Simon Corbell has announced he’s tweaking the heritage protection rules:
Appeal provisions will no longer apply against a decision by the Council not to provisionally register a place or object. Property owners will still be able to appeal a decision to register their place.
The amendments maintain the independence of the Heritage Council, while also providing [...]

TAMS are very upset that for some kids the closest they can come to living life to the full is spraying YOLO on the heritage hut at the Bendora Arboretum.
Rangers at Namadgi National Park are asking members of the public to report acts of vandalism, after the heritage-listed Bendora Arboretum Hut was graffitied with spray [...]

The Australian National University is letting it be knows that they’re running heritage tours of their labyrinthine campus.
The ANU Heritage Office has compiled the fascinating history of the University’s heritage-listed buildings and surrounds for four new tours to mark the Centenary of Canberra celebrations.
The tours have been designed to cover a range of themes, [...]

Territory and Municipal Services are sharing the news that their rehabilitation works at the heritage-listed De Salis Cemetery are now complete:
The ACT heritage-listed De Salis Cemetery, located on the banks of the majestic Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa, has been returned to the community after the completion of extensive restoration works, Manager of Operations, National Park [...]

The National Trust has announced the Canberra sites considered to be at risk:
The final list for 2012 was derived from places throughout Australia identified by public and National Trust nominations earlier this year. A panel of judges comprised of heritage experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Australia), the Federation of Australian Historical [...]

Territory and Municipal Services are letting it be known they’re hard at work on the heritage-listed De Salis Cemetery located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in Tharwa.
“The De Salis Cemetery is a rare example of a 19th century pastoral station cemetery. It is of unique construction, comprising a raised circular terrace with walls [...]

Andrew Barr has let it be known that Telstra are showing off their historical collection:
An exhibition showcasing a range of rare and interesting telecommunications items is now open at Telstra Tower.
This morning I joined Telstra chief executive officer David Thodey to officially open the Heritage Telstra Centenary Exhibition at Telstra Tower.
As part of Canberra’s centenary [...]

Simon Corbell has announced the winners of the latest ACT Heritage Grants:
– Conservation Council ACT Region Inc. – “Tuggeranong’s Treasures” Booklet
– Shaun O’Connor – “Winarlia” Roof Restoration
– Simon Kringas – Forrest Fire Station Residence Conservation Works
– Canberra Contemporary Art Space (CCAS) – Growing Up Planned
– Cultural Heritage Management Australia (CHMA)- Lanyon Heritage Precinct Aboriginal archaeological [...]

The ACT National Trust has announced their most concerning regions of heritage concern this year:
· Canberra’s Residential Housing Precincts
· ACT Supreme Court
· Lake Burley Griffin West Basin
· [...]

What is happening to our bus stops?
Lately, some bus stops in Canberra have been subjected to drastic remodelling. Many bus stops situated around Canberra feature a round, cream and orange coloured, concrete shelter. These bus shelters are considered to be Canberra icons as they are unlike any other [...]

Joy Burch has announced the release of a discussion paper on the future of the Lanyon Homestead (after her government removed millions of dollars worth of paintings from that facility against the clear wishes of the benefactor Sidney Nolan).
Ms Burch said the historic homestead and stunning grounds were an important part of Canberra’s history, and [...]

I was wandering around the National Trust of Australia website and discovered something that sounded a little odd.
As of the 25th of August, seven new sites were placed on the register: 70 Dominion Circuit, Belconnen Farm, Westbourne Woods, Weston Park, Yarralumla Nursery, Canberra’s Garbage Incinerator, and Canberra’s Main Outfall Sewer.
What were those last two?

In light of the new exhibition at the NGA and the good news from the War Memorial, the question must be asked:
In the case of a major loss to one of Canberra’s major cultural institutions, what is the Cth gov’t to do?  Should they re-build in the case of the destruction of the venerated National [...]

Territory And Municipal Services are asking the public what they think about the Woden Library to help with developing a Heritage Conservation Management Plan:
“The Woden Library first opened its doors to the Canberra community in 1977 and has been listed on the ACT Heritage Register for its architectural design and importance to the Woden community,” [...]

The Economic Development Directorate is letting us all know that you’ve got until Friday to comment on their the draft Conservation Managment Plan for the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings.
Your comments on the draft Conservation Managment Plan are welcome.
Comments close 22 July 2011.
The draft plan helps the owners and traders in the [...]

The ABC brings word of extreme unhappiness in the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn after their Braddon church of St Patricks was hit by a heritage listing which will stop it being knocked down and turned into lucrative apartments.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge says the move throws into doubt plans for a $36 million redevelopment [...]

