growing our visitation and membership income, and importantly through your ongoing and increasing financial support as Patrons, Guardians and donations to the projects and places you care about. We grew our members of the Annie Wyatt Bequest Circle who have undertaken to provide a lasting gift to the National Trust. This year we give special thanks to long term member, the late Neville Grace for his significant contribution. We maintained a strong and loud voice, protecting our special places. Our President, Brian Powyer, was heard far and wide from the streets of Parramatta, together with the Parramatta Branch, as we stood strong to protect the Roxy Theatre. This year we successfully concluded our 18 month Business Plan that was focused on ‘building our foundations’ whilst we planned for our next five years. It is my great pleasure to share a few of the highlights. We demonstrated our credentials as a leading protector of heritage this year, through our innovative ‘hot’ approach to treating pests at Woodford Academy and in the collections. We celebrated our properties and shared their stories through programs that brought out our inner child at the centenary of The Magic Pudding and frolicked at the twilight picnic at Cooma Cottage as well as enjoyed musical interludes at Golden Vale and Retford Park. We celebrated heritage with a record number of attendees at our National Trust Heritage Awards. We linked generations from the past to the future, at the Australian Heritage Festival with the theme of Connecting, People, Places and the Past. We recognised the importance of our Indigenous communities through our partnership with Reconciliation NSW, showcasing the travelling exhibition, Schools Reconciliation Challenge. There was hands-on protection of our natural heritage through our Bushland Management Service (BMS), restoring our native bushland.
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A strong and sustainable National Trust is reliant on us continuing to grow our audience. This year, we have achieved amazing reach connecting over one million people to heritage at our properties, online, through our publications and events. All of this is thanks to our hardworking and dedicated staff and volunteers, Committees and Branches together with the support of our donors and stakeholders. This report is a celebration of your contribution. Thank you. Debbie Mills
“Thanks to our hardworking and dedicated staff and volunteers, Committees and Branches.”
Conservation: Bush Management Services The National Trust (NSW)’s Bush Management Services operates as a social enterprise, with the purpose of the business centred on the conservation and protection of New South Wales’ natural environment. All profits are re-invested in the National Trust (NSW) to conserve and advocate for the protection of heritage.
Our team of regeneration specialists completed over 250 natural area restoration projects in the 2018/19 financial year. The scope of projects included standard weed control works through to erosion control and native area large-scale planting. Projects this financial year combined to generate $2.2m of revenue.
SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL Funded by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust Restoration and Rehabilitation Grant, the Council invested in the rehabilitation of illegal 4WD trails. The National Trust (NSW) was appointed to restore two sections of 4WD tracks where the soil had been heavily degraded due to the unauthorised use of vehicles and motor bikes. The erosion of the soil was making native regeneration difficult and our aim was to restore this environment. Intervention
Erosion: Degraded soil conditions negatively impact the natural environment for native flora
We installed erosion control measures to slow and disperse the overland flow of water. In the deep ruts where the soil bed had been heavily compacted, we installed two layers of coir mesh over the top. This was covered with brush matting laden in seed. We use Coir web – an organic, biodegradable product that breaks down over time leaving the trapped soil and germinating native flora to continue stabilising the soil matrix. Results Within two months of the works, soft sandy soils ideal for seed germination have been stabilised and the brushmatting has produced a microclimate. Without our intervention, the soil would have been inhospitable for native flora – so the outcome for the natural environment has been highly successful.
Nature restored: Sandy soil and native seeds germinating in Sutherland
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Conservation: Properties and Collections The National Trust (NSW) acts as the custodian of a portfolio of over 30 historic and significant places, landscapes and collections spread across the state. We act in this role on behalf of the people of New South Wales.
