Heritage PitchFest 2022

Heritage PitchFest is part of the new $1 million dollar Activating State Heritage grant program that was launched by Heritage NSW in September. Ideas from around the state have been put forward to the revitalise, transform and activate NSW State Heritage Registered places.

Only the best and brightest shortlisted applicants have been invited to ‘pitch’ for the $1 million grant in front of a live audience and a panel of heritage activation experts.

Four finalists have been selected for Heritage PitchFest. The projects that have been shortlisted and presented on the day include:

• Bondi Surf Club Heritage Restoration: this proposal is to carry out a major restoration of the 1934 clubhouse. Part of that restoration is creating a public space that will operate as a museum of lifesaving as Bondi was the first lifesaving club in the world.

• Corrimal Coke Works Site: this proposal seeks out to adaptively reuse the site to create a new Public Heritage Plaza and Site Entry. The 1912 Chimney Brick Stack, Old Powerhouse Building and the northern end of the C1 Battery Ovens will be the key focus of works with additional heritage interpretation works including paving, landscape and signage proposed throughout the plaza.

• Horsley Estate Hospitality Development: this proposal involves developing the site into a thriving hospitality precinct. Some of the work detailed includes new standalone restaurant and function centre, restoring the existing homestead and outbuildings and repurposing sections to include a boutique overnight accommodation, a guest house, private dining rooms, meat cellar, salumi room, onsite bakery, distillery and brewery.

• Windy Station Woolshed Conservation & Re-adaptation: this proposal will undertake the conservation and re-adaptation of the site to be an events space, accessible for the entire community, both nationally and internationally.

Australia’s own TV and Radio personality Tim Ross will be hosting the event, along with a panel of heritage experts scoring the pitch applicants on the day. The panel includes:

• Frank Howarth, Chair of the NSW Heritage Council.

• Dr Caroline Butler‐Bowdon, Executive Director, Cities Revitalisation and Place at Transport for NSW.

• Natalie Vinton, Founder & CEO at Curio Projects.

• Annie Tennant, Director, Design and Place at Placemaking NSW.

The finale will culminate in a vote by everyone in the audience, and those watching online, for their favourite pitch.

For further information, please contact the Heritage NSW PitchFest Team via email heritage.nswcomms@environment.nsw.gov.au