In accordance with the requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act), the Department of Finance (Finance) reviewed and updated its Heritage Strategy (the Strategy) in 2021 to reflect changes to its property portfolio (the portfolio) and property management arrangements. These changes have included a shift to a more outsourced property management model and a reduction in the number of properties in the portfolio.
Finance prepared and implemented its first heritage strategy in 2005 in accordance with the requirements of the EPBC Act. The diversity of heritage values and issues to be managed across the Portfolio present many opportunities and challenges. Finance continues to demonstrate strong leadership for the Australian Government in adopting a proactive approach to responding to these opportunities and challenges.
Finance’s revised heritage strategy promotes a practical approach to heritage management via integration of heritage considerations into relevant aspects of portfolio planning, contract management, property maintenance, works projects and divestment. The Strategy includes policies and commitments for the continued development of heritage assessments and management plans, training and awareness, heritage impact assessment and a monitoring approach to evaluate compliance with heritage commitments.
Heritage Register
The Finance property portfolio has been brought together over time and contains important examples of land, places, buildings and stories. The portfolio includes a number of significant Commonwealth Heritage places - places with natural and biodiversity values, places important to our First Nations People, and places that are important to Australia's history and cultural life.
Finance maintains a Heritage Register of these significant places it owns or controls (such as National Land interests) that are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List (CHL) in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The Finance Heritage Register includes properties which demonstrates the significant role the Commonwealth played in providing accommodation for government functions and administration, such as the John Gorton Building. Some sites are also important because they are examples of significant cultural landscapes. An example of this is the Googong Foreshores Cultural and Geodiversity Heritage Areas; they hold important historical heritage value, demonstrating aspects of early twentieth century pastoral practices and building techniques.
These stories and many more can be discovered by clicking on the web links in the table below.
Finance is committed to establishing a collaborative relationship with traditional knowledge holders and respects that First Nations people are the primary source of information on the value of their heritage and how it should be conserved. Therefore, information which has been identified as culturally sensitive is restricted and is not available from this public heritage register.
Table 1. Finance Owned Estate properties that are on the Commonwealth Heritage List
| Property Name | Property Address | CHL Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Snapper Island | Sydney Harbour, NSW | ‘Snapper Island, Drummoyne, NSW, Australia’, Place ID 105477 |
| Sydney Customs Depot | Lower Ben Boyd Road, Neutral Bay, NSW | ‘Customs Marine Centre, Ben Boyd Rd, Neutral Bay, NSW, Australia’, Place ID 105249 |
| ANZAC Rifle Range (Malabar) | Franklin Street, Malabar, NSW | CH Values identified, not yet nominated for listing |
| Commonwealth Offices | 4 Treasury Place, Melbourne, VIC | ‘Commonwealth Offices Building, 4 Treasury Pl, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia’, Place ID 105453 |
| Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law Court | Davey Street, Hobart, TAS | ‘Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law Courts, 39-41 Davey St, Hobart, TAS, Australia’, Place ID 106152 |
| Residence | 13 McMinn Street, Alice Springs, NT | ‘Arid A Type Residence, 13 McMinn St, Alice Springs, NT, Australia’, Place ID 105423 |
| Harry Gibbs Building Commonwealth Law Courts | 119 North Quay, Brisbane, QLD | CH Values identified, not yet nominated for listing |
| John Gorton Building | King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT | ‘John Gorton Building, Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105472 |
| Russell Blocks (HMP managed by Department of Defence) within Russell Precinct Heritage Area |
|
‘Russell Precinct Heritage Area, Sir Thomas Blamey Sq, Russell, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105621 |
| Portion 838 (Jim Jim) and Portion 295 (Cooinda Road) | As listed, NT | CH Values identified, not yet nominated for listing |
| ACT Border Properties | Lot 23, Urayarra, ACT/NSW Portions 223 Portions 224, Goorooyarroo, ACT/NSW |
CH Values identified, not yet nominated for listing |
Table 2. National Land interests that are on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
| Property Name | Property Address | CHL Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Australian Mint (Administration and former Process Building) | 60-66 Denison Street, Deakin, ACT | The Royal Australian Mint, Denison St, Deakin, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 106191 |
| Westridge House and Ground | Banks St, Yarralumla, ACT | ‘Westridge House & Grounds, Banks St, Yarralumla, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105427 |
| West Block | Queen Victoria Terrace, corner Commonwealth Avenue, ACT | ‘West Block and the Dugout, Queen Victoria Tce, Parkes, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105428 |
| East Block Government Offices | Corner of Kings Avenue and Queen Victoria Terrace, ACT | ‘East Block Government Offices, Queen Victoria Tce, Parkes, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105349 |
| Anzac Park East, West and Constitution Avenue Development Site | Parkes, ACT | ‘Parliament House Vista Extension – Portal Buildings, Anzac Pde, Parkes, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105474 |
| Googong Foreshores | London Bridge Road, Burra, NSW | ‘Googong Foreshores Cultural and Geodiversity Heritage Areas, London Bridge Rd, Burra, NSW, Australia’, Place ID 106072 |
| Casey House | Block 1 Section 44, Yarralumla, ACT | ‘Casey House and Garden, 4 Rhodes Pl, Yarralumla, ACT, Australia’, Place ID 105629 |