The heritage places the National Trust (NSW) cares for range from a humble domicile like Vienna Cottage in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill to the World Heritage listed Old Government House in Parramatta. We also have a strong and proud representation in rural New South Wales, including iconic properties such as Cooma Cottage, the final home of Hamilton Hume in Yass; the timber slab complex of Dundullimal Homestead, Dubbo; and the grand pastoral estate of Saumarez Homestead on the outskirts of Armidale. Throughout the year, our properties were visited by more than 139,600 people who attended tours, events, exhibitions, education programmes or came to enjoy the ambience of our gardens at Riversdale, Retford Park and Everglades House & Gardens in Leura. By attracting visitors to our properties through events that celebrated heritage, displays of our collection or to participate in the interpretation of heritage, we generated an overall revenue of $3.3m – contributing value to the cultural tourism economy of New South Wales.
“Our properties were visited by more than 139,600 people.�
Innovation: Woodford Academy turned up the heat on pests through a process that marked a first in its application to heritage properties in Australia.
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SUSTAINABLE HOMESTEAD TOURISM PROJECT The National Trust (NSW) was successful in receiving substantial grant funding from the NSW Government and Armidale Regional Council to develop the innovative Sustainable Saumarez Homestead Tourism Project. The project will enhance the conservation of the buildings and collections on-site and will result in a new Conservation Management Plan for the property. New accommodation will also be built on site, contributing to the tourism economy of the region and providing an immersive experience for domestic and international visitors to learn and appreciate this pastoral story. Completion is estimated for late 2020. MISS TRAILL’S HOUSE Miss Ida Traill’s house and collection in Bathurst was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1976. Due to extreme weather conditions in recent years, the clay soil underpinning the house had contracted and caused the outer verandah posts to slip – resulting in major cracks on the outer walls and the brick floor of the verandah being de-stabilised. The Central West Open House Committee led the way for fundraising to repair Miss Traill’s House, initially generating $33k at the Mudgee and Bathurst Open House Weekends. This was supplemented with the 2018 Appeal for Urgent Property Repairs. The majority of those funds were directed to the renovation of the verandah and repair of the internal cracks at Miss Traill’s House. Works were completed in autumn 2019. S.H. ERVIN GALLERY The National Trust (NSW) was awarded a NSW Government Green Energy grant of over $70k from the Office of Environment and Heritage, which allowed us to upgrade the air conditioning system at the iconic S.H. Ervin Gallery located at Observatory Hill in Sydney. The works have dramatically improved the efficiency of the system, improved the climate controlled storage of our significant art collection and will substantially reduce our operational costs in the future. REMEMBRANCE DRIVE, BARGO The National Trust (NSW) completed an Expression of Interest process with respect to the future management of the property located at 3105 Remembrance Driveway, Bargo, where Wirrimbirra Sanctuary operates. All applicants have been advised of the outcome regarding the ongoing management of the property including the existing tenants. The successful candidate will be announced in late 2019 pending the completion of all contractual processes.
Miss Traill’s House
WOODFORD ACADEMY Complemented by fundraising efforts from the Urgent Property Repairs appeal and funds raised by National Trust (NSW) members, the c. 1830s Woodford Academy underwent an innovative heat treatment process – a first for a museum property in Australia. The process successfully rid the house and the collections of borers in February 2019. The National Trust held a one-day symposium for 40 representatives of cultural industries and heritage specialists called ‘Turning up the Heat on Pests’. COLLECTIONS Volunteers worked with our Collection Manager to conserve, research, photograph and document items in our collection this year. At Old Government House, we have undertaken conservation work and research on the Emily Phillips portrait and high quality photography of the Silhouette Lady Mary Rose Fitzroy and Mrs Keith (Caroline) Stewart portraits (both mid-1850s). We undertook training for staff and volunteers, including workshops on Integrated Pest Management, Managing Heritage Collections and Caring for Historic Furniture. Research was undertaken on photographs held at Retford Park and documentation of the Woodford Academy collection (largely uncatalogued) commenced. We acquired a rare copy of A Brief Statement of Facts in Connection with an Overland Expedition from Lake George to Port Phillip in 1824, (Yass, 1873–74), written and published by Hamilton Hume at Cooma Cottage.
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Communication: Advocacy and Public Affairs We engage the community, the media and all levels of Government to celebrate and protect our heritage. This is at the heart of our advocacy and communications.
