What is heritage?

Heritage consists of the places and objects that we have inherited from the past and want to pass on to future generations. It defines us as a community: who we are and where we have come from.

The definition of heritage encompasses a large variety of elements, including buildings, streets, towns, relics, landscapes and the natural environment which have historic, scientific, social, aesthetic or spiritual value for past, present or future generations. The cultural significance of a place is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects.

What is cultural significance?

Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations.

The Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter provides the methodological basis for the assessment and management of heritage places in Australia. The NSW heritage assessment criteria encompass four values of the Burra Charter; historic significance, aesthetic significance, scientific significance and social significance.

MENU

• Cultural Heritage Assesment
• How are Listings Made?
• Types of Heritage 
• Find out if a property is Listed
• Heritage Advisory Commitee
• Community Based Heritage Study
• Links
• Contacts Us
• Community Services Home

Heritage Awards 2013

Community & Cultural Development is pleased to announce Gosford City Council’s first ever Heritage Awards.  The Awards are planned as part of the celebrations for Australian Heritage Week and the National Trust Heritage Festival 2013.

The aim of the Awards is to publically acknowledge exemplary heritage conservation projects and to recognise the efforts made towards the education, promotion and celebration of our heritage and history within the Gosford Local Government Area.  

 The community are asked to make award nominations in four categories.  These categories are:

a.    Heritage Conservation

This award recognises outstanding achievement in the conservation, restoration, and adaptation of a recognised heritage item or place within the Gosford LGA.  The nominated site could be residential, institutional, recreational or commercial in character.

This category also recognises the craftspeople and builders who work using specialist or traditional methods and craftsmanship to a very high standard.

b.    Interpretation Projects

This award recognises the interpretation of a place of cultural heritage significance in a written, graphic, electronic or other format which serves as a communication tool for the understanding of the place and as a tangible reminder of its cultural significance.

c.    Historical Research and Publication

This award recognises and acknowledges the authors or editors of an outstanding publication relating to the recording, historical research, and promotion of cultural heritage within the Gosford Local Government Area. 

d.    Outstanding Achievement Award

To recognise a dedicated volunteer or group of volunteers who greatly deserve acknowledgment for their continued contribution towards cultural heritage and history within the Gosford City area.

The nominations will be judged by a panel including both Council Officers and external professionals.   

An award ceremony is to be held in the Council Chambers on the evening of Thursday 2^nd May 2013. 

If you are interested in nominating someone for an award please contact: Rebecca Cardy (Heritage Program Coordinator) Ph. 02 4325 8869 Email.  rebecca.cardy@gosford.nsw.gov.au

Or alternatively fill in the nomination form by clicking here.

The closing date for nominations is Monday 8th April 2013 at 5pm

Cultural Heritage Assessment

An item or place will be of heritage or cultural significance if it meets one or more of the following NSW Heritage Branch criterion:

Criterion (a)

An item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW's cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of an area);

Criterion (b)

An item has strong or special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in NSW's cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area);

Criterion (c)

An item is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in NSW or (local area);

Criterion (d)

An item has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in NSW (or the local area) for social, cultural or spiritual reasons;

Criterion (e)

An item has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of NSW's cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area);

Criterion (f)

An item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of NSW's cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area);

Criterion (g)

An item is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of NSW's

• Cultural or natural places; or
• Cultural or natural environment.

(or a class of the local area's)

• Cultural or natural places
• Cultural or natural environment.

How are Heritage Listings made?

In 1977, the NSW Heritage Act legislated that councils must identify, protect and manage heritage through local planning regulations.

The two levels of statutory listing are:

• the State Heritage Register
• the heritage schedule in Gosford City Council's Local Environmental Plan.

The majority of Gosford's heritage items and heritage conservation areas were identified in two major heritage studies carried out in 1998 and 2001.
Anyone can nominate an item for heritage listing. If the Council resolves to consider a listing, property owners and residents are notified and a draft LEP is placed on public exhibition. Submission and comments are invited and are taken into consideration before the application for heritage listing goes before Council and the NSW Department of Planning.

Types of Heritage

Local Heritage

A local heritage item is one which has cultural significance for the local area and is listed on Council's Local Environment Plan (LEP).

