heritage in trust may 2014

NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA

Heritage in Trust (ACT) May 2014

_________________________________________________________________

The Hanbury Gardens: La Mortola

Last year, ACT National Trust members John and Esther

Tucker undertook an eight-day tour of “Exceptional

Gardens of Menton and the Cote d’Azur”. Among the

gardens visited was La Mortola, also known as the

Hanbury Gardens, on the Italian Riviera, not far from

the border between Italy and France1. John brought the

property to our attention and this article is the result. La

Mortola was created by a wealthy Englishman, Thomas

Hanbury, who is also known for purchasing and

donating Wisley to the Royal Horticultural Society in

England. In 1960 La Mortola was sold to the Italian

government and in 2006 it applied to UNESCO for the

property to be listed as a World Heritage site. Despite

the change in ownership, Carolyn Hanbury, the wife of

Thomas Hanbury’s great grandson, still lives at La

Mortola and is actively engaged with the 150 year old

garden. In her article, Carolyn describes the genesis of

the garden, its trials and tribulations, and the challenges

it faces currently.

Thomas Hanbury began his garden on the Italian

Riviera in 1867. He was born in 1832, the fourth child

of seven in a Quaker family. At the age of 20 he set out

to make his fortune trading in Shanghai. He left China

in 1866 at the age of 34, an exceptionally wealthy man.

However his health had suffered so he travelled on

holiday to the French Riviera with his elder brother

Daniel. From a boat he saw the rocky sparse

promontory of La Mortola. Thomas recorded: “my

heart moved within me ”. He purchased the point

comprising 18 hectares (44 acres) in May 1867.

He and Daniel recognized that the micro climate at La

Mortola had great potential for acclimatizing sub-

tropical plants. Daniel was a pharmacist, and plants

and their medical properties formed the foundation of

his livelihood. He had a vast wealth of botanical and

horticultural knowledge as well as global access to

botanical institutions. Thomas was not a botanist, but

he created a beautiful and historic garden with a good

botanical collection and a strong horticultural tradition.

It was also a place where the glory of God was

reflected, in true Quaker spirit.

Inside

From the President p 4

Heritage Diary p 7 Heritage Happenings p 8

Travels with the Trust p 13 Heritage Festival wrap-up p 17

Support the Trust p 21

Heritage In Trust May 2014

Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au

Hanbury Gardens: La Mortola cont from p1

Thomas was a hands-on proprietor and a generous

host. Three hundred visitors came to the Hanburys’

weekly open day on 11 March 1881; by 1900 there

were 5,000 visitors a year. Queen Victoria visited three

times. The Director of Kew, Joseph Hooker, wrote that

“in point of richness and interest La Mortola had few

rivals amongst the principal collection of living plants in

the world today”. In 1901 Edward VII honoured

Thomas with a knighthood. Thomas lived at La Mortola

for 40 years creating his garden; he never owned

another home.

He was much loved and when he died in 1907 it is said

that 7,000 people followed his funeral cortege and

every shop closed.

Hanbury Gardens

Thomas planted on a large scale including plants from

Australia. By 1880 there were 40 species of Eucalyptus,

with some becoming so vigorous as to need much

cutting back, 50 Acacia species and 20 Callistemon. He

had the finest collection of citrus on the Riviera. He

introduced many salvias, agaves, aloes, cycads and

cactus. Some of his exotic fruit trees, such as guavas,

pomegranates, kei apples (Dovyalis caffra) and giant

quinces (Pseudocydonia sinensis), still bear fruit today.

Acacia hanburyana

After Thomas’s death the garden lay dormant until his

eldest son Cecil took over in 1919.

He had married Dorothy Symons Jeune who came from

a family of horticulturists. She was 17 years younger

than her husband, a strong, determined, elegant and

persuasive lady, but not always popular!

From the editors

Welcome to the May 2014 edition of Heritage

in Trust. This issue takes us to Italy to visit

Hanbury Gardens which when created had a

good collection of Australian plants. Closer to

home we look at Yarralumla Nursery Open Day,

part of this year’s Heritage Festival. Yarralumla

Nursery has provided many Canberrans with

native plants and has become a much loved part

of our heritage. The open day included unveiling

new heritage signs for the nursrery and cottage.

We hope you enjoy reading the reports and

looking at the photos of this and other Heritage

Festival events. As well we have a book review

and all our usual features such as the Heritage

Diary and Travels with the Trust, Heritage

Happenings including an exciting new program

and a very special Trusted Recipe.

As usual, we look forward to hearing your views

on the new on-line Heritage in Trust. Please email

([email protected]) or write to the

Editors with your views and suggestions.

mailto:[email protected]



Hanbury Gardens: La Mortola cont

She and Cecil only wintered at La Mortola as he was an

MP but she was devoted to the garden and, like

Thomas, had 30 gardeners to help her ambitious

programme of improvement and expansion. She gave

it a firmer, more logical structure, bringing colour and

horticultural taste to every corner. Her philosophy was

“When in doubt plant stout!” Bulbs were naturalized to

bring drifts of colour and thousands of vases and pots

were installed. She underplanted freesias, Cyclamen

persicum, Sparaxis, anemones and tulips. Most of

these have now gone, but everyone agrees that

between the two wars La Mortola was truly beautiful.

Cecil died in 1937 aged 66. Dorothy was 49 years old

and with the clouds of war looming she returned to

England in 1939 to work for the Red Cross. The garden

was confiscated and suffered much damage, being

shelled from the sea. By 1945 the Palazzo was a near

ruin and the garden much depleted. Dorothy returned

and with very limited funds but steely commitment she

fought hard to restore it. She reopened the garden in

October 1947. However she suffered from

osteoporosis and was confined to a wheelchair by 1958

so in 1960, after fending off many keen property

speculators, she sold the garden to the Italian State.

