Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:reg:2013:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2013 (pt 3/18)
Character Range: 1387196–1394692

Why conserve?

Places of cultural significance enrich people's lives, often providing a deep and inspirational sense of connection to community and landscape, to the past and to lived experiences.  They are historical records, that are important expressions of Australian identity and experience.  Places of cultural significance reflect the diversity of our communities, telling us about who we are and the past that has formed us and the Australian landscape.  They are irreplaceable and precious.

These places of cultural significance must be conserved for present and future generations in accordance with the principle of inter-generational equity.

The Burra Charter advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as necessary to care for the place and to make it useable, but otherwise change it as little as possible so that its cultural significance is retained.

Articles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Explanatory Notes

Article 1.  Definitions
For the purposes of this Charter:
1.1 Place means a geographically defined area.  It may include elements, objects, spaces and views.  Place may have tangible and intangible dimensions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Place has a broad scope and includes natural and cultural features.  Place can be large or small: for example, a memorial, a tree, an individual building or group of buildings, the location of an historical event, an urban area or town, a cultural landscape, a garden, an industrial plant, a shipwreck, a site with in situ remains, a stone arrangement, a road or travel route, a community meeting place, a site with spiritual or religious connections.
1.2 Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The term cultural significance is synonymous with cultural heritage significance and cultural heritage value.

Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Cultural significance may change over time and with use.

Places may have a range of values for different individuals or groups.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Understanding of cultural significance may change as a result of new information.
1.3 Fabric means all the physical material of the place including elements, fixtures, contents and objects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Fabric includes building interiors and sub-surface remains, as well as excavated material.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Natural elements of a place may also constitute fabric.  For example the rocks that signify a Dreaming place.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Fabric may define spaces and views and these may be part of the significance of the place.
1.4 Conservation means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its cultural significance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            See also Article 14.
1.5 Maintenance means the continuous protective care of a place, and its setting.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Examples of protective care include:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * maintenance — regular inspection and cleaning of a place, e.g. mowing and pruning in a garden;
Maintenance is