1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background
In February 2006 Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd was commissioned by the National Capital Authority to
prepare a Heritage Assessment and a subsequent Heritage Management Plan for Lake Burley Griffin
and adjacent areas of National Land, including Stirling Ridge and the western side of Yarramundi
Reach, Canberra. This report completes the first stage of the project and provides an assessment of the
heritage values of Lake Burley Griffin and adjacent lands, addressing both the Commonwealth and
National Heritage criteria established in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Amendment Regulations 2003.
The Heritage Assessment and Heritage Management Plan have been commissioned by the National
Capital Authority in order to fulfil its obligations under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This Act requires Commonwealth Agencies to prepare
heritage assessments of places in their ownership or control and, should the place be found to possess
Commonwealth Heritage values, to prepare a management plan which sets out how the Agency will
manage the identified Commonwealth Heritage values.
1.2 Study Area
The study area boundary is defined in the brief by the National Capital Authority as:
the northern boundary of the lake edge from the entrance of the Molonglo River into east basin to Scrivener Dam
(including the dam) and return along the southern lake boundary to the entrance of the Molonglo River into east
basin. It includes east basin, central basin, all the lake from west basin to Scrivener Dam including the islands and
lake floor. It also includes the land between Yarramundi Reach and the Tuggeranong Parkway and Attunga Point,
Stirling Ridge and Stirling Park.
The study area and its features are outlined in detail in Section 2.0 of this report. Section 2.0 sets out
the places, elements and features which comprise the study area, as well as the places, elements and
features surrounding the lake which form its landscape context. Figure 1.1 shows the location of the
study area in relation to Canberra.
1.3 Listings
1.3.1 Statutory Listings
Commonwealth
The EPBC Act recognises a range of protected matters which are of National Environmental
Significance under the Act's assessment and approval provisions. A person must not take an action that
has, will have, or is likely to have, a significant impact on a protected matter of national environmental
significance, without approval from the Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Those which
occur within the Lake Burley Griffin Study Area have been identified and summarised in Table 1.1
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
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Table 1.1 Identification of Protected Matters under the EPBC Act 1999 within the Lake Burley Griffin Study Area.
Protected Matters
National Environmental Significance
Threatened Ecological Communities
The assessment of ecological communities as threatened is the first step to promoting their recovery under Commonwealth law. Once
an ecological community is listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act),
their recovery is promoted using Recovery and Threat Abatement Plans.
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Natural temperate Grasslands of the Southern
Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory
Endangered
Identified temperate grassland community at
Yarramundi Reach1
White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy
Woodland and Derived Native Woodland
Critically
Endangered
Species identified at Stirling Park2
Threatened Species
The assessment of individual species as threatened is the first step to promoting their recovery under Commonwealth law. Once a
species is listed as threatened under the EPBC Act, its recovery is promoted using Recovery and Threat Abatement Plans.
Ray finned fishes
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Maccullochella peelli peellii (Murray Cod)
Vulnerable
Introduced into Lake Burley Griffin as a stock species
for recreational fishing and to maintain ecological
balance in the lake3
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Delma impar (Striped Legless Lizard)
Vulnerable
Species sighting recorded4
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Ruditdosis leptorrhynchoides (Button Wrinklewort)
Endangered
Recent survey data by Muyt5 and reports by
Environment ACT6 confirm presence endangered
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Birds
Status
Type of Presence
Gallinago hardwickii (Latham’s Snipe; Japanese Snipe
Migratory
Species sighting recorded7
Reptiles
Plants
Migratory Wetland Species
Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act
Commonwealth Heritage List
The Commonwealth Heritage List was created under the EPBC Act. This statutory list recognises places of Commonwealth Heritage
value which are owned by the Commonwealth Government. The following sites located in the Lake Burley Griffin Study Area are listed
as items on the Commonwealth Heritage List (citations are included at Appendix A). An Indicative Place is one which has been
nominated but no formal assessment of its significance has been made. It therefore indicates interest in the potential heritage value of
the place.
2
Place
Location
Class
Status
Place number
Parliament House Vista
ACT
Historic
Listed Place
105466
Lake Burley Griffin Conservation Area
Lady Denman Drive, Yarralumla, ACT
Historic
Indicative Place
105230
Stirling Park Precinct
Yarralumla, ACT
Natural
Indicative Place
105301
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
Place
Location
Class
Status
Place number
Stirling Ridge
Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla, ACT
Natural
Indicative Place
105468
Sewer Vent No. 1
Empire Court, Yarralumla, ACT
Historic
Indicative Place
105471
Register of the National Estate
Developed in 1975, the Register of the National Estate (RNE) is a statutory listing; however, inclusion on the list does not provide any
legal protection or prescriptive requirements for management. The RNE is used as a database of identified heritage places only. The
RNE is now maintained under the Australian Heritage Council Act 2003. The following sites located within the Lake Burley Griffin Study
Area are registered on the Register of the National Estate. Many further listings are located nearby:
Place
Location
Class
Status
Place number
Lake Burley Griffin Conservation Area
Lady Denman Drive, Yarralumla, ACT
Historic
Indicative place
101595
Parliament House Vista
Anzac Parade, Parkes ACT
Historic
Registered
(11/08/2006)
13371
Stirling Park Precinct
Yarralumla, ACT
Natural
Indicative place
101600
Stirling Ridge
Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla, ACT
Natural
Registered
(25/03/1986)
13359;
Sewer Vent No.1
Empire Court, Yarralumla, ACT
Historic
Registered
(25/03/1986)
19111
National and Commonwealth Heritage List Places in the Vicinity of the Study Area
Place
Location
Class
Status
Place number
Yarralumla and Surrounds
Dunrossil Dr, Yarralumla, ACT
Historic
Commonwealth
Listed place
105381
Carillon
Wendouree Dr, Parkes, ACT
Historic
Commonwealth
Listed place
105346
High Court of Australia
King Edward Tce, Parkes, ACT
Historic
Commonwealth
Listed place
105557
High Court—National Gallery Precinct
Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT
Historic
National
105745
Listed place
National Gallery of Australia
Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT
Historic
Commonwealth
Listed place
105558
Sculpture Garden, National Gallery of
Australia
Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT
Historic
Commonwealth
Listed place
105630
National Library of Australia and
Surrounds
Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT
Historic
Commonwealth
Listed place
105470
Australian War Memorial and the
Memorial Parade
Anzac Pde, Campbell, ACT
Historic
National
105889
Blundells Farmhouse, Slab Outbuilding
and Surrounds
Wendouree Dr, Parkes, ACT
Listed place
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
Historic
Commonwealth
105734
Listed place
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1.3.2 Statutory Listings ACT
ACT Heritage Register
The ACT Heritage Register legally recognises and protects significant heritage places within the
Australian Capital Territory. The following places located within the Lake Burley Griffin Study Area are
on the ACT Heritage Register or have been nominated and accepted under the previous ACT heritage
legislation. As these places are all located on National Land, under the control of the Commonwealth,
the ACT Heritage Register has no legal effect.

