Heritage Listings
There are many different heritage listings that make up our significant cultural heritage places in Western Australia.
The Heritage of Western Australia Act (1990) has legal protections for significant places listed on the State Register of Heritage Places.
The State Register deals primarily with Western Australia's built heritage. Other types of heritage, such as indigenous, maritime and natural, are protected by different legislation administered by other State Government Departments. Local Governments are responsible for heritage places that are significant to their local communities and listed on their Municipal Inventories.
The Australian Heritage Council and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, is responsible for places of national significance.
There are a number of other community-based advocacy heritage groups, such as the National Trust Australia (WA), which compile their own lists, however these lists have no statutory protections.
| State | The Heritage Council (assisted by the State Heritage Office)
| Heritage of Western Australia Act (1990) | Places of State significance included in the State Register of Heritage Places |
| | Department of Indigenous Affairs | Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972) | Indigenous Heritage |
| | Western Australian Museum | Maritime Archaeology Act (1973) | Shipwrecks & associated Maritime Heritage |
| | Department of Environment & Conservation | Conservation & Land Management Act (1984) | Natural Heritage |
| Local | Local Governments | Planning & Development Act (2005); Local Planning Schemes | Places of Local heritage significance |
| Federal | Australian Heritage Council | Australian Heritage Council Act (2003); Environment, Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) | National Heritage List; Commonwealth Heritage List |
| World | UNESCO World Heritage Centre | World Heritage Convention (1972) | World Heritage List |
| Other | The National Trust of Australia (WA) | The National Trust of Australia (WA) Act (1964) | List of Classified Places (no statutory protection) |
Heritage Council
The Heritage Council is the State Government’s advisory body on built heritage matters. It encourages the conservation and sensitive development of heritage sites and promotes awareness of our State’s cultural heritage. The State Heritage Office maintains the State Register of Heritage Places.
Local Government
A local government inventory is a list of places of local heritage significance established by a local government. No protection is afforded to places listed on this type of inventory unless the list is linked to a town planning scheme.
Local government heritage inventories can assist local governments to:
- provide a cultural and historic record of the local district
- determine local government conservation policies
- provide information about local heritage that may be required under a town planning scheme for that district
To find out more, see our Local Government section.
Federal Government
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities develops policies and programs for the identification, conservation and public understanding and appreciation of Australia’s natural and cultural heritage places. To visit the website, click here.
Australian Heritage Council
The Australian Heritage Council is an independent body of heritage experts that advises the Commonwealth Government on heritage matters, assesses places nominated for the National and Commonwealth heritage lists and may also nominates places for these lists.
World Heritage List
World heritage sites that are nominated for World Heritage listing are inscribed on the list only after they have been carefully assessed as representing the best examples of the world's cultural and natural heritage. Only the Australian Government can nominate Australian places for entry on this list. The World Heritage Committee assesses nominated places against set criteria and makes the final decision as to the places that are included on the List. Australia currently has 18 properties on the World Heritage List.
National Trust of Australia (WA)
The National Trust of Australia (WA) is a non-profit, community-based organisation involved in heritage identification, education, promotion, interpretation, advocacy and management of heritage sites across WA. The agency also maintains a list of ‘classified places’. To visit the National Trust of Australia (WA) website, click here.