We have to say – Murrurundi is gob-smackingly beautiful – it pulls all the punches – museums, historic homesteads, generations of families on the land, horse breeders, restaurants, outrageously gorgeous landscapes, burning mountains! -  and, people who run as wolves – local heroes – local people – shepherding their town, their existence – from the ravages of mining and unfettered speculation.

We featured a range of interesting talent from the Upper Hunter, who shared their  knowledge and their experiences with our Network. They included:

Welcome to the Upper Hunter from Mayor Lee Watts

Pride of Place: Murrurundi – Peter Carlin, Murrurundi Chamber Of Commerce Representative

Pros & Cons of Bickham Mine on Heritage -  Peter Haydon Chairman of Bickham Coal Action Group & Owner Haydon Horse Stud

“A Peak in the Past” All about Community, Radio Presentation – Mandy Archibald

Preservation and change in historical documents with the advent of the computer age – Des Dugan from the Murrurundi Historical Society

LUNCH WITH THE “MURRATONES”

State Heritage Update  – Cameron White from the  NSW Heritage Office.

Heritage Landscapes Under Threat; Stroud Gloucester Valley and the Vale of Gloucester - Garry Smith, Historian and Environmental Consultant

Merriwa Historical Society: Merriwa Railway Station Restoration – Bryan Baker

Celebrating Murrurundi: Heritage Brochures, Local tours/ Murrurundi Museum Exhibitions/ walks/ site visits – Upper Hunter Shire Council Heritage Advisor Lillian Cullen

Murrurundi Self-guided walking tour brochure

Hunter Heritage Network Seminar at Murrurundi 30 March 2012

Murrurundi Four Bridges Self-guided Walking tour

If you want to have a chat about any aspect of our submission, drop us an email and we will phone you.

Best,

Sarah

Hunter Heritage Network Submission to NSW Planning System Review

Please RSVP by Thursday 22 March to hunterheritagenetwork@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there – Sarah

Murrarundi Self-guided walking tour brochure 

Hunter Heritage Network Seminar at Murrurundi 30 March 2012

Murrarundi Four Bridges Self-guided Walking tour

Take a look at the Agenda; President’s report; and financial statement below.

Financial Statement 2011_2011

AGM 2010_2011 President report

AGM Agenda_051211_AGM 2010_2011-1-1

Minutes (Draft) HHN AGM 2011 (These minutes are draft until adoption at AGM 7 December 2012)

At the Hunter Heritage Network seminar on 30 September 2011, Dr Nancy Cushing revisited her paper on the City of Newcastle as an open air museum.

Read the paper Nancy Cushing paper_Newcastle as a museum revisited.

We thank Dr Cushing for allowing us to publish this paper on our Blog. Dr Cushing welcomes comments too so be sure to find her email address within the paper.

Friday the 30th September was a day few will forget in a hurry. Our annual seminar was hosted by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, who did a superb job. The Network was welcomed by Deputy Vice Chancellor Kevin McConkey and Greg Anderson, Library Manager.

The Minister for Heritage Robyn Parker addressed the Network about her vision for heritage. In particular, Minister Parker is concerned about the current protections for Aboriginal heritage and  has initiated the current review process in seeking to address this.

The Network welcomed the Minster’s commitment to improving heritage legislation and will be making a submission to the review of Aboriginal protections and the Environmental Planning and Assessment reforms.

The Minister was presented with a framed historic poster of the Duckenfield farms area, where she lives. All we can say is, the Minister was very touched – you had to be there. And here’s a hint – check the smiles in the following image.

Minister For Heritage Robyn Parker with Deputy Vice Chancellor Kevin McConkey, Greg Anderson and Sarah Cameron

The City of Newcastle is steadily progressing with the conservation of headstones in Cathedral Park, Newcastle. Happily for the City, and the descendant community of those interred in the park, the headstones of the city’s 19th century citizens will be conserved, loved, so they can be returned to their known burial location.  This is absolutely a heart project. The City of Newcastle makes no excuses for that.

