Winner
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's Heritage Services team breathes life into the region’s heritage and honours its past for future generations.
The City recognises that history is about people. Its three-person heritage services team is at the centre of its heritage work, encapsulating the tremendous value held in local history for the community. Together, Senior Officer Heritage Services Joanne Wilson, Local History and Archive Officer Tim Moore and Heritage Officer Tim Cudini weave passion, expertise and resourcing to care for Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s precious collections and stories.
Based out of the State Heritage-listed Boulder Town Hall, the team is responsible for the City’s archives, art and memorabilia collection and the Goldfields War Museum. They provide many other local and specialist services, including curating exhibitions and displays, conducting regular heritage tours and coordinating annual and anniversary events, such as landmark celebrations to commemorate Boulder’s 125th anniversary last year. Another significant project was the redevelopment of the City’s war museum, which reopened in 2019.
Commendation
City of Rockingham, Element Advisory and Terra Rosa (for the Rockingham archaeological dig project)
Peelhurst ruins are the remnants of a stone cottage built by Thomas Peel Junior in the early 1860s. In the 1960s a residential subdivision called Golden Bay was developed, which now surrounds the ruins. In 2008, the City of Rockingham purchased the ruins and immediately protected them through inclusion on the Local Heritage List.
In May 2023, a three-way collaboration saw the city, heritage consultant Element Advisory and archaeology consultant Terra Rosa deliver a three-day public archaeological dig to investigate the ruins. The City managed logistics and coordinated groups of volunteers, Element was on site to answer visitors’ questions about heritage and Peelhurst’s history, while Terra Rosa’s archaeologists ran the investigation and supervised volunteers.
The dig ignited great interest around the ruins, which remain a subject of curiosity.
Finalist
Shire of Pingelly
The Shire of Pingelly is a small local government in the southern Wheatbelt. Its vision is 'Positive by Nature: let's grow together' and it leads a collective approach to heritage in the town by demonstrating to private owners how to maintain, renew and engage adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.
The Pingelly Culture and Arts Framework 2023 brings together residents who work with the Shire to realise a heritage precinct on the main street. The project has ignited a sense of community engagement and involvement that transcends generations. Residents have participated in various aspects of the project, from restoration efforts to event coordination. This engagement has fostered a deeper connection among them and a shared commitment to preserving Pingelly's heritage.
The Town Hall and Courthouse/Schoolhouse, once historical landmarks, have been rejuvenated as the centrepiece of the project, breathing new life into the places and creating vibrant spaces that attract visitors and residents. Visitors, many of whom have familial ties to Pingelly, have been captivated by the town’s heritage narrative, inspiring them to share personal stories and connect with their roots.
