Heritage

What is 'heritage'?

The term ‘heritage’ refers to places or objects considered significant as they are valuable to present and future generations. Heritage may be important because it demonstrates an interesting historical story or is connected to a significant person or event. It may also be important because it reminds society to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Heritage can be significant because of physical elements, such as the Sydney Opera House’s unique design. However, heritage can also be significant because of intangible aspects, such as individuals’ emotional connections to a place. For example, a house may be considered significant if occupied by an important person, despite it otherwise being structurally unremarkable.

What is heritage 'conservation'?

Heritage places are considered significant and irreplaceable. That means it is important to protect and upkeep heritage places so that they may be inherited by future generations. As a result, heritage conversation must take place to protect these places and objects.

Conservation is the umbrella term for all actions related to protecting heritage. It may include practices such as repair, reconstruction and maintenance. Heritage conservation aims to prevent the destruction and degradation of heritage by doing as little as possible, but as much as required.

Heritage registers

To conserve heritage places, they are often listed on heritage registers that indicate who the places are significant to, and who is responsible for their conservation. The main heritage registers include Local, State, Commonwealth and National databases.

To find out if your property has been assessed as significant, do a web search to find the heritage register for your local council. Additionally, the property may also be listed on a State Register. See below for direct links to common State and National heritage registers and databases.

• Australian Heritage Database

• ACT Heritage Register

• New South Wales Heritage Inventory

• Northern Territory Heritage Register

• South Australian Heritage Places Database

• Queensland Heritage Register

• Tasmanian Heritage Register

• Victorian Heritage Database

• Western Australia Heritage Places

Adaptive reuse

Adaptive reuse refers to the practice of repurposing heritage buildings or structures for a different use than their original intended purpose. Instead of demolishing old or underutilized structures, adaptive reuse involves modifying or renovating heritage buildings to serve a new function while preserving the building's unique character. When a building is occupied and valued, it is cared for.

Examples of adaptive reuse projects include repurposing a garage into a granny flat, transforming a decommissioned church into an art studio, converting an old warehouse into residential apartments, or renovating a former industrial site into a mixed-use development with retail, offices, and apartments.