Heritage

Heritage is what we inherit from previous generations and recognise as something that we want to pass on to future generations. Heritage helps us to understand the story of both Western Australia and the local community - our history, identity and diversity.

Heritage is wide-ranging and consists of buildings, structures, gardens, cemeteries, landscapes, heritage areas, shipwrecks and archaeological sites. We want to protect and pass on significant examples of these places to future generations so they will be able to enjoy a rich and diverse cultural environment and understand what came before them.

Because heritage is not only about buildings, we use the term ‘heritage place’

Cultural heritage significance is the aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance a place may have for present and future generations. These values are used as assessment criteria in the preparation of a Local Heritage Survey, to evaluate the importance of a place for the local government area.

Heritage identification also occurs at the National and State levels using similar criteria. The Commonwealth government lists places at the National level, and the State government’s list places at the State level. In Western Australia, places of State significance are entered onto the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s State Register of Heritage Places.

A Local Heritage Survey (previously called a Municipal Heritage Inventory) is a list of places which, in the opinion of the City of Wanneroo, are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance and their importance to the local community.

The Heritage Act 2018 requires all local government authorities in Western Australia to survey all places in regard to heritage, and to periodically update that survey. In response to this requirement the City is updating the 2014 Municipal Heritage Inventory.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the Act, updating the LHS assists the City of Wanneroo to:

• Provide a cultural and historic record of the places which help shape our identity as a community;
• Provide information on our local history for current and future generations;
• Determine the City’s heritage conservation policies; and,
• Achieve the heritage conservation objectives required by the State planning regulations.

Some places are more important to the community than others and some places have been lost over time, with only the site remaining. Management Categories recognise the levels of significance and intactness of heritage places and provide recommendations to the City as to the kind of care that should be taken for each place.

Each place in the LHS is afforded a Management Category between 1 and 4 as follows:

1. Exceptional significance to the local community
   1A. Exceptional significance – and in the State Register of Heritage Places (as also significant at a
   State level) 
2. Considerable significance to the local community
3. Some significance to the local community
4. Of little significance or an historic site only (i.e. with no remaining structures)
5. Historical data (proposed category)

As a requirement of the Planning and Development Regulations 2015 the City must compile a list of places under the Local Planning Scheme that are considered worthy of some protection. Currently the Heritage List is derived from those places in the LHS with a Management Category of 2 or higher.

Many places on the Heritage List are also on the Heritage Council’s Register of Heritage Places and are already protected under the Heritage Act 2018. More information on the State Register of Heritage Places can be found on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website.

Places are selected for inclusion on the LHS and/or the Heritage List based on their cultural heritage significance to the locality. A place or area will be of significance to the locality if it has one or more of the values defined by the Heritage Council of Western Australia.

Based on the Burra Charter

Aesthetic value

A place included under this criterion may be a good example of an architectural style, display creative or design excellence or be of landmark value for the local district.

Historic value

A place included under this criterion should be closely associated with events, developments or cultural phases that have played an important part in the locality’s history.

Research value

A place of research value should provide, or demonstrate a likelihood of providing, evidence about past activity. This may include important information about construction technology, land use or industrial processes not available anywhere else.

Social value

A place of social value will be significant through association with a community or cultural group in the local district for social, cultural, educational or spiritual reasons.

Rarity

It demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of the cultural heritage of the local district.

Representativeness

It is significant in demonstrating the characteristics of a class of cultural places or environments in the local district.

Based on HERCON

1. Its importance in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Western Australia’s history.
2. Importance in demonstrating rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Western Australia’s heritage.
3. Its potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Western Australia’s history.
4. Its importance in demonstrating the characteristics of a broader class of places.
5. Any strong or special meaning it may have for any group or community because of social, cultural or spiritual associations.
6. Its importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by any group or community.
7. Any special association it may have with the life or work of a person, group or organisation of importance in Western Australia’s history.
8. Its importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement.

    

It is a common belief that if a place is included in a Heritage List that place cannot be altered in any way. This is not the case. The City of Wanneroo encourages sensitive development and new compatible uses of heritage places because this is the best way of ensuring their future.

The identification of heritage places is not about preventing change. Rather, it is about identifying and understanding what is important, and why, so that change can be managed appropriately.

The inclusion of a place on the Heritage List does have implications for owners who propose to demolish, alter or develop, as planning approval is required in order for an assessment to be made upon the impact of the proposal upon the heritage value of the place.