Identification and Protection

Why is it necessary for historical societies to become involved with identifying and protecting our heritage?
o They are accepted as a local community body with the knowledge to assist professionals
o Often they are the only local body with material/evidence/documents necessary to build a case for protection
o They can lobby not just for their own collection but for places within their area
o They can identify, research and report before things become at risk or threatened
o They can inform the local government entity, heritage advisers, and consultants as to what is important to the community

The key steps in identifying and protecting our heritage are:
· Find the facts
· Document them
· Analyse them
· Determine what you are going to do with the facts and findings, ie., develop a plan
· Prepare the necessary submissions
· Implement the plan.

Identification

Before something can be protected or conserved it must be identified. Identification of cultural heritage places can be derived from many sources including local knowledge, windscreen surveys, heritage and/or thematic studies, local area plans, and local government planing schemes.

The first step in assessing cultural heritage significance requires gathering and recording information about the item. This includes documentary, oral and physical evidence.

Documentation
This is then written as a report that may be part of a conservation plan, heritage tour book or nomination for inclusion on a heritage register.

Analysis
Why is a place or object or documentary record significant? Because it has social, aesthetic, historic, scientific, special, bio-diversity, ecosystem, geo-diversity values or some other value for past, present and future generations.

The purpose of the analysis is to specify and verify the significance of the material you have collected. Generally, facts are significant because of their relationship to other people, places, things, events or values. That relationship can be as a cause, an effect, as an example, as a circumstance that throws light on something else, or that provides evidence of its identity, use, .location or some other characteristic.

The steps to assess cultural heritage significance are:

1. Gather physical, oral and documentary evidence
2. Identify and communicate with relevant community members/stakeholders for further information
3. Research the historical, material, design or architectural context and how this item has been influenced by the course of history
4. Compare with similar sites or objects
5. Start writing the report
6. Assess and analyse all the information about the item according to the appropriate criteria
7. Write the conclusions which form the statement of cultural heritage significance.

It is important in this process to record material as it is collected and to continually review your work to check for gaps in the trail of evidence, the logic of your analysis and that your probable conclusions will be balanced and sensible.

Develop a protection plan
In order to protect heritage places, objects and/or archives it is necessary first to identify, research and write a report about them that includes their significance using criteria such as those used by the Australian Heritage Commission, appropriate government or National Trust. Each government section in this handbook includes the criteria used for assessing cultural heritage significance by the relevant agency. While most authorities only require one criterion it is usual to include two, three or more.

The report should also include recommendations about what needs to be done to provide actual protection. In many cases listing on the appropriate register can provide protection. This is clearest in the case of places.

Places listed on a state or territory government heritage register are protected by legislation; places on a local government heritage listing also have some protection, usually under statutory planning controls. The Register of the National Estate only protects places that belong to the Commonwealth. While National Trust registers have no statutory authority they do have moral strength and have a high degree of public credibility.

Nominations for heritage listings have several components:
· Firstly the identification of the place or object, this usually includes:
     · current and former names of the place or object
     · location
     · ownership details
     · land description
· history including the historical context/relationships relevant to the place or object
· description as it is at the time of writing
· points of cultural heritage significance that are drawn from the history and description

Where listing is not an option, because no appropriate list exists or because the matter is not of sufficient significance, other options must be identified. These can include a conservation or archival plan, the provision of suitable premises, changes to traffic arrangements, building covenants or whatever is necessary to protect the item or place.

In any event, the plan should include:
· A clear statement of what is proposed
· appropriate costings, and where you expect the funding should come from, and
     · the relationship between:
     · the proposed action
     · who is to do it
     · the sequence of events, including proposed timeframes, and
     · the risks involved for all stakeholders. In this context, risks includes the negative consequences of doing or not doing what is proposed and an indication of the likelihood of that those consequences will occur. If possible show how those risks can be managed.

Preparing a submission
In preparing a submission
· Identify who is to receive the submission and
· Present it in such a way that it makes compelling sense to the recipient.

Who is to receive the submission?
If submissions are to be made to government bodies, remember that, regardless of the level of government, they generally have a set of criteria for approving grants or assistance of this nature. Make sure you understand the criteria. Talk to the relevant officials and ask them to explain what is required. Make sure that you address all the criteria. If you think that some are not relevant show why you think that is the case. Remember, if you do not address the criteria explicitly, it is less likely that they will approve you application.

If submissions are to be made to private enterprise, it is again worthwhile to talk to the relevant officers of the company. In many cases, particularly large corporations, they will also have written criteria. If so make your case in the light of them. If not try to ascertain what are the important considerations in their decision making. Make sure you understand if there are to be any 'strings' attached, and that you can live with them.

Presentation
It is not necessary to have a fancy presentation, although if you can, it won't do your case any harm. The important point to remember about submissions is that the purpose is to gain a favourable decision, not to demonstrate your research capability or engage in a public relations exercise. A short executive summary is often useful. It should include:
· A short statement of what you are asking for
· A summary of the facts or findings of your research. This should be the most telling points only. Refrain from trying to fill it with all the detail.
· A statement of reasons why they should agree to your submission. Again this should be as short and focused as you can make it.

You might then include, as attachments:
· A more detailed summary of your research and analysis. In particular, include expert opinions and reports; and
· your plan.
The extent of your detailed planning is sometimes a significant factor in a successful outcome. Of particular relevance in many contexts, eg federal government and big business, is the risk analysis, because it helps them make a business decision and provides an accountability framework for them.

Implementation
Provision should be made to ensure that the objectives that you set for yourself are in fact being met, that plans remain relevant and that money is spent and accounted for properly.

Agencies: Statutory:
Visit http://www.ea.gov.au/soe/2001/heritage/appendix1.html Appendix 1 of the Australia State of Environment Report 2001 for a summary of commonwealth, state and territory, natural and cultural heritage legislation.⁽¹⁾ Another overview of heritage protection in Australia can be found at http://www.ahc.gov.au/protection/

The Australian Heritage Directory has links to government heritage agencies while the Australian Heritage Places Inventory (AHPI) contains summary information about State, Territory and Commonwealth Heritage Registers, relevant legislation and contact details. You can use 'Search' to locate items on Commonwealth, State and Territory Heritage Registers. AHPI is located at http://www.heritage.gov.au/ahpi/about.html and can be used to search by placename, address, local and/or government area or by key word search such as church, hall, monument or mine. The Australian Heritage Directory home page is at http://www.heritage.gov.au/. This information is only available via the web. Although most government registers are available in paper format these are not widely distributed or always easily accessible.

Environment Australia is a federal government agency that is part of the Department of Environment and Heritage. Its home web page is at http://www.ea.gov.au/. The parent body, the Department of Environment and Heritage, is responsible for the Australian Heritage Commission. The Department administers a number of Acts which protect aspects of the National Estate including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC).

The Australian National Shipwreck Database is joint project developed and maintained by the Commonwealth, States and Territories, and Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology. The database is currently being redeveloped and will be added to the Department of the Environment and Heritage web site during 2002 and available at http://www.heritage.gov.au. In the interim period, visit the Australasian Institute of Maritime Archaeology (AIMA) web page Australian National Shipwreck Database or http://www.aima.iinet.net.au/databases/aimadata.html. For further information on a particular shipwreck visit http://www.aima.iinet.net.au/agencies/aimastatecont.html then click on the State or Territory database where the shipwreck is located. Information about the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Program and Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 can be found at http://www.ea.gov.au/heritage/awh/shipwrecks/index.html. For further contact the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Program, Identification and Conservation Branch, Environment Australia, GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 or phone (02) 6274 2132 or write to the Maritime Heritage Unit, NSW Heritage Office, Locked Bag 5020, Parramatta NSW 2124 or telephone (02) 9849 9574.

A useful web page is http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/Shipwreck-Index.html which has stories on current Victoria shipwrecks and links to other shipwreck web pages.⁽²⁾

Many local governments have a Heritage Advisory Committee. Such committees usually include interested members of the community. By becoming involved in such a committee, members of local Historical Societies can contribute to the identification and protection of local heritage assets.

