2016 NSW Heritage Awards Winners

The Minister’s Keynote Address 

“Today we’ll celebrate the dedicated industry professionals who make it happen – who preserve our heritage for communities across NSW.”

Read the full speech

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

2016 Lifetime Achievement Winner

Reece McDougall

Read Reece’s award acceptance speech

2016 Cathy Donnelly Memorial Award Winner

Jean Rice

2016 Trade/ Skills Award Winner

 David McBeath

Talking to My Country

Stan Grant

Described by Stan Grant as ‘part memoir, part meditation on race, culture, national identity – and what it means to be an Indigenous man in Australia today’ Talking to My Country is honest, passionate, heartfelt, thought provoking and necessarily difficult. It is a must read for everyone, particularly for all those who think of themselves as Australian.

5 Martin Place

Owners: DEXUS Property Group and Cbus Property
Architects in Collaboration: Johnson Pilton Walker and Tanner Kibble Denton Architects
Contractor: Grocon

Commensurate with the importance of Martin Place as a great civic place this project retains the building’s role as a significant commercial building within Martin Place and adapts it to create top quality office accommodation.

Former Gundagai Literary Institute

John Carr Heritage Design

Described as a ‘family project’ this is an excellent example of reuse of a dilapidated former Literary Institute as a three bedroom residence using the principle of reversibility, local skills and thorough research.

Royal National Park Accommodation

NSW NPWS – Office of Environment & Heritage 

Strickland House

Woollahra History and Heritage Society Inc.
The late June Poland and Peter Poland, Members and Friends

Praise must go to the passion and dedication of a team of people and particularly to Peter, and his late wife June, Poland for 27 years of action to ensure that the Strickland House estate continues to be enjoyed by the public.

Uiver Memorial DC-2 Restoration Project

Uiver Memorial Community Trust

What a campaign! This is one that captured the imagination when in 2013 this DC2 was offered for disposal by Albury City. The lobby group that was formed canvassed support far and wide and formed a community trust which raised enough money to purchase the plane and ensure its retention and restoration.

155 Clarence St

Design 5 Architects, Bates Smart, David Young

An iconic SHR listed Moderne building well known as the Blood Bank has been given a new lease on life with the stripping of accretions, careful repair of spalling brickwork and the reconstruction of its distinctive clock. Additional office space can not be read from the street allowing the original clarity of the Kent St façade to be appreciated. A valuable contribution to Sydney’s streetscapes.

Restoration of Platform 2/3 Building at Thirroul Railway Station

Sydney Trains, Orwell & Peter Phillips, A J Bristow and Sons

Sydney Trains is to be congratulated for its decision to save rather than demolish this important station building. It is truly a Phoenix from the ashes, thoughtfully researched and conserved and augers well for the future of our railway buildings. Well done by all who were involved.

Land Titles Office

Government Architect’s Office, NSW Public Works, Heritage Services, NSW Public Works, Shreeji Consultants, D.R.P. Stonemasonry, Stone Mason and Artist, Sydney Heritage Stonemasons, Heritage Lead and Copper, Michael Nicholson Photography, Douglas Frost Photography

Conservation of Former Quirindi Railway Station

Extent Heritage Pty Ltd, Long Blackledge Architects, Acron Building Services, Sydney Trains 

Glebe War Memorial

City of Sydney in association with International Conservation Services, Traditional Restoration Company, Crawford’s Casting

Mulwala Homestead Precinct – Conservation works

GML Heritage Pty Ltd, Robert A Moore Pty Ltd Architects, Sydney Restoration Company, Hyder Consulting and RPS

The Shore Chapel Heritage Lighting

Tanner Kibble Denton Architects and Steensen Varming

This project has created a seductive and welcoming atmosphere into a once dim interior. The interior is revealed with up to date lighting technology which enhances the architecture and can be used and enjoyed with an innovative audio system. It was a technical challenge that now reveals the inherent beauty and spirituality of the interior.

