HERITAGE TASMANIA TASMANIAN HERITAGE COUNCIL August 2007 Detail, Montrose Terrace, Launceston Photographer: Renee Hodskiss Convict sawing station listed on the Timber felled and sawn at the station was shipped Heritage Register to Hobart and used in a number of important buildings, including Government House. The Tasmanian Heritage Council has provisionally listed the Birchs Bay convict sawing station But the timber was costly. A quarter of it was cut by archaeological site on the Tasmanian Heritage convicts in their own time and sold to the Register. Government, and large quantities were stolen and sold to private operators. By 1827 Governor Arthur Opened in 1824, the sawing station was the sought a new timber source. forerunner to convict operations at Port Arthur. A more secure location was identified at Stewarts More than 60 convicts worked at the site under a Bay on the Tasman Peninsula. This later became rarely-used incentive scheme that allowed them to Port Arthur. The Birchs Bay convict sawing station cut timber for their own benefit in their free time. was closed in 1831. Memory of the World – International Register 2007 The Tasmanian convict records held in the Archives Office of Tasmania, together with those of New South Wales and Western Australia, have been added to the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register. They form one of only four items from Australia on the list. More than 150 items have been recognised as having world-wide significance. Part of a wall at the Birchs Bay convict sawing station The register is the equivalent, for documents, of the World Heritage List for built and natural sites. More The station originally included several structures on info can be found at www.archives.tas.gov.au the foreshore, including sawpits, walls, bridges and a hut for the superintendent’s family. See page 4 for details of the Memory of the World conference in Canberra next year. These are still visible, with evidence of early bridgework across the creek and a dry stone retaining wall still remaining. There is also brick rubble, thought to be the remains of the store huts associated with Birchs Bay sawing station. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, ARTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT HERITAGE TASMANIA GPO BOX 1751, HOBART TAS 7001 PHONE: 1300 850 332 (local call cost) | FAX: 6233 3186 | EMAIL: [email protected] www.heritage.tas.gov.au HERITAGE NEWS Sound advice for the Roadhouse Ian suggested treating the fretting sandstone with a salt-removing poultice. Kim and Wayne Carnes are enthusiastic owners of a heritage-listed property in Oatlands and recently “The front room, which is to become the candy sought advice from Heritage Tasmania about the store, was originally plastered. Reinstating a lime- best way to restore their new acquisition. render and plaster coat will protect the stone as well as restore the original appearance of the Their property is known by many travelling between space,” Ian said. Hobart and Launceston as the Oatlands Roadhouse. “The stripping of the front room back to stone reflects a 1980s understanding of heritage where Until recently, it was used almost continuously as a exposed stonework was ultimately probably more commercial building. about fashion than restoration”. The Roadhouse is a conglomeration of four Kim and Wayne said they learnt a great deal from structures, the oldest of which dates back to before Ian’s visit to their place, and have more confidence 1846. It has separate stables in the backyard, in how to proceed with their restoration. which appear to date from the 1840s or 1850s. Its continual use, and the evolution and alterations made to the buildings over time, provide insights into the changing nature of the service industries, from the 19 th century to the present. The place went from being a butcher shop to general store to roadhouse. Kim and Wayne intend to continue using the place for commercial purposes. Oatlands Roadhouse, Oatlands “We plan to restore the property section by section. Our first priority is to restore the front rooms so we can open a candy shop followed by sit-down Guided tour of St John’s Park roadhouse in the adjacent room,” Kim said. The National Trust and St John’s Anglican Parish, The place is currently in poor condition, so Kim and New Town, will conduct a guided tour of St John’s Wayne sought advice from Heritage Tasmania’s Ian Church and Orphan Schools. Dating from 1834, the Boersma about the best way to restore it without group of buildings known as St John’s Park is a compromising its heritage integrity. remarkable example of early colonial architecture. Warwick Oakman, architectural historian, will Of particular concern in the front rooms is the conduct the tour and David Featherstone, Anglican presence of rising damp and salt damage to the Parish, will play the St