Eg; Henry Kendall Cottage, West Gosford

State Heritage

A local heritage item is one which has cultural significance for the state of New South Wales not just the local Gosford area. State heritage items are listed on the State Heritage Register.

Eg; Rosemount, Saratoga

Finding out if a property is heritage listed

Gosford City Council has eleven state heritage listed items within the local government area which fall under the protection of the NSW Heritage Act 1977 and over 200 local heritage items listed under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Information on Gosford City Council's state heritage items can be found at the NSW Heritage Branch website. Information on local heritage items can be found in Schedule 5 of the Gosford City Council LEP (draft) link or by contacting Council's Heritage Program Coordinator on (02) 4325 8869

Gosford City Council Heritage Advisory Commitee

The main focus of the Heritage Advisory Committee during 2012 is to advise Council on the development and implementation of a heritage strategy to achieve the heritage-related aspirations of the community as defined in various policy documents, including Gosford 2025 Community Strategic Plan, Central Coast Regional Strategy and the Gosford City Centre Masterplan.

The Heritage Advisory Committee will also assist Council to develop Gosford's local heritage provisions and policies in relation to the identification, registration, conservation and development of Gosford's heritage resources.

The 2011 - 2012 Heritage Advisory Committee is currently made up of four Councillors (Terri Latella Chair, Peter Freewater, Amy Houston and Craig Doyle), Council officers including the Heritage Program Coordinator, Manager Community and Cultural Development, Manager Library Services, Aboriginal Development Officer and Architect/Planner and four volunteer community representatives. The Heritage Advisory Committee meet monthly.

Community Based Heritage Study 2013

Gosford City Council is conducting a Community Based Heritage Study.  The study will investigate the heritage of the Gosford area by identifying and assessing items and places of heritage significance that demonstrate our important local history.  The study will explain why the items are significant and recommend ways to manage and conserve this significance.

David Scobie Architects Pty Limited has been appointed the task of conducting the Community Based Heritage Study.  David Scobie is an experienced Architect and Heritage Consultant who has over 30 years experience as an architect and planner in Australia and Europe.  Mr Scobie is presently the heritage advisor for 8 Council’s throughout NSW and has conducted Community Based Heritage Studies for many local government areas. 

The heritage study will contain summary inventory sheets for each significant heritage item, including a heritage assessment and a statement of significance, research and field work that describe the identified heritage items, and study wide and specific heritage items management and promotional recommendations.

A major premise of the Community based approach is that it provides a means for the community to make a valuable contribution to the heritage study, with appropriate guidance from a heritage consultant.  Members of the community work alongside the consultant for the duration of the project, undertaking research, nominating items and considering recommendations for the future management and promotion of their local heritage items.

The use of a Community Based Heritage study approach provides the opportunity for ongoing community involvement  and understanding of heritage management considerations and council processes.  This methodology also provides opportunities for increased community consultation, greater education and promotion of our local heritage and the increased opportunity for one on one consultation with the owners of heritage properties.

Gosford City Council is currently looking for community members with a keen interest in our local heritage and history to nominate to be part of the Heritage Working Group that will work alongside of the Heritage Consultant.

If you are interested in nominating for a position on the heritage working group please contact: Rebecca Cardy (Heritage Program Coordinator)

Ph. 02 4325 8869 Email. rebecca.cardy@gosford.nsw.gov.au

Or alternatively fill in the nomination form by clicking here.

The closing date for nominations is Thursday 21st March 2013 at 5pm

Links

NSW

NSW Heritage Branch

Gosford City Council's Local History

NSW Legislation

Historic Houses Trust

NSW Professional Historians Association

Land and Property Management Authority

Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council

Geographical Names Board

State Records

State Library of NSW (Mitchell Library)

The 20^th Century Heritage Society of NSW

Interstate/National

Australia ICOMOS

Collections Australia Network

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

National Archives of Australia

The Royal Australian Historical Society

Ian Evan’s World of Old Houses

National Library of Australia

Heritage Victoria What house is that?

National Trust of Australia

International

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service- Technical Preservation Services

English Heritage

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Contact Us

Gosford City Council Heritage Program Coordinator - Rebecca Cardy

email rebecca.cardy@gosford.nsw.gov.au

phone (02) 4325 8869