COMMUNITY GRANTS HELP PRESERVE NATION’S HERITAGE

Community groups across the country will have a greater capacity to preserve Australia’s heritage following the announcement of the 2009 Community Heritage Grants.

Grants worth $383 852 are going to 75 community groups and organisations in 2009.

The groups include museums, libraries, archives, historical societies, art galleries, city councils, migrant, Indigenous and religious organisations. Each will receive funds to assist in the preservation of community owned but nationally significant heritage collections.

In addition, recipients will attend a three-day intensive preservation and collection management workshop held at the National Library, the National Archives of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.

National Library Director-General Jan Fullerton said the Community Heritage Grants program demonstrated the commitment by the National Library, along with its partner institutions and the Federal Government, in encouraging communities to preserve and manage Australia’s cultural heritage.

This program plays an important role in preventing the potential loss of the nation’s cultural heritage,” Ms Fullerton said.

It is a collaborative effort to raise and develop conservation standards and practices, so that our local heritage collections remain meaningful and accessible for society today and in the future.”

The grant money is used for significance assessments, preservation needs assessments, conservation treatments, training workshops and purchasing archival-quality storage materials or environmental monitoring equipment.

Established in 1994, the Community Heritage Grants have distributed over $3 million to 736 projects to community groups stretching from the inner cities to the remote outback.

The Community Heritage Grants Program is managed by the National Library. It is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; the National Archives of Australia; the National Film and Sound Archive; the National Museum of Australia and the National Library.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Eryldene Historic House and Garden received $4 400 for a significance assessment of the Eryldene Historic House and Garden collection. The collection includes a single storey house and other buildings, the garden, furniture artefacts and documents. Photographs of the house taken by Harold Cazneaux, Max Dupain and Emil Otto Hoppe are among the significant items held.

Tamworth Regional Council: Tamworth Regional Gallery & Tamworth Powerstation Museum received $5 000 for a significance assessment of the Powerstation Museum collection. Tamworth was the first town in Australia to have electric street lights in 1888. Built on the original site of the Tamworth power station, the museum collection chronicles the science, discovery, invention and progress of electricity generation, supply and utilisation in the area over the centuries.

Singleton Public Library received $4 480 for a significance assessment of the Family History Archives collection. The collection contains items relating to the history of Singleton and Australia, including maps, gazettes and the personal papers of Benjamin Singleton (after whom the town is named). Encouraged by Governor Macquarie in 1820, Singleton’s explorations opened a route between the Hawkesbury and Hunter rivers.

Illawarra Historical Society Inc received $7 511 for a significance assessment of the collection and to conduct a significance training course. The collection reflects the history and development of the Illawarra and Wollongong, includes early pioneering and settlement, Aboriginal culture and shipping and navigation. Items include photographs, maps, plans, and in particular, a sectioned WWII Owen sub machine gun which was designed in Wollongong and made in Port Kembla.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron received $4 000 for a significance assessment of the collection. The Squadron was founded in 1862 and the collection contains books, paintings, photographs, models, trophies and yachting memorabilia. Historical records of Australia’s involvement in the America’s Cup are included in the collection.

Royal Far West received $4 570 for a preservation needs assessment of the Royal Far West Museum collection. The collection reflects the social historical record of the health care needs of regional communities of New South Wales since 1927. The collection includes unique photographs, dating from the 1940s and produced by newspaper photographers for the Far West Children’s Health Scheme annual competition.

Berrima District Historical & Family History Society Inc received $6 380 for a preservation needs assessment of the collection and for the purchase of archival materials to house the photographic collection. The collection includes personal papers, maps, plans and paintings. A significant part of the collection are the photographs, diaries and manuscripts relating to the internment camp at Berrima Gaol for German internees during WWI.

Eden Killer Whale Museum received $4 100 for a significance assessment of the Museum collection. The Eden Killer Whale Museum was established in 1931 and the collection reflects the unique history of whaling at Twofold Bay. Documents, photographs, objects, books, textiles, audiovisual material, artworks and natural history items represent the themes of exploration, whaling, timber and fishing industries and the unique story of the relationship between the killer whales and the whalers of Eden.

1st Mosman 1908 Scout Group received $4 400 for a significance assessment of the collection of the first scout group in Australia. The collection includes photographs dating from 1908 to present day reflecting the activities of the Group over many years. Also held are certificates, awards and plaques commemorating events such as ‘bob a job week’, Scout Jamborees, Sirius Cup Regattas and other historical local events.

Trustees of the ANZAC Memorial Building received $4 000 for a significance assessment of the ANZAC Memorial collection. The collection of military items relating to the wartime service of Australians includes items such as the (reputed) first flag ashore at Gallipoli, an artificial leg manufactured in the Changi Prison Camp and an album of original photos taken by the first mission to return to battle areas after the war in 1918.

Mt Kembla Mining Heritage Inc. received $4 950 for a collection management training workshop. The collection reflects the story of a mining disaster at the Mount Kembla Coal Mine in 1902, which killed 96 men and boys. Significant items in the collection include mining implements and tools, and certificates and diaries all dating from the period.

Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Library received $4 000 for a significance assessment of the Liverpool Regional Museum collection. The collection includes prints, posters and paintings, photographs, manuscripts, oral history recordings and film. Key items in the collection reflect the social history of the City of Liverpool and include costumes and objects dating from the 1870s.

Norfolk Island Museum received $14 713 for conservation treatment of the Bounty cannon. One of a large number of objects derived from the wreck of the Sirius in March 1790, the cannon is a significant piece of Australian history.

Illawarra Historical Society Inc received $7 511 for a significance assessment and significance training workshop. Key themes in the collection include the history and development of indigenous culture, settler life and the community leaders of the Illawarra and Wollongong area.

Forbes & District Historical Society Museum received $7 150 for archival storage materials and a Handling and Storage Training Workshop. This diverse collection comprises a large number of items relating to the history of Forbes. Noteworthy items include goldmining equipment, musical instruments and items owned by the bushranger Ben Hall.

National Art School received $6 400 for rehousing materials, data loggers and a plan cabinet. The National Art School is the oldest art school in Australia, tracing its history back to the 1840s.The collection dates from 1760 and reflects the subjects taught at the School, including drawing, painting, print making, ceramics, sculpture and photography.

Moore Theological College Council received $4 000 for a significance assessment of the Samuel Marsden Archive. The Archive contains documents relating to the College and Anglican life in Australia since the days of the First Fleet. Samuel Marsden came to Australia in 1794 and became a senior chaplain in 1810. His collection of sermons is a significant part of the Archive.

Hellenic Heritage & Cultural Centre (NSW) received $3 200 for archival storage boxes for the housing of the Wedding Crown collection. The Centre’s collection contains many documents and objects relating to the Greek Australian community.

St George Regional Museum received $4 000 for a preservation needs assessment of the Museum collection. The collection represents the history of the St George district from pre-1788 to 1970. Photographs, books, archival records, maps and objects make up the collection and represent a wide range of areas such as prominent personalities, war effort, sports and local industries.

New England Regional Art Museum received $7 000 for a significance assessment of the Howard Hinton and Chandler Coventry collections and for a Disaster Preparedness Workshop and disaster kits. The Howard Hinton collection of artworks from the 1880s to the 1940s includes works by significant Australian painters such as Streeton, the Lindsay family, Roberts, Gruner and Hilder. The Chandler Coventry collection contains works of contemporary Australian art by artists such as Brett Whiteley.