John’s Church organ. stone work. Afternoon tea will follow the tour. Wayne identified that the ground levels have been builtup around the building, and that water is Date: Sunday 19 August, 2007 seeping into the underfloor area which is lower than Time: 2 pm – 4.30 pm any of the surrounding ground. Consequently, the walls are soaking up the moisture. The result is Cost: $15 per person damage to the sandstone, rot in the floor timbers Parking: Park in the Avenue, Cnr St John’s and mould on the walls. Avenue and Main Road, New Town. “The problems Wayne and Kim are facing are not Bookings are essential. Phone Gemma at unusual for buildings of this age, but are still Runnymede on 6278 1269. challenging,” Ian said. Ian and Wayne discussed a range of options for fixing the problems, including repairing the roof plumbing and installing drains around the building. Heritage Bulletin: July 2007 2 HERITAGE NEWS New kit to restore memorial avenues Looking after our heritage bridges Community groups are being encouraged to help A recent accident on the Richmond Bridge which restore memorial avenues of trees with the launch resulted in damage to a parapet provides a good of the ‘Avenues Kit’. opportunity to look at works planned for Tasmania’s Launched by His Excellency the Governor of heritage bridges. Tasmania, William Cox, the kit was prepared by the Overall responsibility for publicly-owned heritage Hobart-based Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue bridges resides with the Department of with help from the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER). Gardens and the RSL. DIER allocated more than $650,000 for works on a The kit provides a fantastic new resource for number of Tasmania’s bridges. anybody seeking to restore memorial avenues The projects include: around Tasmania. • Upgrading the Tyenna River Bridge at There are more than 70 memorial avenues Westerway. This bridge was built in 1937 and is throughout Tasmania which commemorate the a rare example of an all-welded steel truss soldiers who did not come home from the First and bridge. Works will upgrade the timber deck to Second World Wars. Family and friends of the improve load capacity and reduce noise and soldiers established these beautiful avenues. remove lead-based paint. • Many community groups are restoring memorial Rehabilitating three of the four sets of steps at the corners of the historic, convict-built, Ross avenues around Tasmania. The Memorial Avenue Bridge. on Hobart’s Domain illustrates what can be done • Engaging consultants to conduct the 10-year through community commitment and dedication. review of the Richmond Bridge Conservation The kit will help people by providing tools and a Plan. framework. • Laser scanning the Red Bridge at Campbell Adrian Howard, who prepared the kit, said it is Town, which is the oldest convict-built red brick really a one-stop shop for all the questions people bridge in Australia. This will provide a reference for future restoration work. are likely to have about what is involved, who needs to be involved and who to talk to. A number of case studies are used to illustrate the issues World heritage listing of the Sydney Opera involved. House “The kit comes on a CD and includes historical The addition of the Sydney Opera House to descriptions of plantings, links to websites, UNESCO’s World Heritage List on 28 June 2007 documents for applications and submissions and a was exciting news for those involved in protecting template for an action plan,” Adrian said. heritage in Tasmania. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens has been The listing of this Australian icon demonstrates that very involved in this buildings don’t have to be located in the distant past project, providing to have heritage value. editorial comment, and The Opera House is a modern building which advice on the types of opened just over 30 years ago. It reflects the fabric trees suitable for the of contemporary Australian life – bold, gutsy and avenues and issues to creative. consider when selecting trees. Meanwhile, Tasmania continues to work with the Australian Government to list the Port Arthur The CD costs $25 and can be purchased from Historic Site, the Tasman Peninsula Coal Mines, Adrian Howard on the Female Factory Historic Site at South Hobart, 6234 4396 or Woolmers and Brickendon sites at Longford, and [email protected] the Darlington Probation Station on Maria Island on Adrian Howard with the ‘Avenues Kit’ World Heritage Register. Heritage Bulletin: July 2007 3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Memory of the World conference Tourism Tasmania’s local grants 19-22 February 2008, Canberra program now open The Australian Memory of the World Program has Tourism Tasmania’s Local Grants Program funding announced its third international conference – round is now open. communities and memories .