The National Trust continues to fight for the protection of Heritage in New South Wales. We are particularly concerned about the foreshadowed changes to NSW Planning Legislation and strongly urge all readers to make themselves aware of what these changes actually mean and the potential damage that may be done to Heritage if they are passed.

At times like this I often hear people say “I am only one voice, what can I do?” The answer is you can do a great deal. Please write to your local Councillors, your local State Member, the Minister for Planning and the Premier. Let them know how you feel about the changes they are attempting to make. If enough people bring pressure to bear then there may be a shift in attitude. 

Those among you who have an interest in industrial heritage or more specifically the heritage of railways in New South Wales are particularly encouraged to join in our campaign to preserve the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh and its contents because of both its significance as a heritage building and as a functioning centre for the preservation of specific skills and training.

Your continued financial support however is vital because we are not government funded and to continue our many campaigns means that we must raise the necessary funds from our members and supporters. If you are not yet a Trust Member please consider joining as there are some fabulous benefits that await you on doing so. Visit our many properties throughout the State, come along to any of our activities that appear below or on our website.  You will always be welcome at the National Trust!

The State Government may be keen to remove heritage from its vocabulary but at the Trust it is Heritage with capital “H”!
 
Come in and join the Fight!

Steve White
Acting Executive Director

Heritage@Risk on World Heritage Day 18 April 2008
The Trust has identified the three most at risk heritage sites in NSW in the run up to World Heritage Day Friday 18 April 2008. By joining the National Trust online now or donating you can help us protect these places before it is too late.

The Eveleigh Railway Workshops are a fine example of Australia’s industrial heritage. The Large Erecting Shop, over 100 years old, is one of the leading examples of an historic railway engineering workshop anywhere in the world and is currently at risk to make way for multi-storey development. The Smithsonian Institution in the US has called for Eveleigh’s preservation  

Catherine Hill Bay is a picturesque former coal mining village on the NSW central coast. It comprises around 100 simple buildings some dating back to 1870, set in biodiverse natural bushland on a pristine surf beach. The Trust is strongly opposed to the current proposals from two developers (Rosecorp and Coal & Allied) to build 900 homes at Catherine Hill Bay, overwhelming it and damaging its heritage and environmental values. Please sign our online petition to save the Bay, or donate to our Save the Bay campaign.

Rippon Grange estate at Water Street, Wahroonga is a fine Federation/Queen Anne residence with landscaped garden constructed for the son of Frederick Sargood, who built the iconic “Rippon Lea” in Melbourne. The significant house and its extensive landscape gardens are in the Arts and Crafts style, rare extant examples that have survived subdivision. The estate was nominated for State Heritage Listing in 2001. Rippon Grange is currently threatened with development which would destroy the original approach to the house and much of its state heritage significance, and involve removal of Blue Gum Forest, a critically endangered ecological community.

NSW Planning Legislation Changes – The Great Heritage Purge
Prior to completing its final submission on proposed changes to the NSW planning legislation the Trust has contacted the Director General of Planning, Sam Haddad, to foreshadow its concerns and to clarify the likely impacts of these changes (see Trust Letter). The Trust is concerned that the changes appear to concentrate on facilitating development rather than dealing with the broader issues of environmental planning as required under the objects of the Act. Many of the changes appear to be developer driven with the argument that there is an increased opportunity for objection. Communities have equal or even greater rights to determine collectively the environmental planning for their areas via local government and through councillors representing their communities. The changes also affect the Heritage Act, severely downgrading the Heritage Council's role in local planning and assistance to Councils via guidelines and model provisions for heritage identification, conservation and management. All members and Trust supporters are urged to forward a submission (even if only a few paragraphs or dot points) putting in your own words the concerns that you have on the planning legislation changes (due 24 April, 2008). Please also send a copy of your submission to your local member of parliament.

Eveleigh Railway Workshops – Large Erecting Shop
The National Trust has approached the Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts urging that the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh Railway Workshops be listed on the National Heritage List to ensure that its vital history and ongoing specialist use for and training in specialist old skills is properly protected and conserved. If the Large Erecting Shop is destroyed our historic railway rolling stock will not continue to operate and will inevitably become static museum exhibits.

Catherine Hill Bay is still at risk of destruction by rampant overdevelopment. This idyllic 1870s mining village on the Central Coast (30 kms south of Newcastle) comprises about 100 homes set in rolling green hinterland fronted by a pristine surf beach. Half the homes are occupied by mining families. The area is highly significant environmentally and for its rich built and cultural heritage. Developers plan to build 900 dwellings here totally engulfing the town, and have signed MOUs with the Minister for Planning to facilitate the development under Part3A of the NSW Planning Act. If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere under the current planning laws, rendering our entire coastline and other places of environmental and heritage value at risk.

