Policies and initiatives > Direction 5. A great place to be > Policy 5.4

Policy 5.4 – Protect heritage places and values

Melbourne is recognised for the quality and preservation of its historic architecture and its cultural landscapes that include street patterns, laneways, parks and gardens. Established in the mid-1830s by land-hungry speculators, Melbourne grew rapidly to become one of the great nineteenth century cities of the world. As a gateway to a thriving pastoral hinterland, and then from the 1850s as the principal city in a gold-mad and energetic society, Melbourne was shaped by extraordinary social, technological and economic forces. Its remarkable heritage of Victorian-era buildings reflects the wealth coming from gold and other robust nineteenth century industries such as wool, as well as developments in building techniques and the use of distinctive local materials.

The tangible resources of cultural heritage can be seen in buildings, landscapes and landmarks. They offer a way of experiencing the heritage and unique cultural identity of the people who live in a region.

Heritage can operate as a vector for development. It can attract tourists and help to position cities within the urban hierarchy, nationally and internationally. To effectively use the heritage of Melbourne in this way, it is necessary to clearly understand the qualities that contribute to its distinctiveness and competitive advantage. In particular, overseas visitors seek out the internationally distinctive aspects of Melbourne's heritage such as the Parliament precinct, the trams and the ‘Golden Mile Heritage Trail’ in the Central Business District. It is important to encourage partnerships which promote the qualities and benefits that heritage adds to Melbourne as a world-class city.

Heritage can also be intangible. It is not just about conservation, but about understanding the history, development patterns, cultural layers and themes of places. These may be expressed in buildings or through traditions of public life, festivals, rituals, arts and crafts. A good understanding of the past is important in planning and designing sustainable and liveable communities for the future. Heritage contributes to a sense of place, community and identity. It is a factor in attracting the skilled workers and businesses that make the region internationally competitive.

Melbourne 2030 recognises the importance of conserving places of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage. The wide range of sites that exists across metropolitan Melbourne and the surrounding region includes places of spiritual importance or meaning to Indigenous people, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites and relics and historic places. There are, for example, 965 ‘places’ listed in the Victorian Heritage Register for metropolitan Melbourne. Attention will be paid to conserving these while encouraging appropriate new development that respects those established heritage values (see ‘Victorian Heritage Strategy’).

The identification, conservation, protection and management of cultural heritage values across the region will receive continued support. While all local councils in metropolitan Melbourne have some form of heritage overlay in their planning schemes based on heritage studies, a common framework will be promoted to achieve a consistent approach by all agents involved in the processes of heritage assessment, protection and management.

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