The record-breaking 102 submissions received this year for the 2017 Heritage Awards underline the importance of conservation efforts in NSW.

The winners for the 2017 Heritage Awards have been announced by the National Trust NSW with the honours going to a diverse range of projects from adaptive re-use developments and education buildings to documentaries and publications. Now in their 23rd year, the awards for excellence in heritage are the signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival (18 April to 21 May 2017).

Among the award-winning heritage projects this year was the Tramsheds at Harold Park, which has been adapted into an iconic food destination, and the Temora Railway Station in the adaptive re-use category; The House that Jack Built that tracks Jack Mundey’s career and highlights his numerous achievements in heritage conservation; a colourful publication celebrating the 101 publicly-accessible cemeteries in and around Sydney; advocacy campaigns, including Save Lansdowne and Gardens of Stone; and the Grand Canyon Track and Mitchell’s Causeway in the landscape conservation category.

The 2017 Heritage Awards will be presented by Anthony Lean, CEO of Environment and Heritage at a luncheon ceremony on 28 April at Doltone House, Pyrmont.

Comedian, actor, TV and radio personality and supporter of the National Trust, Wendy Harmer will be the Master of Ceremonies with special guests including Jack Mundey, Hector Abrahams, Pauline McKenzie, Stephen Davies, Penny Sharpe and Uncle Allan Madden.

Jacqui Goddard, Chair of the National Trust Heritage Awards judging panel, said, “This year’s entries are of an extremely high calibre. While we may argue at times about how individual projects are executed or what is, or is not appropriate no one can deny that quality work is being produced in NSW. No project happens in a vacuum and each is the result of the work of many people and influences from zealous advocates, guiding legislation, enthusiastic owners, skilled tradespeople and expert volunteers.”

The Australian Heritage Festival is the largest and longest-running grassroots festival celebrating Australia’s historic, natural, indigenous and multicultural heritage. Over 1000 events are held nationwide as part of the festival.

The 2017 Heritage Awards will be presented on Friday 28 April, 11am - 2pm at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, South Pier, Piers 19 - 21 | 26 - 32 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Point, NSW.

2017 Award Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award

Judy Birmingham

Cathy Donnelly Memorial Award

Linda Babic

Trade & Skills Award

Stephen Brooker

Adaptive Re-use

Award – Temora Railway Station

Award – Tramsheds Harold Park

Highly Commended – Woodford Academy

Highly Commended – Cleveland & Co

Advocacy Campaigns

Save Lansdowne

Gardens of Stone

Conservation – Built

Award – Vaucluse House Battlements & Turrets

Award – Choregic Monument

Highly Commended – Kincoppal

Highly Commended – Sewage Pumping Station 1 (SPS 1)

Events and Exhibitions

Award (Event) – Going Underground

Award (Exhibition) – Floilegium

Highly Commended – Tennis in Literature

Highly Commended – Windows into Wartime

Highly Commended – Demolished Sydney

Publications

Award – Sydney Cemeteries Field Guide

Award – Waverley Council Inter-War Fact Sheets

Highly Commended – Historic Homes of the Weddin’ Shire

Highly Commended – Postings from the Front

Conservation – Landscape

Award – Grand Canyon Track

Award – Mitchell’s Causeway

Highly Commended – Alexandra Canal Bank – Tempe Reach

Conservation Interiors

Award (Interior) – St Pauls

Award (Object) – Southern Gasholder

Highly Commended (Interior) – Saumarez Interior

Highly Commended (Object) – Museum of Fire Crane

Continuing Tradition

Award – Luanja

Award – Vaucluse Drawing Room

Highly Commended – Massadon

Highly Commended – Clarence St Bridge

Education and Interpretation

Award – Dowing Songbook

Award (Interpretation) – Alchemy – Hill End

Award (Education) – Lives on the Line

Highly Commended – Woodford Academy

Highly Commended – Irish Orphan Trunk

Highly Commended – Canopies

Tours and Multimedia

Award – Running on Time

Award – Beachcomber Website

Highly Commended – Our Heritage

Research and Investigation

Award – Unlocking the Past

Highly Commended – The House that Jack Built

Highly Commended – St Matthews Windsor

Highly Commended – Bermagui