As this issue goes out we are delighted to announce that the Commonwealth Government has added the National Trust’s Old Government House, Parramatta, to the National Heritage List. National Listing is a fitting acknowledgment of this property’s great significance to Australia; please see the item below for more. Here at the Trust, we are also in the planning stages for next year’s National Trust Festival, the highlight of our annual program of activities. The theme is ‘Our Place’, and groups from around the state are invited to register events, such as talks, exhibitions, tours, and educational competitions, and join the celebrations. For full details of the theme and the registration form please click here. The deadline for event registration is Friday 30 November 2007. We encourage everyone to take part in next year’s exciting festival, a mainstay of the cultural calendar which featured over 400 events in 2007, great interest and wide media coverage. Further details of the festival will follow in subsequent issues of enews.

Tina Jackson
Executive Director
tjackson@nsw.nationaltrust.org.au

Old Government House added to National Heritage List
One of the signature properties of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), Old Government House, Parramatta, and the surrounding Governor’s Domain, was added to the National Heritage List on 1 August. The Trust has long recognized and promoted OGH’s significance as a key heritage site, and applauds this listing confirming its status. Further reinforcing the site’s importance, in January 2007 the Australian Government nominated OGH, as part of a serial listing on the World Heritage List. OGH is Australia’s oldest public building, and was the ‘country’ residence of 12 early governors, including Governor Macquarie, known as the ‘father of the nation’. Much of the early establishment of the nation, including the development of governance, infrastructure and finance took place there. Click here for our media release, and for more on OGH click here.

Scenic Drive – Kangaroo Valley
95 mature trees along the designated scenic drive Moss Vale Road in Kangaroo Valley are now being removed by the RTA despite community opposition. Neither the RTA nor the State Minister for Roads has responded to the Trust’s submissions opposing the removal. We appear to have returned to the bad old days of the ‘80s with residents chaining themselves to trees and risking arrest to protect places they treasure. To address the concern for safety on the road, 50km speed limits and traffic calming measures should apply as in local residential streets. While the Premier has publicly stated that he will not intervene, feeling is strong, and Trust members are urged to write to Mr Iemma -- this action effectively threatens all such scenic drives controlled by the RTA.

Jenner House
The Trust has been reviewing the most recent proposal for works to Jenner House, Macleay St Potts Point. The scheme, which is for three separate dwellings using the existing house and the upper storey of the existing northern addition, is proposed to be ‘Community Title’ which ensures the place’s continued presentation as one site. The innovative scheme uses a number of existing building and landscape elements and carefully protects the view and the public appreciation of the house from the water of the ‘single marina villa’, for which the building is probably best known. It also encompasses a loving restoration of Jenner itself as a single grand residence. The design is by architects Allen Jack + Cottier and is a well considered response to what is a difficult and constrained site. The house and site were listed by the National Trust in 1967.

Historic O’Connell Village
The Trust is considering the preparation of a Cultural Landscape listing on the Trust Register of the historic village of O’Connell south of Bathurst. The village, originally established in 1813, retains buildings dating back to the 1820s, one of the earliest mud, stone and timber buildings in Australia, the Edward Gell designed 1866 former Catholic Church and a very rare Memorial Avenue of 120 Desert Ash Trees planted to commemorate the men of O’Connell who fought and lost their lives in the First World War.

Community Sporting Clubs
The Trust is examining the contribution of community sporting clubs to our cultural heritage. Such clubs were often the social heart of country towns, but development pressures, competing interests and aging memberships have seen many swept away. The initial focus will be on Sydney Harbour recreational sailing and rowing clubs. Contributions of photographs and histories are welcome on both the harbour clubs and other notable sporting clubs from around New South Wales.

Rippon Grange, Wahroonga
In 2001 the Trust nominated Rippon Grange, Wahroonga, for listing on the State Heritage Register. Recently the Land & Environment Court dismissed an appeal against Ku-ring-gai Council’s refusal of a development application for the property, stating that the siting of some proposed buildings did not respect the place’s heritage significance, and that the development would mean removal of endangered Blue Gum High Forest on the property. Yet it appears that State Heritage Listing has not yet been considered. The Trust is again asking that Rippon Grange be urgently considered for Listing.

'Tales and Tunes at the Trust’ – bringing back the art of storytelling
The National Trust and the Australian Storytelling Guild have dreamed up a program of storytelling and music for both children and adults. The program is now underway at three National Trust properties - Norman Lindsay Gallery, Experiment Farm Cottage, and Vienna Cottage. The stories will focus on tales from the past and include ‘local colour’ stories. For details of dates and times please click here. The Trust and Australian Storytelling Guild are also offering a 10-week course in how to tell historical stories.

An Introduction to Building Limes – Tuesday 7 August
The Heritage Office will be holding a Lime Seminar from 9am – 5pm on 7 August. The program will include an introduction to materials used in lime mortars and limewashes; basic lime chemistry and the lime cycle; the effect of adding cement to lime mortars; and demonstrations of lime, mixing lime and repointing. Cost is $165 and includes morning/afternoon tea and lunch. For information and bookings click here or call 98738500.

