HERITAGE TASMANIA TASMANIAN HERITAGE COUNCIL February 2015 Port Arthur’s Penitentiary. Photo: Pete Smith Brett Torossi new Chair of Heritage Council our historic heritage with the kind of adaptive reuse opportunities that enhances and protect our Tasmania's potential to be a world-leading heritage heritage assets." tourism destination will be front and centre for the new Chairperson of the Tasmanian Heritage Brett is a passionate Tasmanian with a keen Council, Brett Torossi. interest in Tasmania, its heritage, identity, brand and future. Announcing the appointment, Heritage Minister Matthew Groom said that heritage experts had long She is an acclaimed business woman, tourism recognised that Tasmania's built heritage will be operator and property developer, and has had better protected if the state can become a world extensive leadership and management experience leader in adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, on private, public and voluntary boards. particularly for tourism. Brett is a Trustee of the Tasmanian Museum and "One of the best ways to protect built heritage is Art Gallery (TMAG), a member of the Board of through adaptive reuse,” he said. Tourism Tasmania, a Board member of the “Historic buildings which sit idle are the most likely Tasmanian Development Board, a member of to fall into disrepair and we have unfortunately seen Creative Partnerships Australia, a Board member examples of that in the past. of the Australian Festival of Voices and until taking "Cities and states across the world are increasingly on this position was a Commissioner on the discovering the benefits of heritage tourism in Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC). attracting visitors and creating jobs, as well as She has extensive experience in the areas of ensuring historic buildings are preserved. planning, historic cultural heritage, tourism, "Brett Torossi has governance and the private sector, and was shown herself over awarded ‘Tasmanian Tourism Champion’ 2014. many years to be a visionary thinker in Ms Torossi said she has always sought to balance combining the recognition and protection of built and cultural preservation of heritage with sensitive development. heritage with new "This has been a cornerstone of my professional opportunities in life for the past 20 years," she said. tourism. "It's about appreciating and understanding the "As Chair of the value to the community of a building or place over Heritage Council, its full life and how that dynamic relationship she will use that changes over time. You are always looking to experience and her conserve and protect that heritage within relationships to appropriate development." facilitate opportunities that balance investment in DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, PARKS, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT GPO BOX 618, HOBART TAS 7001 PHONE: 1300 850 332 (local call cost) | FAX: 6233 3186 EMAIL: [email protected] www.heritage.tas.gov.au New Heritage Council members appointed The diary also reveals that Knopwood’s finances seem always to have been in a precarious state. As Several new members have been appointed to the early as 1816 he attempted to sell Cottage Green Heritage Council from early 2015. and when that failed, colleagues encouraged him to Ms Sarah Lebski is returning for a term as divide his property into small allotments. This representative of the Tourism Industry Council. began in the 1820s. The Local Government Association of Tasmania In 1846, Alexander Orr, a successful merchant, has two new appointees: Launceston Alderman Mr purchased part of the original site and by 1847 had Robin McKendrick and Kingborough Council built a commanding two-storey stone house and planner Ms Danielle Gray. They replace Alderman store. The property also included a stable and Jeremy Ball and retiring member Peter Button. coach house. The National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) Orr enjoyed considerable business success in representative is Ms Amanda Roberts. Ms Roberts Salamanca and briefly served on the Legislative Council. The family left the colony in 1855 and Orr is a member of the Battery Point Progress sold the property in 1873. Association and Chair of the Narryna Museum. She replaces Chris Tassell whose term expired in After three weeks of investigation, the December 2014. archaeologists have uncovered the structural remains of Orr’s house, stable and coach house. Ms Carol Bacon replaces Mr Tony Brown, whose The remains show the different phases of term expired in December 2014. Ms Bacon is the development of Orr’s property, from the original member representing the mining industry with front two rooms through to additions towards the expertise in mining heritage. back of the site. Biographies of all Heritage Council members can be found at www.heritage.tas.gov.au\thc.html. Beneath Montpelier’s Car Park An archaeological investigation at the site of the Montpelier Street Car Park development in Battery Point is uncovering a wealth of historic information. Led by Austral Tasmania Pty Ltd, the