Contents

Hanbury Gardens: La Mortola _____________ 1 From the President ________________________ 4 People and Places _________________________ 5 Trusted Recipe ____________________________ 5 Heritage Diary _____________________________ 7 Heritage Happenings ________________________ 8 University of Canberra National Trust Award 2013 11 Book Review ______________________________ 11 Travels with the Trust - Australia _____________ 13 Travels with the Trust - Overseas _____________ 14 Trust Tour Report ________________________ 15 Heritage Festival Report __________________ 17 Donate to the Trust ________________________ 21

Since that time La Mortola has suffered mixed

fortunes. Many features have been lost such as the

parterres of aromatic plants outside the Palazzo, the

flowering cherries and the Japanese maples. In 1937 it

contained 6,300 plants; today there are perhaps 3,500.

Yet La Mortola is still a place of unique magical beauty.

I t is managed by the botanical department of Genoa

University, who are at odds with the way the British

garden. There are financial problems, parking is a

nightmare and the garden lacks a shop, a plant centre

and a proper restaurant.

The National Trust acknowledges the support of our Corporate Members and Benefactors:

Old Parliament House Library Patinations Conservation Services ContentGroup Slater & Gordon

Benefactor: Mr Rob McL. Johnston



Hanbury Gardens: La Mortola cont

However it is still a must-see garden, with a family feel,

a sense of serenity and many magnificent plants.

When Dorothy sold it she wrote: “I want La Mortola to

be known as a loving intimate friend, full of flowers

rather than a list of plants”. I think that she and

Thomas would be pleased to see their garden

continuing to evolve today.

Carolyn Hanbury

Photos provided by Carolyn Hanbury and John Tucker.

1 The garden is open to the public throughout the year. An

admission fee is charged. National Trust membership is not

accepted for entry. The “Exceptional Gardens of Menton and the

Cote d’Azur” tour is conducted by Susan Worner Tours of York, UK.

From the President

Dear members By the time you read this the 2014 Heritage Festival will have drawn to a close. As usual NT ACT contributed with a broad range of events culminating in the Yarralumla Nursery Open Day in early April which, despite the threat of rain, turned out to be a wonderful event. The open day was a collaborative effort with Yarralumla Nursery (sincere thanks to David Doherty and his colleagues) and the ACT Government Heritage Unit (sincere thanks to Linda Roberts and her team) and was superbly managed by NT ACT’s Mary Johnston. I’d also like to thank the volunteers who helped on the day. I have attempted to telephone you all but for those of you that I haven’t had the chance of speaking to – thank you! These events cannot be run without your support. We are already thinking about a venue for next year’s open day and I’d be happy to hear from anyone who has a property or location in mind that they’d like to see play host. This report will also be my last before the end of a tumultuous financial year for NT ACT. Our annual report will be prepared and distributed in the usual manner but I’m pleased to say that due to the hard work and decision making of your Council the NT ACT’s financial position has stabilised and I’m confident that we can remain a viable organisation into the foreseeable future.

Cheers.

Scott McAlister President

PS If anyone has a reasonable photo of me from the open day please forward it to the editor. I’d love to see the current one dispensed with!



People and Places

Trust office opening hours 2014

The Trust Office is open Monday to Thursday, from 9.30am to 3.00pm.

YOUR 2014 TRUST COUNCIL Scott McAlister - President and Treasurer Lisa Norman - Vice President Graham Carter Graeme Crocket Dianne Dowling Mary Johnston Peter Lundy Eric Martin AM Jim Nockels John Tucker

Trusted Recipe

Earlier this year, the inaugural ACT National Trust

‘Volunteer of the Year’, Mrs Jean Pound, passed

away. Here as a tribute we re-print her recipe for

Chocolate Slice which was much appreciated by

volunteers at both Lanyon and the Old Parliament

House shop.

Chocolate Slice

Ingredients

1 cup mixed fruit

1 cup SR Flour

1 cup coconut

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 cup sugar

4 oz (125g) melted butter

1 beaten egg

Method

1. Mix the first five ingredients together.

2. Add butter and egg.

3. Spread in tin and bake in moderate oven for 15-20

minutes.

4. When cool spread with chocolate icing.

For an icing with a little more tang, add orange juice

and rind or a little Grand Marnier.

Yarralumla Nursery Open Day Photos Linda Roberts Canberra Carousel (above) and Badge Making



People and Places

New members

The National Trust (ACT) warmly welcomes the

following new members:

Karen, Alicia and Lochlain

Adams

Penelope Bailey

Rhonda Berry

Nancye Burkevics

Anne-Marie Delahunt and

Mef Clark

Kamini and Anthony

Devenny

Gary and Janette Dunn

Barbara Edward

Karen and Peter

Groeneveld

Mark and Pamela Hislop

Stewart Homan

Mark Inglis

Peter and Jill Jolly

Kathleen Kinsella

Margaret Linford

Ian Lynch

Sue and Rob Matthews

Jennifer Gibson and Peter

Miller

Valerie and Chris McNicol

Judi and Doug Moncur

Cathy and Steve Moore

Terry-Anne O’Neill

Barbara and Bruce Pink

Georgina Pinkas

Krista Kerr and Leon

Rasheed

Robert and Marelle

Rawson

Peter Read

Bill and Joy Roberts

Phil Robson

Robert and Patricia Smith

David and Antoinette

Stockdale

Nick and Anne Stokes

Diana Sutherland

Phyllis and James Talley

David Cox and Kim

Tankard

Beatrice and Greg Taylor

Anne Towill

Jennifer and Thomas

Tyrrell

Anna von Reibnitz

Frederick von Reibnitz and

Helen Williams

MMember

Notices

Solar House Day in July

This year's Solar House Day in Canberra, run by the Australian Institute of Architects

(ACT), is expected to include heritage dwellings that have been designed or

adapted for passive solar design. There will be a lecture/expo taking place on 2 July and

Solar House Day tours on 6 and 13 July. Further details will be provided

when available.

