World War OneLink

A project which directs focus to the exposition of WWI celebrations is World War One Link. An initiative of Inside History Magazine, World War One Link is a register of projects taking place across Australia during the centenary of WWI.

The website is designed to capture and record the range of commemorative projects that explore the ways in which the Great War shaped our nation. Use the website to find out what’s on where, and as a resource about the war itself.

Read more . . .

Caring for our War Memorials

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Statement of principles for the recognition of volunteers 

Promote fairness, respect and dignity in your organisation by following these principles.

• This organisation demonstrates a commitment to best practice in volunteer management and all our people respect and support this commitment.
• Our volunteers are involved in the life of the organisation and are included in decisions that affect them.
• This organisation provides volunteers with clarity about their roles and is clear about expectations and policies that impact on their roles.
• Our volunteers respect the roles of everyone in the organisation.
• This organisation recognises and celebrates the contribution of volunteers.
• Our volunteers are provided with training and professional development for their roles.
• This organisation provides all our people with the opportunity to resolve disputes with respect and dignity.

 

NEED MORE INFORMATION? VISIT: volunteering.nsw.gov.au

Volunteer-friendly organisations are able to Adopt the Principles and demonstrate their commitment to their volunteers.
Released on 13 May 2013 by The Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities.

2014 IMAGinE winner - Rebecca Pinchin

Rebecca Pinchin was Regional Services Manager at the Powerhouse Museum (PHM) for 13 years. In this capacity she incorporated regional services into the PHM’s strategic plan, and worked at a senior level with the Director, managers, curators and other staff across the museum. Her tireless campaigning for regional and community museums resulted in small museums gaining acccess to a wide range of in-house Powerhouse skills and services including, conservation services, strategic planning, exhibition design, and marketing.

Under Rebecca's guidance, Regional Services has had significant impact on museums across NSW, as well as on PHM staff who, in working with small museums have increased their knowledge and developed genuine appreciation of local and regional collections and their importance.

Rebecca led the team that developed the award-winning Australian Dress Register which documented the history and significance of hundreds of garments in museums and family collections providing an important repository of information, capturing vulnerable histories, and making little known collections accessible on-line.

National Trust Heritage Festival 2015

Registrations for the National Trust Heritage Festival 2015 are now open

The National Trust Heritage Festival will take place from the 11 April - 26 May 2015. Celebrating 35 years as the longest running community festival, it' because of organisations like yours that the festival keeps growing, attracting tourists from all over Australia and overseas.

'Conflict and Compassion' is the theme for the 2015 National Trust Heritage Festival; it has shaped who we are and helped a new multicultural nation evolve.

In 2015, Australia commemorates the centenary of the ANZACs. For many Australians, the battle of Gallipoli is inextricably linked with our national identity. But how else does conflict and compassion shape our nation?

From our Indigenous history to the centenary of World War I, the 2015 National Trust Heritage Festival will explore the human side of war, rebellion, sacrifice and endurance, and the extraordinary stories of courage and compassion that come from the horror of conflict and strife.

It is free to register a heritage related event for the festival.

40,000 copies of the printed guide will be distributed throughout NSW, to libraries, councils, tourist information centres, event participants and to all of our members. The Heritage Festival also provides free publicity to encourage people to attend your events and to give you greater exposure. To register your event click here

Open Day - Carcoar and District Historical Society

Regional Stakeholder Forum 2014

Book now for Regional Stakeholder Forum 2014

 
Friday 14 November 2014, 9am – 4pm (registration from 8.30am)
Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo

This annual forum is an opportunity for regional collecting institutions to come together to converse on topics of interest. The forum will consider sustainability, technological change and partnerships.


Download the full program (PDF)


Download the speakers and synopses (PDF)


Entry is FREE, but bookings are essential: http://from.ph/6u1

Any questions? Contact Deborah Vaughan, Program Producer (Regional) on ph 92170104 or email

Complimentary morning/afternoon tea and a light lunch are included

Presented by the Powerhouse Museum in partnership with
                       Museums & Galleries of NSW

Farm Magic

Broadcast: 12/10/2014 12:51:42 PM

Reporter: Fiona Breen

 

Woodbury House, in Tasmania, has long been a crumbling reminder of another time. Empty for decades, this prominent 19th Century homestead was falling into ruin when Queensland heritage expert Alan Cooper drove past while on holiday.

To see the Landline program click here.

Do we have similar records (photos or videos) in the Central Tablelands area?