The past 12 months have been momentous, with Federal and State elections taking place in early 2019. The National Trust (NSW) made pre-election contact with parliamentary candidates, outlining our aspirations for heritage for the state and Australia. Responses at state level were strong, with all major parties and a number of independents signalling their acknowledgement and concern for heritage recognition and conservation. We will actively engage with Government to ensure election commitments on heritage are kept. Our technical committees added 37 places to the National Trust Register this year, including: •L andscape Conservation Committee: Wendy Whiteley’s Garden in Lavender Bay; an avenue of Pin Oaks and Camellia plantings at Bowral; Wentworth Park in Ultimo; the Bland Oak Tree at Carramar; Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens at Cremorne Point; and Old Sydney Town Living History Museum at Somersby.
Old Sydney Town
• Built Heritage Conservation Committee: the Enmore Theatre, the Savoy Theatre building in Katoomba; the Reserve Bank and Sydney Police Centre in Sydney; the former Waterfall State Sanatorium for Consumptives including the cemetery and the former Lapstone Hotel in the Blue Mountains. • Industrial Heritage Committee: Dora Creek Bridge and Terranora Dry Dock at Tweed Heads; Dudley Reservoir, Yanco Power Station and 18 low-level Sewage Pumping Stations from Ashfield in the inner west to Rushcutters Bay in the east of Sydney.
“The past 12 months have been momentous, with Federal and State elections taking place in early 2019.” 8
• Cemeteries Committee: Lone graves at Tilpa and Louth; the General Cemetery at Drake; the Harrison Lone Grave at Tiltagoona and the Winbar Cemetery at Louth. Over the past year we developed and adopted a major policy statement on the Conservation of Sydney Harbour Heritage. We spoke out on key cultural heritage campaigns including the controversial ‘Sails not for Sale’ issue on the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House, which was featured in the broadcast, print and digital media. News of the National Trust Register listing for Old Sydney Town also made headlines.
SIRIUS BUILDING – THE ROCKS, SYDNEY
NATIONAL TRUST REGISTER KEY LISTINGS
We worked in partnership with key organisations to ensure the recognition of the Sirius Building by listing it on the National Trust Register. We also nominated it for the State Heritage Register. Reports that the new owner of the Sirius Building has no intention of demolishing it, and will keep the building’s exterior relatively intact, have been welcomed. The ‘Save our Sirius’ community movement is a major win.
Old Sydney Town Living History Museum at Somersby continues a fine tradition. Over the past 230 years, 350 open-air or living history museums have been established in 53 countries worldwide. For example, Goreme Open-Air Museum in Turkey is a World Heritage Site. Old Sydney Town is comprised of purpose built, accurate reproductions of some of Australia’s earliest buildings. It included heritage trades skills training with a range of traditional materials and techniques known to have been employed during the pre-Macquarie years in Sydney such as wattle and daub and drop-log walling, thatch and shingle roofing and timber and earth flooring. We are proud to have placed it on the National Trust Register this year.
MUDGEE REGENT THEATRE The Mudgee Regent Theatre opened on 30 August 1935. It was listed on the National Trust Register in 1993, but closed in 2014. From November 2017, it was under threat with the prospect of unsympathetic redevelopment. In June 2018, we nominated it for the State Heritage Register and in February 2019, the former Minister for Heritage, Gabrielle Upton, placed an Interim Heritage Order on the theatre. The National Trust counts this as a major win, as does the local Revive the Regent group – who won the Advocacy Award at the 2019 National Trust Heritage Awards. RAISING OF THE WARRAGAMBA DAM WALL In March 2019, the World Heritage Committee requested a report from the Australian Government on the state of conservation of the Greater Blue Mountains Area and with regard to development proposals outside the World Heritage Area that had potential to, or claimed to, affect the Outstanding Universal Values of the area. The report indicated that: ‘under some flood conditions, if the dam wall is raised there will be increased temporary inundation of the World Heritage property’. The National Trust will continue to advocate on this issue.