M

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National Trust Speaker’s Night -

an evening with Bill Gammage

Wednesday 16 July 5.30-7.00pm

National Archives of Australia.

Bill Gammage will talk on his book

The Biggest Estate on Earth – How

Aborigines made Australia in what

promises to be intellectually interesting

and entertaining evening.

RSVP to National Trust Office

by 10 July 6230 0533

Member events

For all National Trust events please see

Travels with the Trust, even if the travel is

just to a venue in Canberra!

For all heritage related events see the

Heritage Diary.

Or find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Trust-of-Australia-ACT/239360456122560





Heritage Diary 2014 A selection of heritage-related events in Canberra

Note: CAS is the Canberra Archaeological Society. CAR is the Centre for Archaeological Research.

Details of National Trust (ACT) events are provided in Travels with the Trust, starting on page 13.

Information on events run by organisations other than the National Trust (ACT) is provided in good faith, but readers should check

dates and times with the contacts indicated below.

Date and time Event and location

Organiser Contact

Until 17 August

Canberra: Then and Now – an exhibition of historic photos

matched with modern day photos. National Library of

Australia

National

Library

www.nla.gov.au

Wednesday 11 June

1-3pm

Manning Clark House - tour National Trust 6230 0533

Wednesday 18 June

6.30 for 7.00pm

CAS/CAR lecture – Ramses the Great, the father of public

relations, Kristian Bonnici. Manning Clark Centre, Theatre

6, Bldg 26A, Union Court, ANU

CAS Contact Helen Cooke on

0408 443 243 or

[email protected]

Wednesday 2 July,

Sunday 6 July and

Sunday 13 July

Solar House Day in July – lecture/expo on 2 July and tours

on 6 and 13 July. More details to follow

Australian

Institute of

Architects (ACT)

www.architecture.com.au/about-

us/act-chapter

Wednesday 16 July

5.30-7.00pm National Trust Speaker’s Night – Bill Gammage on his

book The Biggest Estate on Earth – How Aborigines made

Australia National Archives of Australia.

National Trust RSVP to NT Office by 10 July

6230 0533

Saturday 19 July

8.30am to 5.00pm

ACT and Region Annual Australian Heritage Partnership

Symposium 2014, Sir Roland Wilson Building Theatre, Bldg

120, ANU, on the theme The Future of Heritage

CAS, National

Trust and others

Queries to Helen Cooke at

[email protected]

Saturday 26 to

Wednesday 30 July Lake Mungo and the Murray National Trust 6230 0533

Wednesday 20

August

6.30 for 7.00pm

CAS/CAR lecture – 'Common Indians', 'Negroes', and

'New Hollanders': Dampier, Buffon, and the 'Varieties of

the Human Species' in the South Seas. Bronwen Douglas

Department of Pacific & Asian History Manning Clark

Centre, Theatre 6, Bldg 26A, Union Court, ANU


0408 443 243 or

[email protected]

Wednesday 17

September

6.30 for 7.00pm

CAS/CAR lecture – Lake Victoria Project Place Stories,

Keryn Kefous Manning Clark Centre, Theatre 6, Bldg 26A,

Union Court, ANU


0408 443 243 or

[email protected]

Sunday 21

September

1-4pm (Date to be

confirmed)

Visit to Callum Brae National Trust 6230 0533

Wednesday 15

October

6.30 for 7.00pm

CAS/CAR lecture – Vanuatu historic mission. James

Flexner, School of Archaeology & Anthropology, ANU

Manning Clark Centre, Theatre 6, Bldg 26A, Union Court,

ANU


0408 443 243 or

[email protected]

Wednesday 19

November

6.30 for 7.00pm

CAS/CAR lecture – topic to be advised. Manning Clark

Centre, Theatre 6, Bldg 26A, Union Court, ANU


0408 443 243 or

[email protected]

Sunday 2 November Reid Open Houses – further details to be advised National Trust 6230 0533

Wednesday 26

through to Saturday

29 November, at

6.30pm

Wednesday 3

through to Saturday

6 December, at

6.30pm

Anthology – a theatrical journey performance through

Westlake created by Pip Buining and Louise Morris

Tickets are available onsite prior

to the performance or on-line at

www.anthology.net.au

http://www.anthology.net.au/



Heritage Happenings From the Heritage and Grants Committee

Two initiatives

Council has endorsed two initiatives of the Heritage and Grants Committee which will now be implemented. These are a National Trust Heritage Award and This Place Matters. Separate items on these initiatives follow this report.

Heritage Grants 2014

The Committee is preparing applications for grants for the following:

Nomination of Reid Railway easement

Leaflet on “Access to heritage buildings in the ACT”

Social Significance Workshop

2015 Heritage Festival National Trust open day and heritage display.

Heritage Issues

The Committee is currently working on the following issues: Planning and Development Amendment Bill This initiative is of concern to the National Trust

as there are details that are unclear and the Bill is being rushed through the Assembly without a chance for informed consultation and debate. Representation has been made to the Assembly and a submission presented.

Rose Gardens Conservation Management Plan

(CMP) and Surveyors Hut Conservation Management Plan (CMP) have both been commented on. These are supported, with some suggested refinements to improve them.

Northbourne Housing Precinct

(Dickson/Lyneham Flats) The National Trust supports the heritage listing of

these and is pressing the Government to make a decision on the long-standing nomination.

City To Lake The Trust is asking the Land Development Agency

(LDA) how the heritage issues that may be affected by this proposal will be considered, including Civic Pool, the Lake edge, City Hill, ACT Supreme Court and Courts Precinct, Beauchamp House, Acton Hotel and Shine Dome.

Heritage Alliance Symposium 19 July 2014

The program for this symposium is currently being developed so keep the day free as there will be many interesting issues discussed.

