ABOUT THE NATIONAL TRUST

The National Trust of Australia is a community-based, non-government organisation, committed to promoting and conserving Australia’s indigenous, natural, and historic heritage through its advocacy work and its custodianship of heritage places and objects.

The Australian National Trust movement was established in New South Wales in 1945 by Annie Wyatt who, along with a group of other citizens, raised community consciousness of widespread destruction of the built and natural heritage in Sydney. The National Trust movement quickly spread across Australia with the other States establishing National Trust offices throughout the 1950s and 60s. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory established their National Trusts in 1976. Each State and Territory National Trust is a fully autonomous entity, responsible for managing its own affairs.

The Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), publishers of the International Property Guide, was formed in 1965. It represents the interests of the National Trust at the federal level, provides a forum for information exchange, and increasingly coordinates the work of the constituent bodies.

Collectively, the National Trusts own or manage over 300 heritage places nationwide (the majority held in perpetuity). The organisation has a volunteer workforce of 7000, and approximately 350 employees.

The National Trusts in Australia rely heavily on community support generated through membership subscriptions, sponsorship, donations and bequests, property admissions and retail sales. Of the collective total operational revenue generated by the organisation, less than 10% is sourced from government.