Discover the diverse projects and remarkable individuals recognised for their contribution to heritage.
Inspiring Australian heritage conservation projects and people have been celebrated today at the National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards, with 20 winners recognised across ten categories, four individual prizes, a special President’s Prize, the highly sought-after Judges’ Choice Award and the NEW People’s Choice Award.
The National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards is an annual celebration of outstanding practice, awarding excellence in conservation of Aboriginal, built, natural and cultural heritage.
The coveted Judges’ Choice Award went to the transformational Old Bega Hospital revival, which saw the extensive repair and rebuild of the original 1888 building after fire ravaged the site in 2004. Judges described the works as “sensitive, elegantly resolved and a project that sets the standard for heritage conservation”.
After receiving thousands of public votes, the inaugural People’s Choice prize was awarded to the 2024 Transport Heritage Expo – an immersive display of NSW’s rich transport heritage.
President of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), Kathryn Pitkin AM, awarded the esteemed President’s Prize to the National Herbarium of New South Wales for a mass scale digitisation project. Ms Pitkin described the efforts to safeguard more than 1 million plant specimens and 250 years of botanical research as awe-inspiring.
“The geographical spread of winners is very impressive – from Port Macquarie to Bega, Sydney to Broken Hill” said Debbie Mills, Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust (NSW). “Congratulations to all finalists and to this year’s winners.”
Penny Sharpe, Minister for Heritage, applauded the winners for their outstanding efforts in safeguarding and promoting NSW’s heritage, noting that “These projects play a crucial role in ensuring our unique places and stories are celebrated and conserved for future generations.”
Sally Barnes, Heritage Council of NSW Chair said “I’m impressed by the sheer diversity of projects. It’s wonderful to celebrate the role of heritage in creating beautiful and much-loved places in our modern world”.
Steven Meredith, Co-Presiding Member of the NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee said “I’d like to thank all the finalists who have made a significant contribution to raising awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal heritage across NSW”.
“It is great to see the depth of talent we have across NSW. Communities across the state, from metropolitan centres to regional areas, are the beneficiaries of these outstanding contributions” said Heritage NSW Acting Executive Director, Elizabeth Owers.
The ceremony was presented by Richard Morecroft and speakers included keynote speaker Professor the Hon Bob Carr; Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Minister for Heritage; Sally Barnes, Chair of the Heritage Council, National Trust (NSW) President Kathryn Pitkin AM and Awards Jury Chair Matthew Devine.
Judges who joined Matthew Devine on the panel included: Ann Toy (Interpretation), Barrina South (Aboriginal heritage), Dr Caitlin Allen (Archaeology), David Burdon (Architecture), Kathryn Pitkin AM (Education), Dr Libby Gallagher (Landscape), Peter John Cantrill (Architecture) and Sophie Canaris (2024 Young Achiever recipient).
The National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards is a signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival, coordinated annually by the National Trust. The NSW Government through Heritage NSW is principal sponsor of the Australian Heritage Festival and the National Trust Heritage Awards.
The 2025 winners are:
Aboriginal Heritage – proudly sponsored by Extent Heritage
• Dhuluny: 200 years of Wiradyuri resistance, Bathurst – entered by Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation (WTOCWAC)
Advocacy
• Ensuring the future of Port Macquarie Museum, Port Macquarie – entered by Port Macquarie Historical Society Inc.
Architecture
• Former Workmen’s Dwellings Lower Fort Street, Dawes Point – entered by Neeson Murcutt Neille
Built Conservation
• Old Bega Hospital, Bega – entered by Design 5 – Architects, Old Bega Hospital Reserve Land Manager, NSW Public Works, Leser Build
Education and Interpretation – proudly sponsored by City Plan
• Pirie Chambers Heritage Trades Training Program and Conservation, Broken Hill – entered by HSR (Aust) Group and Elizabeth Vines OAM, Architect and Heritage Advisor
Enduring
• Minister’s Stonework Program, State-wide – entered by NSW Public Works
Events, Exhibitions and Tours
• Flood Level 1955 – A Historical Exhibition, Maitland – entered by Maitland City Council
• Transport Heritage Expo 2024, Sydney – entered by Transport Heritage NSW
Interiors and Objects
• Interiors: Parliament of NSW Rum Hospital Project, Sydney – entered by Department of Parliamentary Services
• Objects: Conservation of the Barangaroo Boat, Sydney – entered by Sydney Metro with Silentworld Foundation and York Archaeological Trust
Landscape
• Nepean River Trail, Camden – entered by Camden Council
Resources and Publications
• Resources: Australia’s Earliest Timber Houses – entered by Christopher and Deborah Hallam
• Publications: The Australian Ark: The Story of Australian Wine, 1788–2023 by Andrew Caillard MW – entered by David Longfield, Longueville Media & Angus Hughson, The Vintage Journal
SPECIAL CATEGORIES:
Judges’ Choice
• Old Bega Hospital, Bega – entered by Design 5 – Architects, Old Bega Hospital Reserve Land Manager, NSW Public Works, Leser Build
President’s Prize
• Preserving and Promoting the Priceless Collections of the National Herbarium of New South Wales: Mass Digitisation and Free Public Access via an Online Herbarium Search Portal – entered by National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
NEW! People’s Choice
• Transport Heritage Expo 2024, Sydney – entered by Transport Heritage NSW
Young Achiever Award – proudly sponsored by GML Heritage
• Steven Barry
Heritage Skills Award
• Ben Elliot
Lifetime Achievement Award – proudly sponsored by Museums of History NSW
• Sheridan Burke
Cathy Donnelly Memorial Award
• Dr Lisa Murray
