Heritage

When we use the word "heritage", we are talking about natural heritage, Aboriginal heritage, European heritage; and tangible (i.e. an old map) and intangible heritage (i.e. traditional custodians of Lake Richmond).

We define Aboriginal heritage as Aboriginal sites of immense cultural, scientific, educational and historic interest and provide Aboriginal people with an important link to their present and past culture.

We define historic sites as aspects of our past that we want to keep: a site which has played an important part in our history; a building which is special because of its architectural style or association with a person; or a natural feature such as a rock formation, fossil site or landscape – things which we would like future generations to enjoy. 

Heritage is important in understanding the story of both Western Australia and the local community, its history, identity and diversity. We wish to protect these places so that future generations will be able to enjoy a rich and diverse cultural environment and to understand what came before them.

An Aboriginal site can be an object associated with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present, any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, or any place which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest of importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State. We have a variety of Aboriginal sites in Rockingham such as Lake Richmond and scar trees in reserves.

An historic site can be a place of "cultural heritage significance" which has aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance as a place for present and future generations. These are derived from the Burra Charter adopted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as a way of developing an understanding of the theory and practice of cultural heritage management.

These values have been applied in the preparation of the City's Local Heritage Survey, an assessment criteria to evaluate the importance of a place for the local government area.

Heritage lists occur on a world, national and state level. The Federal Government lists places at the national level, and the State Government lists places at the state level. In Western Australia, state-significant places are entered onto the Heritage Council of Western Australia's State Register of Heritage Places.

The Australian Government Heritage website includes the following lists:

• World Heritage List
• National Heritage List
• Commonwealth Heritage List
• Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database
• List of Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia
• Register of the National Estate

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website includes details on Aboriginal heritage.

There are 10 registered Aboriginal sites in the City of Rockingham, all of which are included on the City's Heritage Survey 2018, as follows:

There are also other lodged but not assessed places which also have the same protection under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website includes details on the State Register of Heritage Places and other types of heritage listings used in WA.

Of the 2,366 State-registered places in Western Australia, seven of these are within the City of Rockingham:

(source: Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, December 2019)

The Western Australian Museum includes maritime archaeology.

The Heritage Act 2018 requires all local government authorities in Western Australia to prepare a survey of places in its district which in its opinion are of cultural heritage significance. The former Heritage Act 1990 used the term "Municipal Heritage Inventory". In 1995, the City's Municipal Heritage Inventory was adopted. The inventory was prepared by a qualified Heritage Advisor in consultation with the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee and was reviewed in 1998, 2008, 2012 and reviewed in 2018.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the Act, the City's Local Heritage Survey assists us to:

• provide a cultural and historic record of the local district
• determine our heritage conservation policies
• provide information about local heritage that may be required under our Town Planning Scheme No.2
• achieve the heritage conservation objectives of town planning in the City.

The City of Rockingham Local Heritage Survey simply provides recognition of a place's importance to the local community. Places entered in the Local Heritage Survey do not have legal protection, unless they are listed in the City’s Heritage List under Town Planning Scheme No.2, or have been entered in the State Register of Heritage Places, or are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, whether registered, lodged but not assessed, or not yet identified.

All places identified on the City's Local Heritage Survey and Heritage List are of cultural heritage significance. Some places may be 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 us as to the kind of care that should be taken for each place.

Each place entered into the Local Heritage Survey is afforded a Management Category between A and E, with A being the most significant, D being the least significant, and E being an historic site only (i.e. with no remaining structures).

The City's Local Heritage Survey link is above or you can access it at any City library or at the City's Administration Offices. 

You can also search the State Heritage Office's Places database available on its website, which provides information on places entered on the State Register of Heritage Places, Local Heritage Survey, National Trust List of Classified Places and other heritage lists.

