About Heritage NSW Blue Plaques
The Blue Plaques program brings to life the extraordinary people and events that shaped the history of NSW. It is designed for people to learn about the history of their local region by discovering the events that happened and the people that lived, worked, or gathered there.
Blue Plaques are nominated by the people of NSW. This ensures that the program celebrates a wide range of people - from local heroes to innovators in a particular field, and even global celebrities who have left their mark on our state.
35 Blue Plaques have been announced
35 Blue Plaques have been announced since the program began in June 2021, including those of pioneering female aviator Nancy Bird Walton, Dr Charles Perkins who dedicated his life to civil rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku who helped popularise surfing in NSW.
Many Blue Plaques have already been installed around the state including in Broken Hill, Hay, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga. On 13 November 2022, Heritage Minister James Griffin MP announced 14 Blue Plaques which will be installed throughout 2023.
Recently Announced Blue Plaques
| Subject | Recognition |
|---|---|
1965 Freedom Ride | Protest tour highlighting racial discrimination against Aboriginal people |
Albert (Tibby) Cotter | International test cricketer and soldier |
Arthur Malcolm Stace | Chalk writer known as ‘Mr Eternity’ |
Billy Hughes | Seventh Prime Minister of Australia known for representing Australia at the Treaty of Versailles and establishing the Federal Police Force and the CSIRO. |
Chips Rafferty | Australian film actor |
Daniel Gowing | Prominent early developer in Bega and Tathra |
Dorothea Mackellar | Australian poet and author of ‘My Country’ |
Grace Cossington Smith | Australian artist and pioneer of modernist painting |
Margaret Catchpole | Female convict chronicler |
Mei Quong Tart | Philanthropist, merchant, and Chinese-Australian community leader |
Thomas Fiaschi | Pioneering surgeon |
William and Ian Clunies Ross | Science educator and his son, the first Chair of the CSIRO |
WW1 Valentine Day Soldier Riots | 1916 soldier riots protesting conditions at military training bases in Liverpool |
Patrick White | Australian novelist |
These are in addition to the 21 plaques already announced earlier in 2021 and 2022. Browse the stories behind the first 21 plaques on this website.
Public nominations
Over 750 nominations were received in 2021 from community members, organisation and local councils.
A second public nominations round was open in late 2022 with successful nominations to be announced mid 2023.
Find out more about the nominations process.
More information
The Blue Plaques program is part of a $5 million heritage engagement program funded by the NSW Government, announced in June 2021. Heritage NSW administers this program.
If you have any enquiries, please contact us at heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au