The seminar will be hosted by Bathurst Regional Council, with support from the Heritage Branch, Department of Planning.

The day will be divided into two sessions. The morning session will include the book launch of the “100 Lives of the Bathurst Region – Golden Memories”, management documents, family history research, archaeology and tourism in relation to cemeteries.

The afternoon session will involve a bus trip to Arkell Cemetery, (north of Trunkey Creek), for a case study. A demonstration of repairing inscriptions on gravestones will be given by a monumental mason and a local volunteer will give a demonstration of cleaning headstones.

Other topics will include the conservation and maintenance of stone monuments and cemetery vegetation.

The presentations and speakers proposed for the day include:

• Book launch of “100 Lives of the Bathurst Region – Golden Memories”: Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council and Barbara Hickson, author
• Generic Conservation Management Plan for rural cemeteries: Barbara Hickson & Sinclair Croft, Heritage Advisor & Senior Strategic Planner, Bathurst Regional Council
• Archaeology & cemeteries: Dr Siobhan Lavelle, Senior Heritage Officer, (Archaeologist), Heritage Branch, Department of Planning
• Family History Research: Daphne Shead, Hill End & Tambaroora Gathering Group
• Cemeteries & Tourism: Felicity Baines, Manager, Tourism, Bathurst Regional Council
• Case Study of Arkell Cemetery: Brief history & volunteer works undertaken: Marie Nightingale & Sinclair Croft, Volunteer, Arkell Cemetery & Senior Strategic Planner, Bathurst Regional Council
• Conservation & maintenance of stone monuments: Heather Nichols, Director of Environmental Services, Cabonne Shire Council
• Demonstration of repairing inscriptions on gravestones: Kerry Roberts, Stone Scene Monuments & Restoration, Mudgee
• Demonstration on how to clean headstones: Marie Nightingale, Volunteer, Arkell Cemetery
• Common cemetery plants: Patsy Moppet, Town Planner, Barnsons, Kelso

A summary for the day is outlined below.

DATE:
Thursday 17 September 2009

VENUE:
Morning Session: Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, (BMEC), 105 William Street, Bathurst
Afternoon Session: Arkell Cemetery, Arkell, (approximately 5 minutes north of Trunkey Creek)

TIME:
Morning Session: 9.00 am – 9.30 am: Registration, tea/coffee
Conclusion: 12.00 noon
Afternoon Session: 12.00 noon – 4.00 pm (approx)

COST:
$35.00 per person (cost includes morning tea, lunch and the return bus trip to Arkell Cemetery).

A fee will be applicable for heritage advisors and Council staff and Councillors as subscriptions to the network have expired and have not been renewed.

PARKING:
Free all day parking is available in Keppel Street, adjacent to Machattie Park, between William and George Streets. Please take note that you do not park in restricted areas as you may be fined.

CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR:
Please wear closed shoes or boots. If the weather looks rainy, please bring along a raincoat and/or umbrella.

PAYMENT:
Cheques or payment should be made out to Bathurst Regional Council at the address below, or pay on the day.

RSVP:
By Monday 31 August 2009 to:
Sinclair Croft
Senior Strategic Planner
Bathurst Regional Council
PMB 17
BATHURST  NSW  2795
Ph: (02) 6333 6130
Email: sinclair.croft@bathurst.nsw.gov.au

At this meeting, and from subsequent correspondence received, it was evident that there is still adequate interest from individual councils to continue the CWHN. More importantly, there are councils willing to host future seminars.

It was decided that the current format of the CWHN be amended to include one seminar and one network meeting each financial year, in place of the current two seminars. It is proposed that only planners, (council and private), and heritage advisors attend the network meeting whereas the seminars will be open to planners, heritage advisors, heritage professionals and the general public. The intention of the network meeting will be to discuss current heritage issues relevant to participating councils, e.g. focus particularly on local government issues.

It is proposed that host councils will coordinate one seminar in September and one network meeting in April for each financial year before passing on to the next council for the following financial year.

As an outcome of the meeting, the following format has been prepared for future seminars and network meetings. This can be rearranged if one of the later Councils wishes to run a seminar earlier than proposed.

