Celebrating 20 years of GML Canberra

This month, GML Canberra celebrates 20 years on 5 December 2005.  We think that two decades of national heritage work grounded in deep expertise, long-standing client partnerships, and a commitment to protecting and interpreting the nation’s heritage is something to be proud of.

From humble beginnings in Kingston and only two staff, the office has thrived. Rachel Jackson is now a GML Principal and Company Director, and moved from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage to join GML. Dr Tracy Ireland, the Canberra office lead, is now Emeritus Professor of Cultural Heritage at the University of Canberra and continues to collaborate with GML.

In early 2009, the growing team relocated to the former headquarters of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in Red Hill, designed by Ancher Mortlock Murray in 1967. The new office space provided room for the expanding consulting team. Archaeologist Martin Rowney, heritage specialist Amy Jarvis (then Guthrie), and later Sarah Webeck, have had enduring stints at GML, strengthening GML’s capabilities.

Throughout its first decade, the Canberra team supported many Commonwealth agencies navigating their new responsibilities under the EPBC Act. GML helped shape Commonwealth and national heritage practice developing heritage management toolkits, Indigenous cultural heritage consultation guidelines, and impact assessment methodologies—resources still relied upon today.

Today, the Canberra team of Rachel Jackson, Martin Rowney, Sarah Webeck and Anna Leeson continue to provide heritage management, policy and planning advice for the Federal Government and national institutions. They work across Australia, from the Canberra, to Port Arthur, Darwin, Exmouth, Woomera and many other places, including the external territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.

Among the office’s memorable projects was the RAAF Base Thematic Study, which saw Senior Associate Sarah Webeck and former team member Anne Claoue-Long travel to every RAAF Base in Australia.

Using a values-based, integrated approach to First Nations heritage, built heritage, landscape heritage and archaeology, the team’s experience in advising on heritage places under Federal environmental legislation is unmatched.

We have only achieved this milestone with trust and support of our clients, collaborators and colleagues over the past 20 years. We thank you and look forward to continuing our work in conserving heritage values and places in the decades to come.