2024 year in review

Conservation in action

Through the immense generosity of our supporters, members, donors and bequestors, important projects to care for our special places came to fruition this year. A few highlights from a busy year include:

A major conservation and repair project at Old Government House meticulously restored the Civil Officers and Servant’s Quarters – commonly known as the Barracks, reviving the historic building.

Works at Cooma Cottage had a transformative effect. Walls were repainted, new lighting installed, floors waxed, and in a skilful interpretation, soft furnishings were replaced and carefully curated pieces of furniture from the National Trust collection were installed.

Property improvements continued at Saumarez Homestead with the Picking Garden returning to full bloom after being decimated by drought and the formal approach to the homestead restored, alongside repairs made to fences, pathways and driveways.

Our first major appeal for the year focused on the work needed to conserve Harper’s Mansion. More than $266,000 was raised for the historic site in Berrima and will be put towards important repairs, garden irrigation, restoration of the original kitchen archaeological site and general improvements.

Sites to behold

It was a memorable year for our special places. Hollywood celebrities, anniversary celebrations and noteworthy artworks made for an eventful 12 months.

Bridgeton came to Bowral, as the town was transformed into Regency-era London for the launch of season three of the hit Netflix show. In a picture-perfect moment, the glamorous co-stars of the show stopped to pose in front of Retford Park, with the images featuring the grand Portuguese Pink house published around the world.

In Yass, over 500 people gathered for a day of jubilant celebrations at the newly conserved Cooma Cottage to mark the 200^th anniversary of Hume and Hovell’s expedition. Golden Vale Homestead was buzzing with the first batches of honey produced from the hives run by Bowral Bees, and at Dundullimal Homestead, a rare travelling organ returned after being taken off-site for several years for conservation, thanks to a generous donation by the Dundullimal Dubbo Support Crew.

The Archibald Prize and Salon des Refusés exhibitions are both on display for the first time at Retford Park, the result of a significant partnership with the Art Gallery of NSW and Nunnungula Regional Gallery. Also at Retford Park, two important artworks from James Fairfax’s original collection are adorning the walls of the house once more, thanks to a long-term loan from the National Gallery of Australia through the Australian Government’s Sharing the National Collection initiative.

Preserve and protect

Our advocacy work continued apace in 2024. 22 submissions, 30 expert volunteer technical committee meetings and 25 new or updated listings to the National Trust Register helped ensure heritage is preserved for generations to come.

In response to the controversial planning reforms announced by the NSW Government, the National Trust strongly advocated for heritage, speaking at a Parliamentary inquiry, meeting with ministers and community groups, making media appearances and submitting a detailed objection to the legislation. This advocacy has led to better community and council consultation for the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program.

Major wins also included the entirety of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo being listed on the State Heritage Register and the withdrawal of the Central Precinct rezoning proposal by the NSW Government. The planned project proposed to build across 45% of the site, forever altering Central Station – one of Sydney’s most important civic assets.

Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of our branches, several proposed developments impinging on heritage were either revised or refused including the Iris East End development in Newcastle and the unsympathetic expansion of the Berry Hotel.

Bringing heritage to life

Picnic days, performances and steampunk promenades – there was never a dull moment in our vibrant calendar of over 100 events, which catered for everyone from history enthusiasts to four-pawed friends.

Leura Shakespeare Festival celebrated its 15th anniversary at Everglades House & Gardens, Miss Traill’s House welcomed spring with a seasonal market in the heritage gardens, while dog owners and their canine companions enjoyed a fun-filled day out at Retford Park and Norman Lindsay Gallery for International Dog Day.

Returning with the theme ‘connections’, more than 72,000 visitors attended the annual Australian Heritage Festival, with ‘dark histories’ tours proving a major drawcard. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the National Trust Heritage Awards, with a record number of projects submitted reflecting the vital role the awards play in elevating and celebrating important heritage achievements.

The towns of Braidwood and Bathurst featured as the destinations for the perennially popular Women’s Committee’s weekends away in 2024, followed by the much-loved Lindesay Christmas Fair which drew thousands of visitors to Darling Point.