• Financial Year 2009/2010 – Bathurst Regional Council;
  Seminar September 2009, Network meeting April 2010
• Financial Year 2010/2011 – Cabonne Shire Council;
  Seminar September 2010, Network meeting April 2011
• Financial Year 2011/2012 – Orange City Council;
  Seminar September 2011, Network meeting April 2012
• Financial Year 2012/2013 – Wellington Council;
  Seminar September 2012, Network meeting April 2013

Bathurst Regional Council will be hosting the next heritage seminar on Thursday 17 September 2009.

The CWHN May Seminar covered a broad range of the skills needed by heritage professionals with morning seminars on identification and management of heritage items and the new template for reporting to the Heritage Branch while the afternoon had a display of traditional bush timber skills. The seminar was hosted by Bathurst Regional Council, with support from the Heritage Branch, NSW Department of Planning and Raine & Horne, Bathurst, on Friday 29 May 2009.

The day was well attended with 34 people including town planners, heritage advisors, heritage professionals and members of the general community. Attendance represented a good coverage of the state with attendees coming from the Blue Mountains, Sydney, the south coast of NSW and from as far north as Ipswich, Queensland.

The day was divided into two sessions. The morning session covered the suggestions of the Heritage Strategy Annual Report requirements and was aimed at the requirements of heritage advisors and heritage planners.

Presentations included topics relating to heritage promotional events, the management and development of council museums and sustainable building methods for heritage buildings. Miriam Stacy, Senior Heritage Officer, from the Heritage Branch, Department of Planning, presented on Council’s requirements for reporting back to the Heritage Branch using the Template for the Heritage Strategy Annual Report.

The skill demonstration drew an attentive audience.
The afternoon session, of which there was no fee for those only attending that session, was held in Machattie Park where James Findlay, from Traditional Bush Timber Skills, Victoria, had on display, and explained, traditional bush timber tools. James gave a three hour demonstration on how to use the tools.

The presentations and speakers for the day included the following:

• Identify heritage items in your area and list them in your LEP: Sinclair Croft, Senior Strategic Planner, Bathurst Regional Council

• Urban design and heritage conservation opportunities for the development control plan: Janet Bingham, Manager, Strategic Planning, Bathurst Regional Council

• Heritage information and heritage promotion events: Felicity Baines, Manager Tourism, Bathurst Regional Council

• The management and development of Council museums: Tim Pike, Curator, Collections Manager, Bathurst Regional Council

• Sustainable building methods: Barry Cregan, Sustainable Home and Renew Education

• Updates from the Heritage Branch and Heritage Branch reporting requirements: Miriam Stacy, Senior Heritage Officer, Heritage Branch, Department of Planning

• Presentation on traditional building tools and a demonstration on how to use the tools: James Findlay, Traditional Bush Timber Skills

]]> http://cwhn.org/?feed=rss2&p=16 0 http://cwhn.org/?p=12 http://cwhn.org/?p=12#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:47:09 +0000 admin http://cwhn.org/?p=12 To all CWHN members

The network is taking a break for the second half of 2008 and will restart with the next seminar taking place around April 2009.

As some of you might be aware, the funding agreement from the Heritage Office for 2005-2008 has now ended. We are waiting for the next round of funding to become available. I have been assured that it is in the works, it’s just taking time to come through.

In the meantime, plans are being developed for the April seminar next year. For this reason, Council members have not yet been invoiced, in case any of you were wondering – this will occur once the funding is in hand. If you have any queries, please send me an email. I do apologise for any concerns you might have, but rest assured the network is still there.

In the meantime, if you have any news, stories, photos or items of interest send them in and we’ll post them here.

Best wishes,
Wendy Carlson
Convenor

Aboriginal heritage was the theme of our most recent meeting at Coonabarabran. Many thanks to the Warrumbungle Shire Council who hosted the meeting. The two day format was a great success judging from the feedback, it gave us a chance to relax a bit more than usual and have some extended time in the field. This was a new format for us and hopefully one which we will have an opportunity to repeat at a future time.

