The impact of giving 2023 – 2024

Discover how your support and critical funds helped the National Trust fulfil our mission to protect places of historical and cultural significance.

From the Chief Executive Officer

This year the National Trust’s core purposes of conservation and advocacy came into sharp focus. The announcement of the state’s new Transport Oriented Development (TOD) and housing policy proposed a significant threat. The National Trust took immediate action to advocate for heritage and highlight the unintended impacts of the new legislation. We continue to proactively campaign, meet with ministers, consult with councils, liaise with the community and make submissions.

With your help, critical funds supported our mission to protect places of historical and cultural significance. The Norman Lindsay Art Studio Appeal ensured important maintenance can occur for the place in which Norman created some of his most beloved works, such as The Magic Pudding.

The Harper’s Mansion Appeal also raised much-needed funds for the historic site located on Gundungurra and Tharawal Country, in Berrima. This ensured the funds for important repairs, new irrigation, maintenance of the maze and preservation of the original kitchen ruins will soon commence.

Thank you to everyone who generously gave this year. You’ve made a significant difference in the protection and conservation of heritage.

Debbie Mills, CEO

Supporters viewing Norman Lindsay’s Art Studio.
Supporters viewing Norman Lindsay’s Art Studio. (Photography by SGR Photo)

Thank you for your support

The remarkable generosity of members, donors, trusts and foundations, and bequestors, helped us look after our state’s special places and protect them for now and into the future. More than $1.1m was raised this year, through 2,900 gifts from 1,590 generous donors.

Donations made up the largest proportion at 97%, while bequests represented 3%. Bequests were unusually low this year however they continue to be vital to the National Trust’s work and its sustainability.

Donations comprised of major gifts 46%, appeals 33%, general gifts 10%, Patron memberships 8% and regular giving 3%.

The newly conserved Cooma Cottage
Transformative conservation works were undertaken at Cooma Cottage. (Photography by Nick Nicholson)

The impact of major gifts

For the 2023/24 financial year major gifts totalled over $220,000 and made a substantial contribution to both operational expenses and important projects.

Major gifts funded works at Cooma Cottage, Old Government House and the landscape of Experiment Farm Cottage. They also contributed to Back to Black, a unique textile exhibition at Old Government House.

At historic Cooma Cottage, the former home of Hamilton Hume located on Ngunnawal Country in Yass, conservation work was completed in time for the 200th anniversary of the Hume and Hovell expedition. A generous donor funded a new roof for the Coachman’s Cottage.

Old Government House had structural damage repaired, new interior and exterior paint and the installation of new lighting in the Barracks area. In the Main House, the Bakery and Servants’ Hall were recreated in their original locations. This project was completed thanks to the generosity of donors, a bequest from a National Trust volunteer and state and federal heritage grants.

Thanks to a generous donation from John Curtis, the cottage gardens at Experiment Farm Cottage have now been reimagined so visitors can enjoy the gardens as they were originally planned. The staged work saw completion of the front and rear gardens, western verandah gardens, and repairs to roads, pathways and fences.

Repairs and restoration at the Civil Officers Barracks, Old Government House and a view of the completed works from the verandah. (Photography by Rick Stevens)
Repairs and restoration at the Civil Officers Barracks, Old Government House and a view of the completed works from the verandah. (Photography by Rick Stevens)

A textile conservation, documentation, and research project, funded by the J. Permsew Foundation, covered a comprehensive collection found at Old Government House, Grossmann House, Riversdale and Saumarez Homestead. The resulting Back to Black exhibition provided visitors the opportunity to view the collection in person at Old Government House. The exhibition drew interest from a younger audience. Due to the success of this partnership, Old Government House will be activated in 2025 with further displays including Fashionable Silhouettes, featuring a range of garments and undergarments from the National Trust Collection.

Back to Black exhibition at Old Government House.
Dresses were conserved ahead of the Back to Black exhibition at Old Government House. (Photography by Jenni Carter)

The power of appeals

Our twice-yearly appeals are an opportunity for donors and supporters to give to a specific project. This year, the appeals were focused on Norman Lindsay’s Art Studio for critical maintenance and the Harper’s Mansion Appeal, for important repairs and improvements which are now in the planning stages. Conservation work at Old Government House and Cooma Cottage were completed thanks to the funds raised in the previous year’s appeals.

Newly restored interiors at Cooma Cottage (left) and the process of conserving heritage wallpaper at the site.
Revived interiors and the conservation of delicate heritage wallpaper at Cooma Cottage. (Photography by Nick Nicholson)

The restoration of Old Government House Barracks

An ambitious six-month project to repair and conserve the Old Government House Barracks Building in Parramatta has now been completed. The complex restoration has meticulously restored parts of the Civil Officers and Servant’s Quarters, also known as the Barracks, returning it to its original historic form.

The $500,000 project was made possible through support from a NSW Government Community Heritage Grant, a generous bequest from the late Peter Crittenden, and over $250,000 in generous donations from National Trust patrons, donors, members and supporters of the appeal.

Works completed included changes to reveal the building’s original form and dimensions, repairs to doors and windows, levelling timber floors and uncovering two original fireplaces. Modern updates were also sensitively added, including air conditioning, lighting, and a new kitchen. The original historic external wall was repaired and limewashed and a 200-year-old passageway was cleared and repaired, once again functioning as an important entry point. The Barracks building is now fully equipped to host educational classes and visitors into the future.

