National Trust NSW Magazine – Jan to March 2023

NATIONAL TRUST NEW SOUTH WALES

Welcome to our first edition of the National Trust New South Wales magazine for 2023. A collaborative effort with the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) has brought back to life a rare eighteenth-century yellow silk dress. Read how the work of NIDA students and dress historian Hilary Davidson has revealed rich layers of history. Learn about the heritage issues State election candidates should be addressing. Reflect on the legacy of the Norman Lindsay Gallery as we celebrate 50 years of this special place being in our care. And make the most of summer days with the host of events, workshops, exhibitions, performances and tours on offer over the next three months.

Cover image

National Institute of Dramatic Arts students Lucy Francis (left) and Jasmin Gray with the 1770 version of a dress created from original silk found in the National Trust collection (photo by Jacquie Manning).

National Trust (NSW) Observatory Hill, Millers Point, Sydney 2000 GPO Box 518, Sydney 2001 Telephone: (02) 9258 0123 nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

President: Ms Kathryn Pitkin AM

CEO: Debbie Mills

Editor: Andrew Sedger

Designer: Lauren Sutherland

Editorial Committee: David Burdon, Nick Corbett, Nicole Crabb, Susan Hunt, Debbie Mills, Anja Stride, Lisa Siberry, Leah Tasker, Jane Watters, Anne Weinman.

The National Trust New South Wales magazine is published by the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales). Published articles reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of the views of the National Trust. This magazine is printed by Enviropress, a division of Bright Print Group, on paper that is independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), carbon neutral and made with 100% recycled post-consumer waste in a chlorine-free environment.

An Election Focus

BY DEBBIE MILLS

Dear Members,

In this first edition of the magazine for 2023, it is my great pleasure to introduce our recently elected Board of Directors (pictured right). It is a privilege to serve this wonderful organisation and I look forward to working together to achieve the National Trust’s vision. I’d also like to welcome our new President, Ms Kathryn Pitkin AM, who will be introduced in more detail in the next edition. Meanwhile, information about our directors and their expertise can be found on our website.

A special thank you goes to the outgoing board members who did not re-stand. To our outgoing President and former Treasurer, Mr Neil Wykes OAM, your leadership and dedication to our purpose, people and volunteers has been exceptional. To our long-standing board members, Mr John Richardson and Mr Ian Stephenson, the National Trust is grateful for your dedication, commitment and guidance. Collectively your stewardship in many and varied roles has successfully guided the organisation through one of the most challenging periods in its history. From everyone at the National Trust, thank you. I look forward to working with you as you continue your involvement in different capacities with the National Trust.

On the subject of elections, with the NSW State election in March fast approaching, the National Trust has identified a set of priorities we will be pursuing during the campaign. It’s a valuable opportunity to raise public awareness about major threats to our natural, cultural and built heritage in NSW, and to secure policy commitments from the candidates for our heritage priorities.

We are calling for greater protection of the natural and cultural places we love by amending planning laws to prevent the Heritage Act from being switched off. We are advocating to ‘keep the lights on’, by resourcing heritage places for all to appreciate and enjoy. We are also calling for new incentives to encourage adaptive reuse through conservation of special places rather than demolition. You can read more about our State election heritage priorities in this edition.

I wish everyone an enjoyable summer and a bright 2023.

Best wishes,

Election Results

We welcome our 2023 Board of Directors:

Ms Kathryn Pitkin AM (President)

Ms Lisa Newell (Deputy President)

Mr David Pratt (Treasurer)

Mr David Collingridge (continuing) Dr Elizabeth Farrelly (re-elected)

Ms Susan Hunt (re-elected)

Ms Fenella Kernebone (re-elected)

Dr Clive Lucas OBE (continuing)

Ms Caroline Mackaness (continuing)

Ms Debbie Mills, CEO (continuing)

Mr William Oates (elected)

Mr Bruce Pettman (elected) Ms Kylie Winkworth (continuing)

Above

L to R: Mr Bruce Pettman, Ms Caroline Mackaness, Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, Ms Debbie Mills CEO, Mr David Pratt (Treasurer), Ms Susan Hunt, Ms Kathryn Pitkin AM (President), Ms Kylie Winkworth. Absent from photo: Mr David Collingridge, Ms Fenella Kernebone, Dr Clive Lucas OBE, Ms Lisa Newell (Deputy President), Mr William Oates (photo by Yianna Aspradakis).

CEO

Debbie Mills,

National Trust News

Catch up on the latest heritage and advocacy news in NSW. Read about the new works at Everglades House & Gardens and the National Trust's efforts to restore Sydney bushland. Stay up to date on the progress of heritage-threatening development proposals at Barangaroo, Central Station and Parramatta.

GENERAL NEWS

Conservation work begins

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated to our recent Everglades House & Gardens appeal, we’ve now begun important conservation work on the Art Deco house. The conservation team has started drafting architectural plans, inspecting plaster murals and testing the finishes of the original timber-veneer joinery. And there’s much more to do, including constructing original furniture designs, sourcing textiles for window coverings and identifying original paint colours. We’ll keep you updated as this heritage icon is transformed over the coming months.

National Trust volunteers recognised

Congratulations to Doug Werner and Rosalie Bush, recently recognised in the 2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards. A volunteer and Deputy Chair at Harper’s Mansion in Berrima, Doug was named senior volunteer of the year in the Illawarra region. Rosalie Bush scooped up the award for Southern Inland senior volunteer of the year for her work at Cooma Cottage in Yass. The effort of hundreds of volunteers like Doug and Rosalie make it possible to bring our places to life. If you’d like to join them, visit nationaltrust.org.au/Volunteers-nsw

Creating a greener Sydney

The National Trust is part of the global fight to tackle biodiversity loss. In 2022 the bushland management team was out making Sydney a cleaner, greener place, tackling invasive weeds and restoring native bushland at Malabar Wetlands, Tamarama Gully, the New South Wales Golf Club and many more places across the State. More important bushland restoration is also planned for 2023. Find out more about the National Trust’s bushland work at nationaltrust.org.au/services/bushland-management

Minister rejects proposal

Following immense community backlash, including a dedicated National Trust campaign, the NSW Premier has stated that the most recent proposed design modification for Central Barangaroo is unacceptable due to its impact on the public domain and historic views. We will continue to work to ensure a new design protects the important heritage aspects of this location, allowing Millers Point and Observatory Hill to retain their significant and historic views to Sydney Harbour.