Simon Corbell has re-opened Tharwa Bridge [Est 1895]:
“This is a significant milestone for the restoration project of this historic bridge, and I am pleased that traffic will now be able to use the main connection between Tuggeranong and the Tharwa community,” Mr Corbell said.
“Stage three works has been underway for the last two years and [...]

News from the ABC today that Gus’s in Civic has, by some miracle of bureaucracy earned heritage protection status. By miracle, I don’t mean one of the good ones either, but rather a cruel and ironic one. ACT Heritage cites the cafe as a reminder that in Civic, it was once impossible to enjoy [...]

[ 9 April, 2011 to 24 April, 2011. ]

The Heritage Festival is kicking off in April:

To celebrate our enthusiastic and committed event organisers have created a program that will have patrons thinking, exploring and rehashing their notion of design.

Festival highlights include a Rolls Royce Rally, the ever popular Jane Austen Festival and a series of National Trust expert led guided tours.

For families there [...]

The Canberra Times informs us that Kingston’s Bus Depot that wasn’t a bus depot has achieved heritage listing and thus will be spared the untender mercies of property development.
The nine-year battle to conserve Kingston’s Old Bus Depot is over after the ACT’s heritage authority agreed to permanently list the historic structure.
A final decision by the [...]

It has been said in recent times that if the Brumbies put as much effort into rugby as they do into real estate they’d win a lot more games.
The Canberra Times today brings word that the club’s grand plans to turn their training oval into apartments has hit opposition from pretty much everyone who matters:
A [...]

Mr Stanhope has announced the winning projects for the 2010-11 ACT Heritage Grants program, in total $340,000:
Michelle Fulton
Prepare a Conservation Management Plan for Well Station Homestead Precinct: Stage 1 Homestead Precinct CMP: Stage 2 Indigenous Cultural Survey, Archaeological & Additional Values
Elizabeth Burness
Printing of booklet to distribute to ACT schools and public libraries.
Canberra & District Historical [...]

Mr Stanhope has released the review of the Heritage Act 2004 and promised to let us know what he thinks of the 111 recommendations early next year.
The take home from the executive summary appears to be this bit:
Having operated for five years, it is apparent there are many issues which should be addressed. [...]

The fight to save McGregor Hall has suffered a blow with the Heritage Council deciding it “does not meet their criteria for heritage nomination” according to the Save McGregor Hall Facebook group.
Apparently they will now fight them on the Development Application.

[First filed: Aug 19, 2010 @ 10:30]

On 17 August a select audience was shown four options for redeveloping the Yarralumla Brickworks. They’re now online and are:
1. Mothballing. Cost $7 Million. Sheet 1.
2. Cold Shell. Cost $59 Million, provides 320 dwellings and 8,000 square metres of commercial space. Sheet 1, Sheet 2.
3. Adaptation. Cost 117 Million, [...]

The Canberra Times is having a go at explaining the turgid drama surrounding efforts by the Brumbies to redevelop their training facilities in Griffith.
The Brumbies want to redevelop the Griffith oval and an adjoining block bounded by Captain Cook Crescent, La Perouse Street and Austin Street for new headquarters and 150 residential units.
The ACT [...]

Our Brave Leader has announced that on the second attempt the ACT Heritage Council has agreed to provisionally list the former bus depot in Kingston on the ACT’s Heritage Register.
Mr Stanhope said the listing acknowledged the historical significance of the site, which dates back to the 1940s…
In making its decision, the Council noted the significance [...]

[ 17 April, 2010; 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. ] Experience and celebrate the history of early pastoralists in the Gungahlin region. The upper Ginninderra Creek area was keenly sought after and the Gillespie family had numerous land holdings stretching across the creek’s numerous flows – in the good years.

The ACT’s Heritage Festival moves to Elm Grove – a heritage listed [...]

[ 14 April, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] As part of the 2010 Heritage Festival, ACTEW Corporation through the Bulk Water Alliance, has coordinated special events for people to participate in.

Enlarged Cotter Dam presentation – salvaging our heritage
Date: Wednesday 14 April 2010
Venue: King O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 131 City Walk, City ACT 2611
Time: 6.00pm to 8.00pm

As part of the Enlarged Cotter Dam project, heritage assessments [...]

I have recently taken up an interest in old poison bottles and whilst perusing eBay for some, I stumbled across a closed auction for 140 old bottles, much to my frustration the auction had only ended a few weeks ago and the entire lot had gone for 99 cents.
What’s more frustrating is that the [...]

Last weekend, the National Trust announced this year’s nominations for Our Heritage at Risk. It’s an annual ‘name and shame’ exercise to raise awareness about Australian places, objects and collections that it considers historically significant but urgently in need of conservation.
This year’s ACT nomination was led by the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore (also shortlisted last [...]