EUROPA NOSTRA FORUM 'SAVING EUROPE'S ENDANGERED HERITAGE' - Simon Molesworth
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The document discusses the Europa Nostra Forum 2012, focusing on the conservation of endangered heritage in Australia and the USA. It highlights the successes of the Australian Council of National Trusts and the US National Trust for Historic Preservation in raising awareness and protecting historical sites. The text also outlines specific examples of endangered places and the efforts made to save them, emphasizing the significance of heritage conservation for future generations.
EUROPA NOSTRA FORUM 'SAVING EUROPE'S ENDANGERED HERITAGE' - Simon Molesworth
- 1. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 “Saving Europe’s Endangered Heritage” 1st June 2012 Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal The Australian “Heritage at Risk” & the US “Most Endangered Historic Places” Professor Simon R Molesworth AM QC Executive Chairman, International National Trusts Organisation International Affairs Ambassador, Australian Council of National Trusts
- 2. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 Australian Council of National Trusts
- 3. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 I will: (1) Briefly describe INTO, the International National Trusts Organisation; (2) Briefly describe both the ACNT, the Australian Council of National Trusts, and the NTHP, the National Trust for Historic Preservation of the USA. (3) Provide an overview of NTHP’s “11 Most Endangered Historic Places” and the ACNT’s “Our Heritage At Risk – National Top 10” with a comparative assessment of the weaknesses and strengths of some of the approaches.
- 4. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 The Mission of INTO is: To promote the conservation and enhancement of the cultural and natural heritage of all nations for the benefit of the people of the world.
- 5. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places AN OVERVIEW
- 6. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list to raise awareness about the threats facing some of the USA's greatest treasures. 6
- 7. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places • The list, which has identified 233 sites to date, has been so successful in galvanizing preservation efforts that only a handful of sites have been lost. • Dozens of sites have been saved through the tireless work of the National Trust, its partners, and local preservationists across the US. • Many more sites are now considered "favorable" and are on the path to a positive solution. • Still, others remain threatened, and the National Trust and its partners continue in their efforts to protect these important endangered places. 7
- 8. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Nomination Sites can be nominated both internally (by NTHP staff) and externally (by anyone, from Heritage Partners to the general public) NTHP Field Staff vet the nominations and make a first cut at which ones should move forward The list goes through informal vetting in the NTHP Marketing and Preservation Divisions. It also goes through a more formal vetting process with the Leadership Team (about 30 senior managers) The final decision is made by the NTHP 8-person Executive Team (comprising the NTHP CEO plus the Division chiefs). 8
- 9. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Awareness Variety of public outreach events: major press conference (that is often picked up by the major television networks); exclusive stories to the largest newspapers (e.g., New York Times); and sometimes do regional press conferences. The online presence of the NTHP’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places – both on the web and social media is huge – recording their biggest site visitation numbers of the year. Web site (http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/11-most-endangered/) 9
- 10. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the program, which has become one of the most effective tools to save the USA's irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage. The following are some examples of successes through the past 25 years. 10
- 11. South Pasadena/El Sereno – Listed 1989 South Pasadena, California • Predominantly Hispanic communities distinguished by handsome, well-preserved Victorian, Craftsman bungalow, and Mediterranean Revival-style houses. • Threatened in late 1980s by a proposed six-mile, $1.4 billion freeway extension, which would have cut through four nationally-recognized historic districts and destroyed almost 1,000 homes. • 1999 lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and others led to federal injunction prohibiting the California Department of Transportation from purchasing additional land and planning or designing the freeway. • Federal Highway Administration withdrew its funding support in 2003 of the 710 Freeway Extension, and in 2004, the California Department 11
- 12. Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel – Listed 1996 New Castle, New Hampshire • 1874 resort hotel; Hosted guests ranging from middle-class families to celebrities and diplomats until its closure in 1982. • Stood vacant and neglected for more than two decades and faced deterioration. • After the hotel’s inclusion on the 11 Most list, the National Trust worked with a local friends group and a developer to secure funding from key state agencies for rehabilitation. • The property, restored to its Victorian grandeur, re-opened in 2003 and is now a premier Marriott destination hotel and spa and a member 12 of
- 13. Central High School – Listed 1996 Little Rock, Arkansas • 1927 public high school; Site of forced desegregation in 1957 when African American students were escorted into the building by U.S. Army soldiers. • School suffered from deteriorating building conditions as a result of urban flight, a declining neighborhood, a dwindling tax base, and shrinking budgets. • The school's inclusion on the 11 Most list helped secure National Historic Site status and grants totaling $2.5 million. In 2000, the Little Rock School District budgeted $10 million for the rehabilitation of the building. • This work went hand-in-hand with the creation of a Central High Museum and Visitors Center, and the neighborhood is experiencing positive revitalization ripples. • In 2007, Central High celebrated 50 years of integration. 13
- 14. Eisenhower VA Medical Center – Listed 2000 Leavenworth, Kansas • Veterans healthcare facility founded in 1884. National Historic Landmark, part of the National Home of the Disabled Volunteer Soldier Historic District. • Threatened in 2000, when the Department of Veterans Affairs wanted to demolish 39 of the historic buildings as part of a downsizing project. • Publicity from the 11 Most list led to Department of Veterans Affairs signing a long- term lease with developers Pioneer Group, Inc. • Pioneer Group, Inc. is rehabilitating the buildings to provide veteran-related uses, including senior housing. Also seeking tenants and adaptively rehabilitating buildings for office space, 14 classrooms and residential uses.