Hot off the press

Heritage Ocean Pools took out the tile of this year’s most popular blog post, our Facebook post on the Macquarie Mausoleum reached 64, 973 people and three issues of the National Trust magazine informed and inspired over 21,000 members across the state.

Woodford Academy took on a starring role in Harper’s Bazaar magazine, featuring as the location in a striking fashion shoot. Gardening Australia visited Riversdale and live crosses from Channel 7’s Sunrise and 2GB radio shone a spotlight on Everglades House & Gardens and Old Government House.

Nurturing nature

Our Bushland Management Services (BMS) team’s passion and expertise continued to make a positive impact in caring for natural heritage.

Following a five-year partnership with Northern Beaches Council to restore the natural habitat of vulnerable bird species the powerful owl, it was a thrilling moment when a breeding pair were spotted at a reserve near Avalon. Regeneration was also a focus this year, with more than 24,000 plants established over the course of the year.

Capturing and conserving history

The collection under the care of the National Trust numbers an impressive 60,000 items in total. To ensure that we can continue to look after these significant objects, our end-of-year appeal focuses on raising vital funds to conserve and restore some of our most timeless treasures. From fine art to musical instruments, furniture to precious historical letters, every contribution to the Collections Appeal makes an impact.

Dresses spanning 100 years from the National Trust collection featured in a major fashion retrospective at Old Government House. Tracing the history of the inky hue in clothing, the Back to Black exhibition allowed the public to view previously unseen garments, thanks to a generous donation from the J. Permsew Foundation, which enabled fragile dresses to be conserved ahead of display. The exhibition will be on display at Saumarez Homestead in 2025.

Our oral history project continued recording important voices and unique perspectives on the state’s history from prominent individuals such as historian Dr James Broadbent, Australian author Meg Stewart and others. Digitisation of numerous house collections also took place through the year, making items of historical interest accessible to the public while also ensuring their preservation.

Generation next

Connecting with younger audiences was on the agenda for 2024, starting with expanding the successful education programs at our special places with an engaging new primary school initiative at Old Government House.

In partnership with Reconciliation NSW, the colourful works of school students were showcased at Everglades House & Gardens and Brough House, while the creativity of TAFE design students was on display in a fashion competition for the Back to Black exhibition.

Events throughout the year, including A Magic Pudding Day, a Fairy Escapades performance and Spooky Stories tours, enthralled and entertained children of all ages, proving you’re never too young to celebrate heritage.

Time and generosity

Whether it was the translation of Everglades House & Gardens’ visitor guide into Mandarin, the restoration of historic hall tiles at Miss Traill’s House or cleaning 1,200 books at Bedervale, the diverse skills and passion of all our volunteers contributed in countless ways this year. The National Trust couldn’t carry out our vital work without the generosity and dedication of our wonderful volunteers – thank you for all that you do.

In 2024, we received over 2,700 donations. With this generous support we have been able to fund critical operational expenses and transformative projects at our special places. Generous bequests have also helped ensure the future of our conservation and advocacy work. Gifts in Wills make a significant impact to the National Trust’s work and this year left a lasting legacy by assisting the Old Government House restoration work.

Looking to the future

This year saw the launch of two important frameworks that will inform the future of the National Trust.

In 2024 we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan which outlines our commitment to acknowledging, understanding and valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, as well as our responsibility to create connections and share the stories of First Nations people.

We also developed our Strategic Plan for 2025-29, which will be published on our website early in the new year. The plan builds on the momentum from our previous Strategic Plan and details the high-level objectives that have been set to ensure the future sustainability of the National Trust.

Thank you for your support

The important work carried out by the National Trust in 2024 wouldn’t be possible without our supporters, donors, volunteers and members. As another busy year draws to a close, we thank you for your generosity as we look forward with optimism to 2025.

Title image: Flannel flowers snapped by our BMS team (Photography by Brooke Twentyman); The Mott Harp c.1840 located at Lindesay; History Walking Tour by Murders Most Foul at the 2024 Australian Heritage Festival (image supplied); Back to Black exhibition at Old Government House (photography by Jeni Carter) 

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