SHARING OUR STORY The National Trust (NSW) communicates with our members and volunteers in various ways. We also share the story of heritage – including our advocacy efforts, events and news – with the wider community by engaging the media and through social media, our website and eNews. Our positions on the Federal and NSW State elections were published online, distributed to Ministers, parliamentarians and candidates, promoted on social media and resulted in our Director, Conservation, Graham Quint speaking at a forum at New South Wales’ Parliament House. Through our digital channels, we attracted a new audience – with the stories we have shared on Twitter alone being viewed by over 265,000 people this year. Our eNews and Events Updates were sent to 17,000 people monthly and our NSW National Trust Magazine – produced quarterly for our members – reaches 12,000 homes. We have achieved widespread coverage in the media, including print, broadcast and online outlets. The big stories for this year were the National Trust’s position on ‘Sails Not For Sale’, the outcome of the Sydney Modern at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Old Sydney Town’s listing on the National Trust Register and heritage-significant trees. Our Blue Mountains Branch frequently features in the regional press on the issue of the Warragamba Dam Wall.
Warragamba Dam
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Celebration: Events & Festivals
Norman Lindsay Gallery celebrated the centenary of the first publication of The Magic Pudding, written and illustrated by Norman Lindsay. Everglades House & Garden was once again a centrepiece of the Leura Garden Festival and the World Heritage listed site, Old Government House, held its Tales from the East exhibition.
We bring the cultural, natural and built heritage of New South Wales to life through events, exhibitions, festivals, education and tourism experiences. We achieved this in the 2018/19 financial year with more than 300 events held at our historic properties and organised by our Branches and Committees. We also delivered key programs such as the National Trust Heritage Awards and the Australian Heritage Festival.
The Art of Giving exhibition at Retford Park held in November 2018, attracted 1,200 people and the Georgian Glass: Colonial Style exhibition commenced its tour of our properties across the state.
President, Brian Powyer, opens the 25th National Trust Heritage Awards to a record number of 370 attendees.
Cooma Cottage hosted its first ever Twilight Picnic Fair in April 2019, attracting more than 550 people from Yass, Canberra and Sydney. We also partnered with the Bundanon Trust to provide residence for the Prelude program at Golden Vale, welcoming composers Timothy Dargaville and Thomas Meadowcroft. Our Branches and Committees held more than 100 events bringing a total of 10,700 people together to celebrate heritage in the 2018/19 year. The events were held in locations from New England in the north, Broken Hill in the west and Eden on the far South Coast. Some highlights include the Moyne Farm Open Day, organised by the Lithgow Branch – a feature of the Australian Heritage Festival – which showcased the sympathetic restoration of one of the earliest farms to the west of the Blue Mountains. Five hundred people attended and a collaboration of 71 volunteers from Sydney, the Blue Mountains the Central West supported this event. In Newcastle, a partnership of Newcastle Museum, Tantrum and Miss Porter’s House developed a theatrical project called The Shake Up, remembering the 1989 earthquake and its impact on the city and region. Two hundred and seventy five people attending over four nights. The Parramatta Branch organised the Cumberland Experience III one-day bus tours following the paths of explorers Gregory and John Blaxland. The Illawarra Branch ran heritage aircraft tours in partnership with HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society). The Open House weekend at historic Milthorpe and Carcoar, run by the Central West Open House Committee, attracted 580 visitors.
“Nationally, the Australian Heritage Festival attracted more than 360,000 people to celebrate heritage at events.” 10
S.H. ERVIN GALLERY
Artwork by Alanna Dutton, Year 9, Winmalee High School – featured in the Schools Reconciliation Challenge exhibition. Image courtesy of Reconciliation NSW.