Central Station battle continues

The National Trust recently campaigned against a rezoning proposal for Sydney’s Central Station precinct. If approved, the rezoning will allow overdevelopment of the State heritage-listed precinct, with plans to enclose all country platforms and build high-rise towers over the railway lines. These proposals would destroy the distinctive character, memory and outdoor connections of Central’s Grand Concourse and diminish views of the clock tower and station. We await the response of the NSW Government.

Hambledon Cottage at risk

A proposed development directly behind historic Hambledon Cottage at Harris Park will have an overwhelmingly negative impact on both the cottage setting and its surrounding cultural landscape. The proposal further compromises the setting of Hambledon Cottage by severing its view lines to two other highly significant, early-colonial Parramatta sites – Elizabeth Farm Cottage and Experiment Farm Cottage. The NSW government is currently reviewing the development application. We’ll keep you updated on the response.

Opposite from top Everglades House & Gardens (National Trust image); volunteer Rosalie Bush guiding visitors at Cooma Cottage (SGR Photo image); the bushland management team (National Trust image).

From top

Public views down to Barangaroo (National Trust image); Central Station (photo by Photon-Photos, iStock.com); Hambledon Cottage (National Trust image).

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NSW State Election 2023: Make Heritage Matter

BY DAVID BURDON, NATIONAL TRUST CONSERVATION DIRECTOR

In the lead up to the State election on 25 March, the National Trust is calling on candidates to consider and commit to four key areas of heritage conservation if they are elected.

Opposite

The award-winning Dawn Fraser Baths in Sydney’s Balmain were restored and adapted by TKD Architects to cope with rising sea levels. The National Trust is calling for sustainable development of heritage buildings to be incentivised (photo by Arthur Vay, Sydney Site Photography).

Left

Proposed development at Central Station adjacent to the approved Atlassian Tower envelope – both towers are built on top of heritage items within the State-heritage listed precinct. Without protection from the Heritage Act, these places remain under threat (Bates Smart Architects image).

The world has changed dramatically since the last State election in 2019. The impacts of a global pandemic have been felt in NSW, not to mention the widespread devastation caused by fires and floods. Among the many issues that will no doubt form part of a broader discussion, the National Trust is working hard to ensure that the protection of our natural, built and cultural heritage is on the political agenda. Recent announcements regarding the scrapping of proposed plans for Barangaroo offer a glimmer of hope that heritage may finally gain some recognition as a component of good planning and government stewardship, however current proposals affecting Sydney’s Central Station and Parramatta’s St John’s Cathedral precinct provide a stark warning that continued vigilance is essential.

Reinforce legislative protection

In May 2021, at the request of the State government, the Legislative Assembly Social Issues Standing Committee commenced a review of the NSW Heritage Act . The National Trust played an important advocacy role during this review. Our own detailed submission was joined by more than 300 others, many of which supported our position that the current Act did not require extensive change. The Standing Committee published its report to the government in October 2021, and the government response supported in full, or in principle, 25 of the 26 recommendations made – many of them proposed by the National Trust. The government is now in the process of drafting a Heritage Bill to amend the Act, which will undergo further consultation.

While the review process has shown that current controls are largely satisfactory, it has also highlighted that the Act would be more workable if it was administered more consistently and in a timely manner. Of particular concern, sections of both the Heritage Act and the National Parks and Wildlife Act

can effectively be ‘turned off’ or overridden when a project or application is deemed to be State Significant Development (SSD) or State Significant Infrastructure (SSI), under a provision of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act

This bizarre situation where our heritage legislation can simply be turned off is unique to NSW, and is one of the reasons why items that are formally listed on our State Heritage Register – such as Central Station – continue to be at great risk and without adequate heritage protection. In fact, analysis prepared by the National Trust highlights that there has been a dramatic escalation in the number of projects designated either SSD or SSI that have ‘turned off’ the Heritage Act and its protections for their impact assessment, up from 48 in 2005 to 402 in 2021 (source: Heritage Council of NSW Annual Reports, 2005 –2022). It is only by enabling, rather than disabling, the Heritage Act's protections that we can hope for any serious retention and conservation of our heritage places.

Increase funding for local heritage

At present there is a genuine imbalance in the approach to resourcing conservation and management of heritage in NSW, which is negatively affecting places considered to have protection. The majority of listed heritage items in NSW are locally listed – some 40,000 – yet the bulk of administration and funding is focused on State-heritage listed places.

Many councils in NSW have insufficient resources to adequately

“Heritage is one of the reasons many people choose to visit or live in our regional centres.”

1. Stop disabling the State’s heritage legislation. Repeal Section 4.41 (c) and (d) of the EPA&A Act.

2. Commit to stand-alone Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation. Table an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage bill in 2023 and ensure it's properly resourced.

3. Develop options to better protect remnant urban bushland and significant trees across NSW.

4. Legislate the mandatory consideration of the Government Architect's Design Guide for Heritage.

5. Make grants available for operational costs of heritage organisations, museums and galleries.

6. Incentivise adaptive reuse of buildings to encourage sustainable development and reduce carbon footprints.

7. Ensure the NSW Government properly cares for the State’s heritage as a responsible custodian of these precious heritage assets.

8. Ensure funding is made available so that every local council can employ a local heritage advisor.

manage places on their local heritage register. In some cases, the number of items listed is also sadly lacking despite there being many properties that potentially qualify. Some councils do not have a heritage adviser at all, while others have access to overstretched consultants engaged on the slenderest of contracts – sometimes for just one day of work every two months.

