Ravensworth Homestead is a complex of five buildings of sandstone construction, including a main house, two outbuildings and an ablutions building, along with a timber cottage. Glencore’s Glendell open cut mine has been managing and maintaining the property since acquiring the Homestead in 1997

Ravensworth Homestead Advisory Committee is seeking further input from members of the local community into future options for the historic homestead. The Advisory Committee was formed last year to look at relocation options for the homestead that could facilitate ongoing mining at Glendell open cut that currently is approved to 2024 and supports a workforce of about 300 people. 

Exploration drilling has confirmed the presence of mineable resources in mining tenements held by Glencore immediately to the north of the existing operation.

Ravensworth Homestead, a property listed as an item of local historical significance in the Singleton LEP, overlies these mineable resources. The Advisory Committee’s findings will help inform the environmental assessment on the Glendell Continued Operations project, which Glencore is hoping to lodge in late 2018.

The first three meetings of the Committee have identified a number of possibilities for the buildings, including approaches from landholders with an interest in having the Homestead relocated to their properties, as well as discussions on use of land that could be available for the relocation.

A Glencore spokesperson said the committee was now seeking input from the wider community.

“The committee and the heritage experts who’ve been providing professional input into discussions all recognise this project has the potential to deliver an outcome that not only recognises the Homestead’s cultural and historic value, but allows for better community access,” the spokesperson said.

 “Their charter is to capture the broadest range of options and to arrive at a solution that represents the best outcome possible.We’re asking community members to submit their ideas on potential future options and sites for consideration.”

This can be done by writing to the Ravensworth Homestead Advisory Committee, PO Box 320, Singleton NSW 2330, or by email to rhac@glencore.com.au. Submissions close on March 14, 2018. The nine-person Advisory Committee includes community and business interests, as well as people with a detailed understanding of Singleton’s history and heritage, with a former owner of Ravensworth Homestead also on the committee.