The creative and innovative work by the people of rural and regional NSW to conserve heritage in their towns was highlighted in the 2002 Country Energy Tidy Town Awards. The five projects to win the NSW Heritage Office Conservation Award were very different, but all the winners shared a commitment to protecting and conserving places and things that the community values as reminders of our past. The Heritage Office has been a sponsor of the Tidy Towns award program for the last seven years because the program makes a positive contribution to the appearance and well-being of country towns and shires in NSW. Although Tidy Towns was initially launched 21 years ago as a litter prevention campaign, it has now developed into a program that addresses a range of environmental issues across NSW. These issues encompass wildlife, waterways, heritage, tourism and now also renewable energy efficiency.
The 2002 winners of the NSW Heritage Office Conservation Award were:
Tottenham: Conservation work carried out to its Old Billiards Room building. There were plans to demolish this derelict building. However, given the heritage value of the building and the streetscape, a brave move was made to conserve it. It was a mammoth undertaking for this small community.
Bowraville: Bowraville Theatre Conservation Project. Bowraville is bringing back the big screen experience with the restoration of its 1940s cinema. Closed for 40 years, the picture theatre will return as a multi-purpose venue for the community. It still retains its original projectors.
Maclean: Main Street Heritage Program. Maclean has been transformed with the refurbishment and landscaping of The Boulevard, which faces the splendid Clarence River. Since 1998 Maclean Shire Council has been improving the appearance of its main street, concentrating on the restoration of missing verandahs and the conservation of heritage shopfronts.
Forbes: Forbes Centenary of Federation Heritage Trail. The public will now be able to discover the special and important places in Forbes with this new heritage trail. This well designed and informative trail includes twenty-four plaques at historical sites and is managed by a team of 14 key residents.
Maitland: Glebe and Oakhampton Cemetery Conservation Project. These two cemeteries are particularly significant for Maitland, and include the resting places of Colonial Architect Francis Greenway and the infant son of William Arnott of the Arnott's biscuit company. The work to conserve the cemeteries was guided by a management plan and involved the conservation of headstones and graves. Congratulations to all the Tidy Towns Winners and entrants!
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