Heritage Council Award for Fremantle Society

19/4/94

Twenty-two years of community lobbying for heritage conservation has been recognised in this year's Heritage Council Award.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis presented the prestigious award to the Fremantle Society at a special Heritage Week ceremony at the Fremantle Town Hall tonight.

Mr Lewis said that for more than two decades the Fremantle Society had been at the forefront of moves to conserve the port city's built heritage.

The Minister said the society had helped set new standards in heritage planning and conservation.

It had also campaigned for the protection of many of Fremantle's landmark buildings, including the Old Court House, the Evan Davies Building and the Fremantle Markets.

"This award recognises and acknowledges outstanding achievements in raising the awareness in the community of our heritage," Mr Lewis said.

"Fremantle has to its credit a high concentration of registered buildings with sound conservation programs behind them, and the full support of the community.

"Such support is owed, to a large part, to years of hard work by the Fremantle Society."

The Fremantle Society was established in 1972 to protect Fremantle's unique character while at the same time promote it as one of the State's most sought-after places to live and visit.

"Tonight's award also recognises the contribution which the Fremantle Society has made in capturing the imagination of a generation and empowering them to ensure that our heritage is looked after for the future," Mr Lewis said.

The award is the third to be presented by the Heritage Council since it was established in 1991.

Past winners of the award include Dr Avril O'Brien for work in creating the State's network of heritage trails, and Margaret Wilson, who carried out decades of voluntary research into the State's social history.

Media contact:  Paul Plowman (09) 222 9595