Anyone can nominate a place onto the City's Local Heritage Survey at any time. However, the City will usually advertise in the local newspapers calling for nominations from the public for entry onto the City's Local Heritage Survey as this is more coordinated and cost effective to assess nominations at the same time. If you are nominating a place, please make sure you put your nomination in writing to the City and include as much information as possible, including information sources, photographs with dates and anything you think might be relevant. To assess nominations, the City engages a qualified Heritage Consultant to inspect, assess, and research the place to then make recommendations to the City on whether a place is of cultural heritage significance.

During a Local Heritage Survey and Heritage List review, the City follows a process of consultation with owners of nominated places and invites public submissions and also considers advice from its Heritage Reference Group. The Council will then consider any public submissions received and make a decision on whether to include a place on the Local Heritage Survey. If an owner objects to a heritage listing it does not guarantee that a place won't be heritage listed. Heritage listing will be determined by Council based on whether a place has cultural heritage significance.

No. The place remains the sole property of the owner. Normal access arrangements will remain in place; that is, any person accessing the property without the owner’s consent will be a trespasser.

Yes, but development approval is required for alterations, extensions, change of use, external painting (if different colour), or demolition where the building is entered on the Heritage List under the City’s Town Planning Scheme No.2.  Our Heritage Conservation and Development Policy provides further information on making an application for works on a heritage-listed property along with the development incentives that may apply.

Where a place is entered on the Heritage List under the City's Town Planning Scheme No.2, development approval is required for demolition of a building. Our Heritage Conservation and Development Policy provides further information and guidance on the demolition of a heritage-listed place.

You can carry out maintenance work that does not involve removing or altering significant elements on your property or if you are simply replacing like-for-like materials.

General maintenance includes:

• cleaning gutters and downpipes
• repainting using the same colour scheme in accordance with the Heritage Council Policy and Practice Note for Painting Heritage Places as attached.
• cleaning that is low pressure, non-abrasive and non-chemical
• replacing missing or deteriorated fittings or building materials, such as loose roof sheeting, with like-for-like materials.

Maintenance can also involve replacing electrical wiring or other utility services.

Similarly, gardening or landscape maintenance does not need to be referred unless there is a danger of disturbing archeological sites.

Other minor works include installing electronic security systems as long as the works do not damage the building or place.

If you are unsure whether the work you propose to carry out needs to be referred, please contact the City's Planning Team for advice on 9528 0333.

Incentives provided by other organisations, such as grants and tax rebates, may apply for proposals to conserve heritage places. These are offered by the Heritage Council of Western Australia, the Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Lotterywest and The National Trust of Australia (WA). Community groups may also be eligible for funding under our Community Grants Program. Information about the incentive programs is available from the following websites:

• City of Rockingham's Community Grants Program
• State Heritage Office's Heritage Grants Program
• Lotterywest's Conservation of Cultural Heritage Grants
• DSEWPC's Your Community Heritage Grants
• National Trust of Australia (WA)'s Heritage Appeals

The impact of a heritage listing on resale value is a common concern for owners and buyers of a heritage listed residential property.

Various studies have shown that heritage listing has no effect on property values in most cases and sometimes improve resale values, which rebuts the common perception. Heritage listed residences with well-maintained heritage features have at times been found to attract a premium price compared to equivalent non-listed places in independent studies. Property value could, however, be affected for a heritage listed building that is being used for a purpose well below the most commercially valuable use permitted by the zoning.

Property values generally for both heritage and non-heritage buildings are determined by many factors including:

• location and condition of property
• its unique features
• prevailing trends in the 'market cycle'
• its zoning and other planning requirements
• lot size
• types of surrounding properties
• level of amenities and services in the surrounding area
• tenancy opportunities
• social profile of the area and
• quality and maintenance of individual buildings.

No one factor determines property value either positively or negatively.

There is also an aspect of rarity and authenticity in heritage places that can't be recreated. Heritage listed buildings are often quality buildings with a special appeal.

Some links to Australian studies, study evaluations and case law has concluded listing has a positive or no effect on property values and economic viability.