Coonabarabran is a friendly town with a lot to recommend it. The time we spent in the surrounding shire was so visually rich that I have included as many photos as I can – these will tell the story of our visit better than any description so scroll down and see how our time was spent. To avoid over indulgence I have refrained from posting the many, many photos taken at the Sandstone Caves. As a sometime artist, I was beyond sensible advice when it came to taking photo after photo of the absolute magnificence of the caves – the scale, colour and striation of rock formations were overwhelming in their beauty – so just a few indulgent inclusions but I intend to set up a photo gallery on this blog soon so all the photos from everyone can be published.

Here are a few photos of Coonabarabran’s main thoroughfare, John Street.

The clock tower and war memorial,

John Street Coonabarabran looking south

and the restored 1870s Court House.

Our session on day one, after welcoming speeches by Uncle Bill Robinson of the Burra Bee Dee Aboriginal Elders Group and Mr Peter Shinton, Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire, started with a presentation by Ray Christison and Bill Robinson on preserving and interpreting the Burra Bee Dee Mission.

However, first a few quick snaps during afternoon tea, day one.

Rebecca Ryan, Director of Community Services, Warrumbungle Shire Council, Peter Shinton, Mayor, Warrumbungle Shire Council and Carol Dawson, Councillor, Warrumbungle Shire Council

Ron Van Katwyck, Director Environmental Services, Warrumbungle Shire Council and Ron Sullivan, Councillor, Warrumbungle Shire Council

Rebecca Ryan, presenter Ray Christison, architect and heritage consultant Barbara Hickson and Sinclair Croft, Bathurst Council.

The first afternoon session was followed by an outline of cultural strategies for raising awareness of local Aboriginal heritage by Bob Sutherland and Brad Trindall, Dept of Environment and Climate Change, Cultural Heritage Division. Both sessions presented positive and innovative ways of managing, sustaining and educating about Aboriginal Heritage and got us looking forward to the following day’s field trip.

Brad Trindall and Bob Sutherland

Prue Thompson of the Coolah Development Group also gave us an overview and slide presentation of the rebirth of the Coolah Shire Hall which had been transformed through local imagination and initiative into a showpiece of adaptive reuse. In its current form as a library and exhibition space the old shire hall is buzzing with activity. The retention of original architectural detail shows that new uses can adapt to an original building fabric without loss of integrity. Unfortunately the opposite is so often the case and the original building is compromised in order to accommodate new uses. Congratulations to the Coolah Development Group on such an excellent outcome.

Kids playing at being little monkeys out the front of the Coolah Shire Hall – the library is a magnet for local school children and has been set up with their needs well catered for.

The library’s interior showing original art deco motifs, windows and ceiling. At the back, the old stage has been converted to a technology centre which, on the day I was there, was being fully utilised by local school pupils.

Next day on our field trip the first stop was a breakfast barbeque at the Burra Bee Dee Mission site. Although now without houses and buildings it has an almost tangible presence of earlier days. The people, their activities, pride and ownership can still be felt through the remnants of its past.

Uncle Bill Robinson guided the network on our tour of Burra Bee Dee.

There are many stories and memories, some of which have been captured in the book ‘The Sun Dancin. People and Place in Coonabarabran’, a compilation of oral histories centred around five pivotal Aboriginal women of the Mission all descended from Mary Jane Cain, matriarch and founder. Mary Jane envisaged a place where Aboriginal people could come and live in safety and harmony. This sense of caring for each other can still be felt in the site’s enveloping peace and tranquility. As recounted by Mission Elders, Bill Robinson and Maureen Sulter, the place welcomes you and takes you in from the moment you enter.

Mary Jane Cain’s grave in the Burra Bee Dee Cemetery. The cemetery is a protected Aboriginal burial ground.

Convener’s have many roles, this time as a sign-post holding up a print of the proposed sign. I do a lot of heritage interpretation, but this is a new innovation. Hope it doesn’t catch on. However, to the right is the frame for the signs when they are installed. As you can see the structure is very simple and appropriate to the context of the place, which is how interpretation should be approached.

Remnants of inhabitation at Burra Bee Dee – above and below

Oh No!!! The Heritage Mafia! Nah…it’s Ray Christison, Extreme Heritage Advisor. No site too remote, no access too risky, no council too scary.

After Burra Bee Dee, we drove off through the Pilliga National Park to Baradine.

