STATUTORY, POLICY & ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK Legislation Parks Victoria’s management of historic places is directed by legislation, Government policy and accepted heritage management best practice (See appendix 2). This includes the enabling land management legislation such as the Crown Land Reserves Act 1978 and the National Parks Act 1975 and the identification and protection legislation, particularly the Heritage Act 1995 administered by Heritage Victoria. Policy framework The Victorian Heritage Strategy (VHS), released by the Government in April 2000, gives overarching strategic direction for heritage management in Victoria. Parks Victoria has linked its strategy to the actions and strategies set out in the VHS. The Burra Charter of Australia ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) is an acknowledged best practice guideline for managing historic places in Australia. ICOMOS’s International Cultural Tourism Charter; Managing Tourism at Places of Heritage Significance sets out principles for interpretation and visitor use at historic places. The Department of Sustainability & Environment’s Cultural Sites Network advocates a thematic approach to the prioritisation of historic place management. Heritage managers Heritage Victoria administers the Victorian Heritage Register and Inventory (lists of historic places), establishes planning controls for the use of heritage places by others, and has some responsibility for statewide co-ordination of heritage management. The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is the government agency with overall responsibility for public land in the State. Among its broad range of responsibilities, the Department has a very significant role in the management of historic places. It retains direct responsibility for a large number of historic places, but delegates responsibility for managing most of the historic places on public land. Parks Victoria manages the largest proportion of these places; others are delegated to committees of management, including local municipalities, the National Trust and community groups. In the non-government field, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) manages 24 properties, which operate as museums open to the public, plus a further 34 properties not open to the public. It also has an important role in identifying historic places, raising community awareness and lobbying. The following chart explains the relations between the various agencies/groups involved in heritage management in Victoria.
5 PARKS VICTORIA’S ROLE AS A HERITAGE MANAGER Parks Victoria’s distinct role in the management of historic places within Victoria is as the agency that manages the largest and most diverse collection of historic places, predominantly park- based, with conservation as a primary objective. Parks Victoria’s role in heritage management needs to be guided by the vision statement from the Victorian Heritage Strategy, prepared by Heritage Victoria and released by the Government in April 2000: ‘Victoria’s diverse cultural heritage will be recognised as a key resource of the State, and will be managed in a sustainable way to maximise benefits for the whole community’. Parks Victoria recognises that community participation, the provision of education and interpretation, and where possible maintaining public access, are all vital aspects of heritage management. Figure 1 Types of historic places managed by Parks Victoria Sawmills, logging sites 5% Major buildings 1% Habitable buildings 3% Track, tunnels, cuttings, fences 6% Graves/Monuments 6% Huts 9% Shipwrecks 6% Sites only 12% Mining sites 52% The Historic Places managed by Parks Victoria Parks Victoria has a large portfolio of important historic places; some 2500 are listed in our historic places inventory. Almost all these places are on public land. The exception is Glenample Homestead, which is leased by the government for 99 years. Places include 40 major historic buildings and complexes, such as Werribee Park, Coolart, the Mt Buffalo Chalet, Wonthaggi State Coal Mine and Andersons Mill at Smeaton, which need to be more intensively managed than some other sites. Other places of less prominence, but of importance within the portfolio are back- country huts (particularly in the alpine region), mining sites, settlement sites now largely archaeological in nature, transport routes, landscapes, gardens, historic reserves, fences, natural features with a strong community attachment, graves, cemeteries and monuments. Figures 1 and 2, and appendices 3 and 4, give details and examples. This range of places managed by Parks Victoria is generally not well represented
Table 1 Preliminary list of Key Historic Themes AHC Thematic Group AHC Theme Parks Victoria Key Historic Themes Places managed by Parks Victoria Tracing the evolution of the Australian environment 1.4 Appreciating the natural wonders of Australia Accessing natural treasures. Relates to the history of past enjoyment and management of natural wonders. Places include Mt. Buffalo, Buchan Caves, Twelve Apostles, Tower Hill, and Cumberland Scenic Reserve in the Yarra Ranges. 2.5 Promoting Settling the Port Phillip District Theme related to the of before the Gold Rushes. Places include Collins Settlement Site, Homestead, Point Cook Homestead, Pontville, Viewbank Homestead site, ruins of settlement sites along drainage lines and within metropolitan parks. Developing local, regional and national economies. Utilising natural resources Mining 50% of recorded historic mining sites in the State (predominantly gold mining) and 85% of LCC-recommended developed the Golden Gateways Strategy for revealing Victoria’s gold mining heritage. Other significant mining sites are Wonthaggi State Coal Mine. Lal Lal Blast Furnace, Lime kilns at Walkerville. 3.8 Moving goods and people Shipping along the coast. 50% of light stations, shipwrecks in Port Phillip Bay, marine parks and adjacent to coastal parks. 50% of 19th century piers and jetties, Queenscliff Lifeboat Shed, Glenample Homestead 3.16 Struggling with remoteness and hardship. Living in remote areas farming and grazing huts, homestead sites and related cultural landscapes in Alpine, Mallee and Central Highlands districts of Victoria. 7. Governing 7.7 Defending Australia Defending Colonial Victoria Defence and coastal fortification sites in and around Melbourne dating from the Colonial period. Places include Point Nepean, South Channel Fort and the Point Gellibrand Battery site (Williamstown). a a Woodland