Heritage is one of the reasons many people choose to visit or live in our regional centres. The National Trust is requesting that government commit to establishing an adequate, long-term program for local heritage and ensure that every local council has resources to employ or have access to a heritage adviser. Based on our own experience in offering conservation advice across NSW, we firmly believe that having a dedicated team giving local heritage advice within government will achieve far-reaching results in a cost-effective manner. Financial and practical assistance should also be made available to councils to support thorough significance assessments and ensure local heritage studies accurately identify heritage places.

Look after our heritage

As a custodian of many heritage properties across NSW, the National Trust is acutely aware of the importance of regular maintenance to conserve our heritage places – both built and natural. A minor investment at the correct time may not only save a heritage item, but also money and resources in the longer-term. Our members expect us to fulfil our obligations in caring for these places, and ensuring they are conserved for future generations. Similarly, there is an expectation that the State government must recognise its own responsibilities as the largest owner of listed heritage places in NSW –responsible for 54% of all items on the State Heritage Register. Small yet well considered measures to repair our historic buildings

“The State government must recognise its own responsibilities as the largest owner of listed heritage places in NSW.”

What the National Trust is advocating for in the 2023 NSW election

also go a long way towards ensuring they will not suffer from what is termed demolition by neglect. “Now” will always be the right time to replace that missing roof tile, rather than waiting until the whole roof needs to be replaced and the interiors are ruined. This is particularly true of places under government ownership. The National Trust insists that all areas of government are accountable for meeting their statutory obligations under the NSW Heritage Act to ensure these assets are adequately maintained.

We are asking candidates to support an increase in funding and higher prioritisation of resources to conserve, re-use and activate heritage-listed buildings in government care. Such funding must have as its aim actual conservation outcomes.

Thinking sustainably

Making a place safe and accessible is often the first step in finding a viable new or continued use for many heritage items. Appropriate adaptive re-use not only brings new life to our heritage places, but it has the potential to generate new business and tourism in both metropolitan and regional communities, and has substantial environmental benefits. The National Trust firmly believes in the mantra that the greenest building is the one that is already there. Too often we see the environmental credentials of new buildings being endlessly promoted, when their construction involves the demolition of a perfectly serviceable structure.

Released at the latest round of climate talks in Egypt (COP27), the 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction identified that the construction sector accounted for more than 34% of energy demands and approximately 37% of energy and process-related CO 2 emissions in 2021. This means that the gap between the climate performance of the sector and the 2050 decarbonisation pathway is widening.

The National Trust supports truly sustainable development that properly incentivises adaptive re-use, retrofitting, and the conservation of existing buildings. There is a stark contrast between the recent awardwinning conservation and adaptation of the nation’s oldest post-1788 tidal pool in Balmain, taking into consideration rising sea levels, and the senseless proposal to demolish enormous portions of the historic 1913 Parcels Post

Heritage places with no protection

NSW State heritage places are increasingly losing protection when the Heritage Act is ‘turned off’ for State Significant Developments (SSDs).

2005 2018 2021

Heritage Act turned off for 48 developments

Heritage Act turned off for 268 developments

Heritage Act turned off for 402 developments

What can I do for heritage?

Opposite

The award-winning Walsh Bay Arts Precinct turned heritage-listed wharves into a contemporary cultural hub. Projects like these depend on local and government funding (photo by avresa, iStock.com).

Above

Parramatta’s locally-listed Willow Grove, dismantled earlier this year to make way for the new Powerhouse Parramatta project (photo by Stephen Dwyer, alamy.com).

1. Share these issues with your local candidates. Download a letter from our website and email your local candidate.

2. Write to the editor of your local paper.

3. Share our social media posts.

4. Attend our Heritage Forum in early 2023. We’ll share party and candidate responses so you’ll know what each party has committed to heritage. To get updates, subscribe to our enewsletter at nationaltrust.org.au/enews-nsw

Swimming With History

BY ANNA RIDLEY, ASSISTANT CURATOR PARRAMATTA MUSEUMS

The River: Burramatta to Cockatoo is an exciting new exhibition at Old Government House exploring stories relating to the Parramatta River, from the significance of the area to the Dharug people to its role in feeding a starving colony and a campaign aiming to make its waters swimmable again.

The Parramatta River winds its way from its source just north of Parramatta, through the heart of Sydney, to the harbour at Cockatoo Island. For thousands of years, it has been a source of food, transport and recreation.

The new exhibition at Old Government House explores our connections to the river by focusing on its importance to the Dharug people, how it shaped the growth of the city that has grown along it, and how we can work together to revitalise the river and ensure its health for years to come.

Geologically, the Parramatta River is a drowned river valley that filled as the seas rose at the end of the last ice age some 25,000 years ago. It forms at the confluence of Darling Mills Creek and Toongabbie Creek, 1.5 kilometres from Old Government House. Its mouth is 22 kilometres downstream, where Longnose Point and Manns Point stretch into the harbour. Along the way, the Parramatta River encompasses mudflats, mangroves, saltmarsh, cliffs, sandy beaches and rock platforms, all of which have been dramatically altered over the past 200 years by industry, pollution and development.

Old Government House has an intrinsic connection with the river. The house looks across to Government Farm, which was established to save the starving colony using the reliable fresh water and open grassy areas of its upper reaches. Governor Phillip planned the township of Parramatta along the river, with the landing place for boats a mile from

the farm site. The river went on to play an important role in the expansion of the colony, providing water for the farms established on land grants and a natural transport route for the produce they grew.

