The Heritage Act and the role of Council

Front Cover: Raggatt’s Structure Heritage Council

GPO Box 4198 Darwin NT 0801 Tel: 08 8999 5039

Table of Contents

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Message from the Chairperson 1 The Heritage Act and the role of Council 2

Council Members 3

Meetings 6 Assessment and Declaration 7

Work Approvals 11

Conservation and Management 12

Policy and Strategy 14

Appendix 15

Message from the Chairperson

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I have great pleasure in presenting the fourth Annual Report of the Heritage Council.

2015-16 was a year of change for the Heritage Council. On 1 October 2015, a new Council was appointed by the Minister which gave us many new faces around the table. I was privileged to be appointed as Chairperson.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the members of the former Council who were not appointed to the new Council. All of them were hard-working and conscientious members who made a substantial contribution to heritage management in the Northern Territory.

I would like to particularly thank the outgoing Chairperson, Dr Brian Reid, who after many years of dedicated service on the Council (including three years as Chairperson) decided not to seek reappointment to the Council.

Council was busier than ever in 2015-16. It met formally four times as required by the Heritage Act, and also met many times out of session, in order to ensure that day to day matters were dealt with in a timely fashion.

There were six additions to the NT Heritage Register in 2015-16. It is notable that the newly listed places were in diverse locations around the Territory. As a long-time resident of Alice Springs, I am pleased with this result. I think it is very important that we ensure that the unique heritage that exists in regional parts of the Territory is conserved and celebrated.

In April 2016 it was my pleasure to attend, for the first time, the annual meeting of the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand. I was impressed by the

thought-provoking agenda, and appreciated the chance to meet like-minded people from all over Australia and New Zealand, and to exchange ideas.

Attending such meetings always reminds me of how important it is to keep one’s eye on the

‘big picture’, and to not be constantly caught up dealing with day to day matters. To that end, I am pleased to report that at its last meeting of the year in June 2016, Council resolved to establish a ‘policy and procedures’ committee. One of the important tasks for 2016-17 will be to use the work of this committee to ensure that as the Heritage Council moves ahead with its important work, that it makes decisions within a sound, transparent policy framework.

MR WAYNE KRAFT

The Heritage Act and the role of Council

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The object of the Heritage Act is to provide for the conservation of the Northern Territory’s cultural and natural heritage.

The Act is broad in its scope. It automatically protects all Aboriginal and Macassan archaeological places and objects, and has the capacity to automatically protect other classes of places.

The Heritage Act commenced on 1 October 2012.

The functions of the Heritage Council are set out in Section 125 of the Act, and are:

(a) to assess the heritage significance of places and objects;

(b) to recommend to the Minister the declaration of places and objects to be heritage places and objects;

(c) to recommend to the Minister the revocation of the declaration for heritage places and objects;

(d) to advise the Minister on the conservation, use and management of heritage places and objects;

(e) to advise the Minister about the carrying out of work on a heritage place or object and to decide applications for work approvals other than applications for major work;

(f) to promote, as it considers appropriate, the public use and enjoyment of heritage places and objects in a way that is consistent with the conservation of the heritage significance of the places and objects;

(g) to facilitate public education and programs about the Territory’s cultural and natural heritage;

(h) to advise the Minister on financial incentives or concessions for heritage agreements (either in general or on particular agreements);

(i) to advise the Minister on matters affecting the Territory’s cultural and natural heritage;

Council Members

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The Heritage Act provides for a Council of eleven members. One is the nominee of the Chief Executive of the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment; the others are appointed by the Minister. There are nominees from four organisations.

The following members served up until 30 September 2015:

Dr Brian Reid - Chairperson Dr Graeme Suckling

Mr David Curtis Dr Samantha Wells Mr Michael Owen Mr Richard Luxton

The following members were appointed from 1 October 2015, some having served on the previous Council:

Mr Wayne Kraft (Chairperson)

Wayne lives in Alice Springs and for many years was the owner of the iconic Overlanders Steakhouse. A resident of the NT for over 40 years, he has also lived and worked in Tennant Creek, Darwin and Barrow Creek. He is a past Board Member (and Chairman) of the Board of the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT.