8 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS Parks Victoria is keen to raise awareness about its heritage estate and to involve the community in managing historic places and objects. We can involve the community in all aspects of heritage management including planning, conservation works and presentation. Community ownership and understanding will contribute significantly to conserving historic places and objects. We will pursue partnerships with other management and heritage agencies, Tourism Victoria, local government, the private sector and the community over the longer term to maximise the effectiveness of the management of historic places. Historic places are only one aspect of our environment, and their management has to be co-ordinated with the management of the other values making up our overall environment. Parks Victoria recognises that the private sector, particularly at the local level, has expertise which can play an important part in assisting with the management of historic places. Goal To involve the community, private sector tourism businesses, other government agencies and local government in fostering protection, community ownership and sustainable management of historic places and objects. Action Target Explore how to support existing volunteer groups and create new groups to assist with the management of historic places and objects (including grants, newsletters etc) Plan to better support volunteer groups developed by June 2004. Feasibility studies on creating new groups completed by June 2005 and new groups formed 2005. Implemented 2005 - 2010 Enable the community where appropriate to have input into heritage planning documents. Requirements for public submissions incorporated into appropriate heritage planning documents Inform private sector tourism businesses about the value and importance of historic places and objects Regular updating of heritage information on the Internet and at historic places consistent with Parks Victoria’s Levels of Service beginning 2003/04. Foster tourism activities that will protect historic places and objects. Provision for protection of heritage incorporated into tourism guidelines. Explore options for developing partnerships with other government agencies and local government. Relevant state agencies and local government participating in developing initiative projects for key historic themes as defined in table 1.
Action Target Develop and implement initiatives projects for the key themes of mining, shipping along the coast, settling the Port Phillip District, living in remote areas, accessing natural treasures, and defending Colonial Victoria. Initiatives for mining implemented by 2003. Complete coastal shipping strategy by 2003 and initiative implemented by June 2005. Complete settling strategy by 2005 and initiative implemented by June 2007. Complete remote Living strategy by 2007 and initiatives implemented by June 2009. Complete natural treasures strategy by 2009 and initiative implemented by June 2011 Develop and implement the heritage II&E component of the Parks Victoria’s overall II&E strategy. Complete by Dec 2003 and implement 2004 – 2010 as part of Parks Victoria’s II&E strategy Develop a program of events and activities for promoting understanding and support for Parks Victoria’s heritage management. Develop a program of launches, openings and interpretation activities by June 2004 and implemented 2004-2010 Review the key themes in the first three years and then every five years. Complete review by 2006 and then 2011 The Nowingi Tank, located within the Murray Sunset National Park, was used to load gypsum into trucks. Features such as this help us understand the story of past land use within the surrounding area
Action Target Continue to develop a 3 year rolling Cultural Values Management (CVM) program of management activities using agreed criteria to prioritise the allocation of resources 3 year CVM program developed by December 2003 and program reviewed annually Ensure that historic places and objects are adequately provided for in future park management plans by contributing to a review of, and update, the Park Management Plan Kit. Heritage management provisions incorporated into the updated park planning kit. Review, and if necessary update, provisions in the Levels of Service Framework for the management of historic places and objects. Develop procedures for using the Levels of Service provisions for historic places by Dec 2003 and communicate them to staff by June 2004 . Target external grants programs for major works projects. • Places identified requiring major works by Dec 2003. Sources of grant money identified by Dec 2003 and reviewed annually. Provide for recording and managing historic objects in the CVM program Seek to reduce reliance on external grants for major works funding. 3 year program developed by October 2003 and reviewed annually as part of the CVM program. Review mechanism for provision of major works funding and develop options for obtaining regular funding by Dec 2004. Parks Victoria has embarked upon a project to catalogue and properly store moveable historic objects such as this clay mould, which is part of the important collection of moveable objects at William Ricketts Sanctuary.