I thought we needed a ‘road’ photo somewhere in the blog – this is Craig our driver taking us along the No 1 Break Road in the Pilliga. He took us boldly where no coach has been before.

This connected to the presentation by Bob Sutherland and Brad Trindall regarding the terrain of the ‘Gamilaroi Gallop’. From Bob’s talk -

‘the Gamilaroi Gallop is a concept originally raised in the 2002 Brigalow Belt South negotiations at Dubbo. Since then it has been discussed extensively with the Aboriginal communities of Narrabri, Pilliga, Baradine and Coonabarabran with the pivotal point of discussions being interaction between Elders and young people with the view of some cultural exchange occurring. It aims to develop leadership with young Aboriginal people through an increased awareness of cultural understanding and identity. The Gamilaroi Gallop is to be undertaken on horseback in partnership with Narrabri, Pilliga, Baradine and Coonabarabran Aboriginal communities. The Gamilaroi Gallop will involve Elders and young people from the respective communities listed above. The Gamilaroi Gallop is all about taking on a personal and group challenge. The Gamilaroi Gallop challenges participant to set personal goals and achieve them. Along the way, they learn about themselves, their culture and about qualities like responsibility, respect, trust and leadership.’

At Baradine – we were warmly welcomed by Sonny Trindall at the Aboriginal Land Council which has a prominent place in the main street.

Below are some general shots of buildings around Baradine, a typical small town of its era whose traditional industries are now falling/fallen away. The architectural styles tell a history where the most viable period of the town was early in the twentieth century until around WWII.

Baradine Memorial Hall – built after the First World War. Note its Classical Revival facade.

An old banking chamber – banks have long since left country towns, but they leave behind a legacy of substantial building stock. This one, probably built around the turn of the century, adds a certain grandeur to the streetscape.

Early 20th century commercial building with beautiful weathered detail.

Above is the Forestry Commission building, built around 1950 and reputedly designed by a New Zealand architect. As you would expect it showcases local timbers, particularly inside which is spectacularly paneled throughout.

Onwards to the Sandstone Caves, which is managed by DECC.

Signage at the start of the track has been developed utilising Gamilaroi language and knowledge of the site.

Above shows the scale of the cliff face and caves.

This shows the typical formation of the cave interiors

and this is the view out from the caves.

This photo was taken along the track where conservation methods were being employed to prevent further degradation of the surface. Rosanne Paskin of Rose Deco Planning & Design has written the following explanation.

The technique used here is commonly referred to as brush matting. It is a low impact method of revegetating exposed soil, especially where the site is not sloping. Seed-bearing branches are cut and laid in a mish-mash pattern to cover the ground. Tea-tree (Leptospermum species) are an especially effective choice as they have a generous amount of seed which is released as the branches dry out. The dry leaves and branchlets become an in situ mulch to help with plant establishment. Using adjacent (endemic) growing species continues the local site-specific flora spectrum. Coverage of the bare ground stops, or at least reduces, splash and wind erosion. Fragile soil profiles are not disturbed by digging to plant tubestock. The brush matting is a visual clue that there is revegetation/rehabilitation work taking place (so signage “Do not use this track!” should not be needed).

If the site is sloping or exposed to wind (e.g. the brush moves and collects at a perimeter) and seed would become concentrated in one spot, instead of being spread over a larger area, the plant material can be pegged down using either inverted V pieces from the branch forks which can be left to decompose or tent pegs that will have to collected later from the site. This is not really the easiest or most effective method for a sloping site – other revegetation methods would be better.

All in all, a fantastic experience. The generosity of the Burra Bee Dee Elders and the willingness of the Council to host the seminar combined with great service from local businesses and tourist information staff, the high quality of presentations and not least, the presence of our members, made the Warrumbungles Network Meeting a great success. We look forward to your company at the next meeting.

