Legislation
Heritage Act 1977
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974
Heritage Council
The Heritage Council of NSW recommends nominations for adding
to the State Heritage Register to the Minister for Planning, and
it is the Minister’s responsibility to make the final decision
and add places to the register. The Heritage Council is an advisory
body and is assisted by the Heritage Office. The Council has several
sub-groups that focus on special areas such as the Aboriginal
heritage panel, Archaeology advisory panel and Moveable heritage
panel. The Heritage Council’s Approvals Committee is the
consent authority for local council in respect of major changes
to items listed on the State Heritage Register.
Register
A place, building, work, relic, moveable object or precinct that
has historical, scientific, cultural, social, archaeological,
architectural, natural or aesthetic value of state heritage significance
can be added to the State Heritage Register.(1)
In 2002 there were approximately 1,400 items of state significance.
The State Heritage Inventory has information on more than 20,000 heritage assets and includes items identified by Local Environment Plans (LEPs), Regional Environment Plans (REPs) and everything listed on the State Heritage Register. Government policy is to divide management of heritage between local councils (locally significant items) and the Heritage Council (State significant items) and REPs are no longer updated. Anyone can nominate a place or object to the State Heritage Register, but should check if it has already been listed and the applicable local statutory protection. The Heritage Office is currently trialing a more comprehensively regional identification process in the Central West with the aim to identify places representing major historical themes. This is involving the community through workshops and other consultations.
What is included on the Register
The Register lists natural, Aboriginal and historic heritage places,
buildings and moveable objects. Historic heritage includes public
buildings, shops, factories, small and large houses, religious
buildings, monuments, schools, gardens, jetties, bridges, archaeological
sites and moveable items such as ferries and church organs that
are of state heritage significance.(2)
To search the Register go to http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au and click on Listing heritage items, and read down the page, then click on State Heritage Register and page down to fill in the necessary fields. Or go to http://www.spherion.com.au/heritage/inventory/search/search_shr.cfm. You need to page down and fill in the fields you want.
To search the Inventory go to http://www.spherion.com.au/heritage/inventory/search/search.cfm and page down to fill in the fields you want. The Inventory mainly lists historic buildings but does include some historical and maritime archaeological and industrial sites, landscapes, gardens, heritage items owned by State Government agencies, natural heritage sites, moveable objects like machinery, vehicles and furniture, and Aboriginal heritage.(3)
Criteria for inclusion on the register
Responsibilities
The Heritage Office advises and supports the Heritage Council,
maintains the State Heritage Inventory and State Heritage Register,
produces publications on heritage policy and guidelines and manages
heritage grant schemes.
Government heritage grant programs
The Heritage Incentives Program is a biennial program and is closed
until late 2003. The program assists with funds for identification,
interpretation, conservation, local history and Aboriginal heritage
projects. Funding for heritage studies and promotional projects
include thematic studies, promotion projects, publications, interpretation
and presentations, histories and other projects related to heritage
items in the state. This funding is available to organisations
such as Historical Societies and individuals with an interest
in the state’s heritage. Funding is also provided to local
councils for community-based heritage studies.
Priority for 2002-2004 will be for cultural tourism and projects that revitalise, enhance, interpret and/or promote precincts, areas or villages and Aboriginal or ethnic community heritage projects.(5) A good way to identify and protect local heritage assets is by the researching, writing and publishing of a local heritage walk or drive tour.
For specific heritage projects connected with Aboriginal, archaeological/industrial, gardens, landscapes, maritime archaeology, moveable heritage or archives contact the NSW Heritage Office.(6)
Web page(s) and state government
agency address
http://www.heritage.gov.au/index-nsw.html
lists state government heritage agencies, database, legislation
and non-statutory heritage sites with links to them.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au
is the Heritage Office home page, click on the links for information
such as Heritage listings.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_index.htm
is the introductory heritage funding web page.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_subnav_01.htm
provides information for financial assistance through the Heritage
Office.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_subnav_02.htm
has information on other sources of government heritage assistance
such as items owned by State Rail, conservation of war memorials,
community documentary heritage, museum and moveable items and
archives.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/bnav07_index.htm
the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
web page is very helpful and includes facts on Aboriginal heritage,
shipwrecks, moveable heritage and historical archaeology.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/14_index.htm
explains what Aboriginal heritage is and how it is protected.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/09_index.htm,
is a web page on moveable heritage that includes a definition,
explains why moveable heritage is important and provides sources
of information.
For more information write to the Heritage Office, 2-10 Wentworth Street (Level 11), Parramatta NSW 2150 or ring (02) 9635 6155.
Other statutory listings
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/08_index.htm
provides information on local government resources and you can
either view or download Local Government Heritage Guidelines.
Each state government agency is required to keep a Heritage and Conservation Heritage Register of assets owned, occupied or maintained by the agency. These registers identify buildings but can include structures, moveable and Aboriginal heritage. Items of state significance are included on the State Heritage Register. The public has access free-of-charge to these Registers, but for copies/searches government agencies can set a fee.(7)
Local government authorities Local Environmental Plans
(LEPs).
Many local councils provide small grants and/or loans to assist
heritage projects and many have the assistance of heritage advisors
who are able to help locals with free advice.(8)
An Aboriginal Sites Register is maintained by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, while sites of great significance can be listed on the Heritage Register.(9) For more information visit http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal/index.html or contact 43 Bridge Street, (PO Box 1967), Hurstville 2220 or ring (02) 9585 6444.
Non-statutory registers
National
Trust of Australia (NSW) home pages is http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/.
The Trust lists a variety of environmental, natural and historic
items ranging from beautiful buildings and small structures to
fairy penguins and gum trees. Head office has a part-time officer
who can assist with advice on cemetery and industrial heritage.
For more information write to GPO Box 518, Sydney 2001, telephone
(02) 9258 0123 or send an e-mail to admin@nsw.nationaltrust.org.au.
The Twentieth Century Heritage Society of NSW can be found at http://www.wolfweb.com.au/twentieth/ or write to The Twentieth Century Heritage Society of NSW, PO Box Q1072 East Ryde NSW 2113. The phone number is (02) 9878 2511.
Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales web site is http://www.hht.nsw.gov.au/ and the Trust has a Conservation Resource Centre that was established to record the history of houses, furnishings and gardens of New South Wales. The Trust provides information, original source material and specialist services relating to domestic design history and building conservation. The research library in the Resource Centre has an important collection of architectural and furnishing pattern books, department store and trade catalogues, journals, pamphlets, charts and archival material, as well as reference books and current periodicals, interior decoration, furniture and garden ornaments. For information the postal address is Lyndhurst, 61 Dargham St, Glebe NSW 2037. The telephone number is (02) 9692 8366.(10)
The NSW Professional Historians Association (PHA (NSW) Inc) publishes an electronic heritage register of places and objects identified by members in the course of their work as having high values of historical significance to NSW and the ACT. This Register of historic places and objects can be visited online at http://www.phansw.org.au/Publications/rohpo.html and includes places as varied as the Brewarrina fish traps, parks and shipwrecks to hospital wards and schools. The Register is incorporated in the State Heritage Inventory.
Other agencies and grants
The Royal Australian Historical
Society administers two small grant schemes and these are
outlined at http://www.rahs.org.au/grants.html.
The Heritage Grants are funded by the NSW Heritage Office and
support programs that assist with the publication of local history
materials which promote heritage or assist with the conservation
of local history archival collections. The Society also administers
a fund on behalf of the NSW Ministry for the Arts which assists
with the research, writing and publication of local history. For
more information phone (02) 9247 8001.
The Museums and Galleries Foundation of NSW (MGFNSW) is the principal service provider for the museums and galleries sector in NSW. They can advise on a range of museological topics including display, storage, care and interpretation of items in museums, historical societies and galleries. For further particulars visit http://www.mgfnsw.org.au/ and click on Services, or go to http://www.mgfnsw.org.au/services/services.php. The Foundation also operates a program of professional development opportunities including workshops and events around the state as well as touring exhibitions, conducting site visits and offering a distance advice service.
The Foundation has recently introduced the Regional Museums Advisory Service to assist in the development of regional museums through the placement of professional advisers to work with local government authorities. The Foundation also runs the Volunteer Initiated Museums Grant Program. Projects eligible for funding include preventive conservation, professional development and community liaisons. The latter could include oral history projects or special program activities. Applicants must be an incorporated volunteer operated museum.
More information is available at http://mgfnsw.org.au/resources/Grants/info.php. From the Foundation web page http://mgfnsw.org.au/resources/resources.php, click on Grants, then Grants and Funding sources available to Museums and Galleries for an annotated list of funding sources for NSW or phone (02) 9358 1760. Or write to Museums & Galleries Foundation of NSW, 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011, or phone (02) 9358 1760.
The NSW Ministry for the Arts administers the Cultural Grants Program. Through its Museums program the Ministry assists NSW museums with funding for activities which lead to higher standards of practice and greater service to the community. Through its Literature and History Program the Ministry assists NSW historical societies which offer professional services and development projects to members of the historical community. Visit http://www.arts.nsw.gov.au/Guidelines/guidelines.htm for more information or telephone (02) 9228 5533 or use the Toll Free number (in NSW) 1800 358 594 or write to the NSW Ministry for the Arts. PO Box A226, Sydney South NSW 1235.
Of interest are the NSW Premier’s History Awards conducted in association with the History Council of New South Wales. Visit http://www.arts.nsw.gov.au/awards/HistoryAwards/historyawards.htm and then if you click on NSW History Fellowship. On this web page you will find that this funding is offered annually by the Government to assist a person living in New South Wales to research and produce a work on a subject of historical interest relating to New South Wales. If you click on NSW Indigenous History Fellowship you will find details of the biennial fellowship which is intended to assist a person living in NSW to produce a work on a subject of historical interest relating to NSW from an Aboriginal point of view. For more details contact the NSW Ministry for the Arts.(11)
Royal Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter has been listing outstanding buildings since 1949. Since 1968 the NSW Chapter has focused on 20th century buildings. With funding from the NSW Heritage Office the Register of 20th century buildings of significance has been further enhanced and should be available on the web soon.
1 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ha197786/s170.html
Heritage Act 1977 - Sect 4A.
2 http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_index.htm
also http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/bnav07_index.htm
3 http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_index.htm
4 http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/docs/criteria.pdf
Heritage listings
5 http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_subnav_01.htm
6 http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_subnav_01.htm
7 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ha197786/s170.html
Heritage Act 1977 - Sect 170.
8 http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_index.htm
9 http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal/index.html
10 Stephanie
Sparke and the Historic Houses Trust of New south Wales web pages.
11 Elaine
Lindsay, NSW Ministry for the Arts and http://www.arts.nsw.gov.au/awards/HistoryAwards/historyawards.htm