Australia Post owns many historic buildings that are heritage-listed or of heritage importance. A total of 18 of our properties are currently recorded on the Commonwealth Heritage List, with a further 104 subject to heritage controls under local or state planning authorities.

In December 2005, we completed a formal corporate heritage strategy for the conservation and management of our heritage properties. The strategy, which has been reviewed by the Australian Heritage Council and meets our obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, will be implemented over a five-year period.

Key aspects of the strategy include identifying properties with heritage values, managing data, training staff, promoting heritage awareness, planning for future building works, and property development and divestment.

During 2004/05, we engaged one of Australia’s leading conservation architecture firms to evaluate the 520 properties in our property portfolio with regard to their architectural, social and environmental merit. This work has progressed steadily, with the review of our properties in Victoria and Tasmania almost finalised. The completed review will provide a substantial body of information that will help us in recommending further nominations to the Commonwealth Heritage List and in preparing property-specific conservation management plans.

National Archives and National Philatelic Collection

Australia Post also maintains an extensive collection of works of art, documents and photographs. These are part of the National Archives of Australia collection, the official repository for federal government records, under the Archives Act 1983. These records, along with works belonging to Australia Post, form the National Philatelic Collection – Australia’s most important and comprehensive collection of stamp-related art and philatelic material.

In 2005/06, more Australians than ever were able to experience and learn about the National Philatelic Collection.

An estimated 150,000 people visited exhibitions at the Post Master Gallery in Melbourne and at travelling exhibitions around Australia. More than 2,000 people took part in public programs at the Post Master Gallery and approximately 650 visual arts and design students participated in Meet the Stamp Designer seminars.

Four exhibitions were held at the Post Master Gallery. As a result of our extended exhibition-touring program, Post Master Gallery exhibitions were shown at galleries in Launceston, Burnie, Lake Macquarie and Tamworth.

In our first opportunity to exhibit at a national institution, our A Summer of Cricket exhibition was shown at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. This popular exhibition will also be on display in 2007 at the Bradman Museum in Bowral, New South Wales.