Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p427
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 1356377–1359537

special attachment developed from use and/or associations: this indicator is designed to recognise that a place which provides an essential public or shared function can, over time, gain strong and special attachments through longevity of use or association, especially where that place serves as a shared meeting place (formally or informally).

These indicators have been used on a number of National and Commonwealth Heritage assessments and management plans.  The first indicator often strongly aligns with aesthetic values.

Assessing the relative strength of association, the length of association and the relative importance of the place to the identified community or cultural group can be important.  Comparison with other places that have a similarly strong and special association for that particular community or cultural group may be helpful and revealing.  In no instance should these tests be interpreted as a place needing a 'majority vote' nor do they need unanimous agreement.

Aesthetic significance

The National Heritage definition of aesthetic significance under criterion (e) is,

    'The place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place's importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by a community or cultural group'

Aesthetic value is the emotional response by individuals to a place or natural or cultural elements within it (Ramsay & Paraskevopoulos 1993).  While visual elements such as outstanding landforms, or compositional qualities are often preferenced in understanding aesthetic value, non-visual attributes (eg. sound, smell or particular understandings about the place) which evoke response, feeling or sense of place can also be valued as aesthetic characteristics.

Emotional response to place can be either positive or negative, though again the former is more commonly documented.  Examples of responses which indicate aesthetic value might include awe, inspiration, sense of peace, mystery or fear.

Research into aesthetic response can involve direct consultation (interviews, surveys), observation and research into the expression of aesthetic values through art, poetry, photography, and literature, and through popular culture through expressions such as community art, and snapshot web sites.

Cultural features or landscapes and natural features of landscapes with evocative qualities, symbolic or other associated meanings that are recognised and regarded as outstanding by community groups might also provide examples of aesthetic qualities.

A specific methodology was developed by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (now the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) to support the assessment of 'inspirational landscapes' (Context 2003).  It offers eight specific indicators of significance for understanding the values of such landscape places – four of these indicators relate to criterion (e).  The use of this methodology is discussed further below.

Defining the aesthetic characteristics of the place may involve considering:
      * artistic works – art, music, poetry or literature (including Aboriginal art)