HI Hostels Blog

Big congratulations to Sydney Harbour YHA and the Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre

Sydney Harbour YHA and the Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre have successfully won an UNESCO award. We want to say big congratulations to the entire team! They are the first prize winner of the Jury Commendation for Innovation award.

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation recognises the efforts of private individuals and organisations that have successfully restored and conserved structures and buildings of heritage value in the region. UNESCO believes that recognising private efforts to restore and adapt historic properties will encourage other property owners to undertake conservation projects within the community, either independently or by seeking public-private partnerships.

Sydney Harbour YHA and the Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre is located in The Rocks which is said to be Sydney’s historic heart. The YHA provides multishare, double and twin room accommodation all with ensuites and many offering views of Sydney Harbour and Sydney Opera House. It is also the only hostel in this part of Sydney! The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre offer heritage interpretation and a hands-on archaeological education experience.

“The project successfully puts urban archaeology in the spotlight, showcasing the site through creative use as a youth hostel and a public education centre. Located in Sydney’s historic harbour side precinct, with a view of the city’s most prominent modern architectural icons, the building’s sleek design stands out as a fresh contemporary counterpoint.”

The jury panel for this year’s awards were particularly impressed with a heightened level of community participation and involvement within the conservation process for this year’s entry submissions. The winners were selected based on the way that the projects reflected a clear understanding and application of the various components of the Awards criteria, such as the articulation of the spirit of place, appropriate use or adaption, or the project’s contribution to the surrounding environment and the local community’s cultural and historical continuum.

For information about the hostel please visit here
Or to learn more about the Big Dig then visit their site here

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