National Trust of Australia (Victoria) facts for kids

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is a special group that works to protect and celebrate important places in Victoria. These places can be old buildings, beautiful natural areas, or sites important to Australia's Indigenous history. This group started in 1956.

How the Trust Started

In 1945, the first National Trust in Australia began in New South Wales. This happened because people were worried about old, grand houses in Sydney being torn down. In Victoria, people didn't always value their historic buildings as much.

It took a little longer for people in Victoria to get organized. In 1953, a book called Early Melbourne Architecture 1840-1888 was published by Maie Casey. This book helped people start thinking about protecting old buildings.

Soon after, important people in Melbourne, including artists, city planners, and architects, began talking about creating a Trust like the ones in Britain and New South Wales. A big reason for this was when a grand house called Wendrew was torn down in 1954. Also, the historic Como House was about to be sold.

Because of these events, more and more meetings were held. This led to the official start of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) in May 1956. Their first goal was to buy and save Como House. Many important and well-connected people helped start the Trust. These included author Joan and her husband Daryl Lindsay, who was the Director of the National Gallery of Victoria. Other key figures were Robin Boyd, an architect, and Maie Casey.

Places the Trust Protects

The National Trust in Victoria looks after 38 different properties across the state. They own 30 of these places themselves. The other eight are on public land. About 24 of these National Trust properties are regularly open for people to visit.

Some of the most famous places they protect include:

• The historic cell block known as the Old Melbourne Gaol in Melbourne.
• The Melbourne Maritime Museum in Southbank, which includes the restored ship Polly Woodside.
• The historic mansion and gardens of the Rippon Lea Estate in Elsternwick.
• Como House in Toorak, a beautiful old mansion.

See also

• List of National Trust properties in Australia
• List of Australian Living Treasures