Nominations have opened for Orange City Council's 2025 Cultural Heritage Awards.
HERITAGE CONSERVATION: The building at 173 Lords Place was recognised in the 2023 awards.
In short: Orange City Council's biennial 2025 Cultural Heritage Awards have opened.
The awards recognise local property restoration and conservation projects of the city's heritage buildings.
What's next: Entries are encouraged from property owners, friends or family, builders or tradespeople.
The awards are held every two years to recognise local restoration and conservation projects and encourage more property owners to maintain and conserve the city's heritage buildings.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said Orange had some fantastic examples of buildings that have been beautifully restored and revitalised.
"It's great to see property owners taking the time to care for older buildings and taking pride in heritage conservation," Cr Mileto said.
"As you walk around town you can see former hotels that are now repurposed and revitalised buildings. There have been many projects completed over the last few years that you drive past daily, and I'm looking forward to seeing them among the nominations."
The 2023 winners were 87 Byng Street, Orange Local Aboriginal Lands Council (former police station); Gowrie Newstead Early Education Centre, Care & Preschool (former Newstead Bowling Club); OCTEC Limited (former Town Hall); Bloomfield House; 107 March Street and 173 Lords Place.
There are eight categories for the 2025 awards:
- Restoration of a residential heritage building, including streetscape element restoration (e.g. verandah, front fence)
- Adaptive reuse of an existing building (including cultural heritage and sustainability concepts);
- Infill development – a new building in an existing heritage streetscape including unit duplex developments
- Best heritage treatment of a commercial building
- Best work on a heritage building in Lucknow, Spring Hill or a rural area within the city of Orange
- Best conservation or improvements to landscape/garden design which is appropriate to its environment
- Best Improvements to a building which is under 50 years old
- Best individual or group contribution to the cultural heritage of Orange
The Awards not only acknowledge conservation work but also aim to build community interest in the design and construction of sympathetic infill development, alterations and additions to buildings.
Entries can come from property owners, family or friends who have watched a restoration project develop, or a builder or tradesperson who has worked on a project. It's important to get the permission of the owner before you put in an entry.
Projects must have been completed within the last 5 years and must not have won before.
Nominations close at 5pm, Monday 28 July 2025.
Nomination forms and more information is available from the Customer Service Counter at the Orange Civic Centre, Orange City Library or online at https://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/our-heritage/awards/