National Trust Film Preview Fundraiser – Thursday 16 August
Come along for champagne, finger food and a good laugh at the exclusive National Trust film preview of Boynton Beach Club. A phenomenal US hit, Boynton Beach Club takes a humorous and touching look at the ups and downs, friendships and romantic exploits of a Florida retirement community. Help raise funds for the National Trust and join us from 6pm at the Dendy Opera Quays Cinema. Tickets $20. To book your tickets please call 02 9258 0123.

From here to Eternity: contemporary tapestries from the Victorian Tapestry Workshop –
until 12 August
Don’t miss the current National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery exhibition featuring 52 contemporary tapestries from the renowned collection of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop which was established in 1976. This touring exhibition showcases the Workshop’s collaboration with many of Australia’s leading artists including Davida Allen, Jon Cattapan, Alun Leach-Jones, Reg Mombassa, Gareth Sansom and Martin Sharp. Please click here for more details.

Rex Dupain: The Colour of Bondi, 17 August – 23 September
Bondi shines under the talented eye of one of Australia’s pre-eminent photographers in this collection of large format images at the National Trust’s S.H. Ervin Gallery. In the full glare of the Australian sun, Bondi and its iconic beach never fail to capture attention. Acclaimed photographer Rex Dupain has shot every aspect of Bondi - the world of the surfers, bathers, backpackers, swimmers, divers and divas who inhabit the famous strip. On Monday 24 September, Bonhams & Goodman will auction all works from the exhibition onsite to raise funds for the S.H. Ervin Gallery. Click here for more information.

Kids care for heritage – 2007 National Trust Schools Competition winners announced
A record number of entries were received from schools across the state this year for the National Trust School’s Competition, with the theme Places in Context: Natural and Cultural Landscape. Students from around NSW attended the awards ceremony on 23 July at the Trust’s S.H. Ervin Gallery, joined by Michael Coutts-Trotter, Director General of the NSW Department of Education, and the cast of Channel 7’s Saturday Disney. To view the list of winners please click here.

Tina Jackson with winner Ned Dawson and Jack, Shae and Sally from Saturday Disney

Lindsay’s Café wins new awards
Lindsay’s Café was recently awarded ‘Best Cafe/Restaurant’ and ‘Best Tourism Restaurant’ at the 2007 Blue Mountains and Western Regions Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence. Lindsay’s Café offers a popular and unique dining experience in the natural bush land setting of the National Trust’s Norman Lindsay Estate in Faulconbridge. The BYO Café is open seven days and reservations are encouraged. For opening hours click here or call (02) 4751 9611.

Interpretation Guidelines launched
Sharing Our Stories: guidelines for heritage interpretation was launched on 18 May, International Museums Day. The document was a collaborative project between the National Trust of Australia (WA), Museums Australia (WA) and Lotterywest. Sharing Our Stories is a comprehensive document providing tools for planning and delivering a range of interpretation projects including walk trails, museum exhibitions and educational programs. Copies can be downloaded from www.ntwa.com.au/sharingourstories. To purchase a hard copy call Museums Australia (WA) on 08 9427 2770.

Purchase your limited edition Norman Lindsay reproduction vase
The Sea Sprite – a sensual vase painted by the artist Norman Lindsay in the 1950s – has been reproduced for sale by the National Trust. The reproduction will faithfully capture both the quality and the spirit of the original piece, and only 300 hand numbered vases, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, will be issued. Cost is $685, with availability scheduled for September. For more information please contact Norman Lindsay Gallery on 02 4751 1067.

Special Offer for our Members – refer a new member and receive a FREE gift!
Members – introduce a new member to the National Trust today and receive your choice of a stylish Trust tote bag, Aboriginal design tea towel, or conversion of the gift to a $15 donation to the Trust. Both you and the new member will go into the draw for a $12,000* luxury river cruise through the heart of historic Europe (click here for details). To refer a new member call 02 9258 0156 or simply join online (quote code MGM07, followed by the referring member’s name and daytime phone number). A European holiday could be a phone call away!
*Authorised under NSW Permit No: TPL06/13678. Click here for terms and conditions.

Join our volunteers and help care for bush land near Everglades
The Trust has received a grant from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) to protect bush land along the banks of Gordon Creek running between Everglades Gardens and the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park. This work will also protect the water catchment, the National Park, two threatened species and the endangered vegetation at Everglades. The Bush care group invites volunteers to help regenerate this stunningly beautiful location one Tuesday per month. Please contact Diana Picone on 9258 0176 for details.

National Trust requires Bush Regeneration staff
The National Trust employs casual Bush Regeneration staff to restore degraded bush land in various locations around Sydney. We are currently recruiting staff and are particularly seeking people to work in the Eastern Suburbs. For more information please click here.

Obituary, Mr Peter Clifford OAM, 1943 – 2007
The cause of nature conservation has lost a good friend in Peter Clifford, the Hornsby Conservation Society recently reported. Peter was Secretary of the North Entrance Peninsula Protection Society, working tirelessly on the campaign to save the Red Gum Forest of the area. Thanks to Peter and those who supported the campaign, Wyrrabalong National Park was gazetted in 1991, protecting the forest. Peter later joined the Trust’s bush regeneration work in the area. He was formally recognised for his instrumental role in conservation, receiving a Council Environment Award from Wyong Shire and an Order of Australia Medal.

Donate to the National Trust and help preserve our heritage for future generations.
For details of our latest appeal, click here.
To leave a gift to the National Trust in your will please call 02 9258 0182 or click here for further information.

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