Other issues coming up

Acton Peninsula Heritage Management Plan (HMP)

Ginninderra Falls Eric J Martin AM

National Trust (ACT) Heritage Awards

This is an initiative of the ACT NT which has been endorsed by the Council. If any member is interested in assisting with this activity, please contact Eric Martin on [email protected]. The National Trust Heritage Awards recognise projects in the ACT that make a significant contribution to the conservation of the built, Indigenous and natural environment in accordance with the principles set out in the Burra Charter: http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Burra-Charter-2013-Adopted-31.10.2013.pdf The Burra Charter provides guidance for the conservation and management of places of cultural significance (cultural heritage places). The Charter sets a standard of practice for those who provide advice, make decisions about, or undertake works to places of cultural significance, including owners, managers and custodians. Nominated Projects should meet one or more of the following criteria: 1. Building Conservation: Outstanding conservation

or restoration works to existing heritage listed buildings

2. New or Adapted Buildings: New building, sympathetically designed as an extension to or adjacent to a heritage significant building, or sensitive adaptation of existing heritage listed buildings

3. Small Projects: Conservation, adaptation or new elements to buildings (windows, doorways, staircases, etc.) executed with care to protect heritage values

4. Community Projects: Projects impacting in their local community environment (playgrounds,


http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Burra-Charter-2013-Adopted-31.10.2013.pdf

http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Burra-Charter-2013-Adopted-31.10.2013.pdf



community centres, etc.) that reinforce heritage values

5. Conservation and Heritage Management Plans 6. Contributions to the conservation of the natural

environment 7. Contribution to the conservation of Indigenous

heritage values 8. Contribution of or by an item of intangible

heritage such as ACT culture or icon. Which projects are eligible?

projects located in the ACT, and

which make a contribution to the public domain, are visible from the street or public place or have public access, and

• have been completed within the last 3 years (no earlier than 1 January 2011).

Nomination form and further details are on the NT website http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/NationalTrustACTHeritageAwards Closing date for nominations is 30 June 2014.

Share your concerns and promote the ACT heritage you treasure – This place matters

This initiative of the Heritage and Grants Committee has been endorsed by the Council and aims to get the community involved and to bring communities’ interests to the National Trust so that the Trust can lend support for the protection and conservation of ACT heritage. ‘This Place Matters’ is a message that resonates with people all across Australia and the world. It's a campaigning tool that can be used to advocate on behalf of places of significant historic, cultural or natural importance in your community. It’s a way to gather and educate people about the importance of preservation and conservation or a fun way to commemorate events and continually celebrate the things that make a place special. If you're a non-profit group with a mission to save historic or important places or an individual looking to spread the word, feel free to use the ‘This Place Matters’ message in your campaigns, conferences, or promotions by downloading our sign

Take a photo of your important place and upload the photo to our Facebook page adding a brief statement as to why the place matters to you or post or email the information to [email protected].

‘This Place Matters’ is a trademarked property of the National Trust (ACT) and cannot be used by for-profit entities without express permission.

ACT and Region Annual Australian Heritage Partnership Symposium 2014

The Future of Heritage

Hosted by: Canberra Archaeological Society, National Trust of Australia (ACT), Canberra and District Historical Society, Institute of Professional

Practice in Heritage and the Arts, and Significance International.

Date: Saturday 19th July 2014; time: 8.30am to 5pm.

Venue: Sir Roland Wilson Building Theatre, Bldg 120, ANU campus.

Cost: $70 full, $50 members of the host organizations, $30 concession & full-time students

Proposed themes: 1. Collections: appreciating them; inclusions in heritage

listings 2. Strategic Directions: national heritage strategy; heritage

strategy at state/territory level; consistency in legislation and processes; review of the ACT Heritage Act; funding for heritage in administration and grants

3. Modern Architectural Heritage: appreciation; recognition; better understanding

4. Community: engagement and interest; use of social media; what works; is there a genuine interest; intangible heritage; memories of the world

Panel discussion – what have we learned and where to from here?

Queries to [email protected]. Please pass this message on to all your networks, colleagues, friends and

acquaintances! Supported and sponsored by:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/NationalTrustACTHeritageAwards

http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/NationalTrustACTHeritageAwards

http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/Assets/16659/1/ThisPlaceMatterSign.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Trust-of-Australia-ACT/239360456122560




Shine Dome and the Nishi Building

In mid-2010 the ACT National Trust raised serious concerns about the impact of the proposed Nishi Building on the heritage values of the area surrounding the building, particularly on the Shine Dome. The Statement of Significance of the Shine Dome includes a statement that the dome is “sensitively complementing the surrounding landscape” and its “sensitivity to the setting make[s] the building rare for 1959”. These factors are due to its location on a rise and that the dome reflects this position. It is also carefully located to relate to both the lake and the distant Brindabellas. These concerns were also raised by the Chairperson of the Australian Heritage Council, Dr Carmen Lawrence, in correspondence and submissions. The then Minister for Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, responded to letters from the ACT National Trust. His response is best summarised in the following excerpt from his statement of reasons for a decision to permit the development to proceed, which was included in his response to a question from Senator Scott Ludlam:

“The Minister was provided with expert heritage advice from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Australian Heritage Council. Both advised that the development was likely to have a significant impact on the National Heritage values of the Australian Academy of Science Building. The Minister was also provided with heritage advice from the proponent, which formed part of their referral documentation, which advised the development would not have a significant impact on the National Heritage values of the Australian Academy of Science.”

On the evidence, the Minister supported the proponent’s development and ignored his independent expert panel, the Australian Heritage Council. The Nishi building is now completed and the impact of the development has been realized in full. This adverse impact is illustrated in the following photographs:

Shine Dome Main Entry from North 2007 Source: EMA 2007

Shine Dome Main Entry from North 2014 Source: EMA 2014

Sydney Building Fire

In February, the Sydney Building in Civic was damaged by fire, and the National Trust (ACT) called for a fire safety audit of all heritage listed buildings in the ACT that have not been upgraded recently, to identify what needs to be done to reduce the possibility in the future. This fire again raised the issue of providing adequate fire protection of ACT heritage places. Over the past few years we have had:

the Services Club, Griffith, totally destroyed

two fires in the Sydney Building

Hotel Acton central wing destroyed and now rebuilt

Lanyon Barn burnt and reconstructed. The National Trust is again pushing for a fire audit on the more vulnerable heritage buildings and has suggested a shared responsibility between the owners and the community through some ACT government support. The Trust has written to Minister Simon Corbell and is awaiting a response.

