The National Trust’s vision is to live in a community which understands, values and enjoys its heritage; a natural, built and cultural heritage that creates our unique Australian character…
Including places as diverse as the enchanting native bushland in Blackwood Sanctuary; Australia’s oldest public residence, Old Government House in Parramatta, and the charming Norman Lindsay Gallery in Faulconbridge, housing one of Australia’s leading art collections.
The Trust’s mission is to protect and conserve our treasured
heritage today and for future generations, while remaining an independent, non-government community advocate.
The Trust is a community-based charity organisation, which relies almost entirely on donations, fundraising, partnerships and its bushland management services to fund its work.
Other vital support comes from its 26,000 members and a 2000 strong team of volunteers throughout New South Wales.
WHAT WE DO
Constantly safeguarding our rich Heritage
The National Trust was originally established in NSW by Annie Wyatt in 1945. The Trust movement is now Australia-wide, and is the nation’s largest community-based conservation charity.
The Trust’s role is to safeguard our natural, built and cultural heritage and to encourage Australians to appreciate that each generation has a responsibility to preserve our Nation’s heritage for the next generation.
Through donations, fundraising and memberships the Trust
maintains and operates many of Australia’s most significant heritage properties, including two galleries, gardens and the Wirrimbirra Sanctuary. The Trust also owns Australia’s largest and most important collection of antique furniture and furnishings, much of it colonial.
On a continuing basis the Trust plays a pivotal
role or works behind the scenes on liaison committees with government departments, councils, developers and other community organisations.
Only through eternal vigilance, and the ongoing financial support and volunteer work of like-minded individuals, is the Trust able to continually preserve our rich heritage.
WHO BENEFITS
All Australians Today - and the future generations of Tomorrow
Every level of our community gains from the conservation efforts of the National Trust. These range from school children learning about our history, families and individuals who can visit and enjoy our heritage, businesses that value heritage and actively operate within historic venues, and over 2000 volunteers in New South Wales alone, who can actively participate in conservation. Additionally all future generations can continue to enjoy our unique gift.
‘It’s a wonderful feeling to know that in some small way I will have made a difference, that because of me a wonderful place that has given me so much joy will be there long after I have gone, giving joy to countless generations who come after me.’
National Trust Volunteer
SOME OF OUR SUCCESS STORIES
Decades of triumphs and tragedies
Over the past 50 years The National Trust has achieved some amazing victories in saving our built and natural heritage. Despite widespread community support, there have also been many losses – a reminder of the need for constant vigilance.
One of the Trust’s greatest victories was saving the Queen Victoria Building in George St, Sydney when this 19th Century masterpiece was targeted for demolition by property developers to make way for a multi-storey car park!
The National Trust began taking a concerned interest in the future of the QVB as long ago as 1965 when a Sydney Morning Herald editorial recommended the building’s demolition.
The Trust was quick to spring to the defence of the building. This helped to galvanise public opinion on the side of conservation and led to a spirited debate. From 1968 until 1979 the Trust submitted proposals, organised public meetings, and finally was instrumental in helping to put together a comprehensive restoration brief which led to the final tender approval and the subsequent successful restoration.
And it never ends. As recently as 2003 the Trust examined plans for an upgrade: a new look, which will bring additional richness to this glorious building and help retain Sydney’s wonderful character.
Environmental heritage - Southern Highlands
This unique area contains rich historical, environmental and cultural features, which have been part of an ongoing campaign by the National Trust.
The landscape in the area from Exeter to Sutton Forest and Berrima has been classified on the National Trust Register to highlight its heritage significance.
In the past the Trust has been successful in helping to stop the expansion of a quarry, which would have had an utterly devastating and widespread affect on the landscape, and cultural aspects of the region. More recently the Trust raised objections to the plan to build a second airport in the Southern Highlands.
National Trust Classifications
More than 11,000 items are listed on the National Trust register, including properties ranging from grand mansions to small cottages and barns, streetscapes, ferries, gardens, railway stations, timber bridges – any site or structure which is important to our appreciation of who we are.
Contemporary heritage issues & the relevance of the Trust today
Despite current heritage legislation and increased community awareness of the value of heritage, threats are ever present. Additionally, the Trust acts as a catalyst for debate part on planning issues which affect significant sites. Current issues include the fate of former government-owned harbour foreshores, urban consolidation in older, established areas, and inappropriate development proposals which threaten to ‘smother’ or hide significant buildings and sites.
Success stories include:
- Montague Island, with its fur seals and fairy penguins became the first National Trust property in 1953
- Trust averts a proposal for large scale housing development at the North Head Quarantine Station
- Protection for historic buildings on Norfolk Island
- Sydney Mint, Hyde Park Barracks, State Parliament House and other national icons saved from demolition
- MCA building on West Circular Quay saved from demolition
- National architectural awards for conservation of Trust properties, Old Government House, Parramatta and Woodford Academy, Blue Mountains
- The public chooses 100 of their favourite Australians to become National Trust Living Treasures
- National Trust Gallery openings, Gala events, annual Heritage Festival, annual Children’s Literature Festival and a full program of events attract people of all ages and walks of life to Trust properties, to learn about our history and delight in our heritage.