- 15. Nine Mile Canyon – Listed 2004 Carbon, Duchesne & Uintah Counties, Utah • Often called "the world's longest art gallery," as it contains more than 10,000 images carved and painted onto canyon walls by Native Americans. • Also home to numerous archeological sites, including pit houses, granaries, and village locations. • Threatened by tourism, recreation, and energy development, particularly truck traffic associated with natural gas development on the plateau above the canyon. • Despite 11 Most publicity, Bureau of Land Management announced in 2008 it would sell new oil and gas leases on the plateau, further endangering the site. National Trust and others filed a lawsuit, and U.S. District Court issued an order that prohibited BLM from issuing the leases. • United States Secretary of the Interior formally cancelled each of the leases at issue in the lawsuit, thus sparing Nine Mile Canyon from the additional harmful effects of truck traffic. 15
- 16. Pillsbury “A” Mill Complex – Listed 2011 Minneapolis, Minnesota • 1881 flour mill regarded as largest and most advanced industrial facility in the world at the time of its completion. National Historic Landmark. • Closed in 2003. Acquired by preservation-sensitive developer, but financing failed and the property was foreclosed upon in 2010. • Buildings stood mostly empty and with an unknown future upon complex’s inclusion on 11 Most list. • After listing, plans began for some of the buildings to be converted into apartments, studios and galleries for local artists. • The Trust will continue to be involved in the site’s 16 future as rehabilitation moves forward.
- 17. Europa Nostra Forum 2012
- 18. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 Australian Council of National Trusts 6 states + 2 territories = 8 National Trusts
- 19. Our Heritage at Risk National Top Ten 2010
- 20. The Our Heritage at Risk program is designed to raise awareness in the Australian community of the threats to our heritage and encourage all levels of government to conserve these places and collections for the future. The National Top Ten includes natural, indigenous and other cultural heritage, industrial and built heritage at risk from neglect, lack of funding, legislative failures or lack of enforcement, or inappropriate development. The inclusion of a place in this National Top Ten List does not necessarily imply a criticism of the owners or agencies responsible for the listed places, rather listing draws attention to the realities of threats, which may be beyond the capacity of individual owners but capable of being safeguarded through community-wide or whole-of-government responses.
- 21. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 Connecting with traditions, local communities, people in their places. Aim is to foster passion about the potential loss of their cherished heritage
- 22. Nominations Partner organisations – such as the Federation of Australian Historical Societies – join in the exercise – so as to increase objectivity, credibility and capacity to influence community and government attitudes. Determined to work with the community – to give “the people” a sense of ownership of the programme – the call for nominations is advertised in national newspapers. As the National Top Ten “Our Heritage at Risk” is just a sample of that actually at risk across Australia each year, selected from nominations from across Australia, a larger list of about 70 nominations must be reduced to the finalists. Nominations are grouped in to State/Territory lists, with each National Trust choosing 3 or 4 priority nominations in their jurisdictions, determined by professional conservation staff. At the national level, the ACNT then reduces the list to the finalists.
