OUR HERITAGE AT RISK
What YOU can do to save valued historical buildings, sites and natural places
1. Find out if it is heritage listed. If not, nominate it for relevant registers:
2. Determine if the place has heritage significance:
- Check histories, heritage & scientific studies;
collect written, visual and oral evidence
- Gather physical evidence: survey, describe, map,
photograph
- Prepare a brief history of the place: origins;
sequence of changes; context; significance to local/other communities; comparison with other places of similar
type
- Assess against standard heritage criteria, for example
it has: importance to the course of our cultural/ natural history; rare or endangered aspects; significant technical or aesthetic
characteristics; special associations with an important person or group
- Prepare a short statement of heritage
significance
3. Identify the threat and alert relevant agencies:
- National Trust in your State or
Territory
- If subject to a Development Application, lodge
opposition with Council
- State/Territory heritage agency or the Australian
Heritage Commission
- Apply to Council and to State heritage agency/council
for an order to halt demolition
4. Contact the owner and explain your concern. Owners can get conservation and funding
advice from heritage agency/heritage council or the National Trust.
- Government-owned: contact that department and relevant
government heritage agency
5. Seek publicity.
- Contact Councillors and staff, local historical
society and other community groups
- Write to local MP and heritage/environment
Minister
- Form a local action group ('Friends') to carry out
these activities and maintain public interest, and ask for support from the National Trust
- Notify media; letterbox; arrange public meetings:
explain the significance of the place, the advantages of retaining it, the threat and alternative uses
- Compile the information collected and nominate the
place to the Australian Council of National Trusts
- Our Heritage At Risk Program: each year a new list of the Top 10 Most Endangered places (State Level 1 July) National Level - 18 October)
draws national attention to heritage places under threat.
6. Follow up agency actions and keep watch.
| 