Eric J Martin AM



University of Canberra winner 2013 National Trust Prize Each year the ACT National Trust donates a $500 prize to

the best final year student in Cultural Heritage

Management Studies in the undergraduate degree course

at the University of Canberra. The 2013 winner was

Hannah Griffiths. Here Hannah explains how she got into

this field of study and what she’s looking forward to

achieving. Congratulations, Hannah!

My name is Hannah and I am

a recent graduate of the

University of Canberra’s

Bachelor of Cultural Heritage

degree. I had not originally

been aware of this degree but

came to know of it through

the history-based elective

subjects of my first degree. I

was in my second year at Uni when I made one of the

easiest and best decisions of my life and transferred into

Cultural Heritage with a major in Heritage Management. It

combined my fascination for history and my love of built

heritage into a contemporary and practical framework.

The course is very diverse and benefits from the

commitment of experienced lecturers and tutors from

various backgrounds in the heritage profession. Within the

course, students can choose to combine or wholly focus on

museum studies, heritage conservation and/or

management.

Personally, management has always been an area of great

interest to me. You learn early on in the course of the

pressures threatening the future of cultural heritage

places, such as funding. It is my motivation to seek new

models of managing heritage places in a way that makes

them economically sustainable and available to the

general public. Although not always a well-received

approach, particularly by those in the conservation

profession, I do believe that significant changes to the

management of heritage places must be encouraged by

those in the industry rather than forced by those outside it

who cannot fully understand or appreciate the value of

Australia’s cultural heritage and see it primarily as a

financial burden to taxpayers. Fortunately, my studies

have made me aware of a number of recent and fine

examples of heritage places in Australia that have taken a

new approach to management that lessens, and even fully

relieves, this burden.

Book Review

A Light in the Window:

Harper’s Mansion –

Berrima, the place and its

people

by Ann Beaumont.

$25

Available from the

National Trust (ACT) Office

02 6230 0533

This is the story of a house (Harper’s Mansion) and the people connected with it. Berrima, located in the Southern Tablelands, is one of those small towns with a big history. The area was first explored by Charles Throsby in 1818. Throsby later made his way to the Canberra region and was the first European to see the Murrumbidgee River. Soon after, grazing runs were established, including one by Charles Throsby. The small settlement, on a main thoroughfare from Sydney, soon began to prosper. The New South Wales surveyor-general, Thomas Mitchell, selected Berrima as an administrative centre for the district and the town plan was begun in 1831. Harper’s Mansion (not really a mansion) was built on a hill overlooking the township and is the ‘light in the window’ of Ann Beaumont’s book, reflecting the history of the town and the people who lived there. In the early 1820s, James Harper, the son of convicts William Harper and Margaret Morgan, was working in the Southern Highlands area, driving cattle from Camden to southern and eastern pastures. As he made his way through the landscape he had plenty of time to size up the area as a likely place to live. James was working at Denham Court in Campbelltown where he met and married Mary in 1826. They moved to Bong Bong in 1829, which was the centre for the management of convicts and also had the local jail and Court of Petty Sessions. During this time he was the postmaster, the official bailiff, clerk to the bench magistrate and also the inspector of weights.



Following the approval of a town plan in May 1831 residential blocks were advertised late 1832. James applied for the block now known at Harper’s Hill in January 1834 and secured it in May the same year. During that time James built the Surveyor-General Inn, and became the licensee in 1835. The Inn is still operating today. In this enlightening book, Ann Beaumont captures the colonial fabric of the time by including stories of the people connected to James, his family, friends and associates to elaborate on the beginnings of life in Berrima and its subsequent growth. In 1847 Harper’s Mansion became the local Presbytery and continued so until the Parish Centre was moved to Moss Vale in 1903. During this period the upstairs bedroom at the back of the residence was a private chapel. The last priest to live at the Presbytery was Father John Sheridan. In addressing this phase of the Mansion’s history, Beaumont discusses the religion of the area and the experiences of the priests residing in the Presbytery. The Mansion was leased until the 1950s. In 1969 the National Trust was alerted to the deteriorating condition of the building. This started the saga of the restoration and the formation of the Friends of Harper’s Mansion, and the fight to keep it once the restoration was finished and the National Trust put it on the market. It has now been saved and holds its own as a National Trust property, sustainable into the future. The author’s research into the history of Harper’s Mansion is very comprehensive and links the families living in the Mansion to other buildings in the small village of Berrima and gives a window in to the life of a small village in the late 1800s. Dianne Dowling

Harper's Mansion

Yarralumla Nursery Open Day: Official

proceedings

Unveiling the Heritage sign

President's job is never done



Travels with the Trust

Local and Interstate Tours

Manning Clark House Wednesday 11 June, 1-3pm

Manning and Dymphna Clark feature on the ACT Honour Walk. What do you know about them and their house designed in 1952 by Robin Boyd? Come along and listen to Sebastian Clark talk about his former family home complete with roof-top study, library, piano and Arthur Boyd’s famous 1972 portrait of the historian. Enjoy a stroll in the garden and afternoon tea.

Meet: Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circuit, Forrest Cost: $25 members and $35 non-members Bookings essential: 6230 0533 or online at www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events

The Murray and Mungo National Park Saturday 26 - Wednesday 30 July 2014

Experience 40,000 years of human history in Australia. Lake Mungo is part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. One hundred and twenty thousand years ago a chain of lakes, emanating from Willandra Creek and the Lachlan River, was strung out across the inland plains of NSW. The chain of lakes provided a rich environment for the area’s flora and fauna and later attracted a large population of humans.

