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.
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
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
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
Heritage Advisory Service
We offer a free heritage advisory service to property owners which operates on the third Thursday of each month. This is to provide advice on properties in the Heritage Conservation areas as well as individually listed properties. Appointments with Council’s Heritage Advisor may be made by calling (02) 6285 6276.
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, 103KB) 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
Download the guidelines for the Local Heritage Grants(PDF, 103KB)
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.
Nominations for the 2026 awards will open in early 2026.
Each year 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:
- Best maintained heritage property
- Best restoration/development or re use of a Heritage property
-
Historical research, publication or promotion of Local Heritage
The winners of the 2025 Local Heritage Awards were announced on Saturday 17 May at the Frank Pangallo Heritage Library.
Thomