A message from Hazel Hawke Chair of the Heritage Council For a country that relies on its bush myths for a hefty slice of its self-image, Australia does have an unfortunate tendency to neglect rural areas as soon as the going gets tough. We are one of the most urbanised countries in the world, of course. But this is no excuse for neglecting the riches that our hinterland has to offer. Bush heritage has many great things going for it. In particular, the development pressures that impact on heritage properties in the urban landscape are largely absent in country areas. On the one hand this means that much of our rich bush heritage is still there; on the other, there is evidence of an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude that threatens its long-term survival. Bush heritage is one of our great resources. It provides evidence of the tough industries - mining and farming, for instance - that were the foundation of this country's prosperity since European settlement, until first industrialisation, and then globalisation, forced us to develop our cities at a faster rate. I have made many visits to country areas - including Lismore, Tenterfield, Coffs Harbour, Forbes, Orange, Grafton and Broken Hill in the last year alone - and I have seen first-hand some of the wonderful heritage treasures that are dotted around the countryside. More than 50% of our Heritage Council Grants Program in the last three years has gone to regional and rural NSW. The Heritage Council is keen to work co-operatively with local councils and private owners to keep these living records of our past in excellent condition. I look forward to the October meeting of the Heritage Council when, with my fellow council members, I will travel to Dubbo. There we will have the opportunity to meet with the community, councillors and council staff. We will also take the time to visit "Bush Lives: Bush Futures" at Dundullimal homestead. This thought-provoking exhibition was prepared by the Historic Houses Trust and examines many of the issues affectingpeople living and working in the bush.

Heritage tourism in Parramatta Above: Old Government House is just one of the heritage features of Parramatta. Other places highlighted in the brochure include Parramatta Regional Park, Elizabeth Farm, St Johns Cemetery and Experiment Farm Cottage. Photograph by Clockwork Art. Above Right: Some members of the Parramatta Heritage Tourism Working Party with Mrs Hazel Hawke, Chair of the Heritage Council. L to R: Ian Stephenson, National Trust; Jillian Comber, Parramatta Regional Park; Kevin Williams, Sydney Scenes; Elizabeth Broomhead, NSW Heritage Office. Visitors to Parramatta can now find their way around with the assistance of a new brochure entitled Parramatta History and Heritage. Complete with a colourful map, the brochure encourages tourists to wander through stately old mansions, museums, early colonial farmhouses and cottages, picnic in the park rich in Aboriginal history or laze on the riverbank beside a convict bridge. The brochure was recently launched at the Parramatta Heritage Centre by the Chair of the Heritage Council, Mrs Hazel Hawke, and is the result of the combined efforts and resources of the Parramatta Heritage Tourism Working Party, established last year by the NSW Heritage Office. Organisations represented in this group include Parramatta Council, Historic Houses Trust, University of Western Sydney Nepean, National Trust, Parramatta Regional Park, Parramatta Historical Society and Tourism NSW. In launching the brochure, Mrs Hawke described Parramatta as "a place rich in history and heritage". "For so long, much of this heritage has remained a well kept secret from many potential visitors, who are simply unaware of what Parramatta has to offer. This brochure intends to change all that." Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Councillor Paul Garrard said, "The brochure is to become a major promotional tool for campaigns to both the local Sydney market and the tourist industry. It will be distributed throughout the Sydney CBD at key tourist information sites".