A geological change blocked off the Willandra Creek from the Lachlan and Lake Mungo dried up around 14,000 years ago. Today, a great crescent-shaped dune, called the Walls of China, stretches along the eastern shore of the Mungo lakebed. These dunes, of mud and sand, are continually eroding by wind and water. Along the shores of Lake Mungo, 40,000 years ago, walked some of the world’s earliest modern humans.

This tour will depart from Canberra by air-conditioned coach, overnight in Griffith and then proceed on to Mildura where we have an afternoon tour and a visit to Old Mildura Station Homestead and Lock 11 on the Murray. The next day the coach will drive to the World Heritage listed Lake Mungo National Park where an experienced guide will explain the prehistory of the area and its long human experience. The coach will return to our accommodation in Mildura.

The following day the coach will depart Mildura for an overnight stay in Corowa. Leaving Corowa we head back to Canberra via Chiltern and a visit to Lake View House significant for its association with the distinguished Australian author, Henry Handel Richardson (pseudonym for Ethel Richardson). For a full itinerary go to www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events. Dr Peter Dowling, archaeologist, will accompany the tour.

Cost: $1,265.00 per person twin share; single supplement $185.00 Bookings and payment to be made through Potter Travel, Queanbeyan (02) 6297 8585 or [email protected].

Coming up later in the year Visit to Callum Brae Sunday 21 September 1– 4pm (date to be confirmed) Callum Brae was a soldier settler lease success story due to canny Hector McIntosh and hard work. While the property was leased in 1919, Hector finally moved his family here in 1925. The afternoon will start with an easy walk through the reserve which is an important link in the chain of woodland reserves that extend from Red Hill to Wanniassa Hills. Come and inspect this still much-loved working farm—heritage listed in 2011. Afternoon tea will be served before returning through the reserve. Meet: At entry of Callum Brae Woodland Reserve, Narrabundah Lane, Symonston Cost: $25 members and $35 non-members Bookings essential: 6230 0533 or online at www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events

Reid Open Houses Sunday 2 November (time to be advised)

Further details will be provided as they become available.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events






International Tours

Germany

May-June 2015 for approx. 21 days

The Tours Committee of the ACT Trust is organising

another of its historical and archaeological tours for

2015. (Tour costs are still to be finalised.)

The Theme: A tour covering the history and culture of

Germany from the Neanderthal period of the deep past,

the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Celtic and Viking periods,

the Roman period through the Renaissance to modern

times. A focus of the tour will be visits to UNESCO World

Heritage places.

The tour will be at a leisurely pace. We will be based 4 to

5 nights in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich where

we will have time to explore these cities and from there

venture into the heart of the country to visit the historical,

archaeological and cultural places that represent the

development of Germany over a period of 40,000 years.

We will also have free time in these cities to explore by

ourselves and to experience the food and the shops.

Some of the highlights will include: the site and museums

of the first identified Neanderthal skeleton, the Roman

border area of Saalburg, Heidleberg and the Rhine Valley

region, Lübeck, the Viking settlement of Hedeby, Dresden,

World Heritage Gardens, Museum Island in Berlin,

Potsdam and San Souci, Wittenberg where Martin Luther

challenged Roman Catholicism and began the

Reformation, the Celtic-Roman Museum in the heartlands

of the early Celts at Manching, Nuremberg, Bamburg and

more.

Historical archaeologist, Dr Peter Dowling will be the

group leader and Dianne Dowling will be assisting the

group throughout the tour, and we will have an

accredited English speaking guide with us at all times.

Come with us. Get in Early - Contact the ACT National

Trust on (02) 6230 0533 Monday – Thursday or

Travelscene Canberra City

(02) 6247 6544 Monday – Friday

Tour inclusions

Professional English-speaking escort for the entire tour and sightseeing with local tour guides where applicable

Return economy class airfares flying Singapore Airlines from Australia to Europe if required

Twin/double share 4-star accommodation throughout the tour including hotel taxes, service charges, state and local taxes

Breakfast daily, some lunches and dinners as per the itinerary

Air-conditioned coach, as per itinerary

All touring, as stated in the itinerary

Sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary with inside visits (including admission charges)

Gratuities to the tour manager and coach driver • Tips to baggage porters and hotel staff

Tour cost not included

• Meals not specified on the itinerary • Excess baggage charges • Meals not specified in the itinerary • Beverages including tea and coffee except at breakfast

and hotel dinners, wines, liquor, soft drinks, etc • Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry,

mini bar, internet access, etc • Gratuities to local guides • Transportation to/from hotels or venues if travel is

separate to that of the group



Trust Tour Report

Burnima, Cambalong and Delegate, Sunday 9 February

After an early start and the promise of a very hot day we travel along the Monaro Highway in our Rogers coach driven by Brian again. Jim and Kate Nockels are the National Trust representatives on the bus and Jim gives interesting bits of information along the way.

As we drive past Royalla Jim tells us about the large solar farm being built on our right, then about the Aboriginal and European history of the Monaro as we drive towards Cooma. In Rock Flat Jim points out the mineral spring which was first documented in 1834 by Llotsky who described it as having a pleasant, slightly acidulous taste. Other accounts are that the water tasted foul. During the earliest days of local settlement, it was known as "Soda Water Spring" and was renowned for the quality of its water. At Nimmitabel Jim tells us about the town , including the mill which was built but never used because of the law which prohibits mill sails from being so close to a road because of the noise which might spook the horses. Nimmitabel has 11 heritage listed buildings. We arrive at Burnima, which is eight kilometres from Bombala, after a two hour drive. We are joined by Steve Rickett who is the owner of Burnima, having bought it about 12 years ago. Steve points out the dam site on our right where clay was used to make bricks for the homestead.