- 23. Awareness – 15 years on Two stage awareness programme: 1st, at the call for nominations stage; 2nd for the announcement of the final list. On each occasion, there is a press conference and a multi-media release of announcements. Usually involves the President/Chair of the National Trusts together with a well- known public figure – a film or television identity or someone highly respected in the Australian community. Usually a media “event” is organised – followed by nationwide interviews. Supported by a website awareness raising www.heritageatrisk.org.au with other forms of social electronic media being progressively utilized.
- 24. Windsor Hotel & Parliamentary Precinct, Melbourne Imminent risk of destruction and devaluation
- 25. The Windsor Hotel, an important part of the Victorian Parliamentary Precinct, was saved from demolition in 1977 and restored in the 1980s. The building is noted for its architectural and historic significance and is considered the largest & grandest of Australian 19th century hotels. The precinct is in a Heritage Overlay and the hotel is on State and Trust registers. Heritage Victoria has issued planning permits for a 26 storey 91m high tower, and associated demolition of part of the building on economic grounds. After a year of advocating against the redevelopment, the Victorian National Trust lost its Supreme Court legal bid against this decision. This ruling may set a precedent allowing 100- metre buildings in the Windsor precinct. This campaign has raised significant concerns over the minister’s and Heritage Victoria’s handling of this planning issue. This development will significantly impact on the architectural integrity and historical significance of the hotel and on the broader parliamentary precinct known as Bourke Hill.
- 26. Lower Lakes and Coorong & the Murray Darling Basin Immediate risk of deterioration and degradation
- 27. The Murray River’s drainage basin covers over 1,000,000 km2, beginning in the State of Queensland and extending though NSW, Victoria and South Australia. The Darling River is the longest in Australia with an even larger catchment than the Murray. Both river systems support agriculture and a wide variety of ecosystems, and have archaeological, scientific, ecological, Indigenous and European cultural and historic significance. This river system and catchment is the life-blood of much of Australia supplying vital water, agricultural and ecosystem services to Australians, their livelihood and their environment. River flow has been drastically reduced in both river systems, ceasing altogether in some places. 95% of the Murray is degraded due to historical over-allocation of water. Lack of flows and excessive salt levels due to regulatory conflict, unsustainable water extraction together with drought have endangered flora and fauna habitats and have impacted on the sustainability of the economic and cultural practices throughout the vast region. Both rivers must be restored to health through action from all stakeholders. Current market-based mechanisms are failing and Commonwealth Government intervention is urgently needed to ensure sufficient freshwater to flush the lower Murray River.
- 28. Murtoa Stick Shed, Victoria Imminent risk of deterioration and devaluation
- 29. Located in the Wimmera in Victoria, the building has a long low profile with the angle of the roof the same as the angle or repose of wheat, and is a dramatic component of the landscape. The building is the earliest and only remaining colossal grain storage shed built during WWII in Victoria. It has National Trust & State heritage listing and has been nominated to the National Heritage List. Last used for storing grain in 1990, the redundant shed continues to be threatened with demolition, and has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and neglect. Many of the poles are rotting at the base and the building is at risk during high winds. The Victorian Government has committed $1.2 million to the repair of the shed enough to repair all poles, but only 50% of the shed. Additional funds are required adaptive reuse should be found. Reuse will help secure its future maintenance and preservation, however, buildings as significant as this should be preserved regardless.
- 30. Burra Monster Mine Reserve, South Australia Imminent risk of destruction and devaluation
- 31. Burra is an old copper mining town in the State of South Australia, founded in 1845 about 160 km from Adelaide. It is now a rural centre with a thriving cultural tourism industry. The historic Monster Mine is at the heart of its heritage values. The Reserve is State heritage listed and a pending nomination for UNESCO world heritage listing focusing on its Cornish mining heritage in the context of the evolution of Australian mining and colonial development. Burra was the site of adoption of the ICOMOS Charter for conservation and management of places of cultural significance. Burra’s mining buildings are now being threatened due to an application for an Exploration Licence over the Burra Heritage Monster Mine site. Significant historic buildings are at risk of demolition, and the grassland could be destroyed under these actions.
- 32. Europa Nostra Forum 2012 The destruction of heritage is a fundamental breach of the principle of intergenerational equity, in that heritage destroyed or culture diminished within the time of the current generation will deprive members of future generations of their right to their cultural inheritance.
- 33. Australian Council of National Trusts Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.au Email: admin@nationaltrust.org.au Tel: +61 (0) 2 6247 6766
- 34. Website: www.internationaltrusts.org Email: into@nationaltrust.org.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 7799 4578 Thank you