National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

The National Trust of Australia (Vic) recently won two awards at the Melbourne Airport 2009 Victorian Tourism Awards.

Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience has won the Heritage & Cultural Award, National Trust of Australia (Vic) CEO, Mr Martin Purslow said of the award: “We are ecstatic to win the peak tourism award for cultural heritage in Victoria for the second year in a row. Old Melbourne Gaol has been recognised as the best of the best for visitors to Melbourne’s attractions."
The Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience has also won the Interpretation Australia’s (IAA) top award for 2009, their Best of Excellence – Gold Award for Excellence in Heritage Interpretation.

The other award won by the Trust was the Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer (s) Award recognising the contribution of volunteers at Gulf Station pioneer farm in the Yarra Valley. CEO, Mr Martin Purslow said: “The volunteers assisted in the restoration and invigoration of the Gulf Station pioneer farm in Yarra Valley. And with great pride I also want to highlight the role they all played, with great dedication, in saving the Station from fire on Black Saturday, 7 February, 2009.”

National Trust 2008/09 Annual Report

The National Trust (Vic) 2008/09 annual report is now available for download - click here.

Please contact Reception on 9656 9800 if you would like a printed version.

Jobs Funding for the National Trust (Vic)

The National Trust (Vic) has been awarded over $2.3m from the Federal Jobs Fund for restoration works at five properties across the State including Barwon Park (Winchelsea), Gulf Station (Yarra Valley), La Trobe's Cottage (Melbourne), Rippon Lea (Elsternwick) and Mulberry Hill (Mornington).

Download the media release and read about how the funds will be spent to conserve these wonderful heritage sites.

Save the Windsor

A Melbourne landmark is under threat. The Windsor is Australia's only surviving grand 19th century city hotel, and a Melbourne landmark. The Windsor is so important that the State Government purchased it in 1977 to save it from demolition. Is the current proposed demolition of a significant proportion of the hotel and construction of a new tower the only way to give the Windsor a viable future? The Bourke Hill precinct is a carefully conserved low-scale historic precinct. The new tower would undermine 27 years of successful city planning. Visit: www.savethewindsor.com and have your say!

Caption: Windsor Hotel with drawing of proposed new tower. Artist's impressions by Twilight Emerald.

Save our City - Melbourne's Heritage Under Threat

The Art Deco Lonsdale House, the Windsor Hotel and the Paris End of Collins Street are all threatened by large-scale redevelopments. Recently, the 1896 Eastern Arcade façade was demolished, and two office towers that greatly exceed the height limits of the central shopping area have been permitted. Every one of these is the responsibility of the Minister for Planning. The Trust has been and will lodge submissions, but we need your help ! Click here for who you should write to in order make your voice heard.

Robert Burns Statue Appeal 2010

The National Trust of Australia (Vic) has launched a tax-deductible appeal to support Corangamite Shire in its efforts to restore the statue of Robert Burns in the Camperdown Botanic Gardens. Considered to be the oldest outdoor Burns statue worldwide, the Trust has classified this internationally significant statue. CEO for the Trust, Martin Purslow says: “In the 250th anniversary year of Burns’ birth, this internationally significant public monument to Burns now awaits restoration. The Trust estimates this will cost approximately $100,000 - including its remounting. To assist the community of Camperdown in restoring the statue in this anniversary year, the Trust seeks your support. Please click here for more details and information on how to donate