The National Heritage List recognises and protects Australia’s most valued natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places. It is truly representative of the nation’s most important places. The objectives of the National Heritage List are to identify, protect, conserve and share places that are significant to Australia’s heritage and contribute to Australia a national identity.
The List reflects the story of our development, from our original inhabitants to present day, Australia’s spirit and ingenuity, and our unique, living landscapes.
Two Victorian sites that share our nation’s stories and provide a window into our distinctive landscapes and character have been included in the National Heritage List. The Eureka Stockade Gardens was included in the List in 2004, with a listing of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park following in 2005.
Each place in the List is assessed by the Australian Heritage Council as having national heritage values that are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means that approval must be obtained before any action takes place that is likely to, or will have, a significant impact on the national heritage values of a listed place. In this way, we can sustain our heritage for future generations.
To ensure ongoing protection, each listed place needs a management plan to detail how the significance of the site will be protected and conserved.
The National Heritage List enables all Australians to celebrate, value and protect our unique heritage.