Paragon Stage Restoration

The Friends of The Paragon Inc

Cockatoo Island – Restoration of Fitzroy Dock Cranes

Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Volunteers, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, David McBeath, David Matthews

This project was primarily the conservation of 4 historic cranes at Fitzroy Dock on Cockatoo Island with the two steam cranes now working. The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and the dedicated team of volunteers is to be congratulated for saving such an important part of our industrial heritage and the entire industrial landscape of Fitzroy Dock.

Arnott’s Biscuit Van Reconstruction

Volunteer Collections team Transport Heritage NSW.

This is another project that owes everything to enthusiastic and expert volunteers; taking a derelict item and allowing it to tell its own story once again. We encourage you to visit it at Trainworks in Thirlmere – you can almost smell the biscuits!

LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION

Macquarie Culvert Parramatta Park

Government Architect’s Office, NSW Public Works, Heritage Services NSW Public Works,
Shreeji Consultants , Casey and Lowe Archaeologists, Stone Mason and Artist, Parramatta Park Trust

This is a wonderful project putting together surviving remnants with some new ones to recreate a hidden feature from the Macquarie era of the World Heritage listed Parramatta Park – a sandstone culvert. A great example of a relatively small project with substantial challenges that brought together many disciplines to ensure its success.

 CONSERVATION COLLECTION

Heritage Rose Garden Saumarez Homestead

Australian Garden History Society- Northern NSW Sub Branch, National Trust and the heritage rose collection of Miss Catherine MacLean

This project is not really a traditional conservation project. It doesn’t conserve or recreate a garden it is a project that preserves a living collection of historic or ‘heritage’ roses. It is the work of dedicated and tireless volunteers and managed by the Northern NSW sub-branch of the Garden History Society.

The Goods Line Heritage Interpretation, Ultimo, Sydney

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, ASPECT Studios & CHOFRI, Godden Mackay Logan, Deuce Design and Gartner Rose

EDUCATION

The Rocks Quest

International Grammar School SAGE Program, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority

This is an interesting and inspiring example of what an educator can accomplish. It is the creation of an individual school and involves a full week of immersement into the Rocks precinct of Sydney for Year 8 students as part of the International Grammar Schools Student Choice, Authentic Learning Experiences, Global relevance and Exhibitions and celebrations of learning, or SAGE program. Hopefully this will be repeated and emulated.

Sydney Opera House Welcome Precinct

Freeman Ryan Design, Sydney Opera House, Patterson Building Group, Root Projects, Fino, Latchkey Productions and Blowup Imaging

An absolutely fantastic, primarily visual, interpretation of the Opera House and its precinct in all its aspects which does justice to its status as a World Heritage Site. The judges noted that it was easily and quickly understood allowing both a quick pass by and a more detailed examination for those who wish to linger. It truly says Welcome.

Every Story Counts Recording Migration Heritage: A Wollongong Case Study

Migration Heritage Project Inc.

“This book is for all Australians to encourage them to record their experiences and local knowledge of post-Second World War migration and settlement.  It is also for clubs, historical societies and museums, and for all people researching and caring for heritage places, to research, record and collect migration heritage.  The book is presented in themes to assist to interpret the relevance and significance of the information.  This research was undertaken by the Migration Heritage Project.” – Migration Heritage Project

Purchase book

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Convict Footprints at the Farm

The Hills Shire Council and Convict Footprints Productions

This theatrical performance builds on the award winning experiences of Convict Footprints on the Old North Road. It is the manifestation of the experiences of convicts at Bella Vista Farm in Sydney’s North-west allowing this important place, now surrounded by modern subdivisions to be understood.

Book a performance

EXHIBITIONS

Imagine a City: 200 Years of Public Architecture in NSW

State Library of NSW, NSW Government Architect’s Office, Charles Pickett, Peter Poulet,
Jennifer Blunden, creative producer Matthew Devine, GAO liaison and research
Charles Pickett, exhibition curator

This exhibition celebrates the contribution of the Government Architects of NSW. It is well researched, beautifully presented and poignant as it is perhaps something of an obituary. The exhibition book is also a ‘must have’. Sadly the role of Government Architect is changing as our attitude and commitment to ‘public architecture’ wanes.

