List of World Heritage Sites in Australia

A total of 20 places in Australia have been chosen as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO,UNESCO,  "Australia"; retrieved 2012-4-20. the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Australia agreed to take part in the World Heritage Convention on 22 August 1974.UNESCO,  "States Parties: Ratification Status"; retrieved 2012-4-20.

List
The World Heritage Site (WHS)WHS is an acronym. WHS stands for "World Heritage Site". list has developed over time.  It is part of a process; and the list continues to grow.

As of 2020, there are 20 WHS places in Australia.
 4 cultural sites
 12 natural sites
 4 mixed sites

There are 2 sites which are on a tentative list.

Table
 Site  Image  Location  Criteria  Areaha (acre)  Year  Description Australian Fossil Mammal Sites 150x150px|alt=A skeleton of a Thylacoleo inside Naracoorte Caves  Queensland andSouth Australia  Natural: (viii), (ix)   1992  Riversleigh and Naracoorte were chosen for having many fossils of many different species of extinct animals. They are listed among the ten richest fossil deposits in the world. The fossils from both sites show separate, important stages in the evolution of mammals on the Australian continent. Riversleigh has some of the earliest mammalian fossils from the middle Cenozoic. The deposit at Naracoorte is Australia's largest. The fossils there are from the more recent Pleistocene time, when humans first came to Australia. It contains some of the best examples of megafauna. Australian Convict Sites 150x150px|alt=Photo of the main gaol building at Port Arthur, partially ruined  New South Wales,Norfolk Island,Tasmania andWestern Australia  Cultural:(iv), (vi)    2010  There are over 3000 sites remaining in Australia that were used as places for British convicts to be kept. They were built by the British Fleets in the early colonial period of Australia's history. Eleven of these sites were chosen as the best examples in the country. Budj Bim Cultural Landscape 150x150px|alt=Photo of Lake Surprise in Budj Bim National Park  Victoria  Cultural:(iii), (v)    2019  One of the World's oldest aquaculture systems. It was built by the Gunditjmara people to catch fish. Used over at least 6,600 years. K'gari Island 150x150px|alt=A grassy hilltop overlooking a shallow sand beach, with thick forests in the background  Queensland  Natural:(vii), (viii), (ix)    1992  K'gari Island (Formerly named Fraser Island) is the world's largest sand island. It is made up of sand that has accumulated over about 750,000 years. It has over 100 freshwater lakes, and dunes reaching up to  above sea level. Mycorrhizal fungi lives in the sand. Because of this, it the only place in the world where tall rainforest grows on sand. Gondwana Rainforests of Australia 150x150px|alt=Thick forests covering a rocky escarpment  Queensland andNew South Wales  Natural:(viii), (ix), (x)    1986  This site was chosen for being important to geology and conservation. It includes a large number of protected areas. It is the largest area of subtropical rainforest in the world. It is home to more than 200 rare or threatened plant and animal species. Great Barrier Reef
(GBR) 150x150px|alt=A submerged outcrop covered by a variety of corals  Queensland  Natural:(vii), (viii), (ix), (x)    1981  The world's largest coral reef system. It is made up of over 2,900 individual reefs. It hosts a very high level of biodiversity and is considered likely to be the richest area in the world in terms of animal diversity. It is home to about 400 types of coral, and forms a critical habitat for many endangered species. Greater Blue Mountains Area 150x150px|alt=Rugged sandstone cliff face with three large pinnacles, surrounded by a forested valley  New South Wales  Natural:(ix), (x)    2000  An area of sandstone tablelands and gorges, and eucalypt forest. The area was chosen because it contains many of the different species of eucalyptus in Australia. It is made up of eight protected areas that are very important habitats for many endangered species. Heard and McDonald Islands 150x150px|alt=Satellite image of a snow-covered volcanic peak, with a glacier running straight into the ocean  Heard and McDonald Islands  Natural:(viii), (ix)    1997  These two islands are the only two active volcanoes in the subantarctic. They were chosen for their value to research in glaciology and geomorphology. Most of Heard Island is covered by glaciers. The islands are very isolated. Humans have not had much impact on the ecosystem, and there are no introduced species. Kakadu National Park 150x150px|alt=Overhead view of grassy wetlands, with a river cutting through and a forested escarpment to the right  Northern Territory  Mixed:(i), (vi), (vii), (ix), (x)    1981  Kakadu's wetlands, which cover over one third of the park, are considered very important. Several archaeological sites show evidence of people living in the area for more than 40,000 years. There are pictographs that are recognised as important examples of ancient Aboriginal rock art, dating from over 18,000 years ago. Lord Howe Island Group 150x150px|alt=View overlooking a sheltered shallow bay, with a reef extending out to two bald peaks in the background  New South Wales  Natural:(vii), (x)    1982  This island is the remains of a seven million-year-old shield volcano that has eroded away. It is what is left from eruptions that lasted for about 500,000 years. It is home to many endemic species, important breeding colonies of seabirds, and the world's southernmost coral