SCHOOLS RECONCILIATION CHALLENGE The National Trust (NSW) is proud to partner with Reconciliation NSW to provide heritage venues for the Schools Reconciliation Challenge exhibition to be displayed throughout the state. Cooma Cottage, Dundullimal Homestead and Grossmann and Brough Houses were hosts in the 2018/19 financial year. The exhibition tour continues to Everglades House & Gardens and Saumarez Homestead in 2019 and into 2020. WOMEN’S COMMITTEE EVENTS The Women’s Committee held six ‘Looking at Architecture’ private house inspection days, welcoming a total of 2,045 people, in addition to two country weekends and coach trips where 918 people explored heritage. The garden seminar held at Lindesay attracted 43 attendees. The annual Lindesay Christmas Gift Fair was also held in November 2018. Total revenue raised by the Women’s Committee was over $300k for the 2018/19 financial year. NATIONAL TRUST WAY TOURS There was something for everyone this year with 13 short tours including the Chau Chak Wing building at UTS, Parliament House, ABC Studios at Ultimo, Sydney University, the Sydney Mounted Police Stables, the Southern Highlands and Garden Island. Further afield, there were tours to Japan and Melbourne. Revenue generated from the 325 people booking for National Trust Way Tours was approximately $16k.
The S.H. Ervin Gallery had another strong year including a major exhibition of work by William Robinson, organised by the QUT William Robinson Gallery and opened by Tim Fairfax AC. The annual exhibitions of the Portia Geach Memorial Award and the Salon des Refusés were crowd pleasers. The People’s Choice Award at the Salon des Refusés celebrated its 20th year as did the support from Principal Sponsor, Holding Redlich. Our summer exhibition, the second iteration of Destination Sydney, was a collaboration between the S.H. Ervin Gallery and Manly Art Gallery & Museum and Mosman Art Gallery. The joint exhibition featured nine artists across the three galleries. The Whiteley at 20 exhibition featured the work of the 20 winners of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship and was presented in association with the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Brett Whiteley Studio. AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND AWARDS We once again coordinated the Australian Heritage Festival in partnership with all National Trusts across Australia, this year with the theme: Connecting People, Places and the Past. Nationally, the Australian Heritage Festival brought 1,000 events to life, with 185 events held in New South Wales, including festival events promoted through National Trust (NSW) properties. Nationally, the Australian Heritage Festival attracted more than 360,000 people to celebrate heritage at events while digitally, an additional audience of over 350,000 people were engaged with content and stories surrounding the festival. A signature event of the festival – the National Trust Heritage Awards – celebrated its 25th year and attracted 110 entries and the ceremony event brought 370 people together to celebrate the best of heritage conservation, advocacy, education and interpretation. The National Trust (NSW) welcomed special guest, the Hon. Don Harwin MLC, and keynote speeches from Councillor and Professor, Philip Thalis, and Frank Howarth, Chair of the Heritage Council. Both initiatives are proudly supported by the NSW Government and the Heritage Council of NSW.
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Community: People of the National Trust (NSW) The people of the National Trust (NSW) are at the heart of what has sustained our organisation for seven decades. Our community is comprised of our staff, volunteers, members, donors and Patrons, supporters and partners, and affiliated organisations who share our vision for conserving, protecting and celebrating the natural, built and cultural heritage of Australia.
The National Trust (NSW) is a diverse, community-based organisation. At the conclusion of the 2018/19 financial year, our dedicated staff were working across more than 20 locations throughout New South Wales. Our Bush Management Services team, many of whom are casual, work across hundreds of locations. The National Trust is a not-for-profit organisation and we rely on our many supporters to continue the ongoing work of advocacy and the care and protection of our heritage properties, landscapes and collections.
Nicole Crabb, our Director, Development, Membership, Philanthropy & Bequests, celebrates National Volunteering Week with Olivia Fenlon who contributed her time in the Membership team and as a volunteer at the National Trust Heritage Awards.
DIVERSITY Our Bush Management Services (BMS) attracts the highest number of males, while clerical and administrative roles such as museum officers and support roles are more favoured by females. The gender balance at the National Trust (NSW) is more even at management levels across Director roles and Property Management roles, while second tier managers and professionals within the organisation have a greater female representation, as is usual within the Arts and Conservation sector.
VOLUNTEERS Over the past year, the National Trust (NSW) has focussed on volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition. It is critical that we recognise, value and respect the contribution our volunteers make to the organisation and ensure people volunteering their time and talent have the skills and support needed. For National Volunteering Week, we celebrated our volunteers with a series of thank you events throughout the State. The National Trust (NSW) nominated 37 teams and 40 individuals for the NSW State Volunteering Awards.
