Library receives community heritage grant

9 February 2024

Hawkesbury Library Service has been announced as a successful recipient of a Community Heritage Grant to conduct a Significance Assessment of the Local Studies Collection.

Other successful recipients include Australian Red Cross Heritage Archives, Australian Railway Historical Society NSW and the Australian Sugar Industry Museum.

Council commended Hawkesbury Library Service on receiving the grant. The grant represents an important first step to enable a Significant Assessment which will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the Hawkesbury’s Local Studies Collection, which includes historic photographs, maps, books and historical documentation focusing on the development of the Hawkesbury district.

The condition of the Collection will be recorded, and a plan will be created to manage future preservation needs. The Assessment will be undertaken by a specialist and will assist in determining the significance of the cultural and heritage objects.

Dr Marie-Louise Ayres, Director-General of the National Library of Australia, advised that funding of $459,987 was awarded to 59 community projects to help assess their collections, assist with preservation activities, and provide practical support and build professional skills within organisations.

Since the Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program began in 1994, more than 1,650 projects have received grants totalling over $8.9 million, helping to preserve significant Australian community history and heritage for future generations.

CHG is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts; National Library of Australia; National Archives of Australia; National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and National Museum of Australia.