investigation has been commissioned by Sultan Holdings ahead of excavation for the development. The principal goal of any archaeological The site is part of 30 acres of land granted to investigation is to document history through Tasmania’s first Chaplain, the Reverend Robert detailed recording. This investigation is enhanced Knopwood, in 1804. It was one of a number of through weekly internet video diaries. For regular grants made to military and civil officers, as well as updates, reports and videos of the investigation free settlers, on condition that the land would be head to www.montpelierproject.com. improved to ‘promote the clearing and cultivation of the country’. Knopwood’s diary provides an invaluable account of his time in the property he called Cottage Green. It details construction of his house from 15 August 1804, the development of his garden and his friendly encounters with Tasmanian Aboriginals. Heritage Bulletin: February 2015 Tasman Bridge Disaster Commemorated Port Arthur Penitentiary’s future assured The 40th anniversary of the Tasman Bridge Port Arthur’s landmark project to restabilise the Disaster was commemorated in Hobart through emblematic Pentitentiary ruin was celebrated at a ceremonies and an exhibition. formal re-opening last month. On 5 January 2015 survivors, those who The project has been a landmark project for responded to the disaster, community members PAHSMA, and demonstrates a capacity to deliver and representatives from the Clarence and Hobart best practice conservation works to a building City Councils and the State Government gathered within a World Heritage listed site using local skills to mark the event. and labour. A ceremony held at the Rosny Barn, a Originally constructed as a flour mill and granary, commemorative exhibition and a commemoration the Penitentiary was converted to house convicts in on the Tasman Bridge later that evening all helped 1857 and was capable of housing over 480 to mark that tragic event, recognise the efforts of so convicts in dormitory accommodation and separate many who responded one way or another and apartments. At the time of construction, it was the reflect on what the event meant to people. largest building in Tasmania and remains Australia’s most potent symbol of its penal origins. I also highlighted how the disaster and the reaction to it helped to shape the subsequent development Commencing in early 2014, the conservation of the eastern shore, which up until that time had a project included installing: relatively low population and was highly reliant on reinforced concrete ground beams supporting 14 services on the western shore. huge steel columns; The event is an example of our contemporary stories and heritage, where 40 years ago the around five kilometres of stainless steel eastern and western shores of Hobart had been reinforcing rod which has been grouted into separated in such a profound manner on a foggy brickwork joints; mid-summer evening on the River Derwent. 91 high tensile stainless steel grouted structural What happened that night is etched in the minds of anchors which have been precision drilled many locals, and it remains an example of the vertically down through the walls; and strength, perseverance and tenacity of Tasmanians stainless steel bracing plates which are who have faced adversity. concealed beneath the sandstone cornice. A plaque is to be installed on the Tasman Bridge to The project ensures the long-term conservation of mark this event and a sculpture is located on the the structure. It also provides the opportunity to south side of Montagu Bay to help reflect on the interpret the building in new and exciting ways that event and what followed. will enhance the visitor experience, which will be done over coming months. Port Arthur has also established a booking office at the new Brooke Street Pier in Hobart. The office allows visitor to ask questions and find out more about the many offerings at the World Heritage listed site before they set out on their journey. Information on the Cascades Female Factory and the Coal Mines is also available. The experience is heightened by a museum-quality interpretive display, with a small collection of artefacts providing a glimpse of life in the convict Image: Frank and Sylvia Manley, posing with their era. iconic Monaro, potentially one of the best-known motor vehicles in Tasmania (Source: Pete Smith) Heritage Bulletin February 2015 3 Grants Events Tasmanian Community Fund World War One: Quaker witness to peace Grant round 30 and non-violence. A travelling exhibition at Small grants (up to $10,000) close on 18 March 2105 Medium grants (up to $90,000) close 8 April 2015 the Friends’ School Until Wednesday 4 March Information about this grant round, including guidelines and application forms, can be found on This inspiring and free exhibition illustrates the the Tasmanian Community Fund website at: experience of Quakers during WW1 and pays http://www.tascomfund.org/ or by contacting fund tribute to those people who worked for peace at staff by phone 6232 7043 or 6232 7269 or email that time.