A key measure of heritage management performance is the condition of places in the Parks Victoria’s heritage estate. Eventually the assessment of management performance might involve periodically measuring change in condition and integrity of fabric, and appropriateness of use. To achieve this, however, measurable benchmarks must be established. Parks Victoria’s visitor satisfaction and community perception monitoring should be reviewed to ensure that it is appropriate for the heritage estate. Goal To develop and maintain tools, systems, policies and guidelines to facilitate effective and efficient conservation and management of the historic places and objects managed by Parks Victoria. Action Target 11.1 Progressively upgrade Parks Victoria’s heritage inventory including cataloguing moveable cultural heritage Program developed by December 2003 and implemented 2004 - 2006. 11.2 Use Asset Management System to program works Program works using the AMS by July 2006 11.3 Review and progressively upgrade existing operational policies and procedures for the management of historic places and objects. Review and program for upgrading complete by December 2003 11.4 Develop and implement a communication strategy for policies, plans and strategies to ensure that they are easily accessible and widely available. Communication plan completed by March 2004. Existing plans and strategies placed on the web by December 2004. 11.5 Record the condition of a representative group of historic places as a benchmark for developing performance measures for heritage management. Condition of an agreed number of places documented by December 2003. 11.6 Develop performance measurement criteria including condition for heritage management within accepted government and Parks Victoria framework. Performance measures developed by June 2004 and rolling program of measurement conducted 2004 - 2010. 11.7 Review and update procedures for the preparation of Heritage Action Plans and Statements and Heritage Maintenance Plans. Procedures updated by December 2003 11.8 Review current program and develop and commence a program for Heritage Action Plans and Statements and Heritage Maintenance Plans. Review completed and program developed by December 2003 and implemented 2003 – 2010 11.9 Establish feasibility of developing a Parks Victoria Heritage Research Partners Program Feasibility completed June 2004 and if appropriate implemented 11.10 Identify research priorities, available funding and implement a research program. Research priorities identified by December 2004, funding sources sought 2004 – 2010, partners conduction research 2004 – 2010
Appendix 4 Historic Places by District Region District Major Places Places Types Key Themes WEST Mallee Graves; fences/stock yards/sheep dips; huts/house sites/camp sites; water supply/bores/wells/tanks; mining/salt works; recreation sites; natural sites. Living in Remote Areas West Coast Nelson & Cape Otway Light stations, PMR Caves, Tower Hill, Glenample Shipwrecks and jetties; light stations; natural sites; sawmills/tramways/winches; house and settlement sites; pastoral (fences, yards); recreation sites; graves/cemetery; court houses. Accessing Natural Treasures; Shipping Along the Coast; Living in Remote Areas Grampians Lal Lal; Jubilee; Zumsteins; Andersons Mill; Avoca police residence; Heatherlie Quarry Court houses; bridges/tracks/roads; cemeteries/graves; charcoal production; sawmills & eucalyptus distilleries; Lock ups; mines/ quarries; memorials/cairns; hut/house/settlement sites; natural features; water supply; nursery sites (saw pit gully) Accessing Natural Treasures; Mining. EAST Alpine Grant, Oriental Claims; Mt Murphy; Mt Wills; Cassilis, Mt Buffalo Chalet. Bridges; chalets; gardens; gold mining; huts; markers/cairns; natural sites; house/settlement sites; saw mills; tracks; water supply; fire tower; recreation. Mining; Accessing Natural Treasures; Living in Remote Areas East Gippsland Gabo and Point Hick Lightstations, Buchan Caves. Graves/cemetery; mining; marker/cairn; military; natural features; saw mills; fire towers; maritime industry; shipwrecks; light stations. Accessing Natural Treasures; Shipping Along the Coast; Living in Remote Areas. West Gippsland Walhalla, Wonthaggi, Walkerville, Toongabbie, Wilsons Prom Lightstation, Noojee Trestle Bridge. Bridges; cemetery/graves; gold mining/coal/limestone; farm/fences; huts; lightstations; saw mills/tramways; ship wrecks; lightstations; camp sites; military; maritime industry (whaling); settlement sites; tracks; natural sites. Mining; Shipping Along the Coast; Accessing Natural Treasures.
Appendix 4 Cont Region District Major Places Places Key Themes CENTRAL Basalt Plains Steiglitz, Woodlands. Churches; courthouse; gold mining; settlement related sites; natural sites. Mining, Settling the Port Phillip District. Central Cumberland scenic reserve, Jamieson Court House Bridges; cemetery; court house; gold mining/quarries; huts; natural wonders; marker/cairn; water supply; sawmills; hut/camp/settlement/hotel sites; tracks. Mining, Accessing Natural Treasures, Living in Remote Areas. Maldon, Beechworth; Castlemaine, Eldorado; Days Mill; Maldon battery. Charcoal; eucy distilleries; court houses; gold mining; hut/house/settlement sites; fire towers; state battery. Mining CITY & BAYS City & Bays Werribee; Coolart; Point Cook, Geelong Telegraph Station, Fort Nepean; Cape Schanck & McCrae Lightstations. Courthouses; light stations; jetties; military; homestead/house/settlement sites. Settling the Port Phillip District; Shipping Along the Coast; Defending Colonial Victoria. METRO Metro Warrandyte, Dandenong gardens; Kurth Kiln. Gold; court houses; gardens; natural sites; saw mills/charcoal; recreation facilities; settlement sites; water supply. Settling the Port Phillip District; Mining.
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