Heritage Awards
On Thursday 3 July, Mornington Peninsula Shire, in partnership with the National Trust Peninsula Branch, proudly hosted the 2025 Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards.
The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to the preservation, protection, and promotion of the Peninsula’s rich and diverse heritage. This year, 18 exceptional projects were acknowledged for their innovation, care, and commitment to keeping our local stories and places alive for future generations.
Projects ranged from the conservation of historic buildings and landscapes to thoughtful adaptive reuse and community-led initiatives—all highlighting the strength and passion of individuals and groups working across our region.
We thank all nominees, award recipients, and community members who continue to champion heritage on the Mornington Peninsula.
2025 Award Winners
Restoration of a Heritage Place
Somerville Mechanics Institute, Somerville – Ben Prendergast Shire Buildings Renewal Team, Quadracon Building P/L, PSE Consulting Engineers.
Olana Balnarring –Heritage Trades – BKC Builders Somers, NuWave Painting Rye, Bannon’s Re-blocking Service.
Former Nurses Station, Buxton Reserve Shoreham – owner Mrs Sally Cleary. Heritage Trades - Jamie Gargaro.
Cyril Young Memorial outdoor Chapel, Buxton Reserve – Cyril Young Memorial Chapel Association and Glen Parker, stonemason – Lotus Landscapes.
DrikDrik Flinders – owner Kim Harper. Heritage Trades – Your Choice Roofing.
Fooks House, Mount Eliza – owners Anthony and Nici Sprawling. Architect Steve Remy – REVarch Design Studio.
The Triangle House, Esplanade, Mornington - owners Anne and Tony McIlroy. Builders - Burrows Builders, Tucker Construction Group and Architect – Topology Studio Albert Park.
McCrae Homestead, McCrae – Wayne Thomas of W T Roofing Geelong.
Art Deco House, Capel Sound – owner Chris Hart. Builder - Andrew Swann.
The Athenaeum upper facade, Sorrento – Coastal Stone Construct – Rory Bond and Brett Wood Masonry.
Oleander Cottage, Portsea– owner Jennifer Sitch. Heritage Trades – Ron Blackford stonemason and assistant Dylan Keegan and Structural Roofing - Pad Gadsby.
Adaptive re-use of a Heritage Place
Former Mornington Courthouse to Information Bureau – Coordinator Wayne Watson.
Excellence in Interpretive Signage
Pilot Service Signage @ Cargo Shed Flinders Pier – Flinders and District Historical Society.
Mornington Shire Offices – International Women’s Day Vinyl Wrap ‘Her Story’ – curator Georgia Rouette, artist Aleesa Howard, graphics Sarah Tolhill.
Mt Martha House – recognition of historic and continuous use of the building – Designer Dimity Mapstone, Wordsmiths – Georgia Rouette and Rebecca Owens.
Sustainability or greening of a Heritage Place
Padua College, Tyabb Campus – Koala tree plantation. Accepted by Director of Business, David Lawn.
Commendation for Conservation and Upkeep of a Heritage Place
Bimbi (Place of many birds) Flinders. Owners Karen and Peter Crawford OAM.
Individual Award
For outstanding contribution to the limestone heritage of the Mornington Peninsula over many years. Ron Blackford stonemason.
2025 award categories
Creative Reuse of a Heritage Place
The objective of this award is to encourage adaptive reuse of a heritage place. Adaptive reuse is a process that changes a disused or redundant place to a different purpose.
Restoration of a Heritage Place
The objective of this award is to recognise best practice restoration work that returns fabric back to a known earlier state or conserves integrity.
Specialist Heritage Trade Skills
The objective of this award is to recognise tradespersons who work using specialist skills, traditional methods and craftsmanship to a very high standard.
Excellence in Interpretive Signage
The objective of this award is to recognise Interpretive Signage of a high quality that acknowledges a person or place that has contributed to the Heritage of the Mornington Peninsula.
Sustainability and/or greening of a heritage place
The objective of this award is to increase awareness of the contribution to the environmental sustainability of heritage places.
Judging and assessment criteria
Judging
The judging panel is a Heritage Officer from the Mornington Peninsula Shire, a member of the National Trust conservation team and Mornington Peninsula branch representatives.
Assessment criteria
Generally, the assessment criteria should allow the judging panel to determine whether the nominated works successfully demonstrate the principles contained in the Burra Charter and/or local heritage guidelines or policy.
Past awards
2023 winners
2023 winners
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Award category
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Place
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Name / Organisation
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1
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Excellence in Interpretation
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Mornington Old Post Office
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Vicky Sapkin, Mornington & District Historical Society Inc
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2
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Excellence in Interpretation
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Red Hill Station Reserve
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David Maddocks, Red Hill Community Association
Nick Wootton, Croft Wootton Constructions
Steve Hofer, WKH Architects
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3
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Excellence in Interpretation
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Red Hill Station Reserve
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Jean Rotherham, Dromana & District Historical Society Inc
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4
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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St Andrews Church, Rye
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Ron Blackford, Stonemason and Dillon Keegan, Assistant Stonemason
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5
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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Edna Dunk Memorial Clock Tower, Rosebud
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Jean Rotherham, Dromana & District Historical Society Inc
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6
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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Edna Dunk Memorial Clock Tower, Rosebud
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Simon Lyne, Ventia
Craig Hiscock, Electrician
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7
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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McCrae Lighthouse
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Christopher Lyne, Mornington Peninsula Shire
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8
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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McCrae Lighthouse
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David Wixted, Heritage Alliance
McElligott Partners
Project Delivery Team, Mornington Peninsula Shire
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9
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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Continental Hotel, Sorrento
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Christopher Madden, Hamilton Marino Builders
Matt Bond & Sons, Peninsula Coastal Stone Masonry
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10
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Restoration of a Heritage Place
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Continental Hotel, Sorrento
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Bart O’Callaghan, Urban Pty Ltd
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11
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Sustainability & Greening of a Heritage Place
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Koala Habitat, Somers
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Dirk Jensen & Michelle Hardie, Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation
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12
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Individual award for service to heritage restoration on the Mornington Peninsula
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Judy Walsh, past president, National Trust Mornington Peninsula branch
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