Before Council can introduce a Heritage Overlay, a study needs to be prepared that identifies properties of heritage value which are considered worthy of protection.

We use qualified heritage experts to prepare a study which includes a review of:

• historical information including community nominations
• previous heritage studies
• the National Trust Register
• and Boroondara’s Thematic Environmental History.

The heritage expert will undertake a survey of the study area to look for heritage properties that stand out in the local context in terms of age and architectural quality.

Individual heritage places and precincts comprising groups of heritage properties are identified for further research to determine whether buildings are original.

A detailed assessment of the shortlisted places and precincts is then carried out through historical research, building history, and comparative analysis. The heritage experts carry out their assessment based on the criteria developed by the Heritage Council of Victoria.

Comparative analysis helps to determine whether the threshold of local significance is reached and inclusion in the Heritage Overlay can be justified.

The heritage expert will prepare a heritage citation for each place that provides a brief history of the place, a description, an assessment against the criteria and a statement of significance.

All the information and analysis is then combined into a heritage study report that also includes the study methodology and all heritage citations.

To learn more visit our website.