Our heritage is about our future as well as our past. It is an on-going story that tells us how we have shaped our landscapes, our cities and towns - a story that tells the world who we are.
Some of our most precious heritage is in private hands and it needs our support to ensure a viable future.
The Historic Houses Association of Australia Ltd. (HHA) is a registered charity and volunteer organisation that supports owners and promotes public interest in historic houses and properties throughout Australia.
HHA Members enjoy special access to an ever-increasing number of HHA network properties. They also have the opportunity to attend events and tours, engage with historians and heritage architects, and to meet private owners where they can discover the rich history of these properties and their collections.
Join us and help preserve our unique built heritage for future generations to enjoy.
We seek to shape the future of the built heritage of Australia by acting as a ‘collective voice’ for owners, to ensure their concerns are heard and that their properties are valued for the contributions they make to our society’s ‘sense of place’.
In April 2018 we held our inaugural conference 'Home Heaven Hell' which was sold out with 250 people attending from around Australia.
Talk: Dharawal, the First Contact People
Tuesday 3 December, 10.30am - 12.00pm
In 1770 the first encounter between British and Aboriginal people on the east coast of Australia occurred at Botany Bay. For the British it heralded the beginning of endless possibility for Empire. For Aboriginal people it marked the beginning of the decimation of an ancient culture. The traditional country of these people, the Dharawal were the coastal lands from Botany Bay to the Shoalhaven district and some distance inland.
Local historian Bruce Watt offers an interpretation of the first contact between the Dharawal people and the white settlers including the area now known as Sutherland Shire.
​
Held at History House, Macquarie Street.
Tulkiyan Christmas Garden Party
Saturday 14 December, 4:00pm – 7:00pm
We are delighted that the HHA Christmas Party will be held in the beautifully revived gardens at Tulkiyan where camellias flank the entrance gate, the entrance pathway beds are lined with roses and Mona lavender scents the air below the side verandah.
​
Enjoy food, wine and music in this glorious setting before a guided preview of all the work we have done, both inside and out, at this wonderful Arts & Crafts style suburban villa designed in 1913 by architect B.J. Waterhouse (1876-1965).
The Waratah on Sydney Harbour
Sunday 30 August 2020, 12.00pm - 3.00pm
The HHA are once again voyaging around the heritage sites of Sydney Harbour – this time aboard the Waratah. Lovingly restored by Sydney Heritage Fleet, the Waratah is a 117 year-old coal burning steam tug, the oldest tug in working order in Australia. Harking back to the age of steam enjoy the gentle 'phut phut' of the coal fired vessel as you cruise past important and interesting heritage sites with a commentary provided by an historian of the Sydney Heritage Fleet. Along the way chat to one of the engineers about the principles of the vessel and the history of the tug’s restoration.
Lunch provided on board.