American Express pledged $185,000 towards preserving historic sites across the City of Sydney, Waverley and Mosman council areas over the next year. In addition, American Express will donate a further 20 cents to the program during the voting period for every purchase made on an American Express Card at up to 2,000 participating retail outlets in the three council areas.

Nine outstanding preservation landmarks have been short-listed by the National Trust and an advisory panel of high profile Sydneysiders. Now it's up to the community to vote for their favourite landmark, and ultimately, choose the winning historic site which will be guaranteed a preservation grant.

An online poll at www.sydneypartnersinpreservation.com.au opens today and encourages visitors to vote daily. In addition, supporters can share their pictures and stories as to why their favourite landmark should win.

"American Express created the Partners in Preservation program to underscore the importance of preservation not only of buildings but of culture and history, and to promote travel and tourism around the country. This is the first time American Express has run the Partners in Preservation program outside the United States and, given Sydney's rich and diverse heritage, American Express is delighted to launch this program," said Mr Pierric Beckert, Managing Director American Express Australia.

"I'd encourage people to get online today at sydneypartnersinpreservation.com.au and vote for your favourite landmark. The Partners in Preservation program is a great way of helping raise community awareness of, and support for, some of Sydney's historic gems."

Tina Jackson, Executive Director of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), welcomed the initiative. "Partners in Preservation encourages online participation in a fun and engaging online model to choose the winning site. The campaign will help preserve part of Sydney's past for future generations and spark community interest in the wealth of historic landmarks which exist throughout Sydney."

"In deciding which landmark site to support, we ask you to consider the site's beauty, purpose and significance to your community."

Some of Sydney's most loved landmarks -- and some hidden gems
The Advisory Committee has short-listed the following nine landmark sites after reviewing a multitude of potential projects:

• Balmoral Beach Rotunda: A much-loved local landmark, this temple-like classical revival structure provides a beautiful backdrop to weddings and concerts including the popular Shakespeare by the Beach.
• Bondi Surf Pavilion: Designed in 1928 by architects Robertson and Marks, the Bondi Pavilion is the centre piece of Bondi Beach and Park and has come to represent the Australian culture of beach bathing and outdoors living.
• Bondi-Waverley School of Arts: Since the early 1900s, the Bondi-Waverley School of the Arts has been used for a variety of community and cultural purposes, most recently as an arts teaching centre and artists' studio space.
• Butterfly Room, State Theatre: One of the last great flamboyant cinemas of the 1920s, the ornate State Theatre building is a mix of cinema baroque and gothic styles.
• Clifton Gardens Pool: Clifton Gardens in Mosman has been used for public recreation since the 1860s when a "pleasure garden" was opened with the wharf, skating rink, dance hall, running tracks and swimming pool becoming a very popular entertainment destination, particularly during the inter-war years.
• Cross Street Drill Hall: Once common throughout Sydney, this is one of just a few remaining Drill Halls. Built in 1913, the former 8th Brigade Drill Hall at Cross Street, Mosman is one of the earliest erected in NSW to enable the military training of the Citizens' Military Forces.
• Macquarie Obelisk: Built by one of Australia's best known colonial architects, Francis Greenway and stonemason Edward Cureton in 1818, this sandstone obelisk is an extremely important remnant of our past. It was built under Governor Macquarie's direction to mark the 'centre' of the growing colony and became the official spot from which all public roads were measured.
• Waverley Cemetery Gates: Waverley Cemetery opened in 1877 and the ceremonial cortege gates on St Thomas Street with their dwarf stone walls with intricate iron work are now the main access point to one of Sydney's most impressive and picturesque cemeteries. Among the notable graves at Waverley are Dorethea Mackellar (poet), Henry Lawson (journalist, poet), Hendry Kendall (poet), Victor Trumper (cricketer), and Colonel Johnston.
• Wireless House: In 1935, Glebe Council took the unique step of setting up a wireless radio donated by Grace Brothers in the public rest park on the corner of Glebe Point and Bridge Roads to create a community gathering point. This rare public broadcasting facility brought great joy to many people, especially during the Depression.

The winning site will be announced in December, 2007, with all grant recipients announced in February, 2008.

The Advisory Panel members are:

• Peter FitzSimons, Media broadcaster/columnist
• Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum
• Penelope Siedler, Architect
• Tracey Spicer, Journalist
• Jon Isaacs, Chairman of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA)
• Philip Thalis, Architect
• Angela Catterns, Australian television and radio personality
• Zeny Edwards, Architectural Historian
• Tina Jackson, Executive Director of the National Trust of Australia
• Brett Leavy, owner and Managing Director of the Cyberdreaming

About American Express
Historic preservation has long been the hallmark of American Express' involvement in the community, reflecting its recognition of the contribution of sites and monuments to a sense of national and local identity and the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing neighbourhoods. From 1996 to 2005, American Express contributed more than US$10 million to help preserve 126 historic sites in 62 countries from the World Monuments Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. In June 2006, the company announced the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as its partner in the U.S. and the World Monuments Fund as its partner internationally. The Partners in Preservation program was launched in San Francisco in June 2006, and Chicago in July 2007.

About the National Trust (NSW) www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au
The National Trust (NSW) is a charity, independent of government. Since 1946, the Trust has worked with the community to safeguard our rich natural, build and cultural heritage -- forever, for everyone.