Scrivener Dam; nominated to the Heritage Register.

Stirling Park, Yarralumla; Section 22 Block 4; nominated to the Heritage Register.

Vent Number 1 Main Outfall Sewer Section 22 Block 4 (part); nominated to the Heritage Register.

Captain Cook Water Jet; Section 54 Block 1 (part), Lake Burley Griffin; nominated to the Heritage
Register.

Parliament House Vista (numerous sections).

Button Wrinklewort Habitat (Majura Field Range and Stirling Park, Section 22 Block 4; Section 128
Blocks 1–2 and 3).
Indigenous Sites
The following Indigenous sites located within the study area at Yarramundi Reach are registered on the
ACT Heritage Register.
Site Number
Recording Date
Site Description
YR1
1984
Quartz scraper
YR2
1984
Artefact scatter
YR3
1984
Silcrete core
YR5
1984
Silcrete flake
YR6
1984
Artefact scatter
YR8
1984
Pebble artefact
YR9
1984
Quartz artefact
YR10
1984
Artefact scatter
YR11
1984
Quartz artefact
1.3.3 Non-statutory Listings
National Trust of Australia (ACT)
The National Trust of Australia (ACT) maintains a Register of Significant Heritage Places. The places
included on the register are places the National Trust considers to be valued by the community.
National Trust listing is not a statutory listing. The following sites located within the Lake Burley Griffin
Study Area are classified on the Register of the National Trust (ACT).
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Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009

Lake Burley Griffin and Foreshores;

Captain Cook Water Jet;

Button Wrinklewort Habitat;

Sewer Vent No. 1;

Stirling Park; and

the Parliamentary Triangle.
Engineering Heritage
Engineering Heritage Australia is a special interest group of Engineers Australia. Lake Burley Griffin
including Scrivener Dam, Commonwealth Avenue and Kings Avenue Bridges, was assessed by this
organisation which awarded the group a National Engineering Landmark Plaque in 2001. The inclusion
of Lake Burley Griffin in the National Engineering Landmark program does not have any legislative
effect.
1.4 Memorandum of Understanding (Threatened Species and Ecological
Communities)
In September 1998 the National Capital Authority, Environment Australia (Department of Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts) and Environment ACT (Territory and Municipal Services) entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding relating to the roles and responsibilities of each agency in the protection
of threatened species and ecological communities in the ACT. As a signatory to the agreement the NCA
acknowledges that it is bound by the Nature Conservation Act 1980. The NCA is obliged to recognise
matters protected in ACT legislation and to facilitate the management of these values through scientific
research and the development of integrated management strategies.8 The natural matters protected
under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 are listed below:
Table 1.2 Listing of Threatened Species and Ecological Communities under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 within the Lake Burley
Griffin Study Area.
Nature Conservation Act 1980
Threatened Ecological Communities
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Natural Temperate Grassland
Endangered
Identified temperate grassland community at Yarramundi
Reach9
Yellow Box/Red Gum Grassy Woodland
Critically Endangered
Species identified at Stirling Park10
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Perunga ochracea (Perunga grasshopper)
Vulnerable
Species sighting recorded11
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Delma impar (Striped Legless Lizard)
Vulnerable
Species sighting recorded12
Threatened Species
Insects
Reptiles
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
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Plants
Name
Status
Type of Presence
Ruditdosis leptorrhynchoides (Button
Wrinklewort)
Endangered
Recent survey data by Muyt13 and reports by Environment ACT14
confirm the presence of this endangered species in Stirling Park. This
community within Stirling Park has also been nominated to the ACT
Heritage Register.15
1.5 Limitations
The community consultation program was largely focused on Canberra and the web-based
questionnaire was not advertised nationally. The investigations into social and aesthetic heritage values
therefore provided relatively limited data regarding the importance of the place in these terms for the
wider Australian community.
1.6 Author Identification
This report has been prepared by:

