National Trust to form a Redlands branch

The Redlands National Trust branch is set to have its inaugural meeting at the Grandview on 5th June

A Redlands branch of the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) is a step closer following a meeting this week of interested members and other stakeholders at the Grandview Hotel.

Local residents including Cr Paul Bishop discuss formation of a Redlands branch with National Trust (Qld) Executive Officer Jonathon Fisher.

The historic Grandview Hotel was a fitting venue for the meeting on Tuesday evening, chaired by the Trust’s Executive Officer, Jonathon Fisher. Members and prospective members adopted a Branch Charter and recommended a Branch Committee.

The recommended Committee members will need to be formally appointed by the Board of the State body. These appointments are expected to be finalized early April.

The local committee members recommended to the State Board are Annette Marsson (Chair), Steve MacDonald (Secretary), Jan Haughton (deputy Chair), and Pam Spence.

What is the National Trust?

Wolston Farmhouse in Wacol has been a key property in the Trust’s portfolio since 1963.

The National Trust of Australia (Queensland) is a membership-based community organisation working to protect, conserve and celebrate Queensland’s environmental, built and cultural heritage.

The Trust operates under the National Trust of Australia Queensland Act, which received Royal Assent 9 December 1963.

Through its properties, advocacy and research, the Trust encourages the community to appreciate, care for and engage with our significant places, wildlife, and stories. This work is largely undertaken by the tireless efforts of hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

People who join the Trust get annual membership benefits including free admission to over 1,000 National Trust properties worldwide.

For Queensland residents this includes the iconic Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Local branch and a local network

Fernleigh with views over G.J. Walter Park is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register

Redlands is rich in places of heritage importance, the  City’s non-indigenous heritage includes a number of places recognised in the Queensland Heritage Register.

The scope, vision and mission of the Trust, detailed in its Strategic Plan, includes a focus on Queensland’s ever changing landscape of unique natural and built environments and diverse cultures within a national and international context.

The Trust’s mission, in a nutshell, is to conserve Queensland’s heritage places and make them accessible to the public. At the local level, the new Branch hopes to emulate this approach.

The new Branch expects to build a network with the diverse organisations already involved in heritage issues in the Redlands including Birkdale Progress Association, Redland Museum, North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum, Ormiston House, QYAC, Redlands2030, Koala Action Group, Redland Cultural Network and Ormiston house volunteers, Friends of Willard Farm and many more.

The Branch executive also anticipates working closely with Redland City Council and various State agencies involved in heritage matters.

Forming a Redlands Branch of the National Trust

Establishing a local Branch of the National Trust has been many months in the making.  Initial thinking for a local branch began at the Fernleigh Heritage Forum early 2017.  This was followed up by a visit by the Trust CEO Jonathon Fisher in September 2017.  Finally a scoping meeting was held in November last year for interested parties.

The inaugural meeting of the National Trust’s Redlands Branch is pencilled in for the 5th June at the Grandview Hotel.  People interested in attending  can contact the new Committee by email, care of: thereporter@redlands2030.net

Redlands2030 – 29 March 2018