AGY-109 | Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales (1980-2022) Sydney Living Museums (2013-2022)

Full description

Background
Prior to the passage of the Historic Houses Act 1980 (Act No.94, 1980) the two stately homes under state control were Elizabeth Bay House which was managed by the Elizabeth Bay House Trust established by legislation in 1977 (1) and Vaucluse House which was managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1967.

Historic Houses Trust
On 1 July 1980 the Historic Houses Act (Act No.94, 1980) established the Historic Houses Trust (HHT) to provide for 'the care, control and management of certain houses of historic importance.' (2) The Elizabeth Bay House Trust (Repeal) Act, 1980 (Act No. 95, 1980) and the National Parks and Wildlife (Vaucluse House) Amendment Act 1980 (Act No 96, 1980) cancelled the previous arrangements for the management of the historic houses and Elizabeth Bay House and Vaucluse House became the first properties managed by the newly created Trust. (3) Subsequent properties acquired by the Trust include Elizabeth Farm (1982), Lyndhurst (1984), Meroogal (1985), Rouse Hill House (1987), Rose Seidler House (1988). Susannah Place was managed by the Trust under arrangement with the Sydney Cove Development Authority from 1986. The Hyde Park Barracks (HPB) was transferred from the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences to the Trust in 1989. (4) The site of Australia's first Government House was acquired in 1988 and the Museum of Sydney which was developed there opened to the public in May 1994. (5)

The Historic Houses Trust consisted of seven trustees appointed by the Governor. (6) Under the Historic Houses Act 1980 the Trust was required:
- to manage and maintain as house museums the buildings vested in it having regard to their historic and architectural interest and to manage and maintain the grounds appurtenant thereto; and
- to provide such educational and cultural services in relation to those buildings as, in the opinion of the Trust, would increase public knowledge and enjoyment of those buildings and their place in the heritage of the State. (7)

In 1986, the Historic Houses (Amendment) Act 1986 (Act No.126, 1986) provided the Trust with greater flexibility in acquiring properties. The management of the Trust was undertaken by three divisions: Properties (responsible for the conservation and management of the Trust's properties); Administration (responsible for organisational support); and Corporate Affairs (in charge of strategic planning, marketing, merchandise and venue hire). (8)

The Trust's role was one of conservation, management and interpretation of the fabric, contents and grounds of houses in its care to reflect the society in which they were built and occupied (9). It administrative offices were situated in Lyndhurst, in Glebe, after the acquisition of that property in 1984. Following extensive conservation and redevelopment The Mint building in Macquarie Street, Sydney, was occupied in September 2004 with the Trust's headquarters moving there from Lyndhurst and the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, supported by its generous benefactor the late Caroline Simpson OAM, was also relocated there. (10)

From 1 July 2009 when the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation was abolished the Historic Houses Trust became a branch of the new Principal Department, Communities NSW. (11)

From 4 April 2011 when Communities NSW was abolished the Historic Houses Trust became a branch of the Principal Department, the Department of Premier and Cabinet. (12)

Sydney Living Museums
In April 2013 the Historic Houses Trust rebranded its 12 museums as 'Sydney Living Museums'. (13) Its 12 properties were: Justice & Police Museum; Museum of Sydney on the site of First Government House; Susannah Place Museum; Elizabeth Bay House; Government House (in Sydney); Rose Seidler House; Vaucluse House; Hyde Park Barracks Museum; The Mint; Elizabeth Farm; Meroogal; and, Rouse Hill House & Farm. (14)

On 1 July 2019 those staff in the Department of Planning and Environment reporting to the portfolio of the Special Minister of State, Minister for Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs and the Arts were transferred to the Department of Premier and Cabinet. (15)

In mid-2019 Sydney Living Museums and the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales were brought together under a single Chief Executive Officer in a 'partnership model', however each entity still carried out specific legislative mandates. (16)

On 1 April 2022 the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales Staff Agency was established and those persons employed in the Department of Premier and Cabinet to enable the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales to exercise its functions were transferred to the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales Staff Agency. (17)

Also on 1 April 2022 those persons employed in the Department of Premier and Cabinet to enable the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales to exercise its functions were transferred to the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales Staff Agency. Staff of the combined staff agency became part of the new Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade from 1 April 2022. (18)

The Historic Houses Trust was dissolved on 31 December 2022 by the Museums of History NSW Act 2022 (Act No.42, 2022). (19)

Endnotes
1. Elizabeth Bay House Trust Act, 1977 (Act No.109, 1977); NSW Government Gazette No.89, 27 June 1980, p.3210.
2. Full title of the Act.
3. Elizabeth Bay House Trust (Repeal) Act, 1980 s.5a; National Parks and Wildlife (Vaucluse House) Amendment Act, 1980 s.5(a).
4. The Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales Annual Report, 1994-95, p.6.
5. The Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales Annual Report, 1994-95, p.25.
6. Historic Houses Act, 1980 s.6(1).
7. Ibid. s.8.
8. The Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Annual Report, 1994-95, p.10.
9. The Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Annual Report, 1986-87, p.4.
10. Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Annual Report, 2006-2007, pp.7, 56.
11. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls. 6; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009.
12. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departments) Order 2011 (2011 No 184) cls. 11; notified on NSW Legislation website, 3 April 2011.
13. Sydney Living Museums website http://www.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/ (cited 8 April 2013).
14. Historic Houses Trust Annual Report, 2011-2012, pp.34-37.
15. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 (2019 No 159) cl.20(1), NSW Legislation Website, 2 April 2019, as amended by Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Public Service Agencies) Amendment Order 2019 (2019 No 180), Sch. 1 [6], NSW Legislation Website, 1 May 2019.
16. Historic Houses Trust / Sydney Living Museums, Annual Report, 2021-22, p.9.
17. Administrative Arrangements (Second Perrottet Ministry—Transitional) Order 2021 (2021 No 790) Schedule 3 cl.3, NSW Legislation Website, 21 December 2021.
18. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Miscellaneous) Order 2022 (2022 No 38) cls.13 and 14, NSW Legislation Website, 17 February 2022.
19. Museums of History NSW Act 2022 Sch. 3 cl. 3 (1).