11., AUS AL Lk
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 23 OCTOBER 1978
LAUNCHING OF " HISTORIC PLACES OF AUSTRALIA VOLUME ONE"
I am delighted to be here today to launch this latest volume
in the series on historic buildings and places in Australia
being published by the Australian Council of National Trusts.
This book, " Historic Places of Australia: Volume One", presents
a collection of environmentally important areas and towns.
The text describes many of the interesting features of their
history and architecture, and the photographs are a distinctive
and sensitive record of an older Australia.
The earlier volumes in the series dealt specifically with
historic buildings. This book deals with the whole environmental
setting. It will take readers on a journey into many of our
yesterdays, from the days of the clipper ships, lying off Port
Fairy to the pearling luggers of Broome, to the mansions,
majestic homes and public buildings of the colonial era.
It is an exciting journey, enriching our knowledge of Australia's
past and our appreciation of some of Australia's beautiful
places. The quality of the volume is a credit to the trust movement,
and to many people who have given honorary help in its preparation.
It is a good example of how a voluntary conservation organisation,
by virtue of hard work and dedication, can make progress in
achieving its aims and goals.
In the introductory section, Mr Rodney Davidson, the Australian
co-ordinator, acknowledges the honorary work of the experts
who have contributed to this volume.
I should like to thank Mr Davidson, the President of the Australian
Council of National Trusts, Mr Justice Sir John Moore, and the
Chairman of the Australian Council of National Trusts,
Mr Victor Parkinson, for all they have done for the National
Trust Movement in Australia.
The Government warmly acknowledges the help of all the people
who contributed to this work. The Commonwealth interest in
conservation and preservation is wide ranging, embracing
both the natural and cultural environment.
However, the protection of the National Estate is not the preserve
of one level of~ Government, or one group of people. It is
something in which the whole community is involved. / 2
The Commonwealth is pleased to be a partner in this national
activity. In 1976 we appointed the first commissioners to
the Australian Heritage Commission to advise us on the
preservation of the whole Australian environment, and to
compile and maintain a national inventory of those significant
places which should be preserved for our benefit and that of
future generations.
The national inventory is recorded on the newly created register*
of the national estate. This register covers the significant
parts. of Australia's environme-nt: its homes and buildings,
historic towns, churches, landscapes, its bushland, and the
whole of our natural heritage.
The register is being used as a basis for developing programmes
and policies to protect, improve and present properties and
places forming part of the national estate. Already there are
some 5,000 places registered.
The Act setting up the Heritage Commission requires that
Commonwealth Ministers, Departments and authorities take no
action which adversely effects a place on the register unless
there is no feasible or prudent alternative.
All Commonwealth decisions aim at all times to keep a proper
balance between conservation and responsible development in
the national interest.
The Heritage Commission, together with the provision of Commonwealth
funds, has helped to create a wide awareness, at all levels of
Government and the community generally, of the range of the
national estate, made by both man and nature.
The Government is well aware of the part National Trust bodies
have played in preserving Australia's heritage. They have been
pioneers in the great and responsible task of preservation and
conservation. The National Trusts have played a significant
role in getting the register established quickly.
With respect to the buildings in our cultural environment the
Trusts have made the major contribution so far, because the
Heritage Commission accepted for the register those places
already classified by the Trusts.
For some years Commonwealth Governments have supported the
National Trusts, providing funds to help them meet administrative
costs and special grants for preservation and restoration work
on old buildings.
As I have said, this book places emphasis on the protection of
areas as distinct from individual buildings. This is consistent
with the importance given to the total heritage by the Venice
Charter of the International Council on monuments and sites.
This book has left a great impression on me. It's more than
words and pictures it's a living and vital portrait of a
special part of our history. I hope it will encourage Australians
to see some of the beauty and history of Australia at first hand.
/ 3
3
I warmly commend this book to you. It has a rightful place
in this great National Library, and I'm sure it will have a
place in other libraries around Australia.
I hope it will also find a place on the bookshelves in your
homes.