Membership makes a difference

During the post-war boom period, Victoria experienced significant losses of historic places and public open space. This spurred the creation of the Victorian branch of the National Trust, and in 1956 Como House and Garden became the first National Trust property, protecting it from the development threats that led to the loss of many similar places. To this day it remains open to the public, with free access to the remarkable gardens.

Throughout the 1960s we were the main voice raised in protest against the loss of heritage in Victoria. One of the largest preservation fights was for Rippon Lea Estate, which was under threat of compulsory acquisition to extend the ABC buildings next door. The rally for Save Rippon Lea drew a crowd of 10,000 people, and after years of legal battles we acquired the estate, saving the lake, lookout tower, waterfall, grotto and gardens from demolition.

Outrage erupted over a plan to quarry Mount Sugarloaf, part of a nationally significant extinct volcano complex near Camperdown. In 1970 we raised funds to purchase the site, cancelling out the quarry licence and offering permanent protection. It was the first National Trust site acquired for its landscape value. Thanks to the tireless work of volunteers, today it is the site of major revegetation activities, including many endangered flora species.

As heritage laws began providing some protection to significant buildings in Victoria, trees were being cleared at an alarming rate. The National Trust could see that there was a need to catalogue the significant trees of Victoria, in order to advocate for their protection. Since the creation of the Significant Tree Register in 1981, we have classified over 30,000 trees across 1500 places in Victoria, and continue to be the leading advocate for tree protections in the state.

Karl Duldig’s monumental ceramic relief, ‘Progress of Man’, was an eye-catching feature of the high-rise building at 505 St Kilda Road until its destruction in 1991. Its loss aroused immediate community outcry and resulted in the establishment of the National Trust’s Public Art Committee. For 30 years the committee has supported the National Trust to identify and protect significant pieces of public art across Victoria.

The National Trust played a pivotal role in the protection and restoration of the famous Skipping Girl Vinegar sign, or “Little Audrey” as she is affectionately known. We led a public appeal to restore the sign, secured an agreement with AGL that ensures the continuous operation and maintenance of Little Audrey, and won a VCAT battle that stopped a new apartment tower obscuring it from public view.