What is heritage significance?
Presented by Ian Boersma
Works Manager, Heritage Tasmania;
at Heritage: Everything for Local Planning (HELP) annual forum;
Campbell Town, on 19 September 2013.
heritage significance
What is heritage significance?
A quality, commonly ascribed to old buildings.
heritage significance
What is heritage significance?
A quality, commonly ascribed to old buildings.
What about the Sydney opera house,
Aboriginal art in the Burrup Peninsula,
the Great Barrier Reef, or
the Thylacine skin rug recently acquired by TMAG?
heritage significance
What is heritage significance?
The special level of meaning that elevates, above the ordinary,
a thing that we want to keep and pass on to future generations.
heritage significance
What is heritage significance?
The special level of meaning that elevates, above the ordinary,
a thing that we want to keep and pass on to future generations.
… and how is it relevant to planners?
Places of special meaning enrich our lives, and should therefore
be managed so that they remain meaningful.
The retention, alteration or loss of such places have a social
effects, which means that planners need to have regard for
them in carrying out their responsibilities under the RMPS.
heritage significance
What is heritage significance?
The special level of meaning that elevates, above the ordinary,
a thing that we want to keep and pass on to future generations.
… and how is it relevant to planners?
Places of special meaning enrich our lives, and should therefore
be managed so that they remain meaningful.
The retention, alteration or loss of such places have a social
effects, which means that planners need to have regard for
them in carrying out their responsibilities under the RMPS.
heritage significance
Enrich
(general term)
Meaning or Interest
(general terms)
Value
“heritage values”
Significant
“heritage significance”
heritage significance
Enrich
(general term)
Meaning or Interest
(general terms)
Value
“heritage values”
Significant
“heritage significance”
heritage significance
Enrich
(general term)
Meaning or Interest
(general terms)
Value
“heritage values”
Significant
“heritage significance”
Cultural heritage as distinct from to natural heritage
Historic heritage as distinct from Aboriginal heritage
heritage significance
… and (again) how is it relevant to planners?
heritage significance
… and (again) how is it relevant to planners?
Schedule 1 to the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
clearly spells this out in objective (g):
(g) to conserve those buildings, areas or other places which are of
scientific, aesthetic, architectural or historical interest, or otherwise of
special cultural value;
It is also implicit in objectives (c) and (f):
(c) to ensure that the effects on the environment are considered and
provide for explicit consideration of social and economic effects when
decisions are made about the use and development of land;
(f) to secure a pleasant, efficient and safe working, living and
recreational environment for all Tasmanians and visitors to Tasmania;
heritage significance
Schedule 1 to the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
clearly spells this out in objective (g):
(g) to conserve those buildings, areas or other places which are of
scientific, aesthetic, architectural or historical interest, or otherwise of
special cultural value;
Why these particular points of “interest”?
It is also implicit in objectives (c) and (f):
(c) to ensure that the effects on the environment are considered and
provide for explicit consideration of social and economic effects when
decisions are made about the use and development of land;
(f) to secure a pleasant, efficient and safe working, living and
recreational environment for all Tasmanians and visitors to Tasmania;
heritage significance
Definition provided by the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter,
Article 1.2
Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific,
social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations.
Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric,
setting, use, association, meanings, records, related places and
related objects.
Places may have a range of values for different individuals or
groups.
heritage significance
Definition provided by the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter,
Article 1.2
Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific,
social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations.
Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric,
setting, use, association, meanings, records, related places and
related objects.
Places may have a range of values for different individuals or
groups.
Definition in the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995:
Historic cultural heritage significance, in relation to a place,
means significance to any group or community in relation to the
archaeological, architectural, cultural, historical, scientific, social
or technical value of the place.
heritage significance
The points of “interest” found in the objectives and again in
these two definitions of cultural significance are more widely
known as heritage “values”.
The values listed in these two definitions are:
Burra Charter
Heritage Act
aesthetic
historic
scientific
social
spiritual
architectural
cultural
historical
archaeological
scientific
technical
social
heritage significance
These “values” can be expanded into statements of meaning
that a thing (ie: place) might possess.
heritage significance
These “values” can be expanded into statements of meaning
that a thing (ie: place) might possess.
They are the basis for any assessment of significance.
heritage significance
These “values” can be expanded into statements of meaning
that a thing (ie: place) might possess.
They are the basis for any assessment of significance.
We speak of them as “criteria” for the assessment of
significance.
heritage significance
These “values” can be expanded into statements of meaning
that a thing (ie: place) might possess.
They are the basis for any assessment of significance.
We speak of them as “criteria” for the assessment of
significance.
These criteria are found in section 16 of the Historic Cultural
Heritage Act 1995.
heritage significance
Criterion (a): It is important in demonstrating the
evolution or pattern of Tasmania’s history
heritage significance
Criterion (b): It demonstrates rare, uncommon or
endangered aspects of Tasmania’s heritage
heritage significance
Criterion (c): It has potential to yield information that
will contribute to an understanding of Tasmania’s history
heritage significance
Criterion (d): It is important as a representative in demonstrating
the characteristics of a broader class of cultural places
heritage significance
Criterion (e): It is important in demonstrating a high degree of
creative or technical achievement
heritage significance
Criterion (f): It has strong or special meaning for any group or
community because of social, cultural or spiritual associations
heritage significance
Criterion (g): It has a special association with the life or work of a
person, a group or organisation that was important in Tasmania’s
history
heritage significance
It is recognized that heritage places have different level of
significance, and are managed accordingly:
heritage significance
Further reading: