ACRE 16 Community buyback of Old Beechworth Gaol leads to National Heritage Listing In August Beechworth’s Heritage Precinct was confirmed, including the Old Beechworth Gaol. It was almost a decade prior that Beechworth’s significant role in Australian history was acknowledged and safeguarded by a group of local residents and ACRE. ACRE led the $2.7 million community buyback across 19 local families and four philanthropic organisations, the largest rural town community buyback in the world at the time. Today, the Old Beechworth Gaol is being repurposed as a globally recognised cultural tourism destination and education centre for social entrepreneurship, creative industries and community-led rejuvenation. ACRE continues to guide rural communities on community asset ownership projects. Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto – from origins in rural Australia to the world stage From the Manifesto’s inception in rural Australia with SENVIC and delegates at the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) Rural Gathering in 2022, to its further development at the SEWF World Forum in Amsterdam in 2023. SEWF led global collaboration to further progress the Manifesto, gaining inputs from 100 organisations and 37 countries, making it a truly global representation. The Manifesto was expertly launched by ACRE’s Mary-Anne Scully at the SEWF Policy Forum. ACRE is proud of the stewarding role we have played alongside SEWF, in development of the Manifesto – the document serves as both a policy roadmap and a global call to action for rural social enterprise. The Manifesto highlights 11 ways in which policy makers can accelerate sustaining and enterprising communities. ACRE HQ at the Old Beechworth Gaol. Huda Jaffer and Mary-Anne Scully discuss the Manifesto for Rural Social Enterprise during the SEWF Policy World Forum. Highlights “The launch of the Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto is an important step in policy advocacy for rural communities around the world.” Gerry Higgins Founder and Managing Director - Social Enterprise World Forum
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