Heritage Activation Program Grants Announced

Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for the Arts

The Tasmanian Government will distribute more than $800,000 to twelve sites across the state to help reinvigorate heritage places.

Minister for the Arts, Madeleine Ogilvie, announced the first-round recipients of Heritage Tasmania’s Built Heritage Grants Scheme.

“The Grants Scheme is part of the Tasmanian Government’s $4.5 million investment over three years to support Tasmania’s historic heritage sector and revitalise Tasmania’s unique heritage properties,” Minister Ogilvie said.

“Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s future secures important world heritage sites for generations to come, providing everyday Tasmanians with support they need to activate heritage spaces and places.”

Successful Activation Program recipients:

  • Longford Academy; for a training course on traditional techniques for lime, mortars, putty, plasters and limewater;
  • Willow Court, New Norfolk; for improved interpretation signage and conservation works to repurpose the nurses quarters to boutique accommodation and function capacity;
  • Hobart City Mission’s Davey Street homeless shelter; for repairing its single lancet stained-glass window (the tallest of its kind in Tasmania);
  • Former Carlton Post Office; for conversion to boutique riverfront accommodation;
  • The Institute of Architects; to expand its popular Open House program into regional Tasmania;
  • Woolmers Estate; to activate a service kitchen to expand the onsite visitor experience;
  • Union Hotel, Avoca; for critical repairs to the kitchen towards the hotel’s reopening;
  • Kenworthy Building, Latrobe; for renovation works for conversion to visitor accommodation;
  • The Aboriginal Land Council, Wybalenna; for a truth-telling initiative, specifically conservation works at a colonial farmhouse;
  • Riversdale, Swansea; for repurposing its stables and barn into a cellar door and micro gin distillery;
  • Old Colonial Georgian building, Campania; for activation for future commercial use and short-term accommodation.

The Activation Program was developed as part of the Built Heritage Grants Scheme which enhances heritage buildings to increase visitor demand and experience, as well as strengthening our highly-skilled heritage conservation workforce.

A further round of the grants scheme will be offered early in 2024-25.

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