The Old Government House Barracks Building located on Burramatta Dharug Country in Parramatta underwent a meticulous restoration. (Photography by Rick Stevens)

Conserving Cooma Cottage

An appeal helped raise more than $159,000 to ensure essential work at historic Cooma Cottage, home to explorer Hamilton Hume, was completed in time for the 200th anniversary of Hamilton Hume’s crossing. Works completed included repairing shutters, walls painted and limewashed, electrical and communication circuits upgrades, ensuring watertight roofs and also allowed the Trust to procure Hamilton Hume’s original chest of drawers for display.

Before and after of the exhibition space at Cooma Cottage following conservation.
Transformation of existing exhibition space with new lighting, picture rails and exhibition at Cooma Cottage. (Images supplied)

Norman Lindsay Art Studio Appeal 

The Norman Lindsay Art Studio Appeal raised more than $133,000 for critical maintenance at the place in which Norman created some of his most beloved works, including the children’s book The Magic Pudding.  Donations ensured much-needed repairs will be made to termite-ridden timber, roofing and water-damaged ceilings at this historically significant creative space.

Norman Lindsay Art Studio
Critical repairs will be made to the Norman Lindsay Art Studio. (Photography by SGR Photo)

Restoring Harper’s Mansion

Strong support for the Harper’s Mansion Appeal resulted in more than $266,000 raised for this historic site in Berrima. The funds will enable important repairs and improvements including new irrigation and drainage systems, preservation of the original kitchen ruins, paving repairs in the maze, and conservation and re-presentation of the house interiors.

Harper's Mansion in Berrima.
Harper’s Mansion will undergo essential restoration work in 2025. (Image supplied)

The importance of bequests

Gifts in Wills play a critical role in the ongoing conservation work necessary to conserve heritage.

In 2023/24, Gifts in Wills dropped significantly from 35% to 3% of total income with $28,000 received from bequests.

We’re grateful to those individuals that are part of the Annie Wyatt Bequest Circle or have registered a National Trust gift in their Will. We look forward to inviting you to future events.

Thanks to a generous bequest held in the National Trust Heritage Foundation, we continue to look after our extensive Collection, including painting, furniture, musical instruments, household items and equipment.

Fireplace before and after restoration at the Civil Officers Barracks
Conservation works uncovered and restored this original fireplace at the Civil Officers Barracks, Old Government House. (Images supplied)

Leaving a legacy through the National Trust

The Portia Geach Memorial Award is Australia’s most prestigious art prize for portraiture by women artists.

First awarded in 1965, the Portia Geach Memorial Award was established by Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister, artist Portia Geach. As per the direction of the Will, the Award is administered by the National Trust and annually presented to an Australian female artist.  Geach was widely acclaimed as an iconic figure in the Australian arts community.

The $30,000 non-acquisitive Portia Geach Memorial Award is given by Perpetual as trustee, to the entry with the highest artistic merit.

Portia Geach Memorial Award winner Lori Pensini pictured with her work and XXX, the donor of the People's Choice Awrd.
Heather Macorison, donor of the People’s Choice Award, (pictured left) and artist Stephanie Galloway Brown, (pictured right) in front of her winning work Sally Robinson at the Portia Geach Memorial Award exhibition. (Image supplied)

More highlights from 2023 – 2024

Thanks to members and supporters, our advocacy, conservation and maintenance work continued to be supported.

Important projects were funded through donations from the Women’s Committee weekends away, Lindesay Christmas Fair and the Dundullimal Dubbo Support Crew. The National Trust Tours Committee continued their popular tours to sites of historical significance.

We are thankful for the generous philanthropic support provided by our committees and supporters.

We are grateful to the Maple Brown Family Foundation for the generous grant that has enabled repairs and conservation work. Repairs and painting of the ground floor verandah balconies at Grossmann and Brough Houses improved visitor safety, site presentation and preservation.

A donation helped to repair the badly degraded main gates and fencing at Saumarez Homestead. This donation funded hardwood timber, paint and fixings. Our staff and volunteers were able to undertake transformative works to improve the safety, security and presentation of the property. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our volunteers, a successful local heritage grant means the verandahs at Grossman and Brough Houses, located on Wonnarua land, Maitland have been repaired.

A sustainable strategy at Saumarez Homestead
Repairs were made to degraded main gates and fencing at Saumarez Homestead. (Photography by Jarrad Stevenson)

The year ahead

For the National Trust, the next 12 months promises to be a busy and exciting time.

Thanks to the generosity of our members, donors, bequestors and supporters, this year we plan to finalise repairs to the verandahs at Grossmann House, commence the repairs to the artist’s studio at Norman Lindsay Gallery, repair the greenhouse at Miss Traill’s House and Garden, restore numerous artworks and timeless treasures from the National Trust Collection from properties across NSW, and renew the upstairs presentation of Old Government House to better present precious artwork and collection items.

Through your ongoing support we continue to bring heritage to life now and into the future.

To discuss supporting the National Trust (NSW) please contact Rachel Blazey, Philanthropy Officer, on (02) 9258 0143 or email rblazey@nationaltrust.com.au

Mott Harp at Lindesay
The Mott Harp at Lindesay, one of many collection items which will undergo conservation in 2025. (Photography by SGR Photo)

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