Tracy Ireland, Senior Associate, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants, Project Manager;

Geoff Ashley, Senior Associate, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants;

Rachel Jackson, Senior Consultant, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants;

Felicity Watson, Research Assistant, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants;

Amy-Louise Guthrie, Consultant, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants;

Kristy Graham, Research Assistant, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants; and

Sheridan Burke, Director, Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants, provided input, reviewed
the project and was the responsible Director.
The following sub-consultants also contributed to this Heritage Assessment:

Anne Claoue-Long, Historian and Heritage Consultant—Section 5.0 Historical Context;

Neil Urwin, Director, Griffin NRM—Section 3.0 Environmental Context, Section 8.0 Natural Values
and the GIS mapping;

Kerry Navin, Director, and Lyn O’Brien, Consultant, Navin Officer Heritage Consultants—Section
5.0 Post-Contact Indigenous History, Section 4.0 Indigenous Cultural Landscapes; and

Chris Johnston, Director, Bryn Davies, Senior Consultant, and Christina Vos, Consultant, Context
Pty Ltd—Section 7.0 Social and Aesthetic Values in the Broader Community.
All team members contributed to Section 9.0—Assessment of Heritage Values.
1.7 Acknowledgements
Godden Mackay Logan acknowledges the assistance of the following people in the preparation of this
report.
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Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009

Rosalind Ransome, Senior Landscape Architect of the National Capital Authority;

Natalie Broughton, Principal Planner of the National Capital Authority;

the House/Williams Family Group;

the Buru Ngunawal Aboriginal Corporation;

the Ngarigo community;

Duncan Marshall, Heritage Consultant;

Vickie Hingston Jones and Les Flynn, Librarians, NCA; and

Dr Peter Dowling and staff, National Trust (ACT).
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
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Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
Figure 1.1 Location plan.
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009
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1.8 Endnotes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
10
Environment ACT, 2005, A Vision Splendid of the Grassy Plains Extended- ACT Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategy. Action
Plan No. 28, Arts, Heritage and Environment, Canberra.
NCDC, 1988, Sites of Significance in the ACT 2, Inner Canberra, National Capital Development Commission.
NCA, 2004, Central National Area Western Foreshores and Environs, A Draft Planning Framework Study, National Capital Authority,
Canberra.
Muyt, A, 2006, Stirling Ridge, Yarralumla: Vegetation Survey Methods, Management Issues & Flora and Fauna Species Lists, report
prepared for the National Capital Authority, Canberra (unpublished).
Environment ACT, 2000. Fish stocking plan for the Australian Capital Territory 2001-2005. Urban Services, ACT, p 3
Environment ACT, 2005, op cit.
Muyt, A, 2006, op cit.
ACT Government, 1988. Button Wrinklewort (Rutidosis Leptorrhynchoides): An endangered species. Action Plan No. 8. Environment ACT,
Canberra.
NCA, 2004, op cit.
NCDC, 1988, Sites of Significance in the ACT 2, Inner Canberra, National Capital Development Commission.
National Capital Authority, Environment Australia, Environment ACT, 1998. Memorandum of Understanding between the National Capital
Authority and Environment Australia, Department of the Environment and Environment ACT, Department of Urban Services relating to the
roles and responsibilities of each partner in consistent and co-ordinated conservation management of threatened species and ecological
communities in the ACT. Unpublished report, p 3
Environment ACT, 2005, op cit.
NCDC, 1988, Sites of Significance in the ACT 2, Inner Canberra, National Capital Development Commission.
NCA, 2004, Central National Area Western Foreshores and Environs, A Draft Planning Framework Study, National Capital Authority,
Canberra.
Muyt, A, 2006, Stirling Ridge, Yarralumla: Vegetation Survey Methods, Management Issues & Flora and Fauna Species Lists, report
prepared for the National Capital Authority, Canberra (unpublished).
Environment ACT, 2005, op cit.
Environment ACT, 2005, op cit.
Muyt, A, 2006, op cit.
ACT Government, 1988. Button Wrinklewort (Rutidosis Leptorrhynchoides): An endangered species. Action Plan No. 8. Environment ACT,
Canberra.
ACT Heritage Council, undated, Proposed entry to an interim heritage place register for Button Wrinklewort habitat (Majura Field Firing
Range and Stirling Park). Unpublished nomination.
Lake Burley Griffin—Heritage Assessment—Final Report, October 2009