The historic Goulburn Club was the venue chosen by Goulburn Heritage Group members to launch a book prepared by three of their group - Linda Cooper, Daphne and David Penalver. Mr Penalver, a retired architect is its artist and main author.

Heralding Heritage Goulburn is a 32-page soft covered book with 72 illustrations and text, drawing the readers attention to often overlooked features of our locally built heritage.

Mayor Bob Kirk welcomed guest speaker Don Coleman to Goulburn while reminding those present of Dons recording of Goulburns built heritage with his 1960s Sydney University thesis Colonial Architecture of Goulburn and Surrounding Districts. This book is available for all to read via the National Library service, TROVE.

Don Coleman and David Penalver studied Architecture together at Sydney University. Well known artist Lloyd Rees taught drawing to these university undergraduates to supplement his artistic income and his calm, encouraging style made a major contribution to the output of his students. Mr Coleman pointed out that Mr Penalver had received a distinction in Town and Country Planning in the final year of their university course.

More recently, David attended classes with Gordon Wolfe and Garth Dixon when he undertook the Creative Arts course at the former Goulburn CAE.

Inherent artistic skill plus exceptional teachers and a passion for recording Goulburns built heritage has resulted in a book that celebrates our local history and challenges us to protect it for future generations.

Heralding Heritage Goulburn is a re-work of articles which appeared each month in the Goulburn Post to promote community awareness of local heritage issues and to invite those interested to attend the meetings of the Goulburn Heritage Group.

Each article was illustrated with a sketch to draw attention to the topic. Many of these original articles and drawings are included in the new book. In re-reading the text, the authors were surprised to realise that the topics of 10 years ago were still current issues - and still very important.

Copies of the book, which would make ideal Christmas gifts for family members living elsewhere, can be purchased from shops at St Saviours Cathedral; Riversdale; The Red Dove in the Wesley Centre, or from the authors: penalver@goulburn.net.au for $20 per copy.

If you are interested in the protection of Goulburns heritage your contribution to the Goulburn Heritage Group would be most welcome. There are no membership fees and no office bearers. The Group meets on the second Thursday of every month at The Goulburn Club at 5.15 pm. The first meeting for 2018 will be February 8.