“Know your people, know your land, know yourself”

Thursday 10 April 2008

12:00 noon Lunch at Coonabarabran Shire Hall
1:00pm Welcome to Country – Uncle Bill Robinson, Burra Bee Dee Elders Group
1:30pm Welcome to Warrumbungle Shire – Peter Shinton, Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire

1:45pm Preserving and interpreting the story of Burra Bee Dee – Ray Christison, Heritage Advisor, Warrumbungle Shire Council
2:30pm Cultural Strategies: The Gamilaroy Gallop – Bob Sutherland, Dept of Environment & Climate Change

3:00pm Afternoon tea

3:20pm Cultural Strategies: Sculpture in the Scrub – Bob Sutherland, Dept of Environment & Climate Change
4:00pm Discussion
4:30pm Close

6:30pm Dinner at the Golden Sea Dragon Restaurant

Friday 11 April 2008

7:30am Join coach to Burra Bee Dee Mission site outside Shire Hall, John Street
8:00am Breakfast at Burra Bee Dee Mission site
8:45am Tour of Burra Bee Dee – Burra Bee Dee Elders

10:00am Join coach – travel to Baradine via Bugaldie
11:00am Visit to Baradine Local Aboriginal Land Council

11:30am Lunch at Baradine Local Aboriginal Land Council – optional Heritage walking tour of Baradine

12:30pm Depart for Sandstone Cave – Travel along No.1 Break Road through the Pilliga Forest
1:15pm Visit Sandstone Cave

2:00pm Return to Coonabarabran

The Network aims to facilitate education and discussions that will assist professionals and interested community members working in all aspects of heritage management, including planners, heritage advisors, historians and environmental managers.

Warrumbungle Shire Council, with support from the Department of Environment and Climate Change, is pleased to present two days of information, workshops and site visits focusing on the management of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

Ray Christison, Heritage Advisor to Warrumbungle Council, and Bob Sutherland of DECC, will present projects currently being developed in conjunction with local Aboriginal groups, such as the Gamilaroi Gallop and Sculpture in the Scrub. Highlights will include site visits to the Burra Bee Dee Mission, the Sandstone Caves and Baradine Keeping Place.

The program for the 2 days is outlined below:

DATE
Thursday 10 April & Friday 11 April 2008

WHERE
Warrumbungle Shire Hall, 27-29 John Street, Coonabarabran

TIME
Thursday 10 April, meet at Shire Hall for registration at 12pm, followed by lunch and afternoon presentations.
Friday 11 April, meet at Shire Hall at 8am, bus to Burra Bee Dee Mission for tour and bbq breakfast, followed by site visits.

COST
The cost to member councils and their heritage advisors is covered by council’s subscription and includes up to four representatives.
All heritage advisors: No charge
All other interested people and organisations: $35.00 per person
(cost includes seminar and lunch/afternoon tea day 1, breakfast and lunch day 2)

DINNER
Dinner on Thursday night will be at the Golden Sea Dragon restaurant, 8 John Street banquet menu, $24.90 per head.

ACCOMMODATION
All Travellers Motor Inn and Acacia Lodge are very close to the venue and offer good quality accommodation at reasonable rates. However there are a number of motels close by, these can be found at www.coonabarabran.com

REGISTRATION
Please register in advance by Friday 4 April 2008. Payment can be made by sending a cheque made out to the “Central West Heritage Network” to 48 Main Street, Wallerawang 2845, or pay on the day.

Warrumbungle Shire Council looks forward to your participation in this important event. If you have any questions, please contact network convener, Wendy Carlson on wendy.carlson@carlsonmilliss.com

Our next network meeting will be in Coonabarabran on the 10^th and 11^th April, 2008, proudly hosted by the Warrumbungle Shire Council.

As you can see, this meeting will be slightly different to usual, mostly due to the considerable travel necessary for many of our members – don’t be put off though! The two day format presents an opportunity to really explore the area and hopefully, for some at least, a chance to stay on for the weekend and see even more of this truly remarkable part of New South Wales.

The program has been designed to allow travel time on Thursday morning with lunch and presentations from 1pm-5pm followed by networking time at the truly fabulous Golden Sea Dragon Chinese restaurant. It’s up early the next morning to board the bus for a bbq breakfast at the Burra Bee Dee Mission followed by a drive to Baradine with more visits to Aboriginal heritage sites along the way. We intend to be back at Coonabarabran around 2pm so those who just have to leave can do so in good time.

Burra Bee Dee Mission entrance road (Photo Ray Christison)

We are fortunate again to have the expertise of Ray Christison, Heritage Advisor to the Warrumbungle Shire Council and consultant on heritage to the Department of Environment and Climate Change, as our keynote speaker. Bob Sutherland, our Aboriginal presenter, will guide us on the field trip with support from the local Aboriginal Land Council.

