Maitland conservationist Chris Richards hopes the completion of a Master’s degree in heritage conservation will lend extra weight to his mission to preserve the city’s vintage buildings.
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Mr Richards graduated from the University of Sydney earlier this year with a Master's degree in heritage conservation.
He said a passion for protecting the city’s ageing structures underpinned his motivation to undertake the study.
“Heritage conservation is constantly developing and evolving with new principles, guidelines and legal legislation,” Mr Richards explained.
“To accurately assess, recommend and fight for saving of heritage buildings and items, I believed it was important to undertake a Master's degree in this field."
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Mr Richards has been involved with numerous stoushes with Maitland Council regarding the status and development of heritage buildings over the years.
The most recent incident saw Mr Richards slam a council decision to demolish an old home on Church Street to make way for four new units.
Mr Richard said he hopes his new qualification will open the door for increased dialogue with Maitland council.
“I would be hopeful that with my Master's degree that I would be able to discuss with council the establishment of an independent heritage advisory committee within the Maitland region made up of qualified people in the field of heritage conservation,” he said.
