This consultation is closed.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on our draft Heritage Strategy 2019-2030. We used your ideas to finalise the now adopted Heritage Strategy 2019-2030.

Find out more about how we developed this strategy

We developed a draft Heritage Strategy 2019-2030 and asked for your feedback.

Our heritage is shaped by our diversity. It starts with the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri people, and moves through layers of Melbourne's oldest suburbs and architecture. It is also shaped by many waves of immigration and industry that can still be experienced today.

In late 2018, we asked for your feedback on how we can best look after our city's heritage. Based on your feedback, we have developed a draft Heritage Strategy that will guide how we know, protect, support, promote (and celebrate) our heritage.

It applies to elements like historical buildings, precincts, collections and archaeological sites as well as unseen heritage like cultural practices, stories and traditions. It has also been broadened to include our natural heritage.

What you told us

Stage 1 community consultation:

  • Over 90 community members contributed ideas, challenges and opportunities online, via written submission or in person. We also consulted widely with our community advisory committees to identify eight priority areas. Read a summary of feedback from stage 1.

Stage 2 community consultation:

  • Representatives from our local resident associations, heritage groups and industry experts took part in a facilitated workshop to further refine the priority areas and draft actions. Read the report.

Priority areas

Aims to improve our understanding of our heritage places and ensure clear and accessible information is available to the community.

Priority area 1: Improved Statements of significance and precinct citations

An example of one of the actions under this priority area is to:

Review statements of significance to understand which need updating including whether there are places of post war significance that need to be included in the precincts and develop a program of updating based on that review.

Priority area 2: Natural heritage is important and requires more than just protection.

An example of one of the four actions under this priority area is to:

Achieve recognition of heritage within other strategies dealing with the natural environment and Aboriginal and other cultural resources, including through clearer explanations of those heritage aspects.

Aims to protect heritage through a robust management framework that encourages heritage to be a primary consideration in all elements of planning. YCC will lead by example and demonstrate best-practice heritage management.

Priority Area 1: Strengthen the existing provisions and management frameworks across departments acknowledging that it is a shared responsibility.

An example of an action for this priority is to Initiate in-house training for staff working in the area of heritage.

Priority area 2: Managing Council's own heritage assets and strengthening our approach in order to lead by example.

An example of an action under this priority is to Develop conservation management plans and other guidance as appropriate for Council's own heritage assets including linking them with Council's Building Asset Management Plans.

Aims to support our heritage through a proactive involvement in its management, care and conservation.

Priority area 1: Improving access to heritage advice to the community.

One of the three actions under this priority area is to, Implement a regular (weekly) heritage advice service for the community.

Priority area 2: Continue Council's commitment to protecting and enhancing World Heritage raising the profile of heritage conservation in the community.

For example we commit to, Actively participating in the World Heritage Environs Area Committee and in the review of the World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan, as well as in identifying opportunities for place making and promotional strategies/ activities.


Celebrating heritage as a community to enhance its value for all.

Priority area 1: Increasing promotion and awareness of Aboriginal heritage in Yarra.

For example, partnering with the Wurundjeri Community representatives to develop an Aboriginal heritage interpretation program to ensure greater appreciation of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the city, including the intersection of Indigenous and natural value.

Priority area 2: Council diversifies its means of promoting heritage to ensure the widest reach within the community.

One of the actions under this priority area is to, continue to support the Victorian Heritage Restoration Fund, and promotion of heritage through historical societies, community grants program, Open House Melbourne, Australian Heritage Festival and awards program.