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Department of Agriculture

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  2. Parks and heritage
  3. Heritage
  4. About Australia's heritage
  5. National Heritage

Sidebar first - EN - Heritage

  • About Australia's heritage
    • World heritage
      • Managing World Heritage in Australia
      • Understanding World Heritage Outstanding Universal Value
      • World Heritage listing process
      • World heritage criteria
      • Implications of World Heritage Listing
      • The World Heritage Convention
      • Management of Australia's world heritage listed places
        • Indigenous People & World Heritage
      • Notification of development proposals
    • National heritage
      • National Heritage List criteria
      • The National Heritage listing process
      • Managing National Heritage places
    • Commonwealth heritage
      • Commonwealth Heritage listing process
      • Commonwealth Heritage List criteria
      • Protecting Places
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia

National Heritage

About National Heritage

Australia's national heritage comprises exceptional natural and cultural places that contribute to Australia's national identity. National heritage defines the critical moments in our development as a nation and reflects achievements, joys and sorrows in the lives of Australians. It also encompasses those places that reveal the richness of Australia's extraordinarily diverse natural heritage.

The National Heritage List

The National Heritage List has been established to list places of outstanding heritage significance to Australia. It includes natural, historic and Indigenous places that are of outstanding national heritage value to the Australian nation.

One tool for assessing the natural heritage values of places nominated for inclusion on the National Heritage List is the Australian Natural Heritage Assessment Tool (ANHAT)

  • View the National Heritage List
  • Australian Natural Heritage Assessment Tool (ANHAT)

The National Heritage List can be searched using the Australian Heritage Database.

  • Find out more about the Australian Heritage Database

The National Heritage listing process

Anyone can nominate a place with outstanding heritage values for inclusion on the National Heritage List. The Australian Heritage Council assesses the values of nominated places against set criteria and makes recommendations to the Minister for the Environment (the Minister) about listing. The final decision on listing is made by the Minister.

  • Guidelines for the assessment of places for the National Heritage List

Find out more:

  • Listing a heritage place
  • Nominating a heritage place
  • Places under assessment

The National Heritage List criteria

When a place is nominated to be included in the National Heritage List, the Australian Heritage Council assesses the heritage value of that place against nine criteria, and significance thresholds.

  • Find out more about the National Heritage List criteria

Protecting places in the National Heritage List

Listed places are protected by Australian Government laws and special agreements with state and territory governments and with Indigenous and private owners. Places on the list are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which requires that approval be obtained before any action takes place that could have a significant impact on the national heritage values of a listed place.

  • Find out more about the EPBC Act

Managing National Heritage places

To ensure the on-going protection of a national heritage place, National Heritage listing requires that a management plan be produced that sets out how the heritage values of the site will be protected or conserved.

  • Find out about managing National Heritage Listed places
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Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.