Heritage

1. Heritage in Queanbeyan-Palerang

Our Local Government Area has many items of both local and State heritage significance, reflecting the rich indigenous and non-indigenous history of the region.

The townships of Queanbeyan, Braidwood and Bungendore in particular are representative of early settlement in the area, driven by opportunities for farming and then by the discovery of gold in the district.  This history is particularly relevant when contrasted with the planned development of Canberra as the national capital during the 1900’s.

2. Heritage Listings

Local government is primarily responsible for managing local heritage items in NSW, mainly by the listing of these items in local planning controls (known as Local Environmental Plans or LEPs) under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979.

These plans contain schedules or lists of properties, buildings, places, etc considered to be of ‘local significance’.  The lists or schedules are statutory lists meaning that the provisions or clauses in the plan relating to these lists can be legally enforced.

The aim of having such lists is to ensure the conservation of items which are considered to be significant to the local community, although the relative level of significance of each item may differ considerably.

Download the list of heritage items(PDF, 107KB)

Heritage items can also be of ‘state significance’ in which case they are listed on the NSW Heritage Register by the NSW Heritage Council under the Heritage Act 1977.  This is also the case for the State listed conservation area that applies to Braidwood and its surrounds.

Link to NSW Heritage Office (OEH) -   http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/heritage

3. Undertaking Development Involving Heritage Items Or Within Heritage Conservation Areas

Minor Works to Heritage Item

Where proposed work is of a minor nature only, owners may request written authorisation to undertake minor works and/or maintenance to a heritage item or a place with a heritage conservation area without consent as provided for under Clause 5.10(3) of Council’s local environmental plan (see below).

State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes - SEPP) 2008 identifies types of development that are of minimal environmental impact that may be carried out without the need for development consent. However, a number of sections within the SEPP exclude development from being “Exempt” because the site contains a heritage item or is located within a heritage conservation area.

Council may still consider these works to a heritage item or within a conservation area provided the applicant has advised Council in writing  and a written response has been provided, by the consent authority, prior to the commencement of any work. This is a free service.

The works must be considered by the consent authority to be:

  • Works of a minor nature or for maintenance; and
  • Would not adversely affect the significance of a heritage item or heritage conservation area.

You can complete the application for minor heritage works here

Significant Works to Heritage

More significant work to heritage items, or buildings within a heritage conservation area, will require the consent of the Council before it can be undertaken.  Applicants are encouraged to begin discussions about any proposed work with Council staff at the earliest instance.

Where useful, homeowners may request a free meeting with Council’s respective heritage advisors who can assist in ensuring any work is done in a manner that maintains any heritage values.

Clause 5.10 of Council’s respective LEPs sets out the provisions in respect of development involving heritage items or within heritage conservation areas.  

View the heritage conservation information for the QPRC LEP

4. Confirming Heritage & Other Planning Information

A planning certificate (also called zoning certificate) under section 10.7 of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 should be obtained to confirm the planning details (including zoning and heritage) applying to your property.

A planning certificate will state whether your property is a heritage item or within a conservation area.

You can apply for a planning certificate here. https://www.qprc.nsw.gov.au/Building-Development/Planning-Zoning/Planning-certificates

5. What Assistance is Available to Owners of Heritage Items?

Heritage Advisory Service

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) offers a free heritage advisory service to owners of heritage items or properties located within heritage conservation areas (jointly funded by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage).  This service is available on the second Thursday of the month for Braidwood and surrounding area and the third Thursday of each month for Queanbeyan and surrounding area. 

Special Heritage Fund

The Special Heritage Fund has been suspended for the financial years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. 

Local Heritage Places Grants

In conjunction with the NSW Heritage Office, a Local Heritage Places Fund has been established by Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.  This provides grants for work on heritage properties including those listed in one of the applicable local environmental plans, or on the State Heritage Register as it applies to Braidwood, or to properties within a heritage conservation area in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Local Government Area.  The aim of the fund is to encourage and support as much positive work on heritage items as possible. 

Each year Council offers Heritage Grants with the support of the NSW Heritage Office. These grants help residents with works to preserve their heritage buildings.

Eligible properties may be:

  • listed in one of the applicable local environmental plans
  • on the State Heritage Register as it applies to Braidwood
  • or within a heritage conservation area in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Local Government Area

Make sure you read the grant guidelines(PDF, 239KB)  and apply through the webform below. For more information or to ask specific questions you can get in touch with our Land-Use Planning Team on (02) 6285 6276 or email landuseadmin@qprc.nsw.gov.au

Applications for the 2023-24 grants have now closed.

