Extent Heritage

Meet Extent Heritage Senior Heritage Advisor Coral Hardwick. Coral works with our dedicated Sea Country team to tell the stories beyond the shoreline. The stories of Sea Country go beyond the tangible and the visible. Coral’s work is about the places that existed before the sea levels rose, and Dreaming and deep time stories. “Oral histories are transcendent,” says Coral. “They’re passed down from person to person through the community. Mapping submerged landscapes allows for those stories told by the Traditional Owners to be connected in space and time.” “My whole job in heritage is storytelling,” she says. “It’s really empowering to be able to story tell on behalf of and with the Traditional Owners of Australia. It’s that closeness to community that I that I really enjoy.” #culturalheritage #seacountry #intangibleheritage #culturalvalue #extentheritage #aboriginalheritage #peoplecentredheritage #rsk #submergedlandscape #palaeolandscape Ian Travers David Norcott Erica Walther Kacey Sinclair Miranda Gronow Sarah Gyngell Hanna Steyne Elle Grono Extent Heritage RSK Group RSK Australia Wessex Archaeology

Evidence our team (and colleagues and friends from across the heritage profession) had a great time at the 2024 Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology (ASHA) Conference at the University of Canberra last week! What stood out to us that it encompassed a range of disciplines, with discussion around heritage, sustainability, and ethics, across three days jam-packed with information. And, of course, food. Thanks to the team at ASHA for having us, and to everyone who contributed to make it a success.

Congrats to Extent CEO Ian Travers and the team for completing their work establishing ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Water and Heritage, and congrats to the new team elected to steer the ship!

Seventeen years ago today, the United Nations’ Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People was approved by a 143-country majority. Australia was not one of them.   To mark the anniversary, Extent Heritage Senior Heritage Advisor and Historian Kacey Sinclair dives into the context of the Declaration, and Australia’s reaction to it… On 13 September 2007, the UN’s Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People was approved, with an overwhelming majority of countries across the world voting ‘yes’. However, what is less well-known about this day is that Australia was not among this 143-country majority. The Declaration is the most instrumental framework to support the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous Peoples of the world, addressing the minimum standards relating to self-determination, free prior and informed consent, intellectual property, customary law and land and resources. In 2008 Australian Constitutional lawyer and Cobble Cobble woman of the Barunggam Nation Professor Megan Davis described the Declaration as “a triumph for indigenous peoples”, who had persevered for more than twenty years to secure it. Then-UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the vote “a historic moment when UN member states and Indigenous peoples have reconciled with their painful histories and are resolved to move forward together on the path of human rights, justice, and development for all.” Along with Canada, New Zealand, and the US, Australia voted against the Declaration, which was designed as a moral framework and is not legally binding. Australia’s UN Representative Robert Hill cited our lack of input into its development, and its incompatibility with domestic law. That same the Labor Party promised to endorse and enact the Declaration; however, after much reflection, the newly-elected Labor Government only endorsed the Declaration and, like successive governments, failed to formally enact it. In 2022 the Law Council of Australia called on the government to enact the Declaration. President of the Council Tass Liveris said, “Given the systemic nature of the issues facing First Nations peoples, comprehensive legal and policy reform across all federal, state and territory jurisdictions is required. Without this, breaches of human rights in Australia will continue to occur.” The Voice to Parliament would have represented enaction of the Declaration, however, following the failure of the referendum last year, Australia continues to endorse, but not enact the Declaration. Seventeen years on from the inception of the Declaration, First Nations People continue their fight for Treaties across the Country, while many non-Indigenous Australians work alongside them in support of the basic tenets of the Declaration. You can read the Declaration on the Human Rights Commission in full here: https://lnkd.in/gcESztAE

