‘Deeply concerning’: SA heritage watchdog moots selling historic sites
Amid an ongoing parliamentary inquiry, the National Trust of South Australia says its organisational review could see some of the state’s 80 historic sites up for sale.
The National Trust of South Australia (NTSA) has announced it will undertake an organisational review, including looking into its “entire asset portfolio” of 80 historic sites and its “branch structure”.
In a statement, the National Trust council said that “with rising costs, an ageing volunteer base and increased regulatory compliance and governance, our operation in its current form is not sustainable in the long term”.
It comes amid an ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the National Trust of South Australia following concerns about its Moonta branch being suspended amid a bitter battle with the Trust’s head office and its local heritage sites temporarily closed.
Dr Nicola Centofanti said it was “deeply concerning” that the Trust could be considering selling assets or closing branches while the inquiry was ongoing.
“The National Trust plays an important role in protecting South Australia’s heritage and its volunteers are central to that work,” she said.
“Any uncertainty about the future of branches or heritage assets will understandably be unsettling for these volunteers and the communities they serve.
You might like
“I would strongly encourage the National Trust to pause any plans to sell assets, close branches or make other significant structural changes until the committee has completed its work and provided its findings with recommendations to the parliament.”
There are 23 nature reserves under Trust management ranging from Overland Corner in the Riverland to Fraser Reserve on the Fleurieu Peninsula near Waitpinga and Nurrutti in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Its 80 other sites include Ayers House on North Terrace, Beaumount House in the eastern suburbs, Glenside’s Z Ward, Stangate House and Garden in the Adelaide Hills and Collingrove Homestead in Angaston. InDaily is not suggesting they would be sites particularly targeted in the review.
The inquiry will hold its next public hearing in State Parliament on Monday, where it will hear evidence from NTSA president Millie Nicholls and vice president Jo Lokan.
The council said it was yet to make any decisions but that it would consider the potential sale of some assets as part of the review.
It would also look into its branch structure and would be holding discussions with each branch over the coming weeks to assess “their individual circumstances and how we can best work together going forward”.
Stay informed, daily
“All 45 branches across South Australia are part of the NTSA, and we have more than 80 heritage sites in our care and control. We hold ultimate legal, financial and governance responsibility for the entire organisation, including all branches,” the council said.
The National Trust said it would seek to meet with the state government as part of the review “as we work through a plan to secure a sustainable future”.
InDaily was informed that the National Trust would not be giving interviews about specific sites flagged for potential sale and if branches would be shut down.
In a statement, NTSA president Millie Nicholls said: “We are taking the time needed and anticipate we’ll be in a position to provide an update on our organisational review in the next few months”.
“At this stage no decisions have been made on any assets or branches while the review takes place,” she said.
Other witnesses appearing at the inquiry on Monday include members of the Renmark branch, former History Trust CEO Greg Mackie OAM and Griffith University academics Professor Sarah Baker and Dr Zelmarie Cantillon.
According to its terms of reference, the inquiry is looking into the governance and organisational structure of the NTSA, the National Trust of South Australia Act 1955 and the management and preservation of NTSA’s heritage assets.
It would also look into the role of volunteers and community members in the operation and decision-making processes of NTSA and the impact of organisational and governance issues on regional communities, local history and tourism.
NTSA CEO Nicolette Di Lernia previously told InDaily in June that the non-profit was considering putting a small number of properties on the market, but that no decision had been made yet.
“We are currently reviewing our portfolio – the National Trust of South Australia has a total of 82 properties across South Australia; it has the largest property holding of any National Trust in Australia, and this has become a very big responsibility for the organisation,” she said.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
