The ACT Government is seeking a consultant to develop new environmental offsets and restoration contribution policies. The ACT Conservation Council says the existing approach needs updating. Executive director Dr Simon Copland said offsets were not delivering the intended outcomes, citing the Callum Brae Nature Reserve as an example of poor management. He said the Territory was running out of land suitable for offsets. The tender closes on 3 November.
Sydney stonemason Luke McDermott is carving a new lion's head for a 127-year-old coat of arms at the former Darlinghurst Police Station. Erosion from air and rain has worn away the original face, so McDermott is working from old photographs of real and sandstone lions. NSW Heritage Stoneworks, based in Alexandria, maintains more than 800 state-owned heritage sites. The workshop also faces challenges attracting apprentices, with stonemasonry included on the federal Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. NSW Minister for Public Spaces Paul Scully says the work offers stable long-term employment.
A free field day will be held at Racecourse Lagoon in Uralla on Tuesday, 17 November, from 10am to 2pm. Landholders, birdwatchers, families and students are invited to learn about the lagoon's wetland plants, birds and insects. The event covers the lagoon's ecological value and its ongoing restoration. Topics include local weed threats, biosecurity practices, avian influenza and cane toads. Morning tea and lunch are included, and guided field sessions and a revegetation walk follow lunch. Attendees should bring a chair, hat, sunscreen and enclosed footwear.
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French Ambassador to Australia David Martinon will visit The Briars on Friday 23 October to view selected items from its Napoleonic Collection. Federal Member for Flinders Zoe McKenzie will join him, and the visit will be welcomed by Mayor Stephen Batty and Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro. The collection traces back to the Balcombe family, who befriended Napoleon during his exile on St Helena in 1815. The Homestead is set to reopen to the public later this year following restoration works, with the collection on display.
The Melbourne Star observation wheel has reopened after a five-year closure, with thousands of visitors queuing to experience the 120-metre attraction. The wheel's new owners, Jay and Jane Jones, invested $11 million in restoration works, including mechanical overhauls and a new lighting system. The wheel first opened in 2008 but closed after 40 days due to structural issues, reopened in 2013, and shut again during the pandemic in 2021.
AllAces Cleaning & Restoration has been named Commercial Restoration Project of the Year at the 2026 awards run by Restoration Industry Association Australasia. The award recognises the skill and effort behind its restoration work following a fire in Erina.
Four Melbourne councils and Melbourne Water are pushing to make the Yarra River swimmable by 2050. City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said cities such as Paris, Berlin and Copenhagen have cleaned up their waterways. He described the project as at least a 10-year task requiring upgraded water infrastructure and filtration. The river is currently affected by animal faecal matter, litter and petrochemicals. The project has not yet been costed, and designated swimming zones are planned once restoration measures are in place.
Richmond Valley Council has recommended 11 projects for heritage grants totalling $25,090 from its 2026 program. The largest is the restoration of the front facade of an art deco building at 83 Walker Street, Casino, estimated to cost $133,000. It has been recommended for a grant of $11,500, above the usual cap of $2000, under the council's adopted framework. Other recommended projects are in Casino, Coraki and Woodburn. Councillors will vote on the list at the council meeting at Casino Chambers at 6pm on Tuesday, October 20.
Three Geelong-region projects were honoured at this year's Geelong Heritage Awards for preserving local history. Corio Skateboard Club was recognised for helping establish one of Australia's earliest skate parks, which opened in 1980 after two years of campaigning. The Bottleworks in Fitzroy Street, a former glass factory, now includes 78 apartments and 33 townhouses. The restored Barwon Heads Golf Club clubhouse, opened in 1924, was also recognised. The awards were held at the Nyaal Banyul Event and Convention Centre during Geelong Design Week.
The Holden Dealer Team (HDT) has returned under new owner Kenny Habul, who plans to restore and retro-mod iconic 1980s 'Brock Commodore' road cars. Habul is also developing a new road-going model, with three prototypes currently in production. The original HDT road cars, created under racing legend Peter Brock, were based on the top-spec Commodore and featured significant performance upgrades. The first model, introduced in 1980, had a 5.0-litre V8 engine and distinctive styling elements. The new HDT car could potentially be based on the upcoming seventh-generation Camaro, which shares a platform with the last Australian-made Commodore.
An American team has arrived at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Shellharbour to reassemble John Travolta's former Boeing 707 jet. The plane was taken apart and shipped from the United States, but mechanical issues had prevented it from being flown to Australia. The five-man team will spend six weeks on the aircraft, reattaching wings, wheels and possibly engines. The jet will not be airworthy but will be brought to a point where it can be driven around the tarmac. A date for its official unveiling has not yet been announced.
Security measures at the historic Point Cook Homestead are one step closer after urgent meetings between Parks Victoria, Heritage Victoria and community groups. The bluestone homestead, built in 1857, has faced repeated vandalism and break-ins, with three incidents recorded in the past fortnight. Parks Victoria is working through a permit application with Heritage Victoria for proposed works, including possible temporary fencing. State government funding of $1.2 million will help secure the site and fund electrical, heating, cooling, roofing and accessibility upgrades, and allow the homestead to open to community groups.
Retired GP Susan Downes, now 76, bought a 200-hectare farm near York, Western Australia, and is restoring its bushland. Her volunteer group has planted about 45,000 native seedlings, and the land will be placed under a conservation covenant. Across the country, older Australians make up most conservation volunteers, according to Landcare Australia's 2026 survey. Ken and Jill Hooper, both in their 80s, have spent decades restoring properties in New South Wales and northern Victoria. Ken says the work is hard but rewarding, and that it keeps him going.
A 125-year-old sleeper carriage is nearing the end of a 25-year restoration at the Canberra Railway Museum. The AL1040, built in 1901, was previously used as a sleeper car and dental clinic before being retired in the 1960s. Museum chair Bob Hall has led the restoration, aiming to preserve the carriage in its original condition. The museum plans a public celebration on 24 October.
A collaborative initiative in Gellibrand aims to revive wildlife habitats damaged by the Otways Complex Fires. Led by Michael Bergin, Geoff Keegan, and Brad Sadler, the project involves installing habitat boxes on Keegan's property. Community groups are assisting the Gellibrand couple in their efforts to support local fauna recovery. The project seeks to create a more welcoming environment for wildlife affected by the bushfires. This restoration work is part of broader emergency recovery support in the region.
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The Shire of Irwin is appealing for public help after trees were illegally cut, ringbarked, and damaged along Retreat Boulevard. Authorities urge anyone with information, including photos or footage, to report details of the incidents. The vegetation is vital to the coastal environment and community enjoyment. Penalties for unlawful clearing under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 can reach $250,000 for individuals. The Shire plans to restore affected areas and requests the public to avoid disturbing remaining plants or protective fencing.
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Stephen Batty and councillor Michael Stephens have celebrated the completion of restoration works to the Hastings–Western Port Historical Society’s historic Fisherman’s Cottage. Built around 1900, the cottage is one of the oldest buildings in Hastings. The shire-funded project included a new heritage-style front fence and a covered viewing area for a historic couta boat. Historical Society President John Woolley recognised the contribution of volunteers in preserving the cottage.
A team from the US has arrived at the HARS Aviation Museum in Albion Park to help reattach the wings and wheels to John Travolta’s former Boeing 707. The work will be on display during this weekend’s October Tarmac Days, featuring flying displays and historic aircraft. HARS president Bob De La Hunty said reassembling the 707 at Shellharbour Airport is a monumental engineering challenge for the volunteer team. The museum will also showcase other aircraft, including a DC-4, Convair 440, and a newly landed Qantas F100.
