OUR HERITAGE AT RISK -  AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY - 2009

• Lake Burley Griffin and Foreshores
• Molonglo Valley Historic Sites
• Yarralumla Brickworks
• Brian Lewis Crescent Houses

MOST AT RISK PLACES:

Place: Lake Burley Griffin and Foreshores
Threat: Inappropriate use and developmen

Statement of Significance:

• Integral part of design of Canberra
  
• High aesthetic, social, scientific and historic heritage values
  I
• mportant recreation and social site
  
• Significant urban landscape

Lake Burley Griffin is as an essential landscape element of the early design of Canberra, the centre-piece for the National Capital and forms the immediate background of the national and parliamentary areas. It is a historically popular site for picnics, recreation and as a water-sport venue.

No development that impacts on heritage and visual significance of the Lake and shoreline until a comprehensive management plan covering entire foreshores and which considers assessed heritage values is fully developed.

Fate / Outcome:
Suffering

Place: Molonglo Valley Historic Sites
Threat:Development, Neglect

Description of Risk:
Destruction. These two homestead ruins are remnants of the final phase of rural settlement in the Molonglo Valley when small parcels of freehold land were made available to selectors following the Robertson Land Acts  These ruins represent just two of the small land holders to farm in the valley.  The sites are yet to be fully investigated and assessed, but both are closely related to the nineteenth century rural occupation of the Molonglo Valley first by large land holders and later by small selector land holders.

Descendants of the original families still live in the district and consider these places significant to their family history.The Molonglo Valley is the next area for large-scale urban development.  The preliminary heritage assessment stated: ‘comparatively few remains are sufficiently intact either to have entered the canons of oral history or the recognizable in the landscape.’ Both places and other yet identified places are threatened if further investigation does not take place.

Desired Outcome / Vision:
A comprehensive heritage assets survey to be conducted in the Valley targeted at historical sites. A Conservation and management plan is completed. The identified sites be protected and integrated into the urban plan for the Valley Interpretive signage erected in places identified with historical/heritage significance.

Place: Yarralumla Brickworks
Threat: Development, Neglect

Description of Risk:
Operational from 1913 to 1976, the brickworks is of historical value as the first industrial manufacturing facility in the ACT, and for its integral role in providing base material used in the construction of the early buildings in the National Capital. 

The several different kiln types are of considerable technical value and rarity. The brickworks ceased operation in 1976 and since then the kilns and infrastructure have not been used for their original purposes.  Lack of regular maintenance and wilful neglect of the structures by successive government bodies over the years has led to a continual deterioration of the entire fabric of the place. 

The ACT Government called for tenders in 2008 to develop a management plan for the site, including the brickwork buildings.This tender process has now ground to a halt with no resolution towards conservation or development of the site. The government also considered allowing the selected tender to produce a conservation and management plan in accordance with their proposed plan of development, rather than commission an independent study prior to development. 

However, the government has recently announced that they intend to do a CMP as a first step in the management/development process.

Desired Outcome / Vision:
This is the third year the Brickworks have been on the ACT Places at Risk listing.  In that time plans were announced for future work to be done on the site but that has not eventuated and at this time, 2009, there are no plans in place to conserve and protect the place. 

The Trust has urged the ACT Government that the damaged fabric elements are repaired in accordance with their stated heritage values and conservation objectives and regular maintenance is undertaken.  The place is made available for appropriate occupancy and use.

Place: Brian Lewis Crescent Houses
Threat: Development and demolition

Description of Risk:
The group of five single story cottages were designed to overlook the Molonglo River (now Lake Burley Griffin).  They demonstrate the pattern of siting on contours, with generous setbacks resulting in a prominent street presence of open spaced lawn. The group has significance for its innovative design , responding to post-war pressures and the emerging modern movement.  The interiors show the streamlined minimalism of simple geometry. 

The houses are significant because of their association with Professor Lewis as their designer and their relationship to the early layout and planning of the university campus. The ANU intends to demolish these houses as part of their planned  development for housing  and accommodation in the area.

Although the houses are not listed on any government or non-government listing, a heritage study of the ANU (Ratcliffe/Arms Heritage Study, 1993) identified the houses as being of significant value under criteria VII with a policy recommendation that they be retained and conserved.  A further in-house study by ANU in 2009 came to a similar conclusion but stopped short of recommending their retention. 

The Trust has not seen sufficient evidence presented to contradict the 1993 policy and believes that there has been inadequate acknowledgement in the 2008 heritage assessment by ANU of the link these residences have with the important association Brian Lewis had during the development of the ANU.

Desired Outcome / Vision:
The development application for demolition of these houses been referred under the EPBC Act. The National Trust view is that the houses should be retained in accordance with their assessed heritage values.