The Gippsland New Energy Conference happened in Traralgon this week, and Extent’s Sea Country unit manager Erica Walther was there to connect with the community and discuss the issues with experts from across the country. Here’s what she had to say about it: “The conference is growing every year, and the two-day event was full of personalities and local produce, as well as valuable conversations. There were lots of varied discussions of a range of industries and technologies, with a focus on community engagement at all levels. The future of energy, whatever it may look like, has to include genuine consideration of the people it impacts. It was great to see so many panels and presentations that considered cultural heritage, caring for and celebrating Country, and partnerships with Traditional Owners as an integral addition to project planning and a successful energy transition. One such discussion was a panel discussion between myself and Breannah Schubach from environmental consultants NGH, chaired by Mandy Neave from the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation. Breanna offered us her perspective as a Wiradjeri woman, and also someone who works in the community space, and I came at it from a scientific perspective. We covered a lot of ground, from defining what Country actually is, to the importance its custodians have in energy decision making. It was fabulous to see a range of Traditional Owners present, including the Gunaikurnai, and it was great to run into representatives from Gnaala Karla Booja, all the way from Bunbury.” Breanna and Erica also joined ABC Statewide Mornings host Jonathon Kendall on air to discuss engagement with communities and respecting Country. You can listen back here (fast forward to 1hr 21 min to hear the conversation): https://lnkd.in/gmSyRnP4

Extent Heritage at the Australia ICOMOS Jim Kerr Address Earlier this month, the Australia ICOMOS Jim Kerr Address was held in Brisbane for the first time ever. Our very own Andrew Sneddon facilitated a discussion with some of the founding parents of the Australian heritage profession: Meredith Walker, Jane Lennon, and Peter Marquis-Kyle. You can catch up on the whole conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gzbf-2vW

EXTENT HERITAGE ANNOUNCES A WAVE OF PROMOTIONS We’re proud to announce some well-earned movements at Extent! Please join us as we celebrate the achievements of our people. 🎉 First up, Caitlin Mitropoulos has been promoted to Associate Team Coordinator, Heritage Places in Melbourne. Caitlin has been an essential part of the Melbourne office since she joins us a little over a year ago, contributing to and leading heritage studies, CMPs and heritage advisory services in the Victorian Places team. Congratulations Caitlin! Michelle Bashta is our new Associate Team Leader for the Heritage Places team. Michelle is a driven and dedicated member of our Melbourne team, having managed and successfully delivered numerous projects across the business for several years. Congrats Michelle! Ana Kalaida is moving up to Head of People and Culture. Ana joined us during the pandemic, and as the company has grown so has the scope and workload involved in Ana’s role. She brings a focus, diligence and attention to detail to everything she does and we’re luck to have her. Hayley Edmonds has been promoted to Senior Heritage Advisor. Hayley brings a diverse set of skills to the team in Sydney—both in built heritage and our broader planning. And we also want to congratulate her on completing her Master of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney with a High Distinction! 🙌🏻 Kim Watson has been promoted to Associate Team Leader, Heritage Places. Kim has played a key leadership role in growing and strengthening the Sydney Heritage Places team. Congrats Kim! Emily Simons is a valued member of our Victorian historical archaeology team. Her attention to detail and exquisite problem-solving skills are highly valued, and we’re thrilled to announce her promotion to Senior Heritage Advisor. Melissa Harvey has been promoted to Graduate Heritage Advisor, Heritage Places. After a very successful internship, Melissa joined the team permanently in January. Since then she’s grown in leaps and bounds as a consultant, contributing to every facet of our Heritage Places team, including heritage studies, CMPs, significance assessments and heritage advice. And Emily Tour has joined us as a Graduate Heritage Advisor in our Victorian Archaeology team. Emily has worked with Extent in fieldwork, and in our laborotory cataloguing artefacts, for two years, and we're thrilled she is joining the team on a permanent basis. 🙌🏻🙌🏻 Please join us in congratulating our team. It's their hard work and dedication that makes Extent Heritage what it is.

