Madison Eastmond, Murray Pioneer

Renmark volunteers of the Olivewood Historic Homestead and Museum are preparing to file a formal complaint to the Australian Charities Not-for-profit Commission in the hopes of holding the National Trust of SA (NTSA) “accountable” for what they claim is financial mismanagement.

Renmark branch chairman Ann Ryan is seeking to locate a “missing” $430,000 – raised when a parcel of land at the Olivewood Historic Homestead and Museum was sold for revenue in 2017 – from the NTSA, however she says the NTSA claims it no longer has the money.

According to Ms Ryan, the 2017 land sale saw the NTSA keep 15 per cent of the raised revenue ($81,000), plus the balance of $460,000, which the NTSA was to invest on the Renmark branch’s behalf.

Since the sale, the branch has been annually paid $5060 in interest. Additionally, $30,000 has also been supplied to the branch for capital works on the homestead.

However, Ms Ryan said when she approached the NTSA CEO last March to inquire if the balance could be reinvested locally – which would generate more than $20,000 on a 12-month fix deposit – her request was denied.

Ms Ryan said she would like to locate the money for the branch as the additional interest payments would also assist in covering a new ‘service fee’ – where the NTSA take 7.5 per cent of the annual income – and increased insurance fees.

Currently, the branch generates a $10,000 profit which also must account for NTSA fees, plus running costs, repairs, or improvements to the museums.

“According to their governance manual, it is up to the branches to raise their own funds and get grants to maintain their properties for repairs, or to pay for running expenses,” she said.

“When we sold that parcel of land, (we understood it) was (an asset) we had spent years improving that we would be able to get some money off (and reinvest it into Olivewood).

“It would be a lot easier (if we had access to the money).

“We just can’t seem to get through to them – we keep raising the money and they keep taking it.”

Since March, Ms Ryan has attempted to contact the State Government, most recently sending a letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas regarding the situation.

However, Ms Ryan said she soon would make the decision to report the trust to the Australian Charities Not-for-profit Commission, believing the not-for-profit “has not been accountable and transparent to its members”.

“We have been told because they’re not a government agency – as (the NTSA) is an act of parliament – they cannot be told (by the State Government) how to run (the not-for-profit),” she said.

“However, (the State Government) does have the power to grant ‘peppercorn leases’ to branches – a rental agreement with a nominal, token rent such as $1 – which (would allow us the branch to be) autonomous…

“We want autonomy.”

While there is an avenue for the Renmark committee to gain autonomy by purchasing the property from the NTSA, Ms Ryan said such an option was impossible.

“We have already paid for this property,” she said.

“Seventy years ago, the Renmark (volunteer) committee (began building Olivewood) from the ground up with no assistance from the (NTSA) – we have spent more than $1m here.

“However, because it under the umbrella of the NTSA, their name is on the title. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.”

“There is just no trust any more.”

The Murray Pioneer has attempted to contact The National Trust SA for comment, but as of the time of publication was yet to receive a response.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 29 April 2026.