Alexandrina Council celebrated some of the region’s best practice heritage projects at its 2025 Heritage Awards, held on the evening of Thursday 22 May.

Held as part of South Australia’s History Festival, the Awards too place at Centenary Hall in Goolwa and featured a guest speaker, Adelaide-based writer Lainie Anderson.

She presented a historical insight on Sir Ross Smith and his flight from England to Australia, as well as pioneering policewoman Kate Cocks.

Ms Anderson is a History Guardian for the History Trust of South Australia and was named the 2023 Emerging Historian of the Year by the History Council of South Australia.

Alexandrina Council announced award winners and commendations across six categories:

Heritage Gardens and Fencing

Commendation: 1 Swale Street, Strathalbyn, Belinda Whittam.

Winner: 1131 Goolwa Road, Currency Creek, Diana Keach.

Conservation Practice

Commendation: Tamarisk – 577 Port Elliot Road, Port Elliot (Projects under $50k) Carolyn and Roberth Fuller.

Winner: Mulberry Cottage – 234 Lines Road, Port Elliot (Projects over 50k) mother and daughter Suzie and Sally Porter.

Adaptive Re-use

Winner: Home of Plenty – 261 Myrtlegrove Road, Currency Creek, Shaw family.

Historic Research

Commendations: Blue Plaques Project – Middleton Town and Foreshore Association.

Winner: 21 Arthur Street, Port Elliot, Sacha and Gordon Ure.

Heritage Tourism

Commendations: Merrilli1885 – 153 Deep Creek Road, Currency Creek Sophie Mintz.

And M V Maranui Gin Flight Cruise, Spirit of the Australia Cruises.

Winner: Strathalbyn 185 – Strathalbyn Tourism Association.

Lorraine Pomery Service to Heritage Award

Winner: Brian Simpson.

Mayoral Award

Winner: Mulberry Cottage – 234 Lines Road, Port Elliot, Suzie Porter and Sally Porter.

The event was attended by around 70 people who celebrated the award commendations and winners.

Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes says, “Once again, the Heritage Awards evening was a success, showcasing a range of high-level projects and practices from across the region. 

“It’s excellent to see community members continuing to support the annual Heritage Awards and most importantly celebrate our rich heritage and history.

“I was extremely impressed by the winner of the Mayoral Award and Conservation Practice, The Mulberry Cottage, located in Port Elliot. The cottage has had a major transformation. It’s excellent to see how these works really brought this heritage cottage back to life.”

Heritage Advisory Committee Chair Simon Weidenhofer says all the nominations for this year’s 2025 Heritage Awards were outstanding and highlighted best practice for heritage projects.

“All entrants should be proud of their hard work and dedication to preserving and activating our local heritage,” he says.

For further information about heritage in Alexandrina, visit the council website.