[1] With threats to fine colonial mansions in Sydney, the first National Trust in Australia was established in New South Wales in 1945.
In the following months, major figures in Melbourne, from society, the arts, town planning and architecture, began to discuss the setting up of Trust similar to that in Britain and NSW.
Spurred by the demolition of the spectacular 1870 mansion,"Wendrew", in Toorak in 1954, and the likely imminent sale of the nearby grand colonial estate Como House, a series of ever-larger meetings were held, culminating in the formation in May 1956 of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), as a charity with its first aim being the acquisition of Como.
A notable feature of those who established the Trust was the number of prominent and influential people, and "the close network of family and business between them".
Pescott, director of the Museum of Victoria, architect and critic Robin Boyd, Maie Casey and her husband politician Richard Casey, Noel and Elizabeth Goss, architect Roy Simpson, and Professor of Architecture at the University of Melbourne, Brian Lewis.