HERITAGE REPORT CARD - AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

 

2007 Threat

  

Our Solution

  

Government Action

  

Fate Rating

    

Cameron Offices

The original complex consisted of nine parallel office wings running east west.  Two wings have already been demolished- five wings are under threat of demolition and the remaining two wings are currently planned to be retained

List all the current buildings on the National Heritage list and manage appropriately

Despite our advocacy the other five wings of the complex were demolished.  Two wings have been retained as ‘representative’ of the whole building complex.  The two remaining wings in no way provide a suitable representation of the heritage values of the complex 

1.0.  most heritage values lost

       
 Reduced Garden City concept and ideals as promoted by Walter Burley Griffin by incremental changes arising from Territorial and National planning changes.  These include – Territory planning changes permitting greater development on individual lease blocks reducing the open space and landscape opportunities. The biggest impact is the inner north /south

 

The National Capital Authority’s Griffin Legacy is eroding some of Griffin’s values such as extensive development proposed to West Basin water edge. Initial concerns with NCA draft proposals for report on Canberra’s national values.

 
  • Positive support for Canberra’s Heritage values in NCA Report
  • Review of Griffin Legacy by Parliamentary Committee and change of undesirable aspects
  • Change to Territory Planning to better protect the wider heritage values and support for ultimate World Heritage Listing of Canberra.
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    There has been little done by ACT and Commonwealth Government bodies to redress the erosion of Garden City values.  (Our 2008 nomination of RZ2 Suburban Core Zones overriding heritage values points to another devaluation of these places).  However, large budget cuts to the NCA by the Rudd Government and a review of the organisation may alleviate to some degree the velocity of loss – in the near future at least.

    		 

    2.0 rate of loss still high – no positive action – watching brief

           
           

    Place

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Gold Creek

    The homestead complex has been vacant for several years and is suffering rapid deterioration from lack of maintenance and the building fabric inside and out is often destroyed and damage by vandalism. 

     

    Even though the place falls below significance criteria thresholds and is not heritage listed the current building and grounds, now surrounded by suburban housing, has a high potential to be utilised for community purposes.  The Trust would like to see the existing structures repaired and maintained and the building put to community use.

     

    The ACT Government has announced that it intends to carry out remedial, repair work on this building with the aim of bringing it to a safe and habitable standard.  Their proposal to use the building as a community or aged care facility would be a suitable outcome. 

    3.5 Intent to carry out solution.

    Gungaderra

    Homestead

    The pisé walls of the original structure have been internalised by additions which have largely preserved them, but because of lack of use and maintenance these are decaying.  The outbuildings are being removed and much of the original setting is being lost and compromised by developing urbanization.

     

    The current building and remaining grounds, now within suburban housing, has a high potential to be utilised for community purposes.  The Trust would like to see the existing structures repaired and maintained and the building put to community use.

    There has been no movement by the ACT Government on this place.  The threats to it outlined in 2007 remain.

    2.0  Unchanged – threat remains – still deteriorating through neglect.

    Hall School

    The recent closure (December 2006) and non-occupancy of this school leaves open the question of its future use and threatens the conservation of the existing fabric, particularly the 1911 structure.  Not only has the closure of this school begun to erode the historical, heritage and social values of Hall Village, it has been a loss to the ACT as a whole

    The school be reopened for educational use and the fabric, particularly the 1911 building, be appropriately conserved in accordance with Conservation Objectives 1.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 outlined in the Hall Village Heritage Precinct entry to the ACT Heritage Register.

    While making a statement recognising the school’s heritage values, the ACT Government has stalled on any action to remedy the problems outlined in our 2007 nomination.

    2.5 No satisfactory resolution – some progress with planned re-use

     

    Heritage Places

    Inadequate heritage protection for places of Territory heritage value. With the amendments of the EPBC Act & proposed withdrawal of the RNE many of the Territorial significant heritage places that are on national land will not meet the protection of the National List, are not Commonwealth owned or on Commonwealth Heritage list and cannot be protected by the ACT Heritage ACT.

     

    Amend EPBC Act to include recognition of ACT Heritage in such areas and ensure ACT can list significant places on the ACT Heritage Register and provide adequate protection.

     

    There has been no movement on this situation.  However, the ACT National Trust successfully applied for a grant to examine each of these places against the Territory and Commonwealth legislations.  We have appointed two consultants to do this and will soon be reporting back to the ACT Government on our recommendations

    3.0 Unchanged – but Trust acting – possibility of improvement.

    Nil Desperandum

    The homestead was extensively damage during the 2003 bushfires.  However, despite some remedial work including a protective roof, the future of the rest of the building is still not resolved and it continues to decay slowly.