One colonial house that will feature in the exhibition is The Vineyard, originally built by John Verge for Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur in the 1830s. Heavy losses in the 1840s depression forced Macarthur to sell the estate in 1848, and it was purchased by the Catholic Church and renamed Subiaco. By the 1950s land in the Rydalmere area had been zoned for industrial use, and Subiaco was surrounded by factories. The house and remaining land were sold to the Rheem Corporation. Despite strong advocacy from the National Trust and other organisations,

Opposite clockwise from top Subiaco by Frederick Charles Terry, c. 1860, published by Degotardi & Co. (image courtesy National Library of Australia); Little Coogee was a popular swimming and picnic spot on the river near Parramatta Park as far back as the 1880s (image c. 1920, courtesy Parramatta Park and Western Sydney Parklands Trust); The landing place at Parramatta, Port Jackson by George William Evans, c. 1809 (image courtesy State Library of New South Wales).

Below

Lake Parramatta is a heritage-listed reservoir and recreational area located on Hunts Creek, a tributary of the Parramatta River. It was opened for swimming in 2015 (photo courtesy City of Parramatta).

the building was demolished in 1961 to make way for a car park. The National Trust was given a number of architectural pieces from the demolished structure, some of which will be on display in the exhibition, along with artworks reflecting the changing landscape of the site.

The industrial zoning of the river in the Rydalmere and Silverwater area added pollutants to the river, making the once clear water unsafe for swimming or fishing. Changes in land use also led to the encroachment of mangroves into new areas, outcompeting the saltmarsh that originally grew in many places.

In the early years of settlement, river crossings for people and vehicles were urgently needed. The initial foot crossings were all at Parramatta where the water level was lowest. In the 1830s, river punts were set up for crossings, with the first at Bedlam Point where it connected the two halves of the Great North Road. Passengers often had to assist with the punt’s operation, and there were problems with weather and broken cables. Today a punt still operates between Mortlake and Putney. It was established in 1928 by the Australian Gas Light Company to transport workers from their homes on the north side of the river to the gasworks at Mortlake, saving a long trip around via Gladesville or Parramatta prior to Ryde Bridge being built.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s the National Trust joined with other organisations seeking rehabilitation of the river. They called for the clean-up of foreshore parks, a reduction of pollution entering the river and recreation activities along its banks. Today there is a renewed push by the Parramatta River Catchment Group to reinstate swimmable areas in the river, with four sites already operational and more to come. Visitors to the exhibition will be given the opportunity to lend their voice to this campaign, as well as exploring the lighter side of the river – the rowing contests, swimming and leisure pursuits that have helped connect generations of people to this vital waterway.

Visit the exhibition

4 MARCH – 26 NOVEMBER 2023

The River: Burramatta to Cockatoo opens at Old Government House, Parramatta. A special members’ viewing day will be held on Thursday 9 March. For more details see page 20. Check opening hours and plan your visit at nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

Celebrating the Lindsay Legacy

BY HELEN GLAD, ART HISTORIAN AND NORMAN LINDSAY’S GRAND-DAUGHTER

It’s been 50 years since the National Trust began caring for the Norman Lindsay Gallery at Faulconbridge. Helen Glad, art historian and grand-daughter to Norman Lindsay, reflects on its acquisition and the crucial role members have played in funding essential work to conserve his legacy.

In 1969 Norman Lindsay made a bequest to the National Trust (NSW). He gifted a collection of his works – 16 watercolours, 17 oil paintings, nine pen drawings, and assorted pencil drawings, ship models, sculptures and statuary. The bequest included bookcases and furniture decorated by Norman and “all my paints, painting table and other materials dealing with my craft”.

Norman’s will stipulated that the National Trust had to acquire his Blue Mountain home, Springwood, to house the bequest. The problem was that his wife, Rose, owned the property. Supported by The Australian newspaper, an appeal was started in 1970 to raise funds for its purchase. Among members of the Appeal Committee were Sir Robert Menzies, Dr HC Coombs, Kenneth Slessor, Geoffrey Dutton and Douglas Stewart. After $30,000 had been raised, a generous final donation of $50,000 from Mr S.H. Ervin was enough to secure the property and allow for necessary restorations. Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck officiated at the opening on 24 February 1973.

Creative spaces

Situated on the traditional lands of the Dhurag people, the property was home to the Lindsay family – Norman, Rose and their daughters Jane and Helen – from 1912. Norman produced

a prodigious amount of art in the house and grounds. Paintings, pen drawings, etchings, cartoons for The Bulletin , novels and the Australian children’s classic, The Magic Pudding , poured out of his fertile mind. When he wanted a diversion, he created ship models and garden statues of fauns and nymphs.

Rose saw to the responsibilities of raising their two daughters and entertaining the many visitors who made a pilgrimage to Springwood. She managed the business side and ensured, as his chief protector, he was not distracted from his art. She also reproduced the etchings which he began creating seriously during the First World War. An etching studio was built on land below the main house, which enjoyed the light demanded for fine work on metal plates. The studio provided space for a press on which Rose printed the etchings individually. Collaboration between artist and printer produced 375 etchings over a period of 20 years.

Restoration and improvements

For 50 years, the National Trust has addressed the complex requirements of maintaining the collection, the house and the grounds through appeals and grants. The original bequest has also increased significantly via donations and the Cultural Gifts Program. In 1988 a Bicentennial grant was used to cast the Seahorse Fountain and several other statues in bronze. This grant also enabled originals in the courtyard to be preserved.

Centenary of Federation funds enabled the National Trust to purchase the etching studio in 1998 and restore it. Built on a separate title, it had been converted into a house in the late 1940s and sold during the 1960s. The grant also covered the installation of much-needed modern lighting, a hanging system and air-conditioning. The kitchen was refurbished and, for the first time, opened for viewing. The collection store was overhauled with suitable racking and climate control to hold a diverse collection of art and objects safely. Visitors now

experience only Norman’s art on the walls and have a sense of the domestic atmosphere where it was created.

Caring for the cement statuary made in the garden has been another challenge. Material has fallen, and early attempts to restore broken pieces were not always successful. Happily, recent years have seen the difficulties redressed through suitable conservation practice.

Invisible mending

As in all heritage properties, much of the National Trust's work at Springwood is unseen, but vital to safeguarding the property and collection. Even when the results are invisible, the generosity of National Trust members in responding to appeals has been immediate and crucial to making the work possible.

The Seahorse Fountain required expensive and essential repairs due to an invasion of roots from the coral trees. When the painting studio needed extensive work on both its interior and exterior, the members again responded with generosity. Recently, an appeal provided the funds for lifting tiles in the courtyard, painting the veranda columns and replacing the wisteria pergola. Another benefactor offered funds for work on the steps to the pool and stabilisation of the pool itself. The surrounding area will also be cleared of invasive vegetation. The pool site, which has been discussed for years, will now be ready for the 50th anniversary celebrations in February.

The gallery volunteers are a wonderful, talented group. They enjoy any challenge –from acquiring the skills to clean a cement nymph to conducting tours. Nothing seems beyond them. Their dedication and enthusiasm are to be applauded, particularly after the difficult past couple of years.

50th Anniversary Gala Weekend

25 – 26 FEBRUARY 2023

Join us for a special gala weekend at the Norman Lindsay Gallery. There'll be a printing display on Norman Lindsay's original etching press, artist Linda Swindfield printing from the garden, drawing and story-telling activities. Visit nationaltrust.org.au/nsw to book tickets.

From Top

Children playing by the Seahorse Fountain (SGR Photo image); the Norman Lindsay Gallery (SGR Photo image); Norman and Rose Lindsay with their children, Jane (right) and Helen, known as Honey, c. 1931 (courtesy National Trust Archives).

Norman Lindsay’s Legacy exhibition

24 FEBRUARY – 29 MAY 2023

To celebrate the Norman Lindsay Gallery’s 50th anniversary, we’re bringing together major works from the New England Regional Art Museum and Ian Potter Museum of Art (University of Melbourne) for a special exhibition – Norman Lindsay’s Legacy. These 21 oils and watercolours have not been seen at the gallery before. See page 20. Visit nationaltrust.org.au/nsw for opening hours and to book tickets.

The Yellow Dress

BY HILARY DAVIDSON, DRESS AND TEXTILE HISTORIAN

Dress historian and curator Hilary Davidson explains how she worked with costume students from NIDA to restore a mysterious silk dress found in fragments amongst the National Trust’s collections, revealing rich layers of history stretching over some 270 years.

The yellow dress was a mystery. A pile of resplendent silk damask pieces with no provenance or history, it was found in a bag amongst the National Trust’s collections. Part of it was constructed as a small bodice; the rest comprised scraps and lengths. The textile was clearly eighteenth century and had been a gown at one point, but when and in what form?

Australian dress collections contain very few pre-nineteenth-century pieces. To find even a partial early garment is important for the nation’s broader clothing story, so several experts tried to work out just what was going on with the textile pieces and start to reconstruct the original object.

Recognising that it offered a leading resource in costume construction, the National Trust approached the National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA) for assistance. Working collaboratively, the two organisations devised a project to reconstruct the original dress by re-stitching it, and to make replicas of the garment and historically appropriate underwear. Two NIDA costume students, Lucy Francis and Jasmin Gray, were mentored through the process as part of their final-year independent research project. It was an exciting chance to deep-dive into the history and cultural context of a rare artefact.

Our aims were to bring back to life a whole version of the dress using the original material; create a replica dress showing an alternative

version of the garment, which has been refashioned several times over the past 270 years; contribute to a display for the National Trust; and find out where the dress came from and how it arrived in Australia. We had some background information to draw on from previous analysis of the garment carried out between 2017 and 2019 by National Trust costume curator Eleanor Keene and volunteer Thelma Scanes. They realised the bodice element was twentieth-century fancy dress and that the original eighteenth-century gown had two different forms, with potentially another altered version made in the late nineteenth century. They unpicked contemporary alterations to release the flat textile shapes from crude and hasty stitching, then made a template of the pieces. Armed with these details, we set to work seeking definitive answers.

First, we spent a long time looking at the scraps and lengths found in the bag. These leftovers were crumpled, folded, dirty and confused, with myriad strange cuts and layers of stitching lines. They offered both too many and too few clues as to how they once connected. We ended up taking five full days, with three researchers, to trace the paths these remains had taken through time – the most difficult object study I have encountered in twenty years! By creating detailed patterns, experimenting and making toiles to test construction, and using the silk’s repeating weave as a guide, we finally worked out the dress’s history. Through it all, the beauty of the silk still shone, with its stylised foliage forms and elegant flowers.

The dress began life as a piece of silk woven in England circa 1745–1752. The first dress

Opposite

The original silk restored to the 1770 version of the dress (photo by Jacquie Manning).

Clockwise from top left Making a template from an original fabric piece; working on the 1770 version of the dress; stays, chemise, petticoat and panniers constructed by Lucy Francis in a style accurate to the later 18th century (photo by Jacquie Manning).

“Using the silk’s repeating weave as a guide, we finally worked out the dress’s history.”

was made at this time in a popular style of the day, with wide, full skirts, an open bodice with a stomacher, and folded ‘robings’ down each side at the front. The back of this original dress survived – it had pleats running into the skirt in a l’Anglaise style, with the lower half removed. Jasmin made a cotton-sateen replica of this dress, using detailed research to decide how it would have looked originally and working back from the existing pieces to recreate the missing parts.

The second incarnation of the dress was a renovation of the first version. In the 1770s, someone removed two panels of silk, making the skirt narrower and changed the cut so the bodice ended in a deep V at the back and the skirt gathered densely all the way round. Although still opening at the front, the style was changed to have a solid front instead of a removable stomacher. This version contained the most original stitching, so the team decided that I should conserve it by re-sewing it and filling in the missing parts using a silk faille fabric, period-accurate thread and conservation stitching techniques. Meanwhile, Lucy made a pair of stays (like a corset) accurate to the later eighteenth century and in period materials to give shape to the dress. She also constructed a

chemise and petticoat and two sets of panniers to give the skirts a fashionable fullness.