EVENTS

Sydney Transport Heritage Expo 2015

Transport Heritage NSW

A fabulous 3 day event at Central Station showcasing our transport history and heritage. Fun, informative and well attended – long may it continue.

Woronora Military Memorial

Woronora Memorial Park, Administered by Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust in NSW

Visionaries in Suburbia: Griffin Houses in the Sydney Landscape

Anne Watson and Adrienne Kabos, Walter Burley Griffin Society Incorporated

This is a beautifully presented book about 22 Sydney houses designed by the Griffins (Marion Mahoney and Walter Burley) in the ‘20s and ‘30s with significant research of some of the lesser known Griffin houses. This book makes a substantial contribution to understanding the legacy of this amazing couple and is a visual feast.

The Yard

Government Architects Office, NSW Public Works, Douglas Frost Photography, Margaret Betteridge, Musecape

This is a photographic record of the NSW Government stoneyard established as part of the Minister’s Stonework Program to NSW’s stone assets. It of course records the spaces and equipment but most importantly it records the people. It is simply gorgeous and at the same time an important historical record of this ground-breaking and forward thinking program.

Engineering Heritage Australia Journal/ Magazine

Margret Doring, Engineers Australia

To Climb the Hill:

A People’s History of Newcastle East Public School 1816-2016

John Beach and the NEPS Bicentenary Committee

Eat Your History: Stories and Recipes from Australian Kitchens

Jacqui Newling, Sydney Living Museums and NewSouth Publishing

Japanese Mini Submarine Tour

Office of Environment and Heritage, National Parks and Wildlife Service

While this is not a tour IN a mini-sub it is a ferry cruise which follows the path of the 3 Japanese mini submarines that entered Sydney Harbour in 1942 during WWII. It is a fascinating journey which teaches us about this aspect of our past often referred to as “Sydney’s Forgotten History’.

Ryde Walking Trail

City of Ryde Council, Ryde Heritage Advisory Committee

South Solitary Island Helicopter Tours

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Precision Helicopters

Ghost of Courtney Puckey

Wollongong City Council

At Home in North Sydney: An Architectural History of a Locality

North Sydney Council, Jenssen Design Associates, BrownsLane Productions and SiteSuite Web Design

This website was created as part of a response to the popular local walking tours that North Sydney Council run. It features information about buildings and people and explores the impact of transport and the introduction of flats with information about the extant as well as the demolished. It is easy to use and totally absorbing.

http://www.athomeinnorthsydney.com.au/

Recorded for the Future: Documenting NSW Homes

Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Sydney Living Museums

This website from Sydney Living Museums is an invaluable resource gathering together over 25 years of photographs and histories of 43 private homes across NSW from the celebrated to the humble.

sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/documenting-nsw-homes

 Lost Collective

Brett Patman

“The turbine hall in all it’s glory. This is the big building you can see on Victoria Road. You can just see the only remaining turbine all alone at the back of the hall. Sad lonely turbine.”

http://www.lostcollective.com/

The Elizabeth Bay House ‘Lost’ Library Project

Sydney Living Museums

This project revolves around the 1845 ‘fire sale’ of the Colonial Secretary and naturalist Alexander Macleay when almost 4000 of his books were sold and dispersed. The project researches this and discovers where these volumes (and books by other members of the Macleay family) have gone with 43 returning to the shelves of Elizabeth Bay House after 171 years away at the NSW Parliamentary library along with a further 250 volumes owned by Macleay’s nephew. Truly a remarkable and important achievement.

Conserving the Socks:

Diagnosing and treating deterioration of the Sydney Opera House roof pedestals

Anna McLaurin and Dr. Cameron Logan – The University of Sydney

Recognising Sydney’s Industrial Heritage:

City of Sydney Industrial and Warehouse Buildings Heritage Study and Planning Proposal

City of Sydney (Claudine Loffi & team), City Plan Heritage (Kerime Danis & team) and Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, thematic history

The Judging Panel’s Speech

“No project happens in a vacuum and each is the result of the work of many people and
influences from zealous advocates, guiding legislation, enthusiastic owners, skilled
tradespeople and expert volunteers.” Jacqui Goddard (Chair of the Judging Panel)

Read the full speech