National Trust of Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Australian Council of National Trusts

National Trust building, Sydney
Founded	5 February 1965; 60 years ago (1965-02-05)
Founder	Annie Forsyth Wyatt
Type	National peak body for national trusts; public company, limited by guarantee
Registration no.	ACN: 008 444 684
Location	Canberra, Australia
Area served	Australia
Employees	350
Volunteers	7,000

The National Trust of Australia is a group of organisations that work together to protect Australia's special places. It's also known as the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT). This group helps look after important Indigenous, natural, and historic sites across the country. It's a non-profit organisation, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. The main group started in 1965, and it includes smaller National Trust groups in every Australian state and territory.

History of the National Trust

Annie Wyatt's home in Gordon

The idea for the National Trust in Australia came from a similar group in the United Kingdom. People in Australia wanted to protect their beautiful bushland and old buildings. The first National Trust groups in Australia were formed in New South Wales in 1945, South Australia in 1955, and Victoria in 1956. Later, groups started in Western Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland. The last two groups, for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, began in 1976.

A very important person in starting the National Trust in Australia was Annie Forsyth Wyatt (1885–1961). She spent much of her life in a small house in Gordon, New South Wales, which is still there today. She was a champion for protecting Australia's heritage.

The main Australian Council of National Trusts was officially formed in 1965. This national group connects all the different state and territory National Trusts. It helps them work together and represents them across Australia and around the world.

What the National Trust Does

The National Trust is Australia's main group for community organisations that protect heritage. These groups are non-profit, and they are dedicated to saving Australia's Indigenous, natural, and historic heritage. This means they look after places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, beautiful natural areas, and old buildings or sites with a lot of history.

Together, the National Trust groups own or manage over 300 heritage places. Most of these places are protected forever. About 7,000 volunteers help out, and around 350 people work for the Trust across Australia. Each year, about 1,000,000 visitors come to see these special properties and their collections.

National Trust Groups in Australia

As of 2020, the National Trust has groups in every state and territory:

National Trust in New South Wales

The National Trust in New South Wales (NSW) was founded in 1947. In 1975, the NSW National Trust moved into the old Fort Street High School building. This building is on Observatory Hill and is easy to spot near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It still looks much like it did when it became a school in 1849.

Special Places in NSW

The NSW National Trust owns many important properties. These places are listed on a special register because of their historical value. Some of these include:

Vienna, Hunters Hill, a historic home

Cooma Cottage, Yass, a heritage-listed property

Saumarez Homestead, Armidale, a grand old estate

• Ahimsa, Cheltenham
• Bedervale, Braidwood (the items inside the house)
• Cooma Cottage, Yass
• Dalwood House, Branxton (the grounds)
• Dundullimal, Dubbo
• Everglades Gardens, Leura
• Experiment Farm Cottage, Harris Park
• Grossmann House and Brough House, Maitland
• Harper's Mansion, Berrima
• Lindesay, Darling Point
• Miss Porter's House, Newcastle
• Miss Traill's House & Garden, Bathurst
• Norman Lindsay Gallery, Faulconbridge
• Old Government House, Parramatta
• Retford Park, Bowral
• Riversdale, Goulburn
• Saumarez Homestead, Armidale
• S. H. Ervin Gallery, The Rocks
• St Ignatius Convent School, Wentworth (you need to book to visit)
• Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts, Tenterfield
• Tomago House, Tomago
• Vienna, Hunters Hill
• Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, between Tahmoor and Bargo
• Woodford Academy, Woodford

National Trust in South Australia

The National Trust of South Australia is a community group that helps protect the natural, Indigenous, and cultural heritage of South Australia. It was started in 1955 and has members who care about these special places.

Special Places in South Australia

The South Australian National Trust owns several important properties. These include:

• Ayers House, Adelaide - This is a historic mansion in Adelaide. It was named after a former Premier, Sir Henry Ayers. The National Trust SA was given this site in 1972 to use as a museum.
• Beaumont House, Beaumont
• Cape Jaffa Lighthouse, Kingston SE
• Matta House, Kadina
• Olivewood, Renmark
• Port Pirie Railway Station and Customs House, Port Pirie
• Stangate House and Garden, Mount Lofty (you need to book to visit)

National Trust in the Northern Territory

The National Trust of the Northern Territory is a community group that works to protect the natural, Indigenous, and cultural heritage of the Northern Territory. It was founded in 1976 by Adele Purvis, who lived at Woodgreen Station.

Special Places in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory National Trust owns several important properties. These include:

Burnett House at Myilly Point in Darwin

• Burnett House, Darwin
• Hartley Street School, Alice Springs
• Jones Store, Newcastle Waters
• Stuart Town Gaol, Alice Springs
• Pine Creek Railway Precinct, Pine Creek
• Tuxworth Fullwood House, Tennant Creek

More to Explore

• List of National Trust properties in Australia

See also

In Spanish: National Trust of Australia para niños