Download the guidelines for the Local Heritage Grants(PDF, 239KB)

The Benefits of Owning a Property Listed as an Item of Environmental Heritage

Further information on what a heritage listing means to a property owner is available from the publication Heritage Listing Explained - what it means for you published by the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage and available here

6. Local Heritage Awards

Nominations have now closed or the 2024 awards. Nominations for the 2025 awards will open late 2024.

Owners of local heritage places and other interested members of the public are invited to nominate projects that have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation, education or promotion of heritage within the local government area. Nominations may be submitted by the property owner or any other member of the community.

There are three award categories:

  1. Heritage Award Category 1 - Restoration of a heritage building – Commercial or Residential.
  2. Heritage Award Category 2 - New building design / Adaptation / Sustainability and Greening of a Heritage Place / Heritage Garden.
  3. Heritage Awards Category 3 - Outstanding Promotion / Contribution to Heritage.

What Heritage Projects are Eligible?

Applicants entering the first two categories should address the following:

  • Building works must have been undertaken on a listed local heritage item or an item located in an identified Heritage Conservation Area.
  • Works must have been completed in the last three years.
  • Work must be sympathetic to the original building fabric and to the context of the surrounding area.
  • The works should provide for ongoing positive use/reuse of the heritage item.
  • Be located in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Local Government Area.
  • Ensure that the property is privately (non-government) owned.
  • Have received Council approval or be exempt development.

Applicants entering the third category should address the following:

  • Contribution to the education and/or promotion of local heritage in Queanbeyan-Palerang Local Government Area. This may include research, scholarship, photography, artworks, recordings, books or restoration of heritage objects etc.
  • This category also includes any tradesperson who has done outstanding work on a heritage property or property located in a Heritage Conservation Area.

Supporting Information

Nominations for the first two categories, must supply a 20cm x 15cm (approx.) colour photograph of the completed project and, where possible, a photograph of the site prior to works taking place.

Any contextual historical information about the site or work is encouraged as well as a brief of no more than a page describing the works and how they meet the category description and guidelines.

All submissions remain the property of Council and photographs may be used to promote heritage in the local area. Please indicate on the application form if you agree for this to occur.

Judging and Announcement of Awards

It is expected that nominations will be competitive and there is no guarantee you will win an award if you submit an application. The decision of the judging panel will be final and details regarding individual scores for applications will not be made public. By entering the awards you agree to these conditions.

The judging of the nominations will be supervised by representatives from Council’s QPRC Heritage Advisory Committee. The results will be announced and presented during Council’s Heritage Festival celebrations in late April 2024 at a venue to be confirmed – all nominees and applicants will be invited to attend these awards

Winning Nominations

  • Heritage Award Category 1 winner will be awarded $1,000 cash prize plus a framed certificate.
  • Heritage Award Category 2 winner will be awarded $1,000 cash prize plus a framed certificate.
  • Heritage Award Category 3 winner will be awarded a framed certificate.
  • Nominations that are Highly Commended by the judging panel will be awarded a framed certificate.

2022 Local Heritage Award winners

The winners of 2022 Local Heritage Award winners were announced at the Braidwood Museum on Saturday 30 April.

Heritage Awards Category 1 – Restoration of a heritage building – Commercial or Residential

  • Winner - Joanna Nikolic, 4 Alice Street, Queanbeyan
  • Highly commended - Jamie Raynolds and Bonnie Daniel for The Royal Hotel Braidwood

Heritage Award Category 2 – New building / Adaptation / Heritage Garden

  • Winner - Douglas Taupin - for his garden at 71 Cameron Road, Queanbeyan
  • Highly commended - Jeffrey Roy Burnell - for his garden at 5 Albert Street, Queanbeyan

Heritage Award Category 3 – Outstanding Promotion / Contribution to Heritage

  • Winner - Create Collaborate Collection Inc for the exhibition Connee-Colleen - Queanbeyan Character
  • Daniel Evans for his celebration of heritage-focused building work Tim Adams for his thesis including stories from Riverside Cemetery
  • Katrina Blazey for her Instagram page coolqueanbeyan


7. Further Information

For further information regarding any of the heritage matters heritage above please contact our Land-Use Planning Team on (02) 6285 6276 or emailing landuseadmin@qprc.nsw.gov.au.