The Trust has launched a major campaign to oppose the development – please take a minute to sign our email petition here. Every signature helps us send a message to the government that the community of NSW will not tolerate the overriding of heritage and environmental protections to allow this special place to be destroyed. Our campaign is costly – please consider donating here. Every dollar helps us keep up the fight. See photos here of the Save the Bay rally of 24 February supported by the Trust; read the article on the Trust’s position in the Australian Financial  Review; read our “First Word” piece in the SMH.

National Trust Festival 2008 – 'Our Place'
The National Trust invites you to celebrate Australia’s natural and cultural heritage and to be part of one of the largest and longest running community festivals in the state. In what is the 28th year of the National Trust Festival, we will once again see a fantastic variety of over 400 community-hosted events held across metropolitan and regional NSW from Saturday 5 April to Sunday 20 April 2008. Click here for information on National Trust Festival events in your area.

Down Town Walk and Sausage Sizzle – Sunday 27 April, 1pm
Learn about the history of our city – see the historical shops, pubs and office buildings on our 2 hour walk through Sydney streets and end the walk with a sausage sizzle and glass of wine at the National Trust Headquarters. Cost $25 per person. Tickets still available by Ticket Application Sheet. Closing 18 April.

Salon des Refusés: The alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize Selection – until 4 May
The 2008 Salon des Refusés exhibition at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, presents 56 works from over 1300 original entries to this year’s Archibald & Wynne Prizes. Our selectors go behind the scenes of the official judging process at the Art Gallery of New South Wales to choose an alternative exhibition from the hundreds of artworks entered to the annual prize shows. Now in its 17th year, the Salon exhibition stimulates popular debate on differing approaches in contemporary art. Gain insights to this year's Salon des Refusés with our program of events, including: introductory exhibition floor talks Tuesdays at 12 noon; and meet the Artists on Sundays at 3pm: 20 April – Tom Carment, Jasper Knight & Peter O’Doherty.

Image Right: Christine O'Hagan - Soupe

Art of Penjing – Chinese Bonsai
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon with a relaxed, yet informative session in the garden. Take a guided tour with horticulturalist Philippe Tot and learn about the history of the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and the ancient art of Penjing or Chinese Bonsai. Finish your afternoon with a lovely lunch and Chinese tea. Numbers are limited – bookings essential.  Dates: Sunday 4 & 25 May & 22 June. Cost: $38 includes entry, tour, penjing demonstration and lunch and drink. Time: 12pm – 2pm. Booking/Enquiries: Chinese Garden of Friendship – P: 02 9240 8888 or email: chinesegarden@shfa.nsw.gov.au

National Trust After Hours Events presents Vintage Rock & Roll Dinner Dance – Saturday 17 May
Dance the night away to your favourite rock & roll tunes, as played by acclaimed live cover band ‘Fab Two’. The evening will include a music trivia quiz, as well as lucky door and mystery prizes. Will be held at Gladesville RSL & Community Club Main Auditorium, 4-6 Linsley Street, Gladesville. Cost: $45 includes a full buffet dinner – roasts, sweets, coffee. Full bar available at your own cost. Enquiries: Ron 0418 112 018 or Tony 0404 292 208 or Pat 0414 702 677.

20th Anniversary Celebrations at Vienna Cottage – Saturday 25 May, 1pm – 3pm
Vienna Cottage is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its opening as a National Trust property, with President, Dr Zeny Edwards unveiling a plaque to mark this momentous occasion. The National Trust House Series booklet , Vienna Cottage, will be launched, in addition to the "Restore Vienna verandah appeal". Copies of the National Trust House Series booklet will be available for purchase, as will National Trust raffle tickets and Vienna marmalade - made from fruit grown in the adjacent Hillman orchard (originally the orchard for Vienna). Attendance is by donation at the door, with light refreshments available. To assist with catering please RSVP by Friday 16 May to Richard White 02 9879 6865 or skillstraining@hotmail.com

Morpeth Coach Trip – 25 May
Join the After Hours Committee for a luxury coach day trip to the Hunter region town of Morpeth. The river port township of Morpeth is steeped in history with European settlement dating from the early 1800’s.  Cost: $75 per person. Tickets still available by Ticket Application Sheet. Closing 16 May.

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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