reef. Macquarie Island 150x150px|alt=Large rookery of king penguins, both adult and young, on a pebbled beach, with grassy hills in background  Tasmania  Natural:(vii), (viii)    1997  This island is the only place on earth where the mantle is exposed above sea level. It is a part of the Macquarie Ridge. It contains evidence of seafloor spreading. It was chosen for its unique value to geology. Ningaloo Reef 150x150px|alt=Side-on view of a spotted whale shark in cloudy blue water  Western Australia  Natural:(vii), (x)    2011  This coral reef was chosen for its marine biodiversity. It includes over 700 species of fish and is home to many endangered sea turtles. Whale sharks come here to spawn in the largest known gathering of that species. The reef is also part of the annual migration routes of dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and humpback whales. Purnululu National Park 150x150px|alt=Large red sandstone rock formation surrounded by shrubbery and open plains  Western Australia  Natural:(vii), (viii)    2003  The Bungle Bungle Range is a Devonian plateau that has been heavily eroded into an unusual landscape of conical sandstone towers. It is one of the largest network of sandstone karst formations in the world. Parts of the park are sacred to the native Kija people. Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens 150x150px|alt=Large cream-coloured building with central dome and grand arched entrance, fronted by flowered gardens and a tiered fountain  Victoria  Cultural:(ii)    2004  This site is in the suburb of Carlton, very close to the centre of Melbourne. The exhibition building was built to host the World's Fair in 1880. It is one of the world's last exhibition buildings from the 19th century. It combines several architectural styles. The gardens next to it are an example of Victorian era landscape design. They contain many of the plant species native to Victoria. Shark Bay 150x150px|alt=Scattered small black mounds growing in an area of shallows by the sea  Western Australia  Natural:(vii), (viii), (ix), (x)    1991  Shark Bay has the largest and richest area of seagrass meadows in the world. These meadows are a very important habitat for endangered dugongs. The bay is home to about 12% of the world's population. Hamelin Pool contains the world's most diverse and abundant colony of living stromatolites, which are some of the earliest examples of life on earth. Sydney Opera House 150x150px|alt=Beige and white building with seven peaked rooves, sitting on a promontory surrounded by water  New South Wales  Cultural:(i)    2007  This performing arts complex is famous for its architecture. It was opened in 1973, and is a landmark of Sydney Harbour. The design is an example of the expressionist style and has had a lasting influence on architecture. Tasmanian Wilderness 150x150px|alt=Scruffy, rocky ridge overlooking a hill covered in golden-coloured grass and shrubbery  Tasmania  Mixed:(iii), (iv), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)    1982  This area covering almost 20% of Tasmania. It is one of the world's last temperate wildernesses. It is very remote and difficult to access. Most of it is covered by the South West Wilderness area. Archaeologists have found evidence that aboriginal people lived in the area from at least 20,000 years ago. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park 150x150px|alt=View of a large red sandstone monolith against a sunset sky and flanked by two silhouetted trees  Northern Territory Mixed:(v), (vi), (vii), (viii)    1987  This park was chosen as an example of a landscape that is culturally sacred to Aboriginal people. The park's two massive sandstone formations, Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa, are spiritually important to many Aṉangu. They form part of the local tjukurpa belief system. Cave paintings found at Uluṟu date back tens of thousands of years. Wet Tropics of Queensland 150x150px|alt=Dense rainforest scene, with a small pool surrounded by ferns and moss-laden rocks  Queensland  Natural:(vii), (viii), (ix), (x)    1988  An area of tropical rainforest spread along the Great Dividing Range. The area has a high level of biodiversity. At least 85 species live here that are not found anywhere else. It also has the highest concentration of primitive taxa in the world. It is an important area for unique and endangered marsupials. Willandra Lakes Region 150x150px|alt=Sandy ground fronting a strip of blue water on the horizon, with a piece of dead wood in foreground  New South Wales  Mixed:(iii), (viii)    1981  This place contains fossilised remains of sand formations. It includes good archaeological evidence of humans from 45–60,000 years ago. This includes the world's oldest cremation site, the Lake Mungo remains.

 Tentative list
The tentative list consists of sites which have been nominated.  The evaluation process is not yet completed.
 Great Sandy World Heritage AreaUNESCO, "Great Sandy World Heritage Area"; retrieved 2012-4-19.
 Gondwana Rainforests (extension to existing property)UNESCO, "The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area (extension to existing property)"; retrieved 2012-4-20.
 Murujuga Cultural LandscapeUNESCO, "Murujuga Cultural Landscape"; retrieved 2020-8-14.
 Flinders Ranges

 Notes 

 References 

Other websites

 UNESCO, World Heritage Sites
  List of biosphere reserves which are wholly or partially world heritage sites

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Category:Australian culture
Australia
Category:Australia-related lists