A wonderful night was had by all at Brisbane’s Customs House on Thursday, with legendary Australian heritage figures Meredith Walker, Jane Lennon and Peter Marquis-Kyle in conversation with our very own Andrew Sneddon. The trio shared their reminiscences about the founding of Australia ICOMOS in 1976, the early days of heritage conservation, and the drafting of the very first version of the Burra Charter in 1979. It was inspiring to hear them speak and to see their enduring enthusiasm and dedication. Thank you for a great night of conversation, Meredith, Jane and Pete!

EXTENT HERITAGE WINS AT THE ASHA AWARDS The ASHA Awards, which recognise best practice in the heritage management of historical archaeology in Australasia, were announced during National Archaeology Week. Extent Heritage are proud to have won two awards for our work in Parramatta. The Judy Birmingham Award for Best Historical Archaeology Heritage Report went to Extent Heritage for our Alfred Street Bridge, Parramatta, Historical Archaeological Salvage Excavation Report, written by Brian Shanahan and Clare Fitzpatrick for City of Parramatta. As well as the high standard of writing, the judge noted the value of the report’s historical research. From the judge’s comments: “The investigation has prompted the very interesting and useful comparative analysis of mills and milling in Australia, together with a brief review of the broader movement towards model industrial villages, of which Byrne’s Steam Mill would be an extremely rare example in Australia.” The Martin Davies Award for Best Public Archaeology Initiative also went to our work along the Parramatta River—namely River Stories, Extent Heritage’s pop-up exhibition and community day on the banks of the Parramatta River. The project was led by Extent Heritage Director and NSW Manager Madeline Shanahan, but was very much a team effort. The judge applauded the project for its approach to public archaeology: “This broader landscape approach was refreshing, providing context and relationships for individual aspects of the site.” “These wins are really a credit to our people,” says Madeline Shanahan. “The work we’ve been doing in Parramatta has been a great opportunity to demonstrate that there is history beneath our feet, and it’s still relevant to contemporary Australia.” Congratulations to all Extent staff involved in these projects, and to our fellow winners!

Extent Heritage to sponsor the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Heritage Awards.   Extent Heritage is proud to announce we are sponsoring the architecture category at the National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards in Sydney. The Awards, now in their 30th year, are New South Wales’ biggest and most anticipated celebration of outstanding heritage practice. The Heritage Architecture Award, one of nine categories, recognises projects which are sympathetic to the heritage significance of a place, or complement and utilise existing built heritage, from adaptive re-use to new work in historic contexts. Extent Heritage Architect Associate Director Jacqueline Pearce says that the Heritage Awards are an important way to recognise excellence and best practice in conserving our architectural heritage. “The National Trust is so respected as an organisation that supports our heritage buildings, and their architecture awards are very highly regarded,” she says. “These nominees all represent excellent conservation outcomes,” says Jacqui. “They enable ongoing uses of the places, but they also they demonstrate the design skills involved in adapting these heritage places to meet contemporary needs.” The nominees for the 2024 Architecture Award are (clockwise from top left in image): ·        Central Station, Sydney (entered by Sydney Metro) ·        Birchgrove House (entered by Carter Williamson Architects) ·        The Estate (entered by Luke Moloney) ·        Parramatta Town Hall (entered by DesignInc Sydney, Lacoste+Stevenson Architects, Manuelle Gautrand Architecture and TKD Architects) ·        Making heritage apartments accessible: new lift at Santa Barbara, Point Piper (entered by Orwell and Peter Phillips) ·        The Gunnery Transformation, Woolloomooloo (entered by DunnHillam) ·        119 Redfern Street, Redfern (entered by Aileen Sage Architects) ·        Bellevue Hill House (entered by Tribe Studio Architects) “Each of these projects has made a great contribution to protecting the heritage of New South Wales,” says Extent Heritage Director Dr Madeline Shanahan GAICD. “We’re thrilled to be making a contribution to recognise excellence in our field, and we’re really proud to have partnered with the National Trust for the award.” The National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards will be announced at a ceremony at Doltone House in Pyrmont on May 17.