Memory Bank - Newsletter of Millthorpe Museum

 

 

 

 

History Week 2015

History Week 2015
War, Nationalism and Identity

We are delighted to announce the new theme for History Week 2015 - War, Nationalism and Identity. Registrations for events and speaker connect will open in early November, 2014.

 
How does war shape ideas of nation and identity? Is baptism on the battlefield a prerequisite of nationhood and a sense of national identity? What are the roles of ideas and political movements in creating and shaping nation states? In 2015 the theme of History Week will focus on the history of nation building, nationalism and national identity as the products of both peaceful and violent processes, focussing on generals and politicians, constitution makers and revolutionaries.

History Week will take place between 5- 13 September 2015.

READ MORE

Two years after the launch of the War Heroes Project on 11 November 2011,  the book is at the printers!

The book contains short biographies of over 1200 servicemen and women from Lithgow & District who served in World War I.  Photographs, sketches and newspaper articles are included where possible.

The book launch will be on 9th November 2014 at Club Lithgow at 1:30 p.m.

Further details are on the above invitation.

There will be copies of the book for sale at the launch, and these can be ordered in advance by completing an order form available from the Society's website or Facebook page.
 
Jan Saundercock

Lithgow & District Family History Society Inc
PO Box 516
LITHGOW NSW 2790

Resource Centre: Cnr Tank & Donald Streets, Lithgow
Open Hours: Tuesday nights 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
First Saturday of each month (except January) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Website: www.lisp.com.au/~ldfhs

Gastronomy in the Museum: interpretation and programming through food

Hello Museum people.
 

I have been asked to give you notice of the following workshops.

Kind regards Elaine Kaldy President Central table lands Chapter of Museums Australia

Gastronomy in the Museum: interpretation and programming through food

24 October 2014

The Master Class is aimed at anyone working in museums.

Jacqui Newling, resident gastronome and assistant Interpretation curator from Sydney Living Museums is presenting a Museums’ Master class, Jacqui runs SLM’s Colonial gastronomy public programs, Jacqui is working with Villages of the Heart program with Orange Council and Central NSW Museums.

In this full day interactive program, participants will learn to develop interpretation concepts from their museums’ food-related collections and local community heritage, themes and stories. The master class has a strong focus on audience development and advocacy through activating the museum experience through visitor engagement, education and public programming.

Bookings are available through museum@orange.nsw.gov.au or Alison Russell on 63938170 by 7 October 2014 and are essential. Cost is $30.00.

Further information: http://www.centralnswmuseums.com.au/wp/2014/09/01/gastronomy-in-the- museum-interpretation-and-programming-through-food/ or email arussell@orange.nsw.gov.au

VIM Grants: Participants can make an application for a Leg Up Grant. Two participants are eligible to attend on the one application. Go to the M&G NSW website for more information or phone Margot on toll free number 1800114311

Please note The Australian National Field Days and Wine Week are held on this date, if you are having trouble with accommodation, please contact Alison.

These other training programme is in the planning stages
Mosaic Collection Management Database Training in Wagga Wagga, 10-11 February 2015

Do you have Mosaic installed at your museum, but are unsure how to use it? Have you had Mosaic training in the past, but have now forgotten the basics?

I’m thinking of holding two Mosaic training courses, both catering for beginners, on 10 & 11 February next year.
Each course will accommodate a maximum of 12 people.

I’d like to see if there is any interest out there for this training – and whether we need to hold two courses.

To help me get an idea of numbers, could you let me know if you’d be interested please? Rachael Vincent Regional Museum office Museum of the Riverina Phone 6126926 Mobile 0405773770 email Vincent Rachael@wagga.nsw.gov.au

 Save the date

The Gordon Darling Foundation and Museums Australia are happy to announce the dates for the next Museum Leadership Program to be held in 2015. Professor Jeanne Liedtka OAM will return as the MLP 

Program Director.

Museum Leadership Program 

4 - 9 October 2015

Register your interest in the program by emailing Lee Scott, Museums Australia National Office, at:

ma@museumsaustralia.org.au

Further information will be available on the MA website and announced in 

MA e-Bulletins as it comes to hand.

