Tasmanian Heritage Icons

The awards were announced on Monday 12 December in Launceston by Trust Board Chair Ray Foley

The 2010 Tasmanian Heritage Icon Awards are:-

Shipsterns Bluff – South East Tasmania

Shipsterns Bluff (or commonly known as Shippies), is a world renowned iconic surfing destination. The destination evokes and represents social rebellion, freedom and adventure. It showcases spectacular natural attributes and rare native flora and fauna.

Burnie Paper Mill, Burnie, Tasmania

Burnie Paper Mill provides a rare example of art deco and post modernistic architecture within an industrial context. The design of Burnie Paper Mill provided the design blue print of the city of Burnie where today there are excellent examples of domestic and commercial art deco post modern architecture. Due to the nature of the attributes of the Burnie Paper Mill, its history and social impact – the site is known in the national and international arenas.

The Nut – North West Tasmania

The historic village of Stanley, in far north-west Tasmania, is nestled at the base of The Nut, a sheer-sided bluff - all that remains of an ancient volcanic plug. A walking track climbs to the summit of The Nut, or you can take the chairlift, with spectacular views across Bass Strait beaches and over the town. The site is also nationally and internationally well known as a natural icon.

Waddamana Power Station – Central Highlands, Tasmania

The site is a rare example of industrial deco heritage. It is a tribute to the beginning of integrated hydro-electric development in Tasmania. The site is well known interstate and internationally due to its location, architectural attributes, heritage and cultural impact and influence.

Penitentiary Chapel Historic Site – Hobart

Established in 1831 – the site is older than world renowned Port Arthur. One of Australia’s most important convict heritage sites. A unique site with a church built above solitary confinement cells. Designed by Colonial Architect John Lee Archer. From 1857 part of the Church housed the Tasmanian Supreme Court, while more recently it was used as a Magistrate’s Court. The site is of international significance.

Launceston Post Office

Built in the 1880’s, the prominent public building if of architectural, cultural, social and heritage significance to the community of Launceston.

Macquarie House Hobart

The site has been chosen for its architectural and social heritage significance. It is an integral part of Hobart’s history. Built in 1815 as a private residence and used as a "de facto" Government House by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. It was built as a 3-storey house with battlements on top to deter the French when they came up the Derwent River. It was converted to one of Hobart's earliest residential hotels in 1821, and regarded as the smartest hotel in Hobart Town.

Northofagus – Cradle Mountain

Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is highly recognised as an Icon of Tasmanian flora and fauna.The leaves are toothed or entire, evergreen or deciduous. The fruit is a small, flattened or triangular nut, borne in cupules containing 2-7 nuts.

West Coast Wilderness Railway - Abt Railway
Strahan – Queenstown

When the ABT Railway was built between Strahan and Queenstown, it was considered one of the engineering marvels of Australia. The West Coast pioneers who built the original railway in 1896 accomplished a great feat of labour. For many miles along the King River the railway line was hewn with pick and shovel out of the steep side of the gorge. Forty two bridges were built over the 22-mile long stretch of wilderness; for the 'quarter mile' bridge below the gorge, pylons had to be driven 60 feet into the silt with men constantly up to their waists in the cold water.

Campbell Town Show

The Midland Agricultural Association (M.A.A.) is more commonly known as The Campbell Town Show. This unique show is also well known in the world of agriculture as “the longest continually run show in the British Commonwealth”. Founded in 1838 by a group of far sighted and progressive landowners, this show has played a leading role in the display of Tasmania’s high quality livestock and wool.

The judging panel consisted of:-

• George Bailey – Cricketer (Captain of Tasmanian Tigers),
• Greg Leong – Director Burnie Arts & Function Centre and Burnie Regional Art Gallery,
• Chris Tassel – Managing Director National Trust (Tasmania),
• Dr Dianne Snowden – Honorary Research Associate at UTAS
  and
• Committee Chairman Colin Kent, General Manager Brands, Communications, People and Development MyState Limited.

The Trust would like to thank all those who participated in this years event by submitting nominations.