Stage 1 involves conserving 10 headstones and re-positioning them back to their burial, based on the 1966 burial plan. William Blackledge, of Long Blackledge Architects, along with Council staff Wendy Badger, Mark Wooley and Sarah Cameron, are collaborating to achieve this important project. Justin McCarthy is Council’s historical archaeologist and plays a pivotal role in advising on site sensitivity issues.

The project is being featured in a new documentary hosted by Tony Robinson (of the BBC’s Time Team series) with filming to commence in mid-December 2011.

There’s no bones about it; this is a spiritual love job. Take a headstone – repair it – reunite said headstone with its burial. Reconciliation. In action. Simple. Beautiful.

The ‘beauty’ in conservation, one could say.

The project is being funded through the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, with significant funding from the Council of the City of Newcastle.

The project involves the conservation of the original burial ground, adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral in central Newcastle.

This is such a great project which will transform a forgotten and neglected historic space into a special and unique historic attraction in the centre of the city.

You can link to the story on NBN TV (link below) if you want to see more.

MESSAGE FROM THE GRAVE

Please send an RSVP to hunterheritagenetwork@gmail.com and watch this space, for further details and a program.

Sarah Cameron

President Hunter Heritage Network Inc

The former New Redhead colliery railway - finally completed as the Fernleigh track. A heritage asset is re-purposed and re-used once again

From the City of Newcastle website we are thrilled to report on the following community event -

Dust off you bike or get your walking shoes on – the Fernleigh Track is finished! Celebrate the completion of the 15km shared pathway from Adamstown to Belmont by walking or riding the track. The join in the family fun at Liles Oval, Redhead where there will be loads of free activities. •face painting •temporary tattoos •amusement rides •displays •giveaways •great local entertainment

You can grab a sausage sandwich BBQ, take in a historical photo display. We will be rocked by Anna’s School of music, pepped up by Cardiff Northlakes Brass Band, serenaded by the Redhead Infants singing group, and you will be jigging along with the Clan McEwan Pipe Band and dancers. There will be plenty of interactive activities to take part in – there is the bike chase game, soccer clinic, cricket clinic, and jungle sports obstacle course.

When: Saturday 2 April Time: 10am – 2pm Where: Liles Oval, Cowlishaw Street, Redhead

Ed’s note – The City of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Council have finally completed the re-generation of the New Redhead colliery railway. At 15kms in length the outcome is proof that a strategic and integrated approach to comnuity assets across council borders is really essential. The history of the track is obvious and retained into the experience. Well done eveyone who was involved in this adaptive re-use project.

Before - the disused rail line at the Fernleigh Loop. Semaphore signals in the background

After - the way is paved for walkers and cyclists to enjoy this wonderful community asset

Put this in your diaries so you don’t miss it. This will be a full day and will include a site visit to the historic mining township of Minmi, currently the subject of a Coal & Allied Part 3A Application for 3000 house lots. We are also considering a trip to Catherine Hill Bay to take in the view of the historic village before it changes forever. This is still to be worked out so anyone who has a burning desire to visit the place with the Network, please provide your feedback as soon as possible so we can organise it.

The Board is very excited about the program this year, given the big focus on conservation projects in the Hunter at the current time.
 
Stay tuned for a final agenda but at this stage we are focussing on ourselves! What we do, what we are going to do (including an update from each of us on the projects funded under the $2mill Hunter heritage program), and the ongoing debate about heavy industry in the region – coal mining and its impact. Sue Jackson-Stepowski will be making a special presentation about industrial heritage in Germany, and other matters. We will also look at case studies on the recently expanded housing Codes SEPP.
 
For those who can’t be physically present, the venue offers Video Conference Facilities. Please contact me personally to make arrangements if you wish to use these. Sessions may also be blogged to the Hunter Heritage Network weblog.
 
The Hunter Heritage Network is a professional forum for heritage issues in the Hunter Region. Our mission is to support professional development in the conservation sector throughout the Hunter region by offering a meaningful program of seminars and training; and to provide essential networking opportunities so that we can be increasingly effective in our work.

Should you wish to discuss with me my number is 0413 736 223.

All the best
 
Sarah Cameron
President and Public Officer
Hunter Heritage Network Inc.

We at the Network love this colour scheme