Agencies: Non-statutory:
National Trusts in each state and territory, except South Australia, have registers of places of heritage significance. None of these registers have any legal obligations. The registers are available for public access to members, individuals or organisations interested in finding out more about a place(s). With the exception of Victoria and Queensland the register is published. The WA list is available on CD-ROM. The Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT) web site http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/ has links to individual state and territory trusts. You can contact the ACNT by e-mail acnt@nationaltrust.org.au Australian or by phoning (02) 6247 6766.⁽³⁾

In 1998 the ACNT commenced the Endangered Places program as a reaction to concerns that existed within the National Trust that heritage places remained threatened because of poor planning, redevelopment, neglect to name a few. The program is intended to assist community groups with their efforts to conserve heritage places, broaden public understanding and appreciation of our heritage and put the owners of heritage places 'on notice' that they have ongoing duty of care responsibility.

A list is launched each year on the 22 August. It comprises nominations from state and territory National Trusts and community organisations. For further information contact the ACNT 02 62476766 or acnt@nationaltrust.org.au

Specialist organisations include:

Art Deco Society Inc is actively involved in preservation of Art Deco buildings including listing buildings with the National Trust, Heritage Victoria and Tasmanian Heritage Council.⁽²⁾ Visit http://www.artdeco.org.au/ for more information.

Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust) national offices is Engineering House, 11 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600, the home page is http://www.ieaust.org.au/ and contact phone number (02) 6270 6555. Information and advice on engineering heritage matters can be directed to Engineering Heritage Australia (EHA - the national body) or the divisional heritage groups of IEAust, located in capital cities (including Canberra) and in Newcastle. Divisional offices can be located from phone books or through http://www.ieaust.org.au/about_us/divisions.html or click on the Divisions tab.

Engineering Heritage Australia (EHA) is responsible for promoting conservation of engineering heritage. Visit http://www.ieaust.org.au/./about_us/sig/eha/heritage_units.html for more particulars. Activities of Engineering Heritage Australia (EHA) groups include the plaquing of heritage works/sites throughout Australia. Visit http://www.ieaust.org.au/about_us/sig/eha/plaquing_program.html and then click on Plaque Register for a current listing of identified places. Further details are available from the divisional heritage groups. The Plaquing guidelines are currently being revised to facilitate the nomination of works to government heritage registers. EHA has also published Engineering heritage and conservation guidelines, which set out the principles for the identification, assessment and conservation of engineering works. They are currently being revised to reflect changes in practice and legislation since their first printing.

Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), National Office, PO Box 3373, Manuka ACT 2603, phone (02) 6273 1548 and their home web page is http://www.architecture.com.au/. All states and territories have registers of significant twentieth century architecture and details are available through each RAIA Chapter office. For your state/territory chapter check in the capital city telephone book or visit the RAIA web page, highlight The RAIA and select Contact details. RAIA has a Heritage Committee which has established National Criteria and is gradually working on consistent format and information for all states and working toward National and International listings. To find a few of the significant buildings visit the RAIA home page, highlight Looking and select Heritage buildings. The RAIA is intending to publish its Heritage Register on the web.

Some other useful web addresses:
Visit http://www.marquis-kyle.com.au/links.htm and click on Heritage Registers for annotated links to information about all Australian commonwealth and state heritage registers, plus a few examples from abroad. Or click on Conservation charters for links to various charters, manifestos and treaties.

Guidelines to writing a successful submission can be located at http://www.arts.tas.gov.au/glguide.htm.

Check with your state/territory universities to see if they have a cultural heritage or applied history section and if they can offer you any advice or assistance. For example the Curtin University Research Institute for Cultural Heritage is a major provider of heritage research, interpretation, conservation advice and policy development. The Institute gives advice and helps groups prepare applications, and carries out conservation plans etc. This is done both on a paid basis from grant funds and sometimes as student's projects or as partnerships with community groups. For further information the web page is http://www.culturalheritage.curtin.edu.au. The contact telephone number is (08) 9266 3717 or write to GPO Box U1987, Perth 6845 Western Australia.⁽³⁾

The Australian Council of Professional Historians Associations (ACPHA) is the national body representing Professional Historians in Australia (PHA). Its web site is http://www.historians.org.au/ and it has links to the PHAs in each state and territory. Most associations maintain a register or directory of their members who offer consultancy services in history. New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia have information about professional historians on their web sites while PHA (Victoria) operates a professional employment service and circulates information to accredited professional historians on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

1 Jane Lennon 2001. Australia state of the environment report 2001: Theme report. Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia.
2 http://www.artdeco.org.au/artdeco_pages/artdeco_preservation.html
3 David Dolan