Background - Tasmanian Heritage Icons

Heritage Icons is an Australia wide National Trust initiative in which the community is invited to identify and recognise icons that have made a significant contribution to a state or territories cultural identity.

In developing this initiative the National Trust has in each state or territory joined with the corporate sector to promote the Heritage Icon project.

This program is planned to be a five year program which will result in a comprehensive list of those places and items of significance to the history of Tasmania.

What is an Icon?

To be eligible for listing, an icon must represent a significant aspect of Tasmanian history or have contributed in a significant way to Tasmania’s cultural identity. It can be a place, object, event, way of doing things, or even something that you eat or drink, but is distinctly Tasmanian and has won a lasting place in our memories.

The list of icons does not include people.

How to nominate an Icon

Nomination may done on our website via on-line voting or by downloading a form to be mailed in or faxed to our State Office later. Printed nomination forms will also be distributed through National Trust properties and project partner offices.

Each nomination will be required to provide:-

• The name of the proposed icon,
• A description of the icon,
• An explanation in 25 words or less of why the nominator considers the icon to be of Heritage Icon status.

To vote see details above

What makes an icon significant?

Nominations will be assessed on their significance to the peoplee of Tasmania, rather than just the number of individual nominations received for a specific place, object or event. The criteria to be used to assess significance are attached.

Icon Selection

From the community nominations received, up to 10 Heritage Icons will be selected by a judging panel including:-

Judging Criteria

To be eligible for listing, an icon must represent a significant aspect of Tasmanian history or have contributed significantly to Tasmania’s cultural identity.

Significance means the historic, aesthetic, scientific and research, social and spiritual values that an icon holds for past, present and future generations.

Significance incorporates all of the elements that contribute to an icon’s meaning, including its context, uses and social and spiritual values to people and communities and is evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Historical Significance

An icon may be historically significant because of the association it has with people, events, places and themes.

To determine if the icon is historically significant we look and see if the icon has:

2. Social Significance

To show that an icon has social or spiritual significance we look at the associations that the icon has with a community. These strong and special associations may mean that the icon is held in high esteem. We also look at how it contributes to the community’s identity and cohesion.

We also take into account that some icons have intrinsic spiritual qualities for particular groups of people and belief systems, but are also important to the wider Tasmanian community.

For the purposes of the Heritage Icons list, the community or group must be regional or Statewide, not simply local.

3. Aesthetic/Technical/Design Significance

An icon may be significant for its craftsmanship, style, technical excellence, beauty, skill and quality of design and execution.

It might include innovative or traditional objects from indigenous or folk cultures or high art.

An icon may be unique or mass produced. It may demonstrate a high degree of creative, aesthetic or technical accomplishment, or it is a very good representative of particular construction techniques or design characteristics.

4. Scientific or Inventive Significance

This category includes biological, geological and archaeological material, as well as documentary collections.

A thing that is ingenious or inventive is something that uses new technology, adds quality of life or brings pleasure to individuals or the community. There needs to be a high level of Tasmanian involvement in the development or practical application of the item to qualify under this category.

Previous years

2009 Top Heritage Icons

2009 in Tasmania saw Ten Tasmanian Heritage Icon Awards announced and also a Children’s Choice Award.

Children’s Choice Award

Cradle Mountain

Top Ten Tasmanian Heritage Icon Awards

Mount Wellington
Theatre Royal
Tasmanian Cool Climate Wines
Shell necklaces made by Indigenous Tasmanians
Winton Merino Stud Flock No. 1
Low Head Lighthouse & Settlement
Port Arthur Historic Site
Longford New Years’ Day Race Meeting
Coogans Blackwood Furniture
Central Highlands Trout Fishing

Children’s Choice Award

Tasmanian Devil

Top Ten Tasmanian Heritage Icon Awards

Salamanca Place and Market
Ross Bridge
Wineglass Bay
Burnie Athletic Club and Carnival
Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Taste of Tasmania
Golden Nectar Leatherwood Honey
Cataract Gorge
Huon Pine
Tasdance