FINALISTS REVEALED: 2025 National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards
The shortlist for the eagerly awaited 2025 National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards has been revealed, showcasing a vibrant array of heritage projects from across New South Wales.
Each year the National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards recognises excellence in the conservation, protection and interpretation of natural, cultural and built heritage.
For the very first time, the National Trust (NSW) has introduced a People’s Choice Award and public voting is open until 11.59pm on Sunday 4 May.
Votes for the public’s favourite shortlisted project can be cast online via: https://form.jotform.com/250991345157866
“The response to the 31st annual Heritage Awards has been remarkable. The effort to promote and conserve heritage right across the state is very inspiring to see,” said Debbie Mills, CEO of the National Trust (NSW). “We congratulate all entrants and those who have been shortlisted for their incredible achievements.”
“This year’s entries sparked lively discussions among the judges,” remarked Matthew Devine, Chair of the National Trust Heritage Awards Jury.
Mr Devine was joined on the panel by Ann Toy, Barrina South, David Burdon, Dr. Caitlin Allen, Dr. Libby Gallagher, Kathryn Pitkin AM, Peter John Cantrill, and 2024’s Young Achiever recipient, Sophie Canaris.
Penny Sharpe, NSW Minister for Heritage, emphasised the impressive geographical spread of this year’s entrants, hailing from NSW’s major cities and out to the borders of the state. Minister Sharpe noted that each project created vital connections between community and heritage.
Sally Barnes, Chair of the NSW Heritage Council, praised the shortlisted finalists for their commitment to safeguarding heritage for future generations to enjoy, noting the “truly impressive range of achievements on display this year.”
Steven Meredith, Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, expressed admiration for the high quality of this year’s projects, stating that “these initiatives are essential for deepening the community’s connections to Aboriginal heritage throughout New South Wales.”
“The National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards recognise the people behind NSW’s projects,” said Liz Owers, Acting Executive Director of Heritage NSW. “Congratulations to all the shortlisted nominees.”
Winners of the 2025 National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards will be announced at the National Trust Heritage Awards ceremony on Friday 16 May at Doltone House in Pyrmont. The Awards will once again be presented by Richard Morecroft. Professor the Hon Bob Carr will join as keynote speaker.
Tickets on sale now. Would-be attendees are encouraged to secure tickets early as this event swiftly sells out each year.
The National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards is the signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival, coordinated annually by the National Trust.
The NSW Government through Heritage NSW is principal sponsor of the Australian Heritage Festival and the National Trust Heritage Awards.
The 2025 National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards Shortlist:
Aboriginal Heritage – proudly sponsored by Extent Heritage
- Anaiwan Grinding Grooves: Investing in the past to guide the future at New England Solar, Uralla – entered by Anaiwan Registered Aboriginal Parties, ACEN Australia
- Blacktown Native Institution Conservation Management Plan, Blacktown – entered by GML Heritage
- Bullanginya Daborra Dunggalla – Bullanginya Dreaming, Barooga – entered by Barooga Sports Club
- Dhuluny: 200 years of Wiradyuri resistance, Bathurst – entered by Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation (WTOCWAC)
- Hill 60 Aboriginal Community Stories, Port Kembla – entered by Wollongong City Libraries
Advocacy
- Ensuring the future of Port Macquarie Museum, Port Macquarie – entered by Port Macquarie Historical Society Inc.
- State Heritage Listing of Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne – entered by Cremorne Conservation Group
Architecture
- Back to Front House, Potts Point – entered by Ian Moore Architects
- Fig Tree House, Marrickville – entered by Potter & Wilson Architects
- Former Workmen’s Dwellings Lower Fort Street, Dawes Point – entered by Neeson Murcutt Neille
- Gleebooks, Glebe – entered by AN+A
- Pumphouse Maker Space & Artist Workshop, Albury – entered by AlburyCity
- Reimagining Sydney’s First Skyscraper, Sydney – entered by Urbis Pty Ltd
- Rosebery Engine Yards, Rosebery – entered by Goodman Group
Built Conservation
- Frazer Mausoleum Restoration, Rookwood – entered by Metropolitan Memorial Parks
- Heathcote Hall – entered by Tasman Storey Architects and Pariter Pty Ltd
- Hornby Lighthouse Restoration, Sydney – entered by Port Authority of NSW
- Malachi Gilmore Hall, Oberon – entered by Lucy & Johnny East
- Old Bega Hospital, Bega – entered by Design 5 – Architects, Old Bega Hospital Reserve Land Manager, NSW Public Works, Leser Build
- Old Menangle School Site, Menangle – entered by Wollondilly Shire Council, Civille, G3 Architecture, Sue Rosen Associates, Growth Civil Landscapes
- Pissoir Restoration, Dawes Point – entered by Marine and Civil Maintenance
- S.H. Ervin Gallery Facade Conservation, Sydney – entered by Property and Development NSW
- Silchester – Juliet Balcony, Bellevue Hill – entered by Cracknell & Lonergan Architects Pty Ltd
- Tathra Wharf, Tathra – entered by Bega Valley Shire Council
Education and Interpretation – proudly sponsored by City Plan
- More Bonegilla Stories, Albury – entered by Simon Reich
- NSW Rail Museum Education Program, Thirlmere – entered by Transport Heritage NSW
