Media release
17 August 2017
I am delighted to advise that KAVHA will host the annual meeting of the Australian Convict Sites Steering Committee (ACSSC) from 28 August—1 September 2017. The ACSSC is responsible for managing and protecting the heritage values of the Australian Convict Sites.
The ACSSC is made up of representatives from the 11 sites across Australia, including KAVHA, which comprise the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property. The ACSSC fosters collaboration to promote best practices in protection, conservation and site presentation and share historical, scientific and technical research and other materials. The committee has also recently developed common signage which will soon be displayed at KAVHA.
The other ten sites represented in the ACSSC are:
- Old Government House and Domain, NSW
- Hyde Park Barracks, NSW
- Cockatoo Island, NSW
- Old Great North Road, NSW
- Brickendon and Woolmers Estates, TAS
- Darlington Probation Station, TAS
- Port Arthur Historic Site, TAS
- Coal Mines Historic Site, TAS
- Cascades Female Factory, TAS
- Fremantle Prison, WA
The Australian Convict Sites tell the story of how the Australian nation was formed through hardship and adversity. Together the sites represent the global phenomenon of the forced migration of convicts to penal colonies in the 18th and 19th centuries—and global developments in the punishment of crime.
This is the first time the group has met on Norfolk Island, and is a wonderful opportunity for Norfolk Island to showcase KAVHA's unique world, national and local heritage values with our partnering Australian Convict Site managers. At the same time, KAVHA will directly benefit from the sharing of expertise on a wide range of issues relevant to best practice world heritage site management, particularly as the KAVHA Advisory Committee will also be meeting on the Island during this week.
ACSSC members will also have an opportunity to meet with members of the local community and visit the many attractions Norfolk Island has to offer outside of KAVHA.
I look forward to welcoming both Committees to Norfolk Island.
Eric Hutchinson