45% MALE
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55% FEMALE
In addition to the support provided by volunteers at Properties, Branches and Committees, the National Trust has 12 Taskforces and Technical Committees in New South Wales, which provide professional, technical and specialist advice on matters of advocacy, collection management, curatorial excellence, finance, property and cemeteries conservation and maintenance and oversight of special projects.
OUR MEMBERS AND DONORS The work of the National Trust (NSW) is only possible with the support of our 22,000 individual members who contribute over $760k by joining and continuing their membership with our organisation.
THANK YOU TO OUR BRANCHES, COMMITTEES & TASKFORCES
A number of members attended our AGM reception in November 2018 and we also held a viewing of the Salon de Refuses for new members in May and June 2019.
Finance Audit & Risk Management (FARM) Committee
Many of our members donated to our Appeals and Regular Giving Programs. The Save the Trees appeal in the summer of 2018 raised $68k from 255 donors. This enabled us to update the significant trees on the National Trust Register. Our Education Appeal in autumn 2019 was supported by approximately 500 donors who gave close to $100k. As a result of this, we can now appoint an Education Officer who will develop a suite of new curriculum-aligned education programs that will inspire and guide young people to protect and preserve our heritage. OUR PATRONS AND GUARDIANS Our community of Patrons and Guardians continues to grow with 32 dedicated supporters joining this program. Patrons commit to over $3,000 per annum while Guardians commit to between $1,000 and $3,000 annually. This is an important source of untied revenue and over $90k was committeed in 2019 for use at a number of our properties. Supporters who made significant donations this year included Ingrid Kaiser, Geoffrey and Sally White, the Maple-Brown Family Foundation and Marathon Pty Ltd. Patrons and Guardians enjoyed exclusive events, such as a tour with the Gallery Director of Salon Des Refuses at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in June 2019. THE ANNIE WYATT CIRCLE Many members and their families have chosen to make a final gift and leave a bequest to the National Trust. The Annie Wyatt Circle grew to over 135 members in 2018/19. We received close to $11m in bequests, including generous contributions from the estates of the late Neville Grace, Elizabeth Constance Carr, Keithia James, Robert William Henley, Sheila E Finlayson and D. Gwyn Bent. CENTRAL WEST WOMEN’S COMMITTEE (CWWC) After 45 years of undertaking a range of events and fundraising activities to support the National Trust, CWWC have officially retired their committee. It is with much regret, but with enormous gratitude that we say farewell and thank you to the amazing volunteers who have been part of this committee.
Board Committees/Taskforces Collections Committee Properties Committee S.H Ervin Gallery Advisory Committee Trust Honours Committee Conservation Policies Taskforce Butler Bequest Committee
Technical Committees Built Heritage Conservation Committee Cemeteries Committee Industrial Heritage Committee Landscape Conservation Committee
Branches & Committees Bathurst & District Branch Blue Mountains Branch Broken Hill & District Branch Central West Open House Weekend Committee Far South Coast Branch Friends of Ahimsa Friends of Everglades Friends of Grossmann House Friends of Norman Lindsay Gallery Friends of Old Government House & Experiment Farm Cottage Friends of Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts Gulgong Mudgee Rylstone Branch Harpers Mansion Management Committee Hawkesbury Branch Hunter Regional Committee Illawarra Shoalhaven Branch Lachlan Branch Lindesay Management Committee Lithgow Branch Miss Porter’s House Management Committee Miss Traill’s House Management Committee Norman Lindsay Gallery Advisory Committee Parramatta Branch Saumarez Homestead Advisory Committee S. H. Ervin Gallery Events Committee Southern Highlands Branch Tours Committee Vienna Cottage Management Committee Women’s Committee Woodford Academy Management Committee
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Financial Report For the first time in over 12 years, the National Trust (NSW) has made an Operating Surplus. The financial results presented are for the consolidated entity of The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales), together with the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Heritage Foundation Limited, being the Trustee company for the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Heritage Foundation Trust and National Trust of Australia Heritage Foundation Ancillary Fund. The National Trust is a charity – a not-for-profit organisation. We generate revenue through entry fees at the historical house museums and gardens we care for and at events; through venue hire and retail sales. Our Bush Management Services team works on a fee-for-service basis and our members pay to join the National Trust (NSW). This revenue is further supported by donations and bequests, Patrons and Guardians, and our corporate supporters and partners. Our committees actively fundraise to support the National Trust (NSW) and grants are also received from Local, State and Federal Government, and other organisations. The revenue directly supports the conservation and protection of our significant properties, collections and natural landscapes, our advocacy campaigns and communications and programs we develop to build the next generation of heritage advocates – all of which is core to delivering our Vision and Mission.
