FAQs

It is a requirement, under Section 103 of the new WA Heritage Act 2018, which requires local governments to compile and maintain a list of places which in its opinion are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance.  

This project has been previously identified in the adopted Corporate Business Plan, and moreover provides the opportunity to modernise and update the year 2000 version of the current Local Heritage Survey.  

The Local Heritage Survey provides a thematic framework that has identified places of historical and cultural significance.

Existing Municipal Heritage Inventories (MHI) are taken for the purposes of the Heritage Act 2018 (the Act) to be a Local Heritage Survey (LHS).  

A Local Heritage Survey identifies places of cultural heritage significance to the locality.

The Act identifies that the purposes of the LHS included:

1. Identifying and recording places that are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance in the district; and
2. Assisting the local government in making and implementing decisions that are in harmony with cultural heritage values; and
3. Providing a cultural and historical record of its district; and
4. Providing an accessible public record of places of cultural heritage significance to its district; and
5. Assisting the local government in preparing a heritage list or list of heritage areas under a local planning scheme.

Local government decisions that could be informed by the LHS might include activities to interpret or promote heritage places, or provide material for information and education. 

Examples are assembling a local history or archive, providing education material for school programs; or developing a heritage trail.

The Local Heritage Survey itself has no direct statutory role in protecting places of cultural heritage value.  

This function is served by the Heritage List or Heritage Area under the Town Planning Scheme 2.

No, heritage listing doesn’t affect ownership or access.

Places remain the sole property of the owner, and the owner’s rights remain the same as with non-heritage listed places.

Your comments will be used in the process of updating the draft Local Heritage Survey. 

Your nomination/s will progress through the assessment process to determine if the ‘place’ should be included on the new Local Heritage Survey.

The new Local Heritage Survey will be assessed by Council and finalised once endorsed.

Heritage is important in understanding the story of Western Australia, its history identity and its people.

Heritage ‘places’ are defined as:

• Archaeological remains; 
• Buildings, structures, other built forms, and their surrounds; 
• Equipment, furniture, fittings and other objects (whether fixed or not) that are historically or physically associated or connected with the land; 
• Gardens and man-made parks or sites; 
• A tree or group of trees (whether planted or naturally occurring) in, or adjacent to, a man-made setting.

Heritage can incorporate Aboriginal, natural, European,tangible and the intangible.  

It is present in many forms such as landmarks, places, buildings and contents, spaces, views and the stories associated with them.

The responsibility to identify and respect what is important, is the community’s, passing on these places to future generations so they will understand what came before them.

The retention and management of heritage places has an important role to play in protecting the environment, creating vibrant communities and sustaining local economies.

Heritage places also contribute to the quality of life and cultural identity of our communities. 

Many heritage places, such as halls churches, gardens, schools and hotels, are the focal point for community gatherings.  Privately owned heritage places and heritage precincts contribute to streetscapes and our sense of belonging.

To find out further information on the requirements for changes to your property visit: sjshire.wa.gov.au/planning-and-development/planning/development-on-a-single-lot/heritage.aspx 

The Shire recognises the value of heritage in the potential to attract tourism, to enhance the quality of life and attractiveness of the region to current and prospective residents and to benefit economic development.

When we think monetary value, we may think in the built form.  The monetary contribution to the community also includes places and objects of significance to Aboriginal heritage. Protection and promotion of these objects and sites offers economic stimulation through tourism, art and cultural activities.

There have been a number of studies around Australia and overseas that have found the value of heritage places across all built form genres has no negative impact on property values.  

These studies have shown that the market values of residential and commercial buildings that are subject to heritage protection are not, when comparatively compared to non-heritage listed, adversely affected in their value and in most cases they were in fact positively affected.

In general, residential and commercial property prices are more likely to be affected by economic factors, no different to a non-heritage listed property.  

Your heritage listed property, your home or place of business, is something that should be prized and worn like a badge of honour.  It should not be seen as restrictive, rather that it offers amazing opportunities unlike a property without heritage value.

A heritage status value protects the home and those which surround it, maintaining the character and integrity of an area which is special and cannot be reproduced authentically, not unlike an old car, where the value tends to increase.

Cultural heritage embodied places are valuable assets that make a significant contribution to the economy, the environment, our community’s sense of place and quality of life.