Burra Bee Dee cemetery (Photo Ray Christison)

The details of the program are coming together and will be posted as soon as possible but for the moment I can tell you that Thursday afternoon’s presentations will provide an overview and information related to the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage – including acknowledging and managing the past and some exciting contemporary initiatives which utilise traditional knowledge in innovative ways.

B Line Road, Pilliga Forest (Photo Ray Christison)

There is lots happening if you can stay for another day. Saturday is the Coonabarabran Racing Carnival – a big day out in Coona, and if that’s not enough, you can spruce up for the Matron’s Ball on Saturday night – Australian intangible cultural heritage at its best. Other highly recommended attractions include a visit to the Warrumbungle National Park, Siding Spring Observatory and the renowned Pilliga Pottery. If you are after a sensible hat, check out the Newcastle Hats factory outlet in Ulan Street. No silly hats here, so if you are after something more frivolous for the races perhaps visit some of the local boutiques in John Street. Nothing like retail therapy after a hard couple of days being entertained and informed by yours truly, the Central West Heritage Network convener and presenters.

Stay tuned for detailed program. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email me on wendy.carlson@carlsonmilliss.com or phone 6355 7500.

The Hill End seminar on September 18 was one of our most successful to date – despite the remote location there were over 40 participants and the weather was perfect for our walking tour.

The perfect day for a walking tour. (Photo Susan Loudon)

The day was opened by the Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council, Norm Mann. Bathurst Council was the host of this seminar, providing the venue, catering and administration assistance. My warmest thanks to Sinclair Croft for his management of these important aspects – it was done with style, I think you would all agree.

Ray Christison examining the kitchen ceiling in Bleyer’s cottage. The cottage has been left unrestored to demonstrate typical Hill End building techniques. (Photo Susan Loudon)

One of the objectives of this meeting was to learn some practical skills associated with the development of Conservation Management Strategies. Ray Christison, heritage advisor and consultant, presented this topic which included an overview, workshop and tour of several Hill End cottages.

The exterior of Bleyer’s cottage. (Photo Susan Loudon)

Wattle and daub technique exposed at Bleyer’s Cottage. The diagonal scoring in the mud render was to key in the final coat of stucco.

A ‘Strategy’ as opposed to Conservation Management Plans enables the production of a practical document which can be put to use immediately with results that are achievable in the short term as well as providing long term strategies for the conservation of heritage buildings. The CMS is intended to be a ready reference which is usable to a range of people, from heritage professionals to owner builders.

Lew Bezzina explains the recent restoration of the front wall of Haefliger’s cottage, formerly owned by the artist Jean Bellette and artist/critic Paul Haefliger. (Photo Susan Loudon)

Ray has developed more than thirty CMS’s for Hill End in conjunction with Lew Bezzina, the DECC Manager of the Hill End Historic Site. It was certainly an enjoyable way to learn and we were lucky to have such a warm day after the gale the day before, and, as usual the charm of Hill End was inescapable.

Many thanks too to Barbara Hickson who presented a session on the Chinese Heritage of the Central West, Miriam Stacy from the Heritage Office who alerted us to new heritage grants processes and Ian Milliss who has put this web site together – don’t forget to send articles and information for him to post.

The front garden at Haefliger’s cottage. (Photo Susan Loudon)

The day ended with a talk and presentation by Gavin Wilson on the artists of Hill End and their significant contribution to Australian art history. The effect the area has had on the development of Australia’s visual vocabulary is profound. The tradition has been continued by the artist in residence program, of which Gavin was instrumental in creating. Many artists of exceptional talent and versatility have found inspiration at Hill End.

The Catholic church. (Photo Susan Loudon)

Thanks to our partners for their assistance in making this event possible: The NSW Department of Planning, Heritage Office of NSW, Bathurst Regional Council and the Department of Environment and Climate Change, and all of our Council subscribers, heritage professionals, committee members organisations and owners who made the day such a success.

The Hill End seminar today was one of our most successful to date – despite the remote location there were over 40 participants and the weather was perfect for our walking tour. Full report soon.