The Central Tablelands Chapter of museums Australia will be holding a workshop on Museum Security on the 14 March 2015 hosted by7 the Kandos historical Society further information contact the Co-ordinator Elaine Kaldy at hazelgrove@sharpdsl.com

WIRADJURI DISCOVERY TOUR

CONDUCTING SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENTS

Dr Roslyn Russell - Photograph courtesy: Dr Roslyn Russell

There will be something for everyone at the upcoming Conducting Significance Assessments Workshop, which is being held on 6 November 2014 at History House. This is an all-day workshop (10.00am – 3.30pm) and lunch is included in the $60.00 fee. It is being held in collaboration with the Professional Historians Association and the Australian Society of Archivists (NSW Branch).

We are most fortunate that historian and curator Dr Roslyn Russell who co-authored, with Kylie Winkworth, Significance 2.0: A guide to assessing the significance of collections (2009), the accepted methodology for significance assessment in Australia, will be presenting this workshop. Dr Russell has undertaken significance assessments of social history and visual arts collections and conducts workshops around Australia and overseas.

For historians and archivists wanting to develop new skills for their professional development this will be an opportunity to learn about significance assessment methodology and criteria and their applications in collection management. At the end of the day they will be ready to write a statement of significance for either a single object or an entire collection.

For the more experienced who have carried out significance assessments in the past, this will be an opportunity to hone your skills and contribute to the discussion.

If you are a member of an historical society planning to engage a consultant to undertake a Significance Assessment you will also find this workshop very helpful. You will receive lots of useful advice on the steps you will need to take in preparing for the assessment as well as the same guidance as the likely cost estimate and the format of the Significance Assessment report that you can expect to receive from the consultant.

The Wolgan Valley Railway

Shay locomotive on the Wolgan Valley railway

 

The Wolgan Valley Railway 

Shortly after his retirement from the NSW Department of Public Works Deane was engaged as a consultant by the Commonwealth Oil Company to manage the design and construction of a private railway in the NSW Wolgan Valley to provide access to their shale oil works at Newnes. 

     The railway is approximately 50 km long, linking with the western line of the NSW Railways at Clarence Junction in the Blue Mountains. It mainly follows the course of the valley hemmed in by precipitous cliffs. Deane concluded that it was inevitable that the railway would require 5 chain curves and 1 in 25 grades. Two short tunnels would be required. The volume of freight to be handled would be around 1,000 tons per day, which with the heavy grades, ruled out a narrow gauge line as being in- adequate for the task. 

     The choice of locomotives was an important issue. No locomotives in Australia at the time would be suitable for regular use on the line. Deane found that there were several designs of locomotive in service in Europe and North America that could meet the requirements. His preference was for the American Shay locomotive which had several desirable features: it had great hauling power, because the whole of its weight, both engine and tender, were available for adhesion; unlike conventional locomotives it was geared, so a very even turning force was applied of the wheels and it was able to start easily on the ruling grade; it had a very short rigid wheel base which enabled it to traverse very sharp curves; the length of the boiler tubes was very short, a little over 3 m, so the difference of the water in the boiler level in the boiler on steep grade was not serious. Its only disadvantage was that to avoid excessive vibration, speed must be limited to around 25km per hour. The Shay locomotive was a unique design with three cylinders vertically mounted beside the boiler, which was offset from the centre line of the locomotive. An articulated shaft and gears transmitted the power to all the wheels on the locomotive and tender. 

     The conference of engineers-in-chief that Deane chaired in 1903 met in Melbourne, and was requested in March of that year by the Common- wealth Minister for Home Affairs to review a large amount of information that had been accumulated about the proposed Trans Australia railway. Deane as chairman was to formally report its findings and recommenda- tions. Dean submitted his final report in July advising the Minister that the line should be standard gauge and follow a route from Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta via Tarcoola. It could be constructed in three to four years at a cost of just over £5 million, and by the tenth year turn an annual profit of £18,000 on a revenue of £400,000.

 

Shay locomotive on the Wolgan Valley railway

     Four of these locomotives were imported for operating on the line. For most of its operating life there was one train per day with a load of 400 tons, double headed over the steepest part of the line. It left Newnes at 8.30 am and retuned at 4.30 pm. This one train carried both freight and passengers. For a brief period in 1909 there were two trains per day.

     Most of the railway was laid with second hand 75 lb double headed rails purchased from NSW Railways and the remainder of the line was laid with rather lighter second hand flat bottomed rails from Tasmanian Railways. 

     The railway opened in 1907. There were serious delays in commissioning the works at Newnes, and initially the products carried on the line were not oil produsts refined at Newnes but metallurgical coke and shale for retorting elsewhere. The first refined oil was despatched in 1911. These operations were not profitable and the works closed in 1913, with train service reduced to one train per week. Various efforts were made over the years to achieve profitable operations at Newnes, but none was successful. The railway was abandoned before World War II. The rails were taken up during the war and sent to Tobruk.

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HERITAGE September-October 2014

Food for thought ................... Editor’s note
 
Carpe diem - literally speaking - “seize the day”! Take every opportunity, and don’t put all your trust in tomorrow.

Do we really realise how lucky we are in the opportunities that avail us to experience history today? Everywhere we turn, there are community groups and individuals offering experiences through seminars, collections, tours and publications about our past.

Family history groups and historical societies, museums individuals and tourist organisations abound throughout the country, where dedicated members “work” to collect, store and disseminate information about where we came from, how we reached these shores and how Australia developed from a simple colony to the nation we know today. I say “work” because to them it is often not work but a labour of love.

With the passing of John Leary OAM, it would seem timely to look back and see where we of BMACHO have come from in fostering these opportunities. BMACHO commenced in 2006 with the aim to foster and support cultural heritage activities related to the Blue Mountains. To revisit the Objects of the Constitution: 

 1. To raise public consciousness of the value of cultural heritage.

2. To encourage and assist the cultural heritage activities of member organisations. 3. To initiate and support cultural heritage activities not already covered by member organisations.

BMACHO seeks to take every opportunity to bring together many groups to share information and promote culture and heritage throughout the greater Blue Mountains area and beyond. In light of this the most current initiative is our Heritage Trail project. Our diverse membership uniquely blends the skills and resources of historical, cultural and heritage groups, major tourist attractions, gardens and galleries. We need to promote our collective skills and assets to the widest possible audience.

BMACHO is taking up the challenge and is producing a high quality Heritage Trail leaflet and trail map for distribution through Visitors’ Centres, historical societies, family history societies and museums, with contribution from BMACHO members. In addition, a dedicated website which presents the map and detailed contacts, for all BMACHO members, is also envisaged, in due course.

The Heritage Trail would incorporate open days for BMACHO member groups perhaps quarterly, proceeding along the Great Western Highway from Emu Plains to Lithgow, and up the Bells Line of Road from the Hawkesbury to Lithgow. If visitors can see the premises open on the Common Open Days, they can plan a trail that is comfortable for them to travel in a day.

Not every member group has premises, but those without may be able to use a hall or library to facilitate visitors. Even if a member is not able to participate in the Common Open Days, they can list their opening hours on the leaflet.

Funding is to be generated through corporate sponsorship and through participant’s participation fees. The launch of the project should be later in early 2015.

In the meantime, BMACHO will continue to collect and share information and events through this Newsletter. News items are always welcome, from the smallest note to articles in the order of 1500 words. Photographs will always help to illustrate the story and should be sent as separate files. Please direct any items to the editor pmoppett@gmail.com or to the secretary jkoperberg@bigpond.com

Patsy Moppett
Heritage Newsletter Editor
Blue Mountains Association of Cultural & Heritage Organisations Inc

*****

Read full Newsletter

Recognising 50 years since the closure of the Lithgow State Coal Mine

MEDIA RELEASE

Recognising 50 years since the closure of the Lithgow State Coal Mine

On 13 October 1964 the Downcast Shaft of the Lithgow State Coal Mine was sealed permanently. This marked the end of an enterprise that had operated since the dark years of the Great War.

The mine site is significant as it was the first government coal mine opened in New South Wales in the 20th century and it also has an important place in industrial relations history of the Australian coalfields.

To recognise 50 years since the closure of the mine the City of Greater Lithgow Mining Museum Inc is hosting an informal luncheon in the State Mine Bath House from 11:30am on Saturday 18 October 2014.

Guests of honour will include Paul Toole, MLA for Bathurst and Minster for Local Government, Maree Statham, Mayor of Lithgow and Wayne McAndrew, General Vice-President, CFMEU Mining and Energy Division.

We invite former State Mine workers and their families to attend. Entry will be by donation. If you wish to attend please notify us through our facebook page: Lithgow State Mine Museum or by contacting the museum on 6353 1513.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Yours faithfully

Ray Christison
President
The City of Greater Lithgow Mining Museum Inc
10 September 2014

Sydmouth Valley House visit

SYDMOUTH VALLEY HOMESTEAD

The Homestead was built in 1826 by Robert Lowe in the Sydmouth Valley through which William Cox constructed his road to Bathurst. Robert Lowe received the grant of 2,000 acres of land and the service of 20 convicts by Governor Macquarie in recognition of his services as a magistrate for the Bathurst district.

Ann Webb purchased the property in 1871 for her youngest son, Thomas Bernard Webb, and the Webb family descendants have continued to occupy the property ever since.

The Lithgow & District Family History Society Inc has arranged for the current owners Kevin Webb and Lynne Woods to conduct a tour of inspection of the handmade brick homestead and the old world cottage garden on Saturday 11 October 2014, be followed by Devonshire Morning tea.

The tour group will meet at the Tarana Hotel at 9 a.m. and following the tour there is an option to return to the Tarana Hotel for lunch, at your own expense.

The cost of the tour and morning tea is $15 which must be paid before 5 October 2014 at Lithgow & District Family History Society Inc, Ewen Smith Memorial Hall, Cnr Tank & Donald Streets, Lithgow during the Resource Centre opening hours or by post to The Secretary, PO Box 516, Lithgow.

Regional services program for 2015

Regional services program for 2015

For those who don't receive this direct, please click here.

Bathurst 2015 Celebrations & BATHEX Exhibition

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

This is the first of a series of e-newsletters to be produced in a series that will promote Bathurst’s upcoming 200th Anniversary, the BATHEX 2015 Bicentenary Collectables, Gem and Mineral Exhibition - Bathurst Remembers 200 Years of History and other various functions and exciting activities which will take place throughout next year.

BATHEX stands for ‘Bathurst Exhibition’ which has been going in Bathurst every two or three years since 1988. It follows somewhat along the lines of the historic Bathurst Juvenile Industrial Exhibition which ran from 2nd to the 9th November, 1881, some 134 years ago next year.

This e-newsletter is to assist in promoting BATHEX 200 and other events taking place during the year- long celebrations next year as Bathurst marks its 200th birthday.

 Read more

Hartley Walks and Exhibition

Report on CTC of MA workshop 16 Aug 2014

Central Tablelands Chapter N.S.W of Museums Australia

A very successful workshop on Aboriginal protocols for Museums was held by the Central Tablelands Chapter of Museums Australia on Saturday 16th of August at the Golden Memories Museum in Millthorpe and was hosted by the Millthorpe and District Historical Society.

The leading Presenter was Phil Gordon the Aboriginal Heritage Project Officer Anthropology Research at the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Phil Gordon preparing the Power Point Presentation before the workshop began


Phil presentation covered the many issues facing museums on how to display, store and handle Aboriginal objects that museum’s may have in their collections.




The workshop also focused on Developing a Community Practice: Museums and Reconciliation in Australia from the book Museums, Society, Inequality by Lynda Kelly and Phil Gordon.

Museum’s Australia’s Aboriginal Protocols Titled “Continuous Cultures, Ongoing Responsibilities was made available to members
 
This document is on the Principles and Guidelines for Australian Museums working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage.
 
A copy of this document is available on the Museum’s Australia wed site or by contacting Elaine Kaldy at hazelgrove@sharpdsl.com.


In support of the Workshop a committee of 7 People from The Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council attended the workshop. This Committee was lead by Neil Ingram whom performed a touching Welcome to Country ceremony.

Left to right front row John Gerard and Doug Sutherland. Back row Greg Ingram Terry McLean Uncle Pat Neil Ingram, members of Orange Local Aborigine Land Council
Phil Gordon, Aboriginal Heritage Project Officer Anthropology Research at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Elaine Kaldy President of Central Tablelands Chapter of Museums Australia and Brain Turnbull from the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council

After lunch an inspection and a talk was given by Elaine Kaldy about the Golden Memories Museum’s Display WIRADIJURI DREAMING and the Museum’s collection of Aboriginal objects.

This was followed by a presentation of the Dabee project which is being funded by the Department of Heritage and Conservation and Moolarben mine.

Presenters were Lyne Syme and Colin Jones Project managers.

This display is planned as a travelling exhibition so that local schools and Museums can host this exhibition that relate to the early Aboriginal occupation and history of Dabee Wiradijuri people’s.
 
For details of the touring display contact Colin Jones on the following link oldcuriosityshopmud@bigpond.com

Beyond the Blue Mountains - Following the road from Bathurst

BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS - FOLLOWING THE ROAD FROM BATHURST

The Royal Australian Historical Society is pleased to advise that the NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage, the Hon Rob Stokes MP, has announced that the RAHS grant application for the funding of a project entitled Beyond the Blue Mountains - Following the Road from Bathurst has been approved.

This project will provide a platform for those in the Central Tablelands 

to share information on their historical and heritage records 

plus a database where community members can upload local information.

 

 The project scope was defined by Christine Yeats, Elizabeth Ellis and Carol Liston with detailed project plans, documentation and budgets prepared by Suzanne Holohan (RAHS Executive Officer), with support from Graham Sciberras (RAHS Digital Media) and Donna Newton (RAHS Librarian).  The overall project aim of Beyond the Blue Mountains was to increase community awareness, interest and understanding of the historical and heritage significance of the inland settlement of NSW.  It built on the successful delivery of the Western Crossings grant program which was managed by a Working Party with similar responsibilities.

The Beyond the Blue Mountains grant application has three main components:

RAHS Collections - Grant funding:  To provide increased accessibility to the RAHS collections (includes photographs, glass lantern slides, ephemera, scrapbooks) connected to the inland settlement of New South Wales, through the delivery of dedicated webpages;  high resolution and downloadable fully indexed digitised materials from the collection, podcasts (supported by visual images) and text that can be used by regional schools and historical societies as learning tools.

Regional Workshops - Grant funding:  To deliver two regional outreach workshops supplemented by online training, materials that will build capacity and encourage intergenerational engagement with local history and heritage.

Community Engagement:  To provide a platform for Central West organisations to share information on their historical and heritage records connected with the NSW inland settlement including a database where community members can upload information on their collections and records.
Ref: Email from Jan Koperberg, RAHS Councillor 

ACHAA workshop and inaugural AGM

ACHAA (Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association Inc.) is a new association established for NSW Aboriginal cultural centres, keeping places, knowledge centres, language centres and artist-run studios. On 9 and 10 September, ACHAA will hold its first AGM and workshops at the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Culture Centre at Corindi Beach.

ACHAA was established to develop sustainable networks between like-minded organisations, raise professional standards and promote the value and importance of the sector to key stakeholders and the general public.

Alison Williams, ACHAA Chairperson says the establishment of the organisation is timely for the support and recognition it will bring:

“Our Keeping places and cultural centres are our grass roots portals for the continuance of our cultural practices, our stories and spirituality. They are the contemporary gathering places and trading sites between Indigenous nations. They are the voice of communities, from Elders to our youth, which speak to wider Australia and governments.”

The need for such an association is long overdue.  At the 2011 Keeping Places & beyond: building cultural futures in NSW Summit, the request for a support network for the broad range of places for NSW Aboriginal culture, heritage and arts was one of the most strongly supported recommendations.

Other states and territories already provide advocacy, support and general promotion through a number of umbrella organisations such as ANKAAA (the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists Inc.) which operates across WA and NT.

Our Keeping places and cultural centres are our grass roots portals for the continuance of our cultural practices, our stories and spirituality. They are the contemporary gathering places and trading sites between Indigenous nations.  

In response to the Summit recommendations, M&G NSW agreed to provide secretariat services in the establishment phase of the network. Unanimous support for the formation of ACHAA was reiterated at more than a dozen community meetings during the 2012 field consultations.

ACHAA has the following objectives:

a)    Create a sustainable and resilient network of NSW Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts organisations;

b)    Provide and facilitate training and development for those who work and volunteer in the NSW Aboriginal culture, heritage and arts place based sector;

c)    Promote the value of NSW Aboriginal culture, heritage and arts and artists to the broader arts, heritage and culture sector and wider community;

d)    Engage with all levels of government and non-government organisations for the support and promotion of NSW Aboriginal culture, heritage and arts.

To get ACHAA off the ground, M&G NSW contacted a selected group of eight Aboriginal cultural organisations to become founding members and to define its operating structure.

To be eligible for ACHAA membership an organisation must be an Aboriginal managed NFP with place -based operations and be open to the public receiving over 100 unique visitors per year. It is estimated up to 20 organisations may be eligible.

The non-core, associate membership will include aspiring Aboriginal organisations plus cultural, regional and tertiary institutions interested in supporting the objectives of the association.


To find out more about the ACHAA workshop Building Together: Tools for cultural places go to www.mgnsw.org.au/sector/events


The AGM and workshops at the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Culture Centre have been organised by M&G NSW with financial support from Arts NSW.

The 2011 Keeping Places & beyond: building cultural futures in NSW Summit was organised by Museums & Galleries of NSW and funded by Arts NSW.