Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail shines at National Trust Awards
Published on 20 May 2024
The Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail has been honoured at the National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards announced in Sydney on Friday 17 May.
The National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards is an annual celebration of outstanding practice, awarding excellence in conservation of Aboriginal, built, natural and cultural heritage. Celebrating its 30th annual celebration in 2024, the Awards are also a signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival, coordinated annually by the National Trust. 19 winners were recognised from over 130 entries with the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail being awarded a Highly Commended in the category of ‘Events, Exhibitions and Tours’ and then awarded the prestigious President’s Prize.
Mayor of Bathurst Cr Jess Jennings said that receiving the President’s Prize was recognition at the highest level for the significance that the event has attained.
“The Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail began in 2017 when an incredibly dedicated group of local community members approached Bathurst Regional Council with an idea to better activate our exceptional cultural heritage” he said.
“Council was pleased to enter into a partnership with this community group, and over the last seven years this partnership has strengthened into a quite unique collaboration that has seen the event grow in popularity every year and become the most important heritage-focussed event in the Central West of NSW”.
In conferring the award, the President of the National Trust, Kathryn Pitkin AM, spoke of the “significant and authentic community engagement’ that underlies the event and of the importance of the event in showcasing and of preserving the traditions of the rare artisan trades showcased annually at the event.
“As the event has grown, so has the number of volunteers involved. However, it is remarkable to see that the original core group is still intact and still working every year with the team at the tourism team at the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre to grow and to deliver the event,” said Cr Jennings.
The Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail was also showcased in 2024 with a major feature in Australian Geographic Magazine, and the 2024 event included a live broadcast from the event by Simon Marnie of ABC 702 Sydney.
Planning for the 2025 event is already underway, with the date set for the weekend of 12-13 April 2025. More information can be found at https://www.bathurstregion.com.au/bathurst-heritage-trades-trail/
ENDS
Media contact: Therese Ryan, Manager Corporate Communications P: 6333 6202
M: 0437 958 478 E: therese.ryan@bathurst.nsw.gov.au