HIGHLIGHTS This financial year the consolidated entity achieved a surplus of $13m, compared to $11.5m in financial year 2017/18. This includes the first operating surplus made in 12 years of $412k. There were a number of highlights during the year: •O ur Bushland Management Services revenue was a significant $2.2m, delivered through successful tenders for conservation of native bush areas throughout Sydney. • Our membership generated $767k and donors contributed to our Patron and Guardian Programs, as regular givers and to our appeals for specific projects as highlighted on page 13. Our Patrons are highlighted on the back cover of the NSW National Trust Magazine. • Our visitors contributed by paying to see our historically significant places, exhibitions and events, and also through strong merchandise sales and commission income from the sale of art work. • Our properties continue to strive to improve their financial performance. Everglades House & Gardens had an outstanding year. • The fees paid for research on our National Trust Register Listings as well as for tax-deductible Restoration Appeals to facilitate fundraising for conserving churches achieved close to $300k. • Our revenue from rental income and investment income also added significantly to the positive results.
2018 OPERATING INCOME
2019 OPERATING INCOME
2019 OPERATING INCOME
Bushland Management 28%
Bushland Management 30%
Enterprises – rental & venue hire 14%
Enterprises – rental & venue hire 12%
Visitation 13% Events 10% Membership 10%
2018 OPERATING INCOME
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Events 9% Membership 9%
Merchandising 9%
Merchandising 9%
Donations 7%
Donations 9%
Grant 6%
Grant 8%
Other 4%
Other 3%
2019 OPERATING EXPENSES
2019 OPERATING EXPENSES
Visitation 11%
2018 OPERATING EXPENSES
Employee & Related 43%
Employee & Related 40%
Other 16%
Other 15%
Bushland Management 14% Repairs & Maintenance 9%
2018 OPERATING EXPENSES
Bushland Management 15% Repairs & Maintenance 11%
Property Operating 8%
Property Operating 8%
Events 5%
Events 6%
Merchandising 5%
Merchandising 5%
FY 2019 $000’s
FY 2018 $000’s
INCOME Bushland Management Income
2,247
2,284
Conservation Services
298
211
Donation
575
679
1,087
849
Events
757
711
Grant Revenue
494
580
Membership
767
670
Merchandising
684
676
Museum Visitation Income
996
915
20
55
7,926
7,631
Enterprises (including rent and venue hire)
Sponsorship Operating Income
EXPENSES Bushland Management Services
1,393
1,514
Cost of Merchandise
483
474
Employee & Related
4,284
3,964
Events
545
559
Legal
137
72
Heritage Consulting
189
122
Other Office
611
670
Postage and Printing
308
291
Property Operating
783
769
Repairs & Maintenance
857
1,104
Other
400
405
Operating Expenses
9,991
9,945
Net Operating Result
(2,065)
(2,314)
2,476
1,371
412
(943)
10,990
465
1,450
12,106
151
(36)
13,002
11,592
Investment Income Net Operating Surplus / (Deficit)
Net Bequest Donation - Extra Ordinary Unrealised Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Asset Value Adjustments Net Surplus / (Deficit)
SUPPORTERS Bequests and Donations A significant contribution of the overall surplus was the lasting gift made from the late Neville Grace and the donation from T. Eakin in memory of the late Dr V. J. A. Flynn to establish a fund for the maintenance and support of our collection items. We enjoyed the significant support of major donors including Ingrid Kaiser, the Maple-Brown Family Foundation, Geoffrey and Sally White and Marathon Pty Ltd. Grants The NSW Government and Heritage Council of NSW supported the Australian Heritage Festival and National Trust Heritage Awards as principal sponsor again in 2019, providing $75,000 in grant funding. We are grateful for the ongoing support provided for the National Trust Cemeteries Conservation Advisory Service. The National Trust (NSW) would like to recognise the grant support from Museums and Galleries NSW; National Library of