Heritage list and survey

Local Heritage Survey

A Local Heritage Survey (previously known as a "Municipal Heritage Inventory") is a list of places and structures which, in the opinion of the City, are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance. 

​Local governments were required under section 45 of the original Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 to prepare a Municipal Heritage Inventory (MHI) to recognise the heritage importance of places to the local community. The City's MHI was first adopted in 1995 and updated in 2012. The MHI was reviewed in 2012 and Council adopted the latest version of the MHI at its meeting held on the 24 April 2018.

'​Cultural heritage significance'​ is the aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance of a play may have for present and future generations. This term has been defined by the Heritage Council of Western Australia and is used as assessment criteria in the preparation of a MHI to evaluate the importance of a place.

The Heritage Act of Western Australia 2018opens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new window was passed by Parliament on 12 September 2018 and came into effect with Heritage Regulations 2019opens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new window on 1 July 2019.

The key changes in the new Heritage Act of Western Australia include:

• streamlined process for entering a place in the State Register
• more certainty for owners wishing to develop their heritage places
• better protections for important heritage places (including addressing demolition by neglect)
• increased transparency by publishing the Heritage Council's advice to the Minister for Heritage on the inclusion of a place in the State Register.

Our Municipal Heritage Inventory has become a "Local Heritage Survey" under the 2018 Act. One of the major changes to the Local Heritage Survey is that it can provide more flexibility to governments to include "places" of cultural significance, as opposed to "buildings" (as stated under the previous 1990 Act). Within Part 7 of the 2019 Act, the definition of "place" can refer to things that are in, on or over land, including for instance, a tree or group of trees or land under water.

Heritage List

A Heritage List is a list of places compiled under the City's Town Planning Scheme No.2 for which development approval will be required for demolition, alterations or other development affecting the cultural heritage significance of the place.

Heritage Lists must be compiled with regard to the Municipal Heritage Inventory, but do not necessarily include all places in the Municipal Heritage Inventory. We include all places on the Municipal Heritage Inventory with a Management Category of "D" or higher on the list, but excludes historic sites (where the structure is gone) and places outside of the jurisdiction of the City's Town Planning Scheme (such as Garden Island and Penguin Island).

Guidelines to Establishing a Heritage List

In March 2023 Council adopted Local Planning Policy No.3.3.26 - Guidelines to Establishing a Heritage List.

The policy objectives are to:

• achieve transparency and consistency in the designation of places on the Heritage List;
• provide clear guidance on how objections to a proposed inclusion on the Heritage List will be assessed;
• ensure that the Heritage List is maintained in a manner and form that is consistent with Town Planning Scheme No.2; and
• provide clear guidance on the process for including and excluding a place from the Heritage List.

A revised threshold for inclusion in the Heritage List is included in the Policy for consistency with the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015. This threshold will be applied to future reviews of the City's Heritage Survey and adopted Heritage List.

New Policy Schedules include:

• Schedule 1 - Heritage List Template
• Schedule 2 - Heritage List Change Request Form (changes or nominations)
• City's Heritage List