Heritage AR 2010:HC_AR_2010 10/09/10 2:00 PM Page 1 Heritage Council of Victoria ANNUAL REPORT 2009/10 Heritage AR 2010:HC_AR_2010 10/09/10 2:00 PM Page 2 contents Heritage Council Annual Report 2009-2010 From the Chair 3 Overview of HC Role 4 1 OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE 5 2 ADVISING THE MINISTER 7 3 VICTORIAN HERITAGE REGISTER 12 4 PROMOTING VICTORIA’S CULTURAL HERITAGE 16 5 PERMITS AND CONSENTS 19 6 RESEARCH 20 7 ADVICE AND LIAISON 23 8 HERITAGE FUND 26 9 STATE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE 27 10 HERITAGE COUNCIL 28 11 FINANCE 32 Published by the Heritage Council of Victoria, DISCLAIMER FRONT COVER: Horses line up at the barrier of the historic Straight Six course at Flemington Racecourse, which was Melbourne, September 2010. Also published at This publication may be of assistance to you but added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2009-2010. The www.heritage.vic.gov.au the State of Victoria and its employees do not Straight Six has been used for all sprint races (1000 metres guarantee that the publication is without flaw of to 1200 metres) at Flemington since 1874; and it has been Design: Mauhaus the starting point for all Melbourne Cups since the second any kind or is wholly appropriate for your running of the race in 1862. Plans for the 150th running of ©State of Victoria, Heritage Council of Victoria particular purposes and therefore disclaims all the Melbourne Cup in 2010 include the development of a 2010. liability for any error, loss or other consequence Visitor’s Information Centre, Heritage Trail and Walk of Fame at Flemington, and the launch of a significant cultural heritage which may arise from you relying on any This publication is copyright. No part may be program to include a series of gallery exhibitions, symposiums, information in this publication. and the development of a web-based national school reproduced by any process except in accordance education program. with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Image courtesy Victoria Racing Club. ASSN 1441 4856 (print), 1835 2227 (online) For more information contact the Heritage Council on 03 8644 8800 Heritage AR 2010:HC_AR_2010 10/09/10 2:01 PM Page 3 message from the chair Imagine, if you will, the guardian headlands of the Port Phillip Bay entrance, where twin forts, ready to fire shots across the bows of an imagined marauding Russian naval vessel, were built. In the 1860s, with the Gold Treasury in Spring Street, Melbourne full, a foreign raid was considered a possibility by the Victorian Government of the day, and protective measures were taken. So it was that major labyrinthine gun emplacements for each headland were installed Chair Daryl Jackson AO. Sir Neil Cossons (left) with Dr Patrick Greene from Museum Victoria, to quell any potential intruders. Jim Gard'ner Executive Director of Heritage Victoria and MC Ray Tonkin. This network of early forts at Queenscliff and Point Nepean are important to Victoria’s heritage. English Heritage and world renowned expert in Recognising Council Members Recent years have seen public access provided to industrial archaeology, Sir Neil Cossons, for the This year we have welcomed three new members ICOMOS conference in Broken Hill, was too good increasing areas of Point Nepean through Parks • Historian member Dr Keir Reeves Victoria. It has taken some considerable time, an opportunity to miss and the Heritage Council partnering through federal and state agencies; invited Sir Neil to present the second Heritage • Historian alternate Emma Russell Address. including a strong local community lobby, to bring • Lawyer alternate Marita Foley these assets into the public arena of Victorian Sir Neil’s address was The Age of Industry: On behalf of Council I express my special thanks history. Conserving a Global Inheritance, looking at the to five fellow Heritage Council members who rich and varied heritage of industrialisation since The Heritage Council of Victoria is continually retired in June 2010. seeking such opportunities; to have Victorians and the 18th century. • Archaeology member Kristal Buckley, after their visitors recognise the significance of the Industrial archaeology is still largely ignored and an outstanding nine years state’s unique history, be it in the natural environs little understood but Sir Neil’s presentation or, in this case, a conversion of the Port Phillip provided a comprehensive background, linking the • Engineering/Building member Stuart heads into guardian fortresses patrolled by a industrial age to today’s globalisation, and McLennan, after six years Victorian Navy. presenting potted histories of centres such as the • National Trust member Neville Wale, after Port of Liverpool which have seen boom and bust Incidentally, should the heavy guns miss the six years invaders, a man-made island fort was constructed times linked to the changing demands of society. • Archaeology alternate member Dr Andrew further up the bay, loaded up with further