Patrick White House Rally in Centennial Park

National Trust establishes
Patrick White House appeal

A Rally in Centennial Park - Sunday 20 February 2005
11.00 am to 12.30 pm
Click here for information

Hoping for some tidings of great joy this holiday season, The National Trust of Australia (NSW) today established the “Patrick White House Appeal,” an urgent national call for the public to contribute funds to help the Trust acquire, for the nation, the former residence of Nobel Prize-winning author, Patrick White. All donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to: The National Trust of Australia (NSW) Patrick White House Appeal, GPO Box 518, Sydney 2001.
The Trust is seeking $A4 million to buy the house and is enlisting the support of federal, state and local governments as well as the general public to raise the required funds. Located close to Sydney’s Centennial Park, White produced several works in this house, which for generations of readers and students world-wide, have helped to redefine our understanding of our national identity, said Elsa Atkin, the Trust’s executive director. “His house was not only a place where stories came to life, it was also a place where writers, poets, historians, artists and others at the creative hub of Australian life met to discuss and debate the issues of the day,” she said.
The Trust’s plan is to turn White’s home into a new Centre for Australian Literary Studies and a venue for artists in residence. The centre will be formed and run as an independent trust, which will include representatives from the National Trust, governments at all levels, tertiary institutions and the Australian Society of Authors. The members will guide development of the centre as a creative focus within its own, uniquely appropriate, cultural setting. The Patrick White House Appeal will be formally launched nationally in the New Year, but donations are now being accepted as there is a limited time frame for the Trust to buy the house, said Ms. Atkin.
The Trust has only until March next year to raise the A$4 million, otherwise the house will be sold at auction to a private bidder. I know this appeal comes very close to Christmas, but we are hopeful that Australians can put something aside to save this important home for the nation. White is Australia’s only recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature and his former residence has the potential to become a cultural and creative focus for contemporary writers and thinkers from Australia and overseas, which, through the involvement of tertiary institutions, will have application and relevance to academic and creative studies worldwide,” said Ms Atkin. The Trust is also appealing to universities around the world where Patrick White is on the syllabus, as well as getting in touch with foundations that specialise in literary matters and seeking the help of influential Australians for donations as well, she added. 10 Reasons to Keep the Patrick White House Frequently Asked Questions about the Patrick White Centre Put your viewpoint on the Patrick White Centre Messageboard Read the Messages on the Message Board and see images of the Rally For more information: Kim Carter/National Trust (until Dec 23rd) 9258 0131 0407 771 698 Leanne Maslen National Trust 9258 0160