The journey from Heritage “Guinea Pig” to Heritage “Hero”
Maldon’s heritage journey began in the 1960s when it became the first recipient of the National Trust’s recently established Notable Town classification.
This page provides access to documents, early and recent, related to this remarkable journey. Each document is provided as a PDF file; simply select the item from the list below to view, print or save it.
1965 – Maldon Notable Town Classification the classification document dated 3 December 1965 is very simple by today’s standards. The accompanying letter dated 20 December 1965 informed Maldon’s Shire President that the town had been classified by the National Trust due to its “unique historical interest”. Source: National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
1969 – Proposals for the Conservation of Maldon report from National Trust declaring that Maldon’s heritage was “at the crossroads” with the option to achieve national importance or let a great asset be destroyed. Source: National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
nd – Report on Maldon ‘Notable Town’ (B2049) provides a short description and history of Maldon, plus a Schedule of Buildings (including individual NT File Numbers) studied to that point. It forms part of the National Trust’s Maldon file (B2049). Source: National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
1980 – Maldon Conservation Area – Register of the National Estate in 1980 Maldon was included on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate as “probably the most remarkable, most intact example of a nineteenth century gold town in Australia”. Source: Australian Heritage Commission. Further information about this list can be found here – https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/register-national-estate
1986 – Maldon Landscape Classification Report (L10136) the National Trust’s landscape classification report covers the Mount Tarrengower, Nuggetty Ranges and Peg Leg – Porcupine Diggings areas. It classifies “those parts of the physical environment … which … are essential to the heritage of Australia and which must be preserved”. Source: National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
1989 – Strangers in Paradise: A Town Is Torn – this article provides some insight into various reactions to Maldon’s heritage conservation journey some decades after it commenced. Source: The Age Good Weekend, 19 February 1989.
1989 – Maldon in Review in this conference paper Miles Lewis provides a rundown of the Maldon heritage conservation story to date, the effects on Maldon and the significant state-wide implications for heritage places. Source: Australian ICOMOS, Goldfields Conference, in Historic Environment Vol7 No1 1989.
2008 – Maldon: the Triumph and the Tragedy public presentation by Professor Miles Lewis AM in which he revisits Maldon’s heritage conservation journey some 40 years after his first involvement with the town’s heritage; asking has the heritage conservation journey of Australia’s first Notable Town been a triumph or tragedy? This file is primarily images, for further details the video file of the presentation held by MM&AA (VMLD-3136) should be consulted. Source: Maldon Action Association Inc. event, during Maldon in Winter festival, 20 July 2008.
2010 – Maldon Notable Town (B2049) most recent entry for Maldon recorded by the National Trust in the Victorian online database. Source: Victorian Heritage Database.
2016 – Maldon Heritage at the Crossroads this public panel session was held as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for Maldon’s Notable Town classification. After the session panel members Professor Miles Lewis AM, Ms Chris Johnstone and Ms Anna Foley were invited to submit a written transcript of their talk for the archive: copies were received from Professor Lewis and Ms Johnston. Source: Maldon Focus Inc. event, during 2016 Heritage Festival, 17April 2016.
2024 – Maldon’s Heritage: Why does it matter? public presentation by Trevor Budge AM putting the story of Maldon’s heritage and planning into a wider context by exploring the past, present and future of country towns and the evolving role of heritage conservation, practices and principles. Source: Maldon Heritage Network event, 6 July 2024.
The MM&AA archive also holds copies of many relevant newspaper articles and letters, and community campaigns. Contact the History Research Centre if interested.
Further material will be added as it is located.