SPECIAL PROJECT MODEL DAIRY AT ROUSE HILL HOUSE & FARM The dairy was constructed in 1935 using materials recycled from much older timber buildings at the property. The gutters had corroded through, the roof was letting in water, and timber columns were rotting at the base. We spliced new timber feet into the posts – retaining as much as possible of the posts, as they hold evidence of past mortices and re-use. We patched small holes in some of the roof sheets and completely replaced others – retaining early sheets with makers’ brands as evidence that they are much older than the building itself. Finally, we renewed or pieced in timber battens and elements in the fibro milk room, applying coats of penetrating oil to prolong their life. COTTAGE BATHHOUSE AT ROUSE HILL HOUSE & FARM The cottage bathhouse was probably constructed in the 1930s by Gerald Terry using 19th-century bricks recycled from the former coachman’s house. The low-fired bricks are very soft and many were crumbling. We prepared several lime mortars and consolidated the brickwork with a solution of lime in water. The brickwork was repointed and large gaps filled with lime mortar patches. Collection items that had not been moved since Gerald Terry lived at the property were carefully shifted to gain access to the brickwork. The adjoining room houses significant collection items. Rather than take these metal objects out, which might see them get damaged, we left everything in situ and used timber boards across the room to bridge over the items affected. Original roof sheets were also carefully screwed down. 43 . ANNUAL REPORT 2015–16 VAUCLUSE HOUSE VAUCLUSE HOUSE CENTENARY On Sunday 11 October we celebrated Vaucluse Clive Freeman, our Coordinator Aboriginal Interpretation Programs, House’s centenary as a public museum with a organised a Whale Dreaming Ceremony on the beach that linked to the rock engravings on the estate. Aboriginal groups – including free community open day at the property. Galamban Extraordinary Aboriginal Experiences, Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness and Djaadjawan Dancers from the NSW South The event began with a welcome to country by Uncle China from Coast and Uncle China from La Perouse – presented a very touching the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council. This was followed and memorable ceremony. by the official opening by our Chairman Michael Rose AM and The Hon Gabrielle Upton MP, Member for Vaucluse. Andrew The centenary event expanded and strengthened our community Tink AM gave the keynote address, focusing on William Charles engagement and showcased our expertise and holistic approach in Wentworth’s legacy. More than 1500 people enjoyed displays and conservation and heritage management. demonstrations by our soft furnishings volunteers, food tastings, As part of the celebrations, the HHT Foundation hosted a cocktail special tours of the house and estate, including the mausoleum, party at Vaucluse House on 8 October to launch a fundraising appeal and a musical performance by Randwick Public School, which for two projects to be delivered in 2016–17. Guests included members was the first school to organise an excursion to Vaucluse House of the Governors’ Circle and long-term supporters of the HHT. The (in 1916). Our staff spoke about our conservation, interpretation first project is the refurbishment of the drawing room, one of the and presentation methods, including Curator Joanna Nicholas, finest surviving colonial interiors in Australia. The second project is a who presented some of the more significant artefacts from the permanent display for the Vaucluse House orientation room, which Vaucluse House collection, such as William Charles Wentworth’s has not been updated in over 20 years. The appeal raised $136,814 watch and Sarah Wentworth’s chatelaine. These pieces will towards these projects to be launched in late 2016 and early 2017. feature in the new orientation room opening in 2017. Our Research Librarian Dr Matthew Stephens coordinated a series of piano performances by a student from the Sydney Conservatorium, including a piece directly linked to Wentworth, ‘The City of Sydney Polka’ (1854), and other 1850s compositions held in our collections. This repertoire was supplemented with pieces composed during World War I, such as ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’. The CSL&RC liaised with the Historical Performance unit at the Sydney Conservatorium for the event, with the aim of developing an ongoing relationship with young musicians interested in historical performance in our historic houses. In preparation for the centenary celebrations we undertook extensive conservation of the mid-19th-century Collard and Collard piano in the drawing room at Vaucluse House (see page 37). Right and far right Visitors and Aboriginal performers came together to celebrate Vaucluse House’s centenary as a public museum. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums 44 . SPECIAL PROJECT Clockwise from top Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Rose am welcomes visitors to the Vaucluse House centenary celebrations; roving performers around the grounds of Vaucluse House; Horticulturist Anita Rayner with young visitors in the kitchen garden of Vaucluse House during the Centenary open day. Photos © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums 45 . ANNUAL REPORT 2015–16 EAT YOUR HISTORY FOOD PROGRAM Our food program continued to attract and engage audiences. The Colonial Gastronomy workshop series remained popular, with Curator and colonial gastronomer Jacqui Newling working with artisanal food producers such as meat providore Feather and Bone, Young Henry’s brewers and cheesemaker Kristen Allen to connect contemporary audiences to the foodways of our kitchens, gardens, dining rooms and recipe collections. These hands-on workshops were complemented by the Harvest Festivals in Spring (Elizabeth Farm, 18 October) and Autumn (Rouse Hill House & Farm, 29 May), which offered more than 3400 people a program of artisan food stalls, workshops, tours and talks celebrating the food heritage of our sites. Popular new additions to these programs included author and journalist Indira Naidoo interviewing curators, providores and farmers, and ‘little-pickles’ workshops for children, run by Cornersmith Cafe and Picklery at the Autumn Harvest. Our food programs continued to develop longstanding relationships with food researchers and growers such as Barbara Sweeney, Eat Me Chutneys, First Farm Organics and more. The Christmas Fare event (17 December) increased its profile and admissions, with 5653 people enjoying the food, shopping and music in the atmosphere of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum courtyard and 1677 visitors taking the opportunity to visit the museum on the day. A highlight of our food program this year has been the opportunity to deepen engagement with audiences through promotion of Jacqui Newling’s award-winning book, Eat your history: stories and recipes from Australian kitchens, co-published with NewSouth Publishing (December). The book shares forgotten tastes and lost techniques, and highlights some of the treasures of our culinary heritage that have nourished many generations of Australians, from 1788 to the 1950s. Engaging and accessible food stories and anecdotes from our properties are supported by over 40 recipes and a rich selection of historical and contemporary images. Eat your history was a featured title at the 2016 Sydney Writers’ Festival, with Jacqui interviewed in conversation with food historian John Newton by Simon Marnie from 702 ABC Sydney (22 May). Jacqui also continued to develop our partnership with Central West NSW’s Villages of the Heart project with a focus on food heritage, interpretation and programming in rural museums. This page from top Colonial gastronomer Jacqui Newling decorating a classic ‘Meroogal sponge’; Colonial Gastronomy promotional image; cover of the Eat your history publication. Photos © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums 46 . SPECIAL PROJECT Clockwise from left Alex Elliott-Howery, from Cornersmith, pickle making; finished pickles at Autumn Harvest Festival, Rouse Hill House & Farm; Scott Hill, Jacqui Newling and Barbara Sweeney and stalls at Spring Harvest Festival, Elizabeth Farm; the Christmas Markets at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Photos © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums 47 . ANNUAL REPORT 2015–16 4 STABILITY We become a more resilient organisation with RAISING AWARENESS OF THE HHT a secure future. Broadcast, print and digital media play an important role in raising awareness of the institution and showcasing the initiatives, events Our aims include investing in and developing our and exhibitions that bring our places to life. There were properties, increasing self-generated revenue, improving 2627 stories across print, broadcast and online media. This public awareness of the HHT, better controlling our figure includes media stories that have been syndicated costs and reducing our ecological footprint. across television, print and online, where known. Sydney Open contributed greatly to the strong media results, FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP with the earned media value growing from $1.4 million in 2014 to We successfully manage our costs by rigorously monitoring $4.3 million in 2015. Online articles and television coverage were key our expenses against the budget and prioritising the use of contributors to this increase. Highlights included stories on Seven’s our funds in line with our objectives. The 30 June 2016 result Sydney weekender program, Nine News, ABC TV News and ABC was a surplus of $2.915 million,