THE heritage and history of the Southern Highlands was celebrated this month.
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Council's biennial Heritage Awards recognised projects in the shire which embraced and improved the rich heritage and history of the Southern Highlands.
Nine categories were presented to applicants including best conservation, best sympathetic addition, best creative adaptation, best maintenance, best heritage precinct, best heritage trade, best heritage tourism project, significant achievement in heritage by an individual or organisation and best contribution to an understanding of heritage in the shire.
The winners were:
Best conservation of a heritage place under $250,000 - Conservation of Allambie in Moss Vale
Best sympathetic addition to a heritage place under $250,000 - highly commended went to the Greeny Flat in Mittagong
Best sympathetic addition to a heritage place more than $250,000 - Additions to Eccleston Park in Canyonleigh
Best maintained heritage place - Harper's Mansion Management Committee in Berrima. Highly commended was Hatch Cottage, Mali Brae Farm in Moss Vale
Best heritage project - The Joadja Historic Shale Oil Mining Town and Works Conservation Project in Joadja
Best heritage tourism project or initiative - Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens Ltd, Oldbury Open Garden Weekend. Highly Commended was Mali Brae Function Centre in Moss Vale
Significant achievement in heritage by an individual or organisation - Australian Garden History Society Southern Highlands Branch and Berrima Bridge Camellia Project
Best contribution to an understanding of heritage in the Wingecarribee Shire - joint winner was Australian Garden History Society Southern Highlands Branch with Berrima Bridge Nurseries Conservation Management Plan and Mount Gibraltar Landcare and Bushcare with Mount Gibraltar Heritage Reserve and Quarries Information.
Council's heritage land use planner Sarah Websdale Farnese said the awards aimed to recognise and celebrate projects, events or people who contributed positively to the understanding and appreciation of heritage and history of the Southern Highlands.
"The awards also serve to promote excellence in the design of new elements in a heritage context and to encourage maintenance of heritage assets and heritage areas," Ms Websdale Farnese said.
Council's Heritage Committee representative Dennis McManus said the awards were part of an overall program to actively promote heritage conservation in the shire.
"The other aspects of the program include good listing of heritage items, the employment of a dedicated heritage officer, the active involvement of council's heritage committee which includes local voluntary heritage specialists, access to a free heritage advisory service and the running of an annual local heritage grants program."