Burnima – front view

We alight from the coach and walk down the drive through the six acre garden set out with trees from every part of the world including pines, conifers, spruces and cedars. We come to a clearing where we catch sight of the beautiful old Victorian Gothic mansion. Frederick Young built Burnima for Henry Tollemache Edwards back in 1896 and one of our passengers tells us Frederick Young was her great-grandfather. Young had recently built Yarralumla at the time. There are 32 rooms including ten bedrooms, formal sitting rooms, dining room, drawing room, smoking and billiard room and servants’ quarters all furnished with period furniture – not original. We help ourselves to tea or coffee and cakes and sandwiches. Steve takes us through the house. We start in the kitchen which is pleasantly cool now but apparently very cold in winter. We continue on through the house seeing the pantry, servants’ quarters and servants’ sitting room. From the entrance and stairwell we are shown the men’s withdrawing room where Steve plays the pianola for us. Next is the office and the ladies’ sitting rooms, including the morning room which is getting all the sun at present. We then see the dining room and upstairs bedrooms, one with an en-suite and the bathroom where they have a flush toilet. Apparently the servants were the only ones who used the flush toilet as the family preferred to use their bed pans. We see the bedroom where HT Edwards died.

Burnima – rear view with new work



We drive on to Bombala, accompanied by Steve Rickett, where our next stop is the Historical Machinery Shed. It is very hot by now and we are glad to get inside the shed. There are lots of old engines, an old operating table and huge light which used to hang above it, some old shearing hand pieces and blade shears, some drenching bottles, a forge, etc. Next we go into Lavender House where Steve is behind the counter. He seems to have taken on many roles in this district to do with historical preservation.

Cambalong

We drive out along the Delegate Road and arrive at Cambalong. This is a two-storey Georgian mansion built for Ronald Campbell, half-brother of HT Edwards at Burnima. We climb the ha-ha wall and arrive at the front door. Steve tells us this house has recently been sold after six generations of Campbells living in it. The house is large but not in good repair. Steve warns us as we drive into Delegate that we will see lots of fire trucks as the Gippsland fires are not far away, near Bonang in Victoria. We had noticed what we thought were huge clouds in the southern sky but they turn out to be billowing smoke from the fires. There are tents set up for firefighters in the caravan park and there are a few bulldozers waiting around for instructions as to where to go.

Delegate with looming smoke from Victorian fires

We are divided into two groups when we reach Delegate.

While one group goes into the Delegate Café for lunch, the

other group visits the Early Settler’s Hut which was built in

the 1820s by Robert Campbell of Duntroon as a shepherds’

hut. This building was painstakingly restored in 1988 as a

Bicentennial project. It is a vertical slab building with a

stone fireplace taking up the whole of the end wall. It has

lots of rooms and an attic where the early inhabitants

slept. The entire roof area is black from smoke.

Settler’s Cottage, Delegate

Lunch consists of some yummy moist wraps, bottles of

water and some fruit. These are very welcome as it is so

hot. We are told the town of Bonang has been evacuated

and they are staying in the caravan park here in Delegate.

We get back on the bus and start for home. Steve Rickett

tells us more tales on the way back to Burnima where we

drop him.

In Cooma we stop at the park where Brian and Jim

produce hot water, tea and biscuits, and we sit in the park

in the shade. The coach takes off on the last leg of our trip

and is soon in Canberra after a very exciting and

interesting day out with the National Trust.

Adrienne and Paul Bradley

Photos also courtesy Adrienne and Paul.

Do you have a friend travelling overseas? Tell them about the advantages of joining the National

Trust including free entry into over 2000 National Trust

properties around the world.



2014 Heritage Festival Report Well, another Heritage Festival is over! It was quite a

journey - the theme for 2014 being Journeys!

The National Trust (ACT) had eight events this year and we

were very lucky that the weather did not prevent any of

our events from going ahead. Unfortunately a number of

other events in the Festival this year were cancelled

because of the weather conditions.

Yarralumla Nursery Open Day

This year's Open Day was held in conjunction with the

Yarralumla Nursery which is celebrating its centenary. The

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane

Rattenbury, welcomed visitors and unveiled heritage signs

for the Nursery and Hobday's Cottage. There were plenty

of things to keep visitors busy, with the mini-bus tours

behind the scenes of this important historic part of

Canberra being very popular. It was also very interesting

to see the Nursery staff, including workers from Koomari,

demonstrating the large potting machine.

There was extensive media coverage of the centenary of

the Yarralumla Nursery centenary and the Open Day

before, during and after the event. The ABC 666 gardening

program on the Saturday before was devoted to the

Nursery; the Canberra Times had several reports including

a front page story on Saturday; 2CA broadcast from the

Open Day; and there were numerous other mentions on

the radio. Many people with a connection contributed to

these programs and to the Open Day - these included

Professor John Langford, grandson of Charles Weston, and

Peter Hobday, grandson of John Hobday, Yarralumla's

third nurseryman who lived in what is now known as

Hobday's Cottage.

Visitors were entertained by Sing Australia and the

restored Carousel Organ. A number of local groups such as

the Australian Garden History Society, ACT Landcare, the

Canberra and District Historical Society, Canberra

Archaeological Society and CapitalMetro participated in

the Open Day, and the usual sausage sizzle and Devonshire

teas (with scones from the CWA Gungahlin) were very

popular.

Albert Hall Concert

A new event this year was a concert of Renaissance music

in the Albert Hall. Two local groups – Polifemy, a small

ensemble of women's voices and Walking the Dog, a

recorder ensemble - entertained an audience of around

80 people. The musicians took advantage of the acoustics

of this great venue and presented a program of music that

celebrated the pastoral tradition - the love of nature, and

Eros - the nature of love. The audience appreciated the

beautiful sunshine streaming through the windows of the

Hall, the music, the venue and, of course, afternoon tea

provided by National Trust volunteers.