- Pirie Chambers Heritage Trades Training Program and Conservation, Broken Hill – HSR (Aust) Group and Elizabeth Vines, OAM Architect and Heritage Advisor
- Schools Reconciliation Challenge, State-wide – entered by Reconciliation NSW
- Middle Head Gubbuh Gubbuh to Georges Head Walking Track, Mosman – entered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Enduring
- Ongoing Conservation of the Marionette Theatre of Australia Puppets, Neutral Bay – entered by the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation
- Cockatoo Island Heritage Steam Cranes: from Restoration to Activation, Cockatoo Island – entered by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
- Forty Bends Farm, South Bowenfels – entered by Sarah and Brendan Childs
- Mildura House, Georges Plains – entered by Linda Appleford and Terry Jones
- Minister’s Stonework Program, State-wide – entered by NSW Public Works
- Preservation of Cox Cottage, Mulgoa – entered by Friends of Fernhill and Mulgoa Valley Inc. nominating Dr James Broadbent AM
Events, Exhibitions and Tours
- Callan Park’s Veterans: A Century of Connections, Lilyfield – entered by Friends of Callan Park
- Flood Level 1955 – A Historical Exhibition, Maitland – entered by Maitland City Council
- Hardy Wilson’s Old Colonial Architecture 1924-2024, Sydney – entered by Uni of Sydney & Hector Abrahams Architects
- Omnia: All and Everything, Murwillumbah – entered by Tweed Regional Museum
- Royal Flying Doctor Outback Heritage Experience, Broken Hill – entered by Freeman Ryan Design
- Royal National Park Shack Open Day Weekend, Era Beach, Royal National Park – entered by Royal National Park Coastal Cabins Protection League
- Transport Heritage Expo 2024, Sydney – entered by Transport Heritage NSW
Interiors and Objects
- Conservation of the Barangaroo Boat, Sydney – entered by Sydney Metro with Silentworld Foundation and York Archaeological Trust
- Parliament of NSW Rum Hospital Project, Sydney – entered by Department of Parliamentary Services
- The Garrison Church Historic Bell Restoration, Dawes Point – entered by Anglican Parish of Church Hill
- The Great Synagogue – Relocation of Bimah, Sydney – entered by The Great Synagogue
Landscape
- Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track, Lake Macquarie – entered by Lake Macquarie City Council
- Glowworm Tunnel Pathway Construction, Wollemi National Park – entered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Nepean River Trail, Camden – entered by Camden Council
- Nielsen Park Seawall, Vaucluse – entered by OCULUS with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Middle Head Gubbuh Gubbuh to Georges Head Walking Track, Mosman – entered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Resources and Publications
- Australia’s Earliest Timber Houses – entered by Christopher and Deborah Hallam
- Fame and Blame – A Brief History of the office of the NSW Civil, Colonial, and Government Architects – entered by David Churches
- Historic Heritage Bushfire Vulnerability Assessment Framework – entered by GML Heritage
- Maitland In Focus – entered by Maitland City Council
- NSW Courts of Cultural Heritage Significance: Guidelines for Conservation, Repair & Replacement – entered by PTW Architects in partnership with The NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
- Preserving and Promoting the Priceless Collections of the National Herbarium of New South Wales: Mass Digitisation and Free Public Access via an Online Herbarium Search Portal – entered by National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
- Ryde History Hub – entered by City of Ryde Libraries
- The Australian Ark: The Story of Australian Wine, 1788–2023 by Andrew Caillard MW – entered by David Longfield, Longueville Media & Angus Hughson, The Vintage Journal
- The Secrets Of Anzac Ridge: In Flanders Fields – entered by Patricia Skehan Publishing
- Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney: The story of a visual heritage – entered by Jana Vytrhlik
Special categories:
Individual and special awards to be announced at the National Trust Heritage Awards, including:
- Young Achiever – proudly sponsored by GML Heritage
- Heritage Skills
- Lifetime Achievement – proudly sponsored by Museums of History NSW
- Cathy Donnelly Memorial
- Judges’ Choice
- President’s Prize and
- People’s Choice
About the National Trust (NSW) : The National Trust is Australia’s oldest and largest independent conservation organisation founded in 1945 in New South Wales by Annie Forsyth Wyatt. Collectively the National Trust in Australia owns or manages more than 300 built and natural heritage places (the majority held in perpetuity), is supported by 7,000 volunteers and employs more than 300 people nationwide.
The National Trust (NSW) is committed to engaging the community to celebrate and conserve heritage places and collections through events and education. With the support of our members, volunteers and dedicated staff and partners, we advocate on the protection of historical and naturally significant places and collections to ensure their preservation for future generations.
About the National Trust Heritage Awards: The National Trust Heritage Awards has been running since 1994 and is one of the most highly anticipated events in the heritage, cultural and conservation sector. The awards are an annual event run by the National Trust (NSW) as part of the Australian Heritage Festival. The NSW Government through Heritage NSW is principal sponsor of the Australian Heritage Festival and the National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards, which is the signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival.
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