     

    The National Trust strongly urges the ACT Government to consider renewing their conservation work to protect the remaining pisé and structural elements of the building.  The aim of the work should be to restore the building exterior and interior in a manner conducive to the principles of the Burra Charter to a point where it can be reoccupied.

     

    The ACT Government has acted on this place and carried out repairs and conservation work which will retain in a large degree the surviving fabric of the building.  A success story.

    4.5 Saved

     

    The RNE

    The2006 amendments to EPBC Act and the AHC Act 2003 provide for the eventual disbandment of the Register of the National Estate.  From February 2007 no more places may be entered in or removed from the RNE.  In five years time all reference to the RNE will be removed from the AHC Act and the EPBC Act.

     

    The loss of the RNE puts at high risk hundreds of heritage listed sites Australia wide that do not have legislative protection from any Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government legislative protection. 

     

    The continued maintenance and operation of the RNE as Australia’s most comprehensive list of local, regional and national heritage places, to ensure that the Australian community continues to understand, recognise and appreciate places of heritage significance and their importance to and the contribution they make to Australian values.

     

    There has been no decision by the Commonwealth Government on this issue.  The problem of the loss of legislative protection on  a large number of these places still remains.

    2.0 Unchanged – threat remains.

    Rock Valley

    Rock Valley homestead was extensively damage during the 2003 bushfires.  However, its pisé walls are still standing but are not protected from the weathering elements. Despite a statement by the ACT Government that “Rock Valley homestead will be structurally secured and have a permanent roof provided…” little has been done and damage is occurring daily.

     

    The National Trust strongly urges the ACT Government to consider urgent remedial action to conserve and protect the remaining pisé elements of the building.  One of the first steps in reducing further deterioration of the pisé walls would be to protect them from the elements.  The action of rain and strong winds on pisé has an extremely detrimental effect which in many cases leads to rapid deterioration and collapse. The building should then be preserved as ruin.

     

    Another success story.  Conservation work on the surviving fabric of this building has been done by the ACT Government.  The ACT Trust successfully applied for grants to provide a garden plan for the grounds based on historical evidence and to do an oral history of a former occupant.  These are currently in progress.

    4.5 Saved – moving towards 5 when conservation works completed

     

    Tharwa Bridge

    Due to deterioration of original and replaced timber elements the bridge has been closed to all traffic and is not longer used.  The ACT government intends to build another bridge crossing the river.  There is at this time no indication from the ACT government on their commitment to further maintenance and use of the bridge.

     

    The bridge to be repaired in a manner sympathetic to its heritage fabric, reopened to vehicle traffic, maintained accordingly and continue to be used as a crossing of the Murrumbidgee River into Tharwa village

    The ACT Government, under public pressure (a lot of which came from the ACT Trust and its members) reversed its decision to replace the existing heritage listed bridge with a new structure.  They decided to carry out the necessary repairs to bring the bridge up to the required road and safety standards and reopen it to vehicle traffic.  The work is being carried out now but there are some strong concerns as to the replacement of existing structural fabric .  Hence the bridge has been retained on our 2008 nominated list of places under threat.

    4.0 repair works in progress – much original fabric replaced – remains on 2008 list.

    Tharwa School

    The recent closure (December 2006) and non-occupancy of this school leaves open the question of its future use and threatens the conservation of the existing fabric, particularly the 1912 structure.  Not only has the closure of this school begun to erode the historical, heritage and social values of Tharwa Village, it has been a loss to the ACT as a whole.

     

    The school reopened for educational use and the fabric, particularly the 1912 building, be appropriately conserved.

     

    The issue of future use of the school has not been fully resolved satisfactorily.  The building will open as a limited pre school facility but will not be fully occupied.

    2.5 No satisfactory resolution – some progress with planned re-use

     

    Yarralumla Brickworks

    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 damaged fabric elements be repaired in accordance with their stated heritage values and conservation objectives and regular maintenance be undertaken.  The place be made available for appropriate occupancy and use. 

     

    The ACT Government has called for tenders to develop the site including the main buildings, kilns, infrastructure and grounds.  While this was cautiously welcomed by the ACT National Trust, there is deep concern that the process outlined by the government, whereby they are asking the successful tenderer/s to carry out a conservation and management plan, is flawed.  The ACT Trust has notified the Chief Minister of our concerns and has called for an independent heritage survey and conservation management plan to be conducted and in place prior to any development.  The site therefore remains on our top three places under threat for 2008.

    1.5 Some progress but concerns with process – remains on 2008 list.