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Heritage Program
The City of Perth, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, has adopted a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address the ongoing issues relating to heritage management and conservation - an approach which goes above and beyond that normally undertaken by a local government authority.
From researching the implications of heritage listing, to providing development-based and financial incentives for heritage conservation, each component of the City’s Heritage Program has been researched and developed over several years to complement the necessary processes required under heritage and planning legislation.
The City of Perth has created a series of brochures that incorporates information on the individual components of the Heritage Program.
These components are briefly addressed under the following headings, together with related brochures containing more detail available for download:
- History of the City of Perth
- Organisations and Registers
- Heritage Grants*
- Heritage Award*
- Development Based Incentives - Bonus and Transfer Plot Ratio
- Heritage Funding Sources
- Heritage Rate Concession
- Heritage Loan Subsidy Scheme
- Heritage Perth
- Economic Value of Heritage Tourism in the City of Perth, WA
- FAQs
- History of the City of Perth Overview
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As a young city, Perth is in the ideal position to preserve its irreplaceable heritage for future generations. Many of its links to the past still exist and serve as valuable assets to the city's built form. This brochure provides a brief overview of the history of Perth and where to obtain further information on history and heritage in the city.
- Organisations and Registers Overview
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The main types of heritage listings impacting on places located within the City of Perth are:
- City Planning Scheme - register of Places of Cultural Heritage Significance
- State Register of Heritage Places
- National Trust
- National Estate
A brief overview of the benefits and implications of each form of listing is provided in this brochure. More information may be obtained from the individual organisations; contact details for each are also provided.
The Register of Places of Cultural Heritage Significance attached to the City Planning Scheme can be viewed HERE.
- Heritage Grants Overview
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The City offers heritage grants for all heritage listed properties within the city that are rateable. This includes those in the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority areas such as East Perth and Northbridge precincts. Grants may be awarded for any works or studies that will assist in the conservation, understanding or use of heritage buildings. Where properties do not have conservation plans, the City strongly encourages these to be undertaken before works are carried out. Conservation plans are eligible for grant funding.
The Council are currently reviewing the criteria for grant allocation and the opening date for the next grant round will be July 2013. Owners will also be informed by post.
Please do not hesitate to contact the City on 9461 3333 if you would like to discuss any aspect of the grants program.
Grant recipients wishing to claim grant money for completed projects should forward a claim form with the supporting documents to the City of Perth.
Further information regarding grant claims can be found in the FAQ's.
- Heritage Award Overview
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The Heritage Award Program has been established to recognise the efforts made by individuals and groups in the conservation, promotion and enhancement of the city’s heritage.
The biennial Award attracts a major cash prize of $10,000 and all finalists are presented with certificates of merit to recognise their contribution to heritage within the city.Previous winners include:
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2008 Award winner, the Buchan Group for the adaptive conservation of the 1930s ‘Sara & Cook’ Warehouse. The project was nominated for its interpretation of the building’s history and the integration of elements such as some of the graffiti that accumulated while the building was derelict.
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2010 Award winner, Phillip Griffiths Architects for the restoration of Cathederal House (Episcopal Palace), Victoria Square. The project comprised the first major works to the building since 1939 and set about improving the place to ensure its ongoing use as a residence.
The Heritage Award Brochure provides an explanation of the processes involved in submitting an application for the Award program and incorporates the criteria for which the Award will be judged.
Nominations have now closed for the 2012 City of Perth Heritage Award. Results will be announced shortly.
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- Development Based Incentives - Bonus and Transfer Plot Ratio Overview
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Two development-based heritage incentives have been adopted into the City Planning Scheme No.2. The Transfer of Plot Ratio and Bonus Plot Ratio provisions enable the Council to offer incentives to developments involving heritage places by either awarding additional plot ratio to developments or enabling the transfer of unused plot ratio from one site to another.
Click here for more information on Development Based Incentives.Click here to view the City of Perth Register of transferred Plot Ratio.
- Heritage Funding Sources Overview
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There are various forms of funding assistance available from Lotterywest, Heritage Council of WA and the City of Perth Heritage Appeal for heritage projects within the city.
This brochure provides details of each of these grant options. For further information the relevant organisation should be contacted directly as the information provided in this brochure is subject to change. - Heritage Rate Concession Overview
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The City of Perth is inviting application for a 10% rate concession, with a minimum of $594 and capped at $20,000, for any rateable property within the city that is listed within the Register of Cultural Heritage Places in the City Planning Scheme or the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority heritage inventory.
The Heritage Rate Concession program has recently undergone review and some important changes have been made to eligibility criteria. Please contact the City of Perth on 9461 3333 to discuss these changes. A copy of the recently adopted Heritage Rate Concession Policy can be accessed at the link below.To be eligible to receive the Heritage Rate Concession properties must have full value building insurance and a current pest control contract. Owners must also agree to maintain their heritage property in accordance with the City of Perth Maintenance Schedule for Heritage Buildings. The Maintenance Agreement and Maintenance Schedule are available for download from the link below.
Applications for the Heritage Rate Concession must be received by no later than 60 days from the issue date of the current rate notice. Applications received after this period will not be eligible for a Heritage Rate Concession for the current financial year. Subject to circumstances, the City may defer application of the rebate until the following financial year. An application form is available for download at the link below.
A completed application form and the necessary accompanying documentation should be forwarded to the City of Perth either by email or post at the addresses below. They should be clearly titled 'Application for Heritage Rate Concession'.
Post: GPO Box C120, Perth WA 6839
Email:
heritage@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Heritage Rate Concession Application Form
- Heritage Loan Subsidy Scheme
The Heritage Loan Subsidy Scheme provides an interest rate subsidy of 4% lower than standard rates from financial institutions capped at $50,000 for conservation works.
The scheme encourages you, the owner of a heritage place, to undertake conservation works by offering significant savings in the cost of taking out a loan with your financial institution. These loans can be used in conjunction with grants received from the City of Perth to undertake conservation works.
To be eligible, your property needs to be listed in the Register of Places of Cultural Heritage Significance in the City Planning Scheme No 2 at www.perth.wa.gov.au/CPS2 . Please check the application form at the Heritage Council’s website, www.heritage.wa.gov.au or the WA Local Government Association’s website, www.walga.asn.au for more details.
- Heritage Perth
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Heritage Perth Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit organisation set up to promote Perth’s heritage as an important social and economic asset for the whole community. By encouraging a better understanding of our heritage sites, Heritage Perth is helping to ensure a secure future for them.
In order to achieve a higher public recognition of the importance of heritage, Heritage Perth has developed a number of innovative projects to help people appreciate the importance of the heritage places in Perth and raise awareness of the city’s historic sites by actively promoting them as a community asset. Through projects such as the ‘Hi-Tech Heritage Trail’, ‘Heritage Perth Heritage Days’ and ‘Light Up the City’, Heritage Perth is making a huge impact on the way people perceive the value of Perth’s superb treasury of heritage places.
For further information, visit the Heritage Perth web site: www.heritageperth.com - Economic Value of Heritage Tourism in the City of Perth, WA Research document
The study was commissioned by the City of Perth, Heritage Perth and Heritage Council of Western Australia.
- Heritage Program FAQ
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Answers to frequently asked questions can be found by clicking the image to your right.
For easy access the FAQ information is categorised into the following headings:
- General
- Development-based incentives
- Economic impact of heritage listing
- Heritage grants
- Heritage rate relief








