National Trust of Australia

History

Modelled on the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty and inspired by local campaigns to conserve native bushland and preserve old buildings, the first Australian National Trusts were formed in New South Wales in 1945, South Australia in 1955 and Victoria in 1956; followed later in Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. The two Territory Trusts were the last to be founded, in 1976 (see below).

The driving force behind the establishment of the National Trust in Australia was Annie Forsyth Wyatt (1885–1961). She lived for much of her life in a cottage in Gordon, New South Wales, which is still standing. She was living in the Sydney suburb of St Ives when she died.

The organisation was incorporated in 1965. The umbrella body federates the eight autonomous National Trusts in each Australian state and internal self-governing territory, providing them with a national secretariat and a national and international presence.

Description

The trust is Australia's national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Indigenous, natural and historic heritage.

Collectively, the constituent National Trusts own or manage over 300 heritage places (the majority held in perpetuity), and manage a volunteer workforce of 7,000 while also employing about 350 people nationwide, . Around visitors experience the properties and their collections in Australia each year.

Constituent organisations

, the National Trust's constituent organisations were:

NSW

It was founded in 1947. In 1975, the National Trust moved into the former Fort Street High School building on Observatory Hill, after the girls' school moved to Petersham to be reunited with the boys' school, which had moved in 1916. The distinctive building, which retains its appearance from the time of its conversion to a school in 1849, is visible from the approaches to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Items on the Heritage Register are not protected by law.

Properties

The Trust owns several properties on the register:

• Ahimsa, Cheltenham
• Beatrice Bligh
• Bedervale, Braidwood (contents only)
• Clarence McKerihan
• Cooma Cottage, Yass
• Dalwood House, Branxton (grounds of Wyndham Estate)
• Dundullimal, Dubbo
• Everglades Gardens, Leura
• Experiment Farm Cottage, Harris Park
• Grossmann House and Brough House, Maitland
• Harper's Mansion, Berrima
• Lindesay, Darling Point
• Miss Porter's House, Newcastle
• Miss Traill's House & Garden, Bathurst
• Norman Lindsay Gallery, Faulconbridge
• Old Government House, Parramatta
• Retford Park, Bowral
• Riversdale, Goulburn
• Saumarez Homestead, Armidale
• S. H. Ervin Gallery, The Rocks
• St Ignatius Convent School, Wentworth (by appointment only)
• Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts, Tenterfield
• Tomago House, Tomago Tomago House
• Vienna, Hunters Hill
• Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, between Tahmoor and Bargo
• Woodford Academy, Woodford

South Australia

The National Trust of South Australia is a membership-based community organisation to "promote the natural, Indigenous and cultural heritage" of South Australia. It was founded in 1955.

Properties

The Trust owns several notable properties on the register, including:

• Ayers House, Adelaide - historic mansion on North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, named after former Premier Sir Henry Ayers. National Trust SA was granted the site as a 'home' for its museum in 1972 by Premier Don Dunstan.
• Beaumont House, Beaumont
• Cape Jaffa Lighthouse, Kingston SE
• Matta House, Kadina
• Olivewood, Renmark
• Port Pirie Railway Station and Customs House, Port Pirie
• Stangate House and Garden, Mount Lofty (by appointment only)

Northern Territory

The National Trust of the Northern Territory is a membership-based community organisation to "promote the natural, Indigenous and cultural heritage" of the Northern Territory. It was founded in 1976 by Adele Purvis, of Woodgreen Station. Items on the Heritage Register are not protected by law.

Properties

The Trust owns several notable properties on the register, including:

• Burnett House, Darwin
• Hartley Street School, Alice Springs
• Jones Store, Newcastle Waters
• Stuart Town Gaol, Alice Springs
• Pine Creek Railway Precinct, Pine Creek
• Tuxworth Fullwood House, Tennant Creek

References

References

1. Davison, Graeme. (2001). "The Oxford Companion to Australian History". Oxford University Press.
2. "Australian Law Dictionary". via Oxford Reference Online, [[Oxford University Press]].
3. (2004). "The Australian Oxford Dictionary". via Oxford Reference Online, [[Oxford University Press]].
4. Pryor, Cathy. (4 December 2003). "A force for the regions". Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, EBSCO (database online).
5. "About Us". National Trust of Australia.
6. "About Us – ACT". National Trust of Australia.
7. "Mr. Bob and Mrs. Adele Purvis". [[Library & Archives NT]].
8. "About Us – NT". National Trust of Australia.
9. "About Us, New South Wales".
10. "About Us".
11. "Ayers House Museum – South Australian History Network".
12. (2024-04-11). "National Trust to come home to Ayers House - InDaily".
13. "About Us – NT". National Trust of Australia.
14. "About us NT".