The Yellow Dress project provided the students with an invaluable opportunity to work on a unique, complex process of interpretation. Working together, we created a rich set of objects exploring how this dress once looked and was worn. Each stage required group discussion, decision-making and testing many theories. We conducted far-reaching research and learned new (old) ways of making and thinking about clothing. Unfortunately, we did not learn how the dress came to Australia. However, the final results are a huge achievement, transforming a pile of scrap material into a window into the world of clothing past. We are deeply grateful to the National Trust for making the project possible through its generous support and ongoing collaboration.

Above Jasmin Gray (left) with the

dress made to the 1740 version and Lucy Francis with the original silk restored to the 1770 version (photo by Jacquie Manning).

The National Trust would like to thank the Copland Foundation for funding this conservation project. Special thanks also to Eleanor Keene and Lindie Ward who assisted with the project, Suzanne Osmond, and NIDA course coordinators, Annette Ribbons and Corinne Heskett.

Stories of the Yellow Silk Dresses

The replica dress will join the National Trust’s permanent collection for education and public programs. The yellow dress will be on display at Grossmann House in Maitland from 12 February. See pg 18. Check opening hours and plan your visit at nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

replica

Calendar

Make the most of summer’s longer days and step out to experience heritage at our special places across New South Wales. From stunning exhibitions to hands-on workshops, performances and tours, plus exclusive member events, there’s something for all to enjoy.

Important Note: General Entry prices are changing from 1 February 2023. Please check nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices and to pre-purchase tickets. Event details are correct at time of printing.

DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW

Make the most of your membership this summer by enjoying free or discounted access to our properties or galleries. Be sure to plan ahead over the Christmas and New Year period as opening days may vary during this time. Plan your next visit at nationaltrust.org.au/places-nsw

LIFE DRAWING SUMMER SCHOOL

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

6 – 8 JANUARY, 9AM – 1PM

Join professional artist and drawing tutor Anthony Cahill in this popular three-day life drawing workshop. The workshop is suitable for beginners and advanced artists, and includes morning tea.

Tickets: Members $220, general admission $240

HEALTH ON THE HOMEFRONT TOUR

SAUMAREZ HOMESTEAD, ARMIDALE

8 JANUARY, 11AM – 12PM

Join a fascinating tour about staying healthy in early twentieth-century Australia. Learn how the White family contributed to health care in the area and how it shaped their lives.

Tickets: Members free, adults $15, concession $10, family $35, children under five free

LEURA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

EVERGLADES HOUSE & GARDENS, LEURA

7 – 22 JANUARY, FRIDAY – SUNDAY, VARIOUS

TIMES

The Leura Shakespeare Festival returns for its 14th season with A Midsummer Night's Dream, staged by the Sport for Jove Theatre Company in a spectacular garden setting.

Tickets, bookings and enquiries: visit sportforjove.com.au

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW

SAUMAREZ HOMESTEAD, ARMIDALE

UNTIL 15 JANUARY, VARIOUS DAYS AND TIMES

Don’t miss your chance to discover the perilous, fascinating and often quirky history of health in the early colony as this popular travelling exhibition makes its final NSW stop.

Tickets: Members free, adults $10, concession $8, family $25, children under five free

AUSTRALIA DAY AT MISS PORTER’S

MISS PORTER’S HOUSE, NEWCASTLE WEST 26 JANUARY, 1PM – 4PM

Find out what home life was like in early twentieth-century Australia through special displays of Australiana and household treasures from the Miss Porter’s House collection.

Tickets: Members free, adults $10, concession $8, family $25, children under five free

DYIN NURA (WOMEN'S PLACE)

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA 19 – 22 JANUARY, 8PM

This special Sydney Festival celebration sees Brenda L Croft’s commanding portrait photography projected across Old Government House, illuminating the site’s enduring significance for First Nations women. Accompanied by an evening of live music and performance on Dharug land from 6pm – 11pm on 20 January.

Tickets: Free

Heritage Awards 2023

DOLTONE HOUSE, 12 MAY 2023

Entries for the National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards are now open.

The awards celebrate outstanding practice in the field of heritage and showcase excellence across several award categories. We welcome nominations for projects that have promoted, protected or preserved heritage in New South Wales since March 2022.

Entries close Friday, 3 March 2023. To find out more visit nationaltrust.org.au/heritage-awards-nsw

ALL THINGS GREAT ARE SMALL RETFORD PARK, WHITE COTTAGE GALLERY, BOWRAL UNTIL 12 FEBRUARY, THURSDAY – SUNDAY, 10AM – 4PM

Marvel at the fine detail and craftsmanship of this exquisite collection of miniatures. Appreciate the delicate brushwork and gem-like colours, and maybe even take one home! (Image: The Fisherman by Regina Brewster )

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for Retford Park entry prices. Exhibition entry free.

STORIES OF THE YELLOW SILK DRESSES

GROSSMANN & BROUGH HOUSES, MAITLAND

12 FEBRUARY, 10AM – 3PM

Unravel the stories behind two very special eighteenth-century silk dresses on display at Grossmann House. After, tour the house, enjoy refreshments in the garden at Brough House and browse The Fibre Makers’ space.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

MISS PORTER’S EVERYDAY OBJECTS

MISS PORTER’S HOUSE, NEWCASTLE WEST

12 FEBRUARY, 1PM – 4PM

Find out what an egg has to do with darning, why irons are SAD and how trees fit into shoes! Uncover the secrets of everyday objects used by the Porter family in the early twentieth century.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

SPOWERS & SYME

S.H. ERVIN GALLERY, OBSERVATORY HILL

UNTIL 12 FEBRUARY, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM – 5PM

This exhibition explores the changing face of interwar Australia through the work of two enthusiastic exponents of modern art during the 1930s and 1940s – Ethel Spowers and Eveline Syme. (Image: Sydney tram line 1936 by Eveline Syme)

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

HISTORIC CEMETERIES IN THE FAR-REACHES OF THE HAWKESBURY

LEAVES FROM WISEMANS FERRY PARK

16 FEBRUARY, 9AM – 4PM

Join a self-drive tour to a number of unique and historic cemeteries in the Hawkesbury region. Along the way, visit the graves of early settlers and their families and take a ferry trip across the river.

