Building and Development

Heritage

"Heritage" means the culture, traditions and national assets conserved from one generation to another. Its meaning in a planning context means they are the things in our built and natural environment that "we want to keep for the enjoyment of future generations."

The word "heritage" is traditionally connected to 'inheritance' and usually related to property that passes down between family members. This concept has been broadened to include the things in our environment including houses, public and commercial buildings, trees, parks and monuments that are handed down from one generation to another.

"Heritage listing" is simply a list or schedule of things that have been accepted as having heritage values or "heritage significance."

Two heritage lists that offer legal protection in Ku-ring-gai are:

• listing in Schedule 7 of the Ku-ring-gai Planning Scheme Ordinance (about 700 items in Ku-ring-gai); and    
• listing with the NSW Heritage Council (14 items in Ku-ring-gai).

"Heritage significance" is a term that defines an item's particular value to the community and is useful to assist in assessing those values. It includes:

• historic values,    
• aesthetic values (including architectural),    
• technical or scientific values and    
• social values.

The level of heritage significance in Ku-ring-gai is graded as having a value to the local community (Local Heritage Significance) or to the whole State (State Heritage Significance) to the whole country (National Heritage Significance).

Ku-ring-gai Council has adopted the following statements about its heritage significance:

Statement of significance
Character of Ku-ring-gai
Heritage Provisions

Review of Potential Heritage Items in Ku-ring-gai

Further information

For further information on heritage conservation see:

Heritage Conservation in Ku-ring-gai - Guidelines for Development
Heritage Advisory Service
Australian Heritage Directory

Or call Council's Heritage Conservation Planner on 9424 0794.