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Wednesday 16 October 2002, Media Release

INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR ABORIGINAL SITE

The restoration of Australian Hall, the site of the 1938 Day of Mourning and Protest at 152 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, has been internationally recognised with an Award of Distinction from the 2002 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Awards.

It was the third such accolade awarded to the building which is the only building in Australia which has been made the subject of a permanent conservation order due to its Aboriginal significance.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council today congratulated those involved with the work, highlighting the role of the National Aboriginal History and Heritage Council (NAHHC) for its dedication and commitment to ensuring the preservation and protection of the building.

"For over five years they fought to save this building from demolition in memory of those who struggled to have our rights as Aboriginal people recognised," Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Jeffrey Bradford said.

"This international recognition, along with the building's listing on the State Heritage Register by the NSW Heritage Council, is proof that they have achieved their goal and deserve our thanks for their work and commitment.

"The Metropolitan Aboriginal Association, especially the Chairperson Jenny Munro and Director George Watts, should also be fully congratulated for seeing this project to completion."

UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation were established to recognise the efforts and contributions of individuals and organisations within the private sector, and public-private partnership initiatives, in successfully restoring and conserving structures and buildings of heritage value in the region.

The Australian Hall project was praised "for its unique approach in restoring the historic building to an important event in history - 1938 Day of Morning Conference".

It successfully combined the energies of the owners of the building, the Metropolitan Aboriginal Association, which includes representatives from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and Heritage Architects, Graham Brooks and Associates, as well as the Construction Managers, St Hillers Interiors.

Other awards received by the building include:

- Energy Australia National Trust 2001 Heritage Awards - Winner Category D2
Indigenous Cultural Heritage, Community Groups

- Winner of Master Builders of NSW 2001 Excellence in Construction Award
Restoration/ Renovation of an Historic Building
noted as the most significant building in Aboriginal history and the birthplace of the modern land rights movement.

The 1938 Day of Mourning and Protest rally culminated on this site, earning the site the title of the "birthplace of the modern Aboriginal rights movement". The official day of Mourning and Protest was organised by Aboriginal leaders William Ferguson, Jack Pattern, Pearl Gibbs and William Cooper, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the 1788 invasion. The protest mourned the loss of life by Aboriginal people who died defending their traditional lands and demanded that governments recognise the rights of Aboriginal people as the sovereign people of this country.

The Australian Hall is one of the places that will be accessible to the people of Sydney on November 3, as part of the "Sydney Open 2002", presented by the Historic Houses Trust of NSW.