Welcome to the Heritage Review at Northern Grampians Shire Council
As custodians of our community's rich heritage, we take pride in preserving the legacy left to us by generations past. Our mission is to strike a delicate balance within the Northern Grampians planning scheme, identifying and managing change to places of historical significance while fostering a deep appreciation of heritage.
About the Northern Grampians Shire Heritage Review
In 2004, Northern Grampians Shire Council initiated an extensive heritage study, uncovering numerous precincts and individual sites with the potential for heritage recognition across the Shire. Despite the valuable insights gleaned, the study faced delays in adoption due to concerns surrounding property rights. Nonetheless, in acknowledgment of the evolving landscape of heritage preservation, all municipalities in Victoria have since undertaken similar initiatives.
Looking ahead to 2041 and in line with Council’s 2021-2025 Council Plan, our vision revolves around fostering a thriving tourism sector that capitalizes on our region's rich history. We are steadfast in our commitment to driving economic growth by endorsing Victoria's Goldfields UNESCO World Heritage bid. Furthermore, we aspire to enrich our community's lifestyle and well-being by safeguarding and enhancing our heritage assets. This involves a strategic approach to preserving key heritage buildings and precincts, ensuring their continued significance to our collective identity and vitality.
In line with our commitments to heritage conservation, both the St Arnaud and Stawell Structure Plans have advocated for fresh heritage assessments. In response, a new phase of the heritage review has been initiated, with particular focus on the following priorities as a starting point:
- Thematic Environmental History of the Shire (forming the basis of future heritage assessments)
- Stawell Main Street area
- St Arnaud Commercial and Civic area
- St Arnaud Queens Avenue area
As is required by the Planning and Environment Act (1987), the Study will provide Council with the information it needs:
‘To conserve and enhance buildings, areas and other places which are of scientific, aesthetic, architectural, or historical interest, or otherwise of special cultural value’.
The Study will consider the Northern Grampians Heritage Study Stage 1 and 2 (Rowe and Jacobs, 2004), Northern Grampians Thematic Environmental History (Rowe & Jacobs, 2004) and new historical research, including input from traditional owner groups, historical societies, business and community groups, landowners and individuals with an interest in the project.
Through these efforts, we aim to acknowledge our past, enrich our present townships, and lay the groundwork for a prosperous future. We invite you to join us on this journey of preservation and celebration.