Places recognised as ‘of cultural heritage significance’ contribute to the development of the community and its economy through adaptive reuse of heritage places and heritage tourism.   Supporting complementary sectors of the economy such as hospitality, arts and other cultural activities that employ locals and engage thousands, also benefit from strategies to make the most of our heritage estate.

Community places of cultural heritage significance, such as private residence, hotels, train stations, retail outlets and places of community congregation add character and distinctiveness to an area, heritage is fundamental in creating a ‘sense of place’ for a community, fostering civic responsibility and citizenship.  

Military sites, ANZAC memorabilia and memorials are highly regarded by our community as Australian identity associated with historic military engagements.

Yes, you can.

Heritage listing does not mean that a property cannot be changed, in fact some works ensure a place is appropriate for its use.

However, like changes to any property, the Shire needs to approve works involving significant changes and each is assessed on its own merit.

In fact, practical changes and compatible uses are often the best way to ensure that places are used and enjoyed into the future.  

Heritage listed properties are able to be developed providing the proposed development meets the criteria listed in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Town Planning Scheme 2, 7.13 Places of natural beauty, historic buildings, and objects of historical or scientific interest.

For further information, please contact the Statutory Planning team on 9526 1111.

Once planning approval has been granted, a building licence may need to be obtained where the proposed works involve structure changes. 

For further information on this, please contact Building Services on  9526 1111.

If the place of heritage significance is included in the State Register of Heritage Places, changes or works are required to be referred to the Heritage Council of WA for consideration prior to the works being undertaken.  In most cases the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will deal with the referral on behalf of the Heritage Council of WA.

For further information see the Guide to developing Heritage Places available on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website here: dplh.wa.gov.au/information-and-services/historic-heritage/developing-and-maintaining-heritage-places

The Heritage Grants Program offers funding for the conservation, future planning and promotion of heritage places and their cultural heritage significance.

Private owners of "State Registered" places can apply to subsidize the cost of urgent conservation works, documentation and professional advice relating to the conservation of their property. 

Further information on the types of projects that can receive funding is available here: dplh.wa.gov.au/heritage-grants-program

The State Register is a statutory list of places that represent the story of Western Australia’s history and development as a whole.

Places that are entered in the State Register, or which are protected by another Heritage Council listing, have a pink coloured shading over the listing in the database search results in the following link: http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/

A place is nominated to the Heritage Council for consideration for the State Register.  

The Heritage Council determines if the place should be assessed, and advises of the outcome.

For more information, see the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website

Yes, anyone can nominate a property for the State Register.  

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage drafts and assessment of the cultural heritage significance of the place for the Heritage Council’s consideration.

The property owner(s) and the public are consulted regarding possible registration of the place.  

The Heritage Council reviews the draft assessment for the place and feedback from the property owner(s) and public consultation.

It is important to respect the significant elements of a place when considering making changes or developing it to meet contemporary needs.

These elements help tell the story of a place’s history and its role in the development of this state. These may differ in significance and will differ from place to place. The significant elements of a place are identified in the assessment documentation.

Are you considering making changes to a place? Then consider these principles:

• Is the new work easily distinguishable from the old? New work should complement a building’s original scale, form and massing, and ensure that the original fabric is easily identifiable. New work that mimics the original is not considered good practice.
• Are the alterations reversible? In some cases, it may be preferable to introduce changes that can be removed.
• Am I respecting all significant periods of construction of the place? Often places have been changed over time and certain sections of a place will vary in construction depending on when they were built. These changes are part of the historical development of the place and may contribute to its overall significance.

More information is available about developing heritage places by downloading from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website and viewing the Guide to Developing Heritage Places.

The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale has a history of European and Indigenous cultures based around abundant flora of the South Eastern metropolitan area.

Many historic buildings, streetscapes and landscapes owe much of their character and charm because of the trees. These trees may be remnants of the bush, plantings by the early settlers, commemorative plantings dedicated to important people, or marking significant events in history.  

Tree(s) of cultural heritage significance can be, a tree or group of trees (whether planted or naturally occurring) in, or adjacent to, a man-made setting.

Cultural heritage embodied ‘places’ are valuable assets that make a significant contribution to the economy, the environment, our community’s sense of place and quality of life.