artillery, He provided some wonderful stories of re-use or Jamieson, after five years just in case. adaptive uses and highlighted other sites with far The past year also has seen the establishment of less obvious re-use options. Places, he said, we • National Trust alternate Anthony Knight, an annual Heritage Address undertaken in have to see in our lifetime ‘through the same after three years partnership with Museum Victoria. eyes’ as great architecture or medieval cathedrals if we are doing our duty by these sites. Each member brought a valuable insight and When, shortly after his retirement, we invited intelligence to the Council’s deliberations. former Executive Director Ray Tonkin to reflect on Sir Neil’s address provided further discussion, and Officially farewelled at a gathering at the Old 30 years in the heritage sector, we discovered an highlighted the broadening of heritage. The year’s Treasury Building, this was an apt link to their ideal forum to encourage debate and raise the registrations similarly demonstrate our specific experience and skills. profile of heritage in Victoria. commitment to ensuring the Victorian Heritage Register is an inclusive list of places and objects Ray reflected on the many changes he had that are important to Victorians, from an early Finances observed and, in many instances, played a key (and, by today’s standards, massive) computer, a In accordance with the Financial Management Act role in, including quite remarkable changes in fine majolica peacock which survived a tragic 1994, I am pleased to present the Report of policies, processes, attitudes and relationships. shipwreck, sites linked to Ned Kelly and the brave Operations for the Heritage Council of Victoria for the year ending 30 June 2010. His presentation created a great deal of police who sought to keep law and order, railway discussion, with the past, as usual, raising bridges which demonstrate the spread of questions about the future and our most pressing settlement in the state and Flemington immediate priorities. Racecourse, the home of the 150 year old Melbourne Cup. A visit to Australia by the former Chairman of DARYL JACKSON AO Chair Victorian Heritage Council Annual Report 2009/2010 3 Heritage AR 2010:HC_AR_2010 10/09/10 2:01 PM Page 4 heritage council the statutory role of the heritage council of victoria The Heritage Council has the following statutory functions, as set out in the Heritage Act: The Heritage Council has the following statutory functions, as set out in Section 8 of the Heritage Act 1995: OUR STATUTORY ROLE - IN SUMMARY a. to advise the Minister on the state of Victoria’s • ADVISING THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING on cultural heritage resources and on any steps Victoria’s cultural heritage necessary to protect and conserve them; • Determining which places and objects are included on b. to promote public understanding of Victoria’s the VICTORIAN HERITAGE REGISTER cultural heritage and develop and conduct community information and education • PROMOTING public understanding of Victoria’s cultural heritage programs; • Hearing APPEALS against permit decisions of the c. to develop, revise and publish from time to time Executive Director the assessment criteria to be used in considering the cultural heritage significance of • Initiating and undertaking RESEARCH places and objects and determining whether • ADVICE AND LIAISON to assist other bodies responsible those places or objects warrant inclusion in the for Victoria’s heritage Heritage Register; d. to add places or objects to the Heritage Register; i. to liaise with other bodies responsible for e. to remove places or objects from the Heritage matters relating to the protection, conservation, Register, or to amend the registration of an management and promotion of Victoria’s object or place; cultural heritage; f. to hear appeals against decisions of the j. to initiate and undertake programs of research Executive Director relating to permits and related to the identification, conservation or applications for permits for undertakings or interpretation of Victoria’s cultural heritage; works affecting a registered place or registered k. to report annually to the Minister on – object; (i) the carrying out of its functions under g. to advise government departments and this (Heritage) Act; and agencies and municipal councils on matters relating to the protection and conservation of (ii) the state of Victoria’s cultural heritage; places and objects of cultural heritage and significance; (iii) the operation of this (Heritage) Act; h. to advise the Minister administering the l. to provide the Minister annually with a business Planning and Environment Act 1987, on plan of its proposed works and operations for proposed amendments to planning schemes the next year; and which may affect the protection or conservation of places and objects of cultural heritage m.to carry out any other functions conferred on significance; the Heritage Council under this Act or any other Act.