In all of this work the Heritage Office is keen to see real outcomes. For example, in the case of heritage main street studies the Office will fund a heritage advisor and the establishment of a local heritage fund to encourage on the ground conservation work.

What types of projects are funded in the bush?   Rural projects which have received heritage funding through the NSW Heritage Office cover the full gamut of heritage subject areas - Aboriginal heritage sites, main street areas, homesteads and outbuildings, woolsheds, industrial sites, cemeteries and churches. Homesteads Merribee Station homestead, near Narrendera was built by pastoralist W. W. Killen in 1914 when Merribee was one of the largest merino studs in Australia. The striking two-storey Federation style homestead was constructed from local Mt Binya sandstone by stonemasons brought from Ireland . Work on the restoration of Merribee Station homestead is being assisted by a loan of $10,000 under the NSW Heritage 2001 Program. Work includes restoration of the verandah, roof repairs and painting of exterior woodwork. Merribee homestead is associated with the historic Merribee Merino Stud and epitomises the last stage of large scale homestead building in NSW. Woolsheds The project at Belltrees near Scone was to restore the shearing shed built by architect J. Horbury Hunt in 1879. Over 100,000 sheep were shorn here annually from 1890 to 1910. The restoration work, including the repair of 25 iron-bark piers to their original level and re-painting of the exterior, was completed with the assistance of a $17,600 heritage loan. Above: Interior view of Belltrees Shearing Shed which contained 42 stands. Left: A detail from the Belltrees Shed. Farm buildings A fascinating example of a farm project is Kerarbury Station at Darlington Point, one of the great 19th century Murrumbidgee River runs, with 18 miles of river frontage. The numerous station buildings which remain have evolved over a lengthy period and reflect the changing patterns of station life. The current owners, William and Mary Ryan are conserving two timber buildings on the station site: the Sheep Buyer's Cottage and the Barracks. Urgent work is currently being undertaken on the exterior of the Barracks building. It was built in the late 1880s to provide sleeping and living quarters for permanent single male employees on the station. The conservation project is being assisted by a $63,000 indexed refundable grant under the 1998 Heritage 2001 program. Above: The Barracks. Heritage main street studies Sixty-two of these studies have been undertaken in towns outside of Sydney. They provide practical advice on the conservation and enhancement of main street areas. In the case of Lockhart, every one of the 30 buildings in the main street was restored by 1990 following a $3,000 $ for $ grant for a main street study in 1987. A $15,000 NSW heritage grant was allocated by way of $500 to each owner for work. Estimated cost of the total project was in excess of $65,000. The whole project was organised by the Lockhart Shire Council. Individual main street building projects The most recent example of restoration work to a main street building is The Rock Stores. Located in The Rock near Wagga Wagga, it was the first substantial building erected in the township. Built in 1895 the roof of this building was burnt out some years ago. With the assistance of a $70,000 loan under the Heritage 2001 program, the owner Mr Kevin Heckenberg has been able to restore the building. Erambie Church in Cowra dates from about 1950. Industrial Heritage and Railway Heritage Built in 1906-7, the Lithgow Blast Furnace was the sole producer of iron in Australia for the first seven years of its life. It remained a major producer for the next 13 years until its closure in 1928. Above: Erambie Church in Cowra dates from about 1950. Aboriginal projects Erambie Church in Cowra is operated by the Aboriginal Uniting Outreach Ministries and is part of the Koori Housing Company complex in Cowra. General repairs and painting were carried out to this small timber building with the assistance of a heritage grant of $5,500 towards a project cost of more than $11,000.