Other events

A number of our events were repeats of previous popular

events run by the Trust such as the Ainslie Open Houses

and Gardens, the Narrabundah Pre Fabs walk, the walk to

the Yankee Hat Aboriginal Rock Art Site and the ANU

Classics Museum. The Trust partnered with others for the

Oaks Estate and Robertsons’ House tour and the Magna

Carta walk. National Trust member Jim Tweddle has

provided a separate report on the walk to Yankee Hat (see

below).

Thanks to our partners in these events - Yarralumla

Nursery, Polifemy and Walking the Dog, the Magna Carta

Committee of Australia and Dr Karen Williams - and to

many volunteers. These included those who conducted

events including Ken Charlton, Dr Peter Dowling, Alan

Foskett and the guides from the ANU Classics Museum,

and those who helped at the Yarralumla Nursery Open Day

and the concert in the Albert Hall. Once again Linda

Roberts made a major contribution to the Canberra and

Region Heritage Festival both in her role in the ACT

Heritage Unit and in helping organise events for the

National Trust (ACT).

Mary Johnston

Photographs of Heritage Festival Events begin page 18

Photo credits: Mary Johnston, Di Johnstone and Linda

Roberts

Following is an account of the Yankee Hat Walk event by

Trust member Jim Tweddle.



Yankee Hat Walk, Saturday 12 April

On 12 April, I along with eight others participated in a walk

to the Yankee Hat Aboriginal Art Site in Namadgi National

Park. The walk was organised by the National Trust as part

of the 2014 Heritage Festival and was led by Peter and Di

Dowling. Peter, an archaeologist, gave learned information

about the site and its significance, but not all at once! We

had to wait eagerly for the next bits of information, given

at the appropriate times.

We were a little concerned about the weather at first, as

showers and rainbows appeared on the mountain slopes

as we drove up to the Namadgi Visitor Centre, our first

meeting place. From there we drove in convoy along good

sealed roads for about 30 kilometres until diverting along a

reasonably good dirt track (considering recent rains) to the

jumping off car park for the commencement of the walk.

Immediately we encountered resident wildlife. Thirty or so

kangaroos lazed in the sunshine on the green, grassy

surrounds and, as we began the 3.5 km walk to the art

site, rabbits scampered everywhere. Neither animal took

more than a passing interest in us as we went by.

The track follows a relatively easy path, meandering

around a couple of low lying swampy areas and crossing

over a couple of bridges and walkways. We climbed a

couple of low knolls, the homes of wedge-tailed eagles,

and then ascended gentle slopes to the site we had come

to visit.

The white clay, charcoal and ochre drawings are to be

found on the face of an overhanging granite outcrop,

protected fairly unobtrusively these days by a wooden

railing. The granite outcrop is one of several similarly sized

adjoining boulders. The white and red drawings, probably

dating back several hundred years, depict kangaroos,

dingoes, a turtle-like creature, human stick-like figures and

a supposedly mythical being with a long wavering and

trailing body. Over time, Peter explained, the drawings

have been fading due to weathering and are now not so

clearly seen as they were 20 years ago.

We had lunch here as Peter

gave us a learned discourse

relating to the site. Ten or

so other visitors arrived at

the site while we explored

the surrounds, before

setting off again on the way back to the car park. The

return was a bit easier as the track led mostly downhill.

Arriving back at the car park, a further surprise awaited!

Out came wine, biscuits, cheese and nibbles, all supplied

by Peter and Di. We hoed in as we filled out the evaluation

forms. It was a great way to end a most enjoyable day in

beautiful surroundings accompanied by friendly

companions of like mind.

Future walks are to be highly recommended.

Jim Tweddle

Photos by Di Dowling



_______________________________________________ National Trust of Australia (ACT) Office

PO Box 1144 Civic Square ACT 2608 Telephone 02 6230 0533 Fax 02 6230 0544 Email [email protected] Net www.nationaltrust.org.au ABN 50 797 949 955 Opening times: 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Thursday Office Location: 1st Floor, North Building Canberra City [above Canberra Museum & Gallery],

Patron

The Hon. Margaret Reid AO

President

Scott McAlister

Office Manager

Liz McMillan [email protected]

The e-magazine, Heritage in Trust, is produced and edited by Maree

Treadwell and Wendy Whitham assisted by Dianne Dowling and Mary

Johnston.

Albert Hall Concert: Love in the Woods - Renaissance music celebrating nature and love. A 2014 Heritage Festival Event

Photos: Mary Johnston




Magna Carta Place Photo: Linda Roberts

Di Dowling at Albert Hall (above) Photo: Di Johnstone

Brass Rubbing Magna Carta Roger Pegrum at Magna Carta Place

Landcare at Yarralumla Nursery Open Day



National Trust (ACT) First Floor, North Building Cnr London Cct and Civic Square, Canberra ACT 2601 PO Box 1144 Civic Square, Canberra ACT 2608 Telephone (02) 6230 0533 Facsimile (02) 6230 0544 Email: [email protected] www.nationaltrust.org.au

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About Heritage in Trust

Heritage in Trust is published quarterly as an electronic

magazine in conjunction with the national magazine

Trust News in February, May, August and November.

The editors invite articles and letters from Trust

members with an interest in the heritage of the ACT

and these should be addressed to The Editor,

Heritage in Trust, at [email protected].

Deadlines for copy: 17 January, 17 April, 18 July,

17 October.

The views expressed in Heritage in Trust are not

necessarily those of the National Trust of

Australia (ACT). The articles in this e-magazine

are subject to copyright. No article may be used

without the consent of the ACT National Trust

and the author.




More Heritage Festival photos Linda Roberts

Narrabundah Pre-fab buildings walk

Yarralumla Nursery Open Day



Yarralumla Nursery Open Day – a selection of booths

heritage in trust may 2014

Documents

trust p

hanbury gardens

mortola cont

heritage diary p

heritage happenings

trust act

carolyn hanbury

p1 thomas