More than $300,000 in funding is set to flow across Tasmania for heritage conservation projects at Woolmers Estate, Port Arthur and the Coal Mines Historic Site.
Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, made the announcement during a visit today to Woolmers Estate with the Member for Lyons, Eric Hutchinson.
“These grants will fund a range of conservation and interpretation projects under the Australian Government's Protecting National Historic Sites Programme,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Turnbull Government understands the importance of Tasmania’s extraordinary heritage sites, and how they fit into cultural and economic stories for the state.
“Eric Hutchinson is one of the most passionate advocates for heritage we have in the Federal Parliament. He is convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of History and Heritage, and is a major contributor to helping shape our heritage policy.”
Mr Hutchinson said he was delighted that this funding would further support Tasmania’s history.
“Heritage is one of Tasmania’s great strengths and it is terrific to see the Turnbull Government providing support to this important local industry, for instance the Chapel and Cottage upgrades here will provide more heritage experiences, and open more uses such as wedding and event venues. This in turn helps accommodation, catering and floristry businesses in the area,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“We want to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to visit and enjoy these places. They are extremely important to Tasmania’s economy in terms of jobs in the tourism sector.”
The projects include:
• $80,000 to conserve the 1840s-era Woolmers Chapel and Mountgarrett's Cottage at the Woolmers Estate, providing visitor access to these spaces for the first time.
• $80,000 for the installation of new walkways on the Isle of Dead at Port Arthur to replace current inadequacies, protect sensitive parts of the cemetery and provide better delivery of guided tours and wheel-chair access.
• $86,000 to the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority for the construction of interpretative panels for each of the 12 World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites, representing the key elements of the story of the forced migration of convicts to Australia.
• $58,160 for the Coal Mines Historic Site to install an interpretation node and entry point information panels that will provide an introductory history and graphic material to help visitors better understand the site’s significance.
(ENDS)