Tickets: Members $20, adults $30, concession $25

GHOST NIGHT

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA

17 FEBRUARY, 17 MARCH & 21 APRIL, 7:30PM – 10:30PM

With over 200 years of history, Old Government House is no stranger to eerie encounters. Learn about our colonial past as you retrace the steps of those who walked its corridors – if you dare!

Tickets: Members $32, adults $35

Australian Heritage Festival

REGISTER

IDRIS MURPHY: BACKBLOCKS

S.H. ERVIN GALLERY, OBSERVATORY HILL

18 FEBRUARY – 26 MARCH, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM – 5PM

Curated by Terence Maloon, this unmissable survey exhibition examines the work of Idris Murphy, whose paintings are poetic responses to landscapes that shimmer and glow.

(Image: Poussin and me at Hill End 2003 by Idris Murphy )

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

LINDA SWINFIELD ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TALK

WOODFORD ACADEMY, WOODFORD 18 FEBRUARY, 1PM – 2PM

Using historic objects and archives with familial stories from the Woodford Academy collection, Linda Swinfield explores notions of motherhood in her narrative art piece titled Mother Site

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

FOLLIES AND FROLICS

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

UNTIL 19 FEBRUARY, THURSDAY – MONDAY, 10AM – 4PM

Follies and Frolics is a celebration of revelry, parties and bacchanalian feasts. This exhibition features Norman Lindsay’s artworks depicting life’s joy in all its spontaneity and foolishness.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

The Australian Heritage Festival returns from Monday 10 April to Sunday 14 May with the theme ‘Shared Stories’. The festival will once again bring the nation together to explore, discover and celebrate our country’s natural, cultural, Indigenous and built heritage.

Community groups are invited to be part of the story by registering heritage walks, talks, exhibitions, fairs, open days and more.

Visit australianheritagefestival.org.au

NORMAN LINDSAY' S LEGACY EXHIBITION

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

24 FEBRUARY – 29 MAY, THURSDAY – MONDAY, 10AM – 4PM

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Norman Lindsay Gallery with a visit to our special exhibition featuring an array of fine works loaned from public and private collections.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN WITH THE KATE WOOLFE BIG BAD SWING BAND

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

4 MARCH, 6PM – 9PM

Enjoy a summer evening under the stars with the Kate Woolfe Big Bad Swing Band. Bring a picnic and swing the night away to the sounds of vintage jazz and modern classics in lounge style.

Tickets: Members $30, general admission $35, concession $30

THE RIVER: BURRAMATTA TO COCKATOO

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA

4 MARCH – 26 NOVEMBER, TUESDAY – SUNDAY, 10AM – 4PM

This exhibition uncovers centuries of use of the Parramatta River, including by the Burramattagal people. Discover stories of colonisation, industrialisation, conservation and recreation through time, and reflect upon your own connection to the River as you explore this World Heritage listed property.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

MEMBER MEET-AND-GREET

AT NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY

NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY, FAULCONBRIDGE

3 MARCH, 5PM – 7PM

Celebrate the Norman Lindsay Gallery’s 50th anniversary with a special exhibition viewing, and welcome new members to the National Trust with a celebratory glass of champagne and canapés.

Tickets: Free

Born on Norfolk Island to First Fleet convicts, Mary Ann was destined to become a farmer's wife. Instead, at the age of fourteen she entranced the island's Commandant, the charming and flirtatious Captain Piper. Mary Ann's life journey from barefoot child to Sydney's fashionable society encompasses triumphs, tragedies and travels around the globe. For the first time, Jessica North's biography reveals Mary Ann Piper to be one of the most remarkable women in Australia's early history.

shop.nationaltrust.org.au

THE RIVER: BURRAMATTA TO COCKATOO – MEMBERS VIEWING

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PARRAMATTA 9 MARCH, 10AM – 12PM

Hear from Curator Anna Ridley about the development of Old Government House’s new exhibition and the many exciting discoveries made along the way. After, enjoy morning tea in the courtyard.

Tickets: Free

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ARTIST IN RESIDENCE LAUNCH

BROUGH HOUSE, MAITLAND

8 MARCH, 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Celebrate the launch of Brough House’s exciting new Artist in Residence programme with bubbles and finger food. After, view a special textiles display from the Grossmann House collection.

Tickets: Gold coin donation

HOMEMADE BY THE PORTERS

MISS PORTER’S HOUSE, NEWCASTLE WEST

12 MARCH, 1PM – 4PM

Marvel at the making and mending of yesteryear as you browse exquisite crochet, lace, embroidered household linens and clothing made by Florence Porter and her daughters between 1910 and 1997.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

WOMEN’S ART AT THE ACADEMY

WOODFORD ACADEMY, WOODFORD

18 MARCH, 10AM – 4PM

Browse a special International Women's Day display featuring beautiful works from the Woodford Academy collection by female artists such as Rosie Bonheur, Isabelle Bowden and Lottie Trym.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

GLORIOUS GARDENS IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS COUNTRY

15 – 16 APRIL

GARDENS

The Women’s Committee invite you to explore stunning coolclimate gardens of great diversity and charm in the Moss Vale and Bowral districts, some of which have not opened previously to visitors. Meet us there or hop aboard an all-inclusive coach journey from Central Station. There’s also the option to enjoy evening drinks at Retford Park (included for coach ticketholders). Proudly brought to you by Women’s Committee of the National Trust (NSW).

Tickets: Self-drive from $150 and optional drinks package $35, coach journey with drinks from $540

GARDENERS’ BREAKFAST

RETFORD PARK, BOWRAL

30 MARCH, 9AM – 11:30AM

Join head gardener Keith Hunter for breakfast and a crisp morning walk in the vivid autumnal grounds of Retford Park. From nesting boxes to bee hotels and ‘messy’ gardening, leave feeling inspired with ideas to try at home.

