Trust Advocate

Upon hearing that the next season of The Block is planned to be based in state-significant heritage buildings, the National Trust Victoria was initially excited at the possibility that heritage restoration, retrofitting and adaptive re-use might be highlighted and celebrated on mainstream free-to-air TV. Earlier this month, we submitted to a Heritage Victoria permit application ...

In late September, we responded to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Housing Supply Regulation. We have found the inquiry’s draft findings inherently flawed in premise and scope. In particular, the interim report’s investigations into heritage controls rest on weak, misused or unverifiable evidence. The National Trust Victoria (NTV) supports improving housing suppl...

Dow’s Pharmacy, one of the National Trust’s most unique properties has been included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR), the state’s highest heritage protection possible. This rare and intact Victorian Pharmacy was used as Chiltern local’s go-to for all their health and wellbeing needs for over 100 years. The building and collection have been protected through criteria A...

In 2025, our Executive Manager, Conservation and Advocacy, Samantha Westbrooke, who is a registered architect, was invited to write a piece for the Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter magazine, Architect Victoria. The guest editorial, by architect, Tim Leslie was titled “Perceptions of an Architect” and explored, what shapes an architect, and how the profession...

Winner, Tree of the Year 2025 – Oak at Kingston Every year, the National Trust Victoria holds our Victorian Tree of the Year competition, to celebrate our best-loved trees, but protecting them takes more than a vote.  The affection Victorians hold for trees is undeniable. We instinctively understand their value. Trees cool our streets, clean our air, provide habitat for wildlife...