The Convict Trail Project Organisations

The Convict Trail Project is an alliance of organisations with a responsibility for, or interest in, the conservation, management and promotion of the convict-built Great North Road. It was initiated by the Bucketty and Wollombi communities which were concerned about the degradation of convict-built relics in their areas. The degradation resulted from a combination of neglect, vandalism, lack of awareness of the significance of the relics, and the lack of an overall management or conservation plan.

Frustrated by attempts to find an organisation or agency which was responsible for managing the Road, they obtained professional guidance and began caring for local sites. Realising that similar situations were probably happening along the 240 km Road, they began to involve other organisations with an interest in the Great North Road.

Thirty groups have now joined the Convict Trail Project, ranging from councils, community groups, regional tourism alliances, government agencies, academic institutions and heritage organisations.

By bringing together all these organisations with a responsibility for managing the Great North Road, and a range of community groups with an interest in conservation and planning, the Convict Trail Project provides a unique forum for ensuring one of Australia's national treasures is conserved and managed appropriately.