Australia; Glam Peak; the Department of Veterans’ Affairs; the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; the Department of Family and Community Services; Community Partnerships; the Royal Australian Historical Society; the Department of Social Security and The Copland Foundation. We also received support from many Councils regionally including Armidale, Dubbo, Maitland and Wingecarribee Shire Councils. S. H. Ervin Gallery We acknowledge the generous support provided to the S.H. Ervin Gallery by Holding Redlich, Perpetual Trustees, Art Gallery of NSW, Fine Music 102.5FM, Jolimont Foundation, Margaret Olley Art Trust, Windsor and Newton and the Gordon Darling Foundation. Corporate Supporters A special thank you to our Corporate Supporters including International Conservation Services, Aurora Expeditions, Lucas Stapleton Johnson & Partners and Laithwaites Wine People. We are very grateful to our Corporate Members and you can see a full list of these supporters on the back cover of the NSW National Trust Magazine. A complete copy of our Audited Financial Statements can be found at nationaltrust.org.au/about-us-nsw/
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Trust Honours HONOURS AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOVEMBER 2018 Honorary Life Membership
Trust Commendation – Over Five Years of Service
Elizabeth Ellis, Collections Committee
David Burdon, Built Heritage Conservation Committee; Heritage Awards Judging Panel and the Conservation Policies Taskforce
Caroline Parker, Women’s Committee
Meritorious Service Award – More than 15 Years of Outstanding Service Stella Downer, S.H. Ervin Gallery Advisory Committee Lisa Newell, Industrial Heritage Committee and National Trust Representative to the Heritage Council Richard Steele, Miss Traill’s House and Garden Management Committee Sally Wickham, Central West Women’s Committee Neil Wyles, Lindesay Management Committee
Elizabeth Burgess, Woodford Academy Management Committee Alan de Jong, Norman Lindsay Gallery Angela DiSanto, Miss Porter’s House Management Committee Linda Leseberg, Miss Traill’s House and Garden Management Committee Victoria Liddicoat, Friends of Everglades House and Garden Toni Maher, Women’s Committee Kath Marshall, Norman Lindsay Gallery Janet Scott, Norman Lindsay Gallery
Voluntary Service Award – Over 10 Years of Service
Danielle Smith, Saumarez Homestead Advisory Committee
Alison Arnison, Miss Traill’s House & Garden Management Committee; and Central West National Trust Open House Committee
Les Tod OAM, Parramatta Regional Branch
Distinguished Staff Award
Patricia Baxter, S.H. Ervin Gallery
Ros Loftus and Dawn Giles, Joint Managers Riversdale
Lyn Haley, Miss Traill’s House & Garden Management Committee
Honours Committee Discretionary Award – Outstanding Achievement
Nancy Marsden, S.H. Ervin Gallery Lesley Neuhaus, Miss Traill’s House Thelma Scanes, Parramatta Regional Branch and the Soft Furnishings Group at Old Government House
Lin Henry, Education Co-ordinator/Museum Officer, Old Government House and Experiment Farm Cottage
Helen Scott, Friends of Grossmann House Keith Walker-Smith, Harper’s Mansion Management Committee
Contact us National Trust of Australia (NSW), GPO Box 518, SYDNEY NSW 2001 Phone: (02) 9258 0190 Email: info@nationaltrust.com.au nationaltrust.org.au/nsw @nationaltrustau @nationaltrustau @nationaltrustnsw
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which National Trust (NSW) properties stand, where people visit, and where we work and meet with the community to celebrate heritage. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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The National Trust of Australia (NSW) is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC). Underpinning our governance is an Act of the New South Wales Parliament, The National Trust of Australia New South Wales Act, 1990. Our ABN is 82 491 958 802.