Local heritage survey and heritage list

Local Heritage Survey

A Local Heritage Survey (LHS) lists places of cultural heritage significance within the City of Rockingham. A key objective of a LHS is providing an accessible public record that captures historical information.

The LHS was adopted by Council in August 2025, together with a revised Heritage List. The Heritage Act 2018 requires all Local Governments in Western Australia to survey all places for heritage, and to update the survey. These places tell the story of the City of Rockingham, from its early acknowledgement of Nyoongar heritage values and the enduring connection to the land, through to early Dutch history from 1619, to early colonial history in 1829, the late colonial period 1850-1885, the Gold Boom period 1886-1914, the Inter-War Years 1915-1949 and the Post-War Modern Period 1950-2017. Our heritage is part of our identity and it’s what we inherit.

blue veil over heritage building with text overlay of 'place record forms'

Each place in the LHS has a “Place Record Form” which explains its cultural heritage significance, level of significance and recommended management category. The LHS was used to inform which places should be included on the Heritage List. There are no legal implications to landowners associated with including a place in the LHS, however, there are implications associated with places being included on a Heritage List.

For further information please refer to Heritage news and stories

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 Local Heritage Survey (LHS), but do not necessarily include all places in the LHS. We include all places on the LHS with a Management Category of ‘1’ or ‘2’ on the list. Places with a Management Category of ‘3’ are included on the list by Council if considered to be worthy of built heritage conservation, in consultation with the property owner.

Those Places with a ‘Management Category of ‘4’ (where the structure is gone) and Places outside of the City’s jurisdiction (such as Garden Island and Penguin Island) are excluded from the list.

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

Local heritage survey and heritage list

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