The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is a community-based, non-government organisation committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage places of cultural significance in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

. It was founded in 1956.

Establishment

With threats to fine colonial mansions in Sydney, the first National Trust in Australia was established in New South Wales in 1945. In Victoria, where the heritage of ornate late-19th century Land Boom buildings was less valued, it took some time for heritage advocates to organise. In 1953, the publication of the popular ''Early Melbourne Architecture 1840-1888'', by artist, writer, and public speaker

Maie Casey Ethel Marian Sumner Casey, Baroness Casey, (; 13 March 1892 – 20 January 1983), commonly known as Maie Casey, was an Australian pioneer aviator, poet, librettist, biographer, memoirist and artist. She was married to Lord Casey, who was Go ...

, was an early attempt at raising awareness. In the following months, major figures in Melbourne, from society, the arts, town planning and architecture, began to discuss the setting up of Trust similar to that in Britain and NSW. Spurred by the demolition of the spectacular 1870 mansion,"Wendrew", in

Toorak Toorak () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington local government area. Toorak recorded a population of 12,817 at the 2021 census. The name ...

in 1954, and the likely imminent sale of the nearby grand colonial estate

Como House Como House is a historical house, with associated gardens in the City of Stonnington, Victoria, Australia. It was constructed in 1847 for Sir Edward Eyre Williams and now serves as a tourist attraction under the custodianship of the National T ...

, a series of ever-larger meetings were held, culminating in the formation in May 1956 of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), as a charity with its first aim being the acquisition of Como. A notable feature of those who established the Trust was the number of prominent and influential people, and "the close network of family and business between them". They included author Joan, her husband

Daryl Lindsay Sir Ernest Daryl Lindsay (31 December 1889 – 25 December 1976), known as Dan Lindsay, was an Australian artist. Early life He was the youngest son in a large family born to Anglo-Irish surgeon Robert Charles Alexander and Jane Elizabeth Linds ...

, the director of the National Gallery of Victoria, R.T.M. Pescott, director of the Museum of Victoria, architect and critic Robin Boyd, Maie Casey and her husband politician Richard Casey, Noel and Elizabeth Goss, architect Roy Simpson, and Professor of Architecture at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

, Brian Lewis. Early patrons included Sir Dallas Brooks and Lady Brooks, Sir Owen Dixon, Lord Baillieu, Lady Grimwade and Lady Murdoch.

Properties

The Victorian National Trust manages 38 properties in the state, 30 of which it owns and eight of which are properties on Crown land. 24 National Trust properties are regularly open to the public.National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Heritage Tourism and Eco Tourism
/ref> The most well known include the historic

Old Melbourne Gaol The Old Melbourne Gaol is a former jail and current museum on Russell Street, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It consists of a bluestone building and courtyard, and is located next to the old City Police Watch House and City Courts buildi ...

, the

Melbourne Maritime Museum The former Melbourne Maritime Museum, now, the ''Polly Woodside'' tall ship and museum, managed by the National Trust of Australia, is situated in South Wharf on the Yarra River in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is home to the ...

in Southbank, which includes the restored sailing ship, ''

Polly Woodside ''Polly Woodside'' is a Belfast-built, three-masted, iron-hulled barque, preserved in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), and forming the central feature of the South Wharf precinct. The ship was originally built in Belfast by William J. Woodside ...

'', the historic mansion and gardens of the

Rippon Lea Estate Rippon Lea Estate is a heritage-listed historic house and gardens located in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the care of the National Trust of Australia. It was added to the Australian National Heritage List on 11 August ...

in Elsternwick, and

in Toorak.

References

External links

National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

Establishment

Properties

See also

References

External links

Further reading