Heritage boost for Nanutarra Station Homestead

15/10/00
The Nanutarra Station Homestead in the Shire of Ashburton has received $5,000 in the fourth round of the State Heritage Grants Program.
Heritage Minister Graham Kierath announced the funds today as part of almost $1 million in heritage grants awarded across the State.
Mr Kierath said Nanutarra Station would use the funds for the creation of a conservation plan that would help to establish the heritage significance of the place and how this may be retained in future use and development.
Nanutarra was initially used as grazing land by H Highman before he developed the homestead around 1884. By 1918-19 it had grown to be one of the top 10 biggest stations in the Ashburton area.
Mr Kierath said Nanutarra Station homestead was significant because it was representative of the way of life of pastoralists in the Pilbara region for the last 100 years.
"The homestead continues to be used today with very few external changes since its construction," Mr Kierath said.
"It is important we preserve such vivid representations of our rural past."
Mr Kierath said the $1 million in grants announced today would go to 73 projects in metropolitan and regional Western Australia.
He said the average amount allocated in each grant was $13,000 with the majority of the sites owned by the private and commercial sector.
"The grants are a clear indication that the Government has a strong commitment to preserving heritage both in the metropolitan area and in regional Western Australia," Mr Kierath said.
"However I would urge owners of heritage buildings to also meet their responsibility to preserving these community assets.
"The purpose of the grants is not to fund all heritage works throughout the State but provide a helping hand to those projects deemed by the Heritage Council of WA to be most in need."
Mr Kierath said in all there were 142 applications for grants this year, requesting a total $7.2 million including one request for $1.6 million.
Of the 73 projects to receive grants, 61 were from regional Western Australia and totalled $769,700 with 12 projects in the metropolitan area receiving $187,000.
Media contact: Zac Donovan (08) 9213 6400