Mr Roger Steele (Deputy Chairperson)

Roger Steele has been a resident of the NT since 1948. Roger worked in the pastoral industry, then as an insurance agent and manager.

He served in the first Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, holding various Ministerial roles. He was Speaker of the Assembly from 1984 to 1986. Roger founded the Gregory National Park, and has a keen interest in outback Australia and public affairs.

Ms Elizabeth Close

Elizabeth is the Director of the National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory), and is the National Trust’s nominee on the Heritage

Council. With a background in history, education and museums, she holds a Masters degree in Cultural Heritage, and is a professional member of ICOMOS.

Mr Allan Garraway

Allan has a background in accounting and commerce, and is the nominee of the Property Council of Australia (Northern Territory). He has a particular interest in appropriate development in the Darwin CBD.

Mr Steven Hennessy

Steven is the nominee of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. Steven has been in Timber Creek since 2005, and is currently Mayor of the Victoria Daly Shire. He has taken a keen interest in the conservation of the Timber Creek Police Museum.

Ms Allison Bitar

Allison is an Anthropologist Project Officer at the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and is the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority’s nominee on the Heritage Council. Allison has a background in

indigenous heritage conservation, town planning and policy.

Mr Roger Harris

Roger has been a Director of Alice Springs Commercial Broadcasters (ASCB) and Coastal Broadcasters since 1989, and has been General Manager of ASCB since 1991.He has a background in retail and Broadcast Engineering.

Council Members 2015/16

Mr Alexander Nelson

Alex is a lifetime resident of Alice Springs with experience in primary industry research, politics and the media. He has a keen interest in the contemporary history of Central Australia.

Mr Frank Ahmat

Frank is a long time Territorian. He worked for the public service for 43 years. He comes from a long time Territory family, is a well- known sportsman and has been on various sporting club boards and committees.

Mr Daniel Measures

Daniel is a lifetime resident of Alice Springs and Tennant Creek where he has experience in media and the establishment, management and implementation of the Barkly Work Camp under the ‘New Era in Corrections’. He has an avid interest in the general history of Central Australia and the Barkly Region.

Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik (nominee of the Chief Executive) MaryAnn is a Territorian and Emeritus Professor at Charles Darwin University. She holds both a Master’s Degree and Doctorate from Harvard University and is a respected academic both nationally and internationally who specializes in Indigenous cultures, histories and heritage. She is also a former nurse with seventeen years’ ex- perience working in Darwin and various remote Territory locations.

Meetings

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Council is required under the terms of the Heritage Act to meet at least four times per year.

In 2015-16 Council met four times, as follows:

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Council also met ‘out of session’ on the following dates:

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Assessment and Declaration

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Nominations

The heritage listing process starts with someone nominating a place or object for heritage listing.

The Council received nominations for eight places and two objects during the year, as follows:

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Council accepted all of these nominations. Council also nominated the following two places and one object of its own volition:

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Assessments

Once it has accepted a nomination, Council must apply the heritage assessment criteria set out in the Act, in order to determine whether the place is of heritage significance.

The heritage assessment criteria for a place or object are set out in section 11 of the Heritage Act, and are as follows:

(a) whether it is important to the course, or pattern, of the Territory’s cultural or natural history;

(b) whether it possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the Territory’s cultural or natural history.

(c) whether it has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the Territory’s cultural or natural history;

(d) whether it is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places or environments;

(e) whether it is important in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics;

(f) whether it is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement during a particular period;

(g) whether it has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons, including the significance of a place to Aboriginal people as part of their continuing and developing cultural traditions;

(h) whether it has a special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in the Territory’s history.

The Council assessed the significance of seven places and three objects, as follows:

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Declared heritage places and objects

Once Council has completed the assessment process, it has to decide whether or not the place or object is significant. If so, then the Council invites submissions as to whether the place or object should be permanently declared as a heritage place or heritage object.

After considering all the submissions made, the Council is then required to make a recommendation to the Minister. The Minister has the final decision as to whether a place or object is permanently declared as a heritage place or object.

In 2015-16, five places were permanently declared as heritage places, and one object as a heritage object:

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In 2015-16, the Minister refused to declare four places as heritage places, and one object as a heritage object:

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The Minister did not revoke the declaration of any places or objects in 2015-16.

The State of the Register

The NT Heritage Register now has a total of 296 places and objects that have been declared as heritage places and objects since the commencement of the Heritage Conservation Act in 1991.

Under the transitional provisions of the new Heritage Act, all places and objects declared under the old Act have the same status under the new Act. A complete list of all declared places and objects as at 30 June 2016 is provided at Appendix One.

Mt Riddock Homestead

Iron Building, Yuendumu Roper River Police Station

Little Flower Mission

Work Approvals

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The Heritage Council gave permission for the following work to proceed, on the basis that it was minor work:

Name of Place Nature of Work Date of Decision

Owen Springs Stockyards Reconstruction 3 September 2015

Katherine Railway Bridge New flood markers 21 September 2015

Heavitree Gap Police Station Misc conservation works and new air

conditioning 21 September 2015

Adelaide River Railway Station New fence 15 December 2015

Jones Store New fence 15 December 2015

Myilly Point Amenities block in ‘Stahl Garden’ 15 December 2015

Kulaluk Lease Area New fence 7 April 2016

5 x sites in the Wellington Ranges Excavation for research purposes 30 April 2016 Adelaide River Railway Precinct Reconstruction of historical pumphouse 30 April 2016 Totem Theatre Works to improve stormwater drainage and

improve access 30 April 2016

Hermannsburg – Kata Anga Tearooms New deck 30 April 2016

Former Commonwealth Bank, Darwin Extend existing decks, new awnings 30 April 2016

Adelaide River War Cemetery New fence 19 May 2016

The Heritage Council made recommendations to the Minister in relation to the following work (considered to be major work), under the terms of the Heritage Act:

Name of Place Nature of Work Council’s

Recommendation Minister’s Decision

80 Hartley Street, Alice

Springs New townhouses to rear Approve Approved

5 October 2015 Alice Springs Telegraph

Station New toilet facilities Approve Approved

30 October 2015 Sue Wah Chin Building Internal alterations Approve with conditions Approved

18 March 2016

Conservation and Management

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NT Heritage Grants Program

Owners of heritage places not in Government hands are eligible for assistance under the NT Heritage Grants Program (NTHGP).

The Heritage Council’s role is to assess applications received under the NTHGP, and to make recommendations to the Minister about funding.

In 2015-16, a total of 22 projects were funded to a value of $271 725 as follows:

Organisation Project Funding

Alice Springs Town Council Totem Theatre Conservation and Management Plan $ 5 000 Central Australian Aviation Museum Concrete Floor of Hangar to house Heron Aircraft $ 18 450

Central Land Council Conserving Tempe Downs Homestead Stage 3 $ 25 500

Centrecorp Aboriginal Investment

Corporation Re-instate front fencing and garden 75 Hartley Street Alice

Springs $ 11 475

City of Darwin Pee Wee Camp Public Access Restoration Project $ 10 000

Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation Macassan Stone Picture Signage Replacement $ 1 000 Fannie Bay History and Heritage Society Wings across the World: Remembering the 1919 Great Air Race $ 800 Finke River Mission Services Roofing Repairs at Hermannsburg Historic Precinct $ 15 000 Friends of the North Australia Railway Inc Relocation of 1892 Steam Locomotive NFB88 Katherine $ 18 000 Friends of the North Australia Railway Inc Dresser for the 1889 Adelaide River Railway Refreshment

Rooms $ 12 500

Genealogical Society of the Northern

Territory Inc Adelaide River Pioneer Cemetery Bronze Plaque $ 2 500

Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation Wave Hill Walk Off Route Interpretive Signage $ 15 000 Hamilton Downs Youth Camp

Association Inc. Repairs and Maintenance Meat House - Hamilton Downs Youth

Camp $ 30 000

National Trust Australia (NT) Fencing Jones Store at Newcastle Waters $ 15 000

National Trust Australia (NT) Goyder’s Day 2016 $ 3 500

National Trust Australia (NT) Katherine Heritage Festival 2016 $ 1 500

National Trust Australia (NT) Alice Springs Heritage Festival 2016 $ 6 000

National Trust Australia (NT) Darwin Heritage Festival 2016 $ 6 000

National Trust Australia (NT) Painting of Burnett House Myilly Point $ 30 000

Conservation Program for Government-owned Heritage Assets

The Conservation Program for Government-owned Heritage Assets had a budget of $675 000 in 2015-16.

The implementation of the Program is an operational matter for the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment. Council is involved when work approvals are required, and is provided with an annual update on work completed under the Program.

Town Hall Ruins, Darwin

Policy and Strategy

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The annual meeting of the Heritage Chairs and Officials of Australia and New Zealand (HCOANZ) was held in Brisbane from 3 – 5 April 2016. Chairperson Wayne Kraft attended, along with Michael Wells (Director Heritage Branch).

On Monday 4 April 2016, there was an ‘officials only’ meeting, dealing mainly with operational issues including:

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On Tuesday 5 April 2016, there was a Chairs’ Forum, with the agenda set by the host Chair. This part of the Meeting was intended to be more strategic, and to promote the exchange of ideas. There was an emphasis on new technology, with information provided about:

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There was a separate session on heritage tourism, and later the Chairs received a ‘report back’ from the Officials Meeting the day before, and discussed the Australian Heritage Strategy.

On 3 June 2016, Council resolved to establish a ‘policy and

procedures’ committee. The stated purpose of the committee is “to review and/or implement the policies and procedures required to both legally and efficiently process all matters pertaining to the Heritage Council of the Northern Territory.”

Appendix One

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Declared heritage places and objects as of 30 June 2016 (*indicates new listing this year)

A

Adelaide House

Adelaide River Pioneer Cemetery

Adelaide River Railway Siding and Bridge

Adelaide River War Cemetery and Wartime Civilian Cemetery Administrator’s Office

Aileron Homestead Albert Namatjira’s House Albert Namatjira Memorial Alcoota Fossil Beds

Alice Springs General Cemetery Alice Springs Heritage Precinct Alice Springs Post Office (Former)

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve Alice Well Police Station and Well

Anna’s Reservoir Conservation Reserve Angurugu Heritage Precinct

Angurugu Mission House No. 2

Anthony Lagoon; Davey Paxman Steam Engine; 1906 and 1945 Cattle Dips; and Police Tracker’s Quarters and Gaol.

Anzac Hill Memorial

Araluen Homestead Precinct Avon Downs Homestead

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Bamboo Creek Tin Mine

Banka Banka mudbrick homestead Barrow Creek Hotel

Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Batchelor Primary School (former) Beatrice Hill Well and Stone Wall fences Betty Bomber, Cox Peninsula

Blyth Homestead

Boab Tree, Cavenagh Street, Darwin Bonney Well

Bonrook Station (Old) Booya (shipwreck)

Borroloola Police Station Museum Bowson’s Hut

Bradshaw’s Homestead Bradshaw’s Packhorse Cutting Brock’s Creek Cemetery

Brock’s Creek Chinatown and Temple Site

Brock’s Creek Township, Railway Siding and Military Detention Barracks

Brown’s Mart

Bullita Station Homestead Precinct and Stockyard Bullock Creek Fossil Site

Burrundie Explosives Magazine Butterfly Gorge

B-24D Liberator ‘Nothing Sacred’

B24-J Liberator Aircraft Wreck Site

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‘Catalina 1’, Darwin Harbour*

‘Catalina 4’, East Arm

‘Catalina 5’, East Arm

‘Catalina 6’, East Arm

Cape Don Lighthouse Complex

Catholic Church Precinct, Alice Springs Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve Channel Island Leprosarium and Reefs Charlie Rye’s House, Alice Springs Charlotte Waters Telegraph Station ruins Christ Church Cathedral Heritage Precinct Christ the King Church and Sidney Williams Hut Climbing Dune, Jessie Gap Locality

Commonwealth Bank

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Daly River Copper Mine and Graves Daly Waters Aviation Complex

Darwin Botanic Gardens Darwin Cenotaph

Defence 16 Mile Camp, Lambrick Avenue Degaussing Range, Darwin Harbour Delissaville Cemetery

Djirurri Rock Shelter, Arnhem Land Driffield Mine Site

Drovers Rest Boab Precinct

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East Point Fortifications

88 Mile Burrell Creek WWII Chemical Warfare Storage and Maintenance Depot and Camp Site

Eldo Rocket Shelters Elsey Memorial Cemetery Emungalan Cemetery

Emungalan Wheel Rim Shrinkage Pit Escape Cliffs

Ewaninga Conservation Reserve

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Fannie Bay Gaol Fenton Airfield

Fergusson River Overland Telegraph Line Pylons and Oppenheimer Poles

Fergusson River Railway Bridge and Boiler Flying Fox, Daly Waters

Flynn’s Farm Fogg Dam

Former Reserve Bank

Fort Wellington, Cobourg Peninsula Francis Bay Explosives Complex

Frew Ponds Overland Telegraph Line Memorial Reserve Frog Hollow

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Gardens Road Cemetery Ghan’s Bore

Gilbert Well

Goolam Rasool Nazar’s grave Alice Springs Government Battery and Cyanide Works, Arltunga Government House

Gregory’s Tree Grove Hill Hotel

Gurindji Wave Hill Walk Off Route

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Hamilton Downs Station (Old) Hartley Street School (Old)

Harts Range Mica Mining Complex

Heavitree Gap Police Station Historic Reserve Heenan Building

Helen Springs Quarry (Kurutiti)

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve Hermannsburg Cemetery (Old)

Hermannsburg Historic Village Higgins Theatre

Hope Inlet Archaeological Sites Hore’s Homestead

Hughes Avenue Hunter House

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Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve

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Jasper Gorge

John Flynn Memorial Church, Alice Springs John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve John William Ogilvie Bennett Memorial*

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Kaporilja Springs

Katherine Overland Telegraph Pylons Katherine Railway Precinct

Kelat (shipwreck)

Kintore Caves Nature Reserve Knott’s Crossing

Kohinoor Adit

Koolendong Waterhole Boabs

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Little Flower Mission and Cemetery*

Lot 5601 Town of Darwin (Qantas Hangar)

Lots 7733-7736 Town of Alice Springs (Railway Cottages) Ludmilla Saltpan

Lutheran Church (Old) Lyons Cottage - BAT House

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MacClark (Acacia peuce) Conservation Reserve Manbulloo Airfield and Abattoir

Maranboy Mining Precinct Mastertons Cave and Garden McLachlan’s Tree

Methodist Manse (Former) Milingimbi Mud Brick Houses

Milkwood Tree corner Woods and Foelsche Street Mt Riddock Cemetery

Mt Riddock Homestead (Old) Munmarlary Homestead Murranji Track

Myilly Point Precinct Myrtle Villa Date Palm

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Naval Oil Tunnels (No.s 5 & 6) Navy Victualling Yards

N’Dhala Gorge Nature Park Neutral Junction Homestead (Old) Newcastle Waters Township

NF5 Locomotive, NABP13 Carriage, and Ghan Washing and Maintenance Shed, Pine Creek

Noltenius Billabong and Grave

North Australia Railway Corridor - The Narrows North Australia Railway remnants at Pine Creek 9 Aust. Advanced Ordnance Depot

1960’s “TJ” series Bedford Truck

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Observation Post, Sandy Creek O’Keeffe House

Old Admiralty House

Old Andado Station Old Batchelor Hospital

Old MacDonald Downs Homestead Old Mount Riddock Homestead (object)*

Old Owen Springs Homestead Complex Old Postmaster’s Residence, Tennant Creek*

Olive Pink Botanic Parks

Original Glen Helen Homestead Ruins

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Palmerston Cemetery Peel’s Well

Pine Creek Bakery

Pine Creek Butchery (Old)

Pine Creek Post and Office Repeater Station Pine Creek Railway Precinct

Pitchi Richi Sanctuary

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Quarantine Anti-Aircraft Battery Site

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RAAF Explosives Storage Area (Former) Remnant No. 6 Oil Tank

Repeater Station Alice Springs (Former)

Robert Czako Mural on the wall of Saint Mary’s Chapel Alice Springs Roper River Overland Telegraph Construction Depot

Ross River Homestead Rumbalara Ochre Mine

Rum Jungle Mine Manager’s House

Rum Jungle Single Women’s Quarters, Batchelor Ryan Well Reserve

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St Barbara’s Church, Batchelor Sandfly Steam Locomotive

Seven Mile Aerodrome, Alice Springs Silver Bullets (old Timber Creek School) Smith Point Beacon

Smith Street Stone Kerb and Milkwood Trees Snake Creek Armament Depot

Southport Cemetery and Former Southport Police Station & Telegraph Station site

Spencer Hill WWII Sites Spencer Hill Seismic Vault Springhill Battery

Springvale Homestead Complex SS Ellengowan

State Square Banyan Tree Steam Pump House Stella Maris Hostel Stone Hut (Old) Strauss Airstrip

Stuart Memorial Cemetery Stuart Town Gaol

Sue Wah Chin Building 17 Shepherd Street

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Tennant Creek Hospital Outpatients Department Tennant Creek Telegraph Station

The Residency, Alice Springs

Timber Creek Police Station Precinct

Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve Totem Theatre, Alice Springs

Town Hall Ruins Tree of Knowledge

Trestle Bridge and NAR (North Australian Railway) Corridor Katherine Tunck’s Store (Former)

Twelve Mile Chinatown (Settlement and Battery)

U

Ucharonidge Station Union Camp

Uniya Station

V

Vestey’s Tank

VH-CLW Heron Aircraft*

Victoria Settlement Historical Reserve Virginia Townsite Survey Markers

W

Warloch Ponds Road Bridge Warloch Ponds NAR Bridge Warruwi Church

Well (48 Bath Street, Alice Springs) Westpac Bank

Wimmera Home, VRD

Winnecke Goldfields ‘Cemetery’

Wishart Siding and Fettler’s Mess Woolngi Mine and Settlement

WWII Hughes Airfield

WWII K5 Anti-Aircraft Gun Battery Site

WWII Larrimah Telephone Repeater Station and Powerhouse WWII Observation Posts, Casuarina Coastal Reserve

WWII RAAF Ops Room WWII Shipwrecks

WWII RAAF No.1 Medical Receiving Station WWII Sidney Williams Hut, Stuart Park

WWII Strauss Airfield Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement

WWII Pell Airfield A4RSU Workshop Site and Main Camp Site WWII Noonamah Railway Siding and Stores Depot

WWII Noonamah Oval and Cricket Pitch WWII Winnellie Camp

Wurrwurrwuy Stone Pictures

Y

Yuendumu Iron Building*