Tickets: Members $55, adults $65, concession $60

BOTANICALS AT RIVERSDALE

RIVERSDALE, GOULBURN

UNTIL 7 MAY, 1ST SUNDAY MONTHLY, 10AM – 2PM

This exhibition celebrates the joy of Riversdale’s impressive gardens. Browse the beautiful nature-inspired artworks of former resident Emily Rose Twynam and delight in elaborate floral displays.

Tickets: Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for prices

Tours

National Trust Way Day Tours

National Trust guided day tours can take you to special heritage places in Sydney this summer. Visit nationaltrust.org.au/whats-on-nsw for details and tickets.

GUIDED CHAU CHAK WING MUSEUM TOUR

CHAU CHAK WING MUSEUM, CAMPERDOWN

22 FEBRUARY, 10:30AM – 12:45PM

This special tour highlights spectacular visual arts, natural history, Mediterranean antiquities and Indigenous culture collections. A scrumptious morning tea is included.

Tickets: Members $55, adults $60

FORMER GPO HISTORY AND HERITAGE TOUR

THE FULLERTON HOTEL, SYDNEY

3 MAY, 2PM – 4PM

Join a guided tour of the Fullerton Hotel, Sydney’s former GPO in Martin Place and one of Sydney’s most beautiful buildings. This History and Heritage Tour with an expert guide includes morning tea.

Tickets: Members $55, adults $60

EXPLORING THE COAL LOADER COAL LOADER CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABILITY, WAVERTON 23 MARCH, 10:30AM – 12:45PM

Join guide Jill Bunning for morning tea and an interesting waterfront tour of the former 1920s industrial site that has been completely transformed with conservation and sustainability at the forefront.

Tickets: Members $55, adults $60

Volunteer with the National Trust

If you want to explore new places, expand your skills, or simply meet new people, volunteering at the National Trust is a great way to make a real difference. We have volunteer roles that range from gardening to house tours – all at beautiful historic places across New South Wales. Come and join the team.

Visit nationaltrust.org.au/Volunteers-nsw

Overseas Adventures

A huge benefit of joining the National Trust is that it allows members free or discounted entry to more than 1,000 extraordinary heritage places around the globe. Nikki South from Southmarc Architecture shares some of the experiences she and her family have enjoyed as a result.

Sydney-based architect Nikki South, husband Mark and their daughters, Freddie and Coco, have recently returned from three years living in the United Kingdom. While there, they made it their mission to spend their weekends and holidays exploring National Trust properties and stately homes.

What were your favourite National Trust properties to visit?

One of our absolute favourites was Clivedon House in Buckinghamshire, built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a gift to his mistress. It is now a country hotel and makes the perfect weekend escape. The formal gardens and woodlands are also magnificent to wander. The property has an eclectic past and was associated with one of the biggest political scandals of the 20th century, the Profumo affair.

Another property we loved was located in our own neighbourhood – 2 Willow Road, in Hampstead. The 1939 building was designed by Erno Goldfinger for his family in what, at the time, was a shockingly modernist style. Goldfinger was a controversial architect. He remains most famous for his association with the villain in Ian Fleming’s 1958 James Bond novel of the same

name. Fleming loathed Goldfinger, personally and for his creation of the house, which involved knocking down a row of Victorian cottages.

As an architect, are you inspired by heritage properties? Yes, I’ve always loved heritage architecture, and the National Trust has so many wonderful properties in the UK, Europe and in Australia. In fact, for a recent job on the Central Coast, I took inspiration from the colour, textiles and ornaments from the eighteenth-century gothic revival architecture found at Strawberry Hills House and Gardens in Twickenham, London.

Where are you planning to visit next in your travels?

I have just booked a holiday to the Italian Riviera for the 2023 June school holidays. Italy has the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any one country, and I am planning a visit to San Fruttuoso, an eleventh-century Benedictine Abbey located near the picturesque town of Portofino.

Do you recommend becoming a National Trust (NSW) member for anyone planning to travel overseas?

Absolutely! It’s a smart way to save money because it gives you free entry to more than 1,000 unique heritage places and gardens throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Being able to visit them regularly gave our family so much pleasure.

Plan your trip

There are so many National Trust properties you can visit for free in the UK and Europe with your National Trust membership. To find out more visit nationaltrust.org.au/international-places

Left

The magnificent Palladian bridge at Stowe, Buckinghamshire, another of Nikki South's favourite places (photo by Nikki South).

Patrons, Corporate Members and Sponsors

The National Trust (NSW) acknowledges and appreciates the support we receive from these generous individuals and organisations

Patrons

G Arnott

R Butler OAM

J Calluaud

L Calluaud

Emeritus Professor

D Carment AM

J Church

K Eadie

M Eadie

P Flick

R Flick

A Hayward

B Hayward

T Heazlewood OAM

H Hewitt

P Homel

The Kimalo Foundation

The Nell & Hermon Slade Trust

The Pratten Foundation

C Sutherland

L Taggart

M Vellacott

A White

P White

C Wilkinson OAM Anonymous (7)

Corporate Members

Allen Jack & Cottier Architects

Cox Architecture Design 5 Architects

GML Heritage

Hector Abrahams Architects Lucas, Stapleton, Johnson & Partners

Melgrand

Sydney Metro

Winten Property Group Wollongong City Council

Corporate Partners

Art Gallery of NSW International Conservation Services

Laithwaite’s Wine People Museums & Galleries NSW Safewill

Supporters

L Cox AO

The Denbigh Foundation

D Foster

R Frecker

The J Permsew Foundation

I Kaiser

The Mallam Family Fund

The Maple-Brown Family Foundation

N Paton

S Pickles

T Strachan

R Sturrock

K Valder

P Wade

R Wade

S White OAM

S.H. Ervin Gallery Supporters

Allen & Unwin

Art Gallery of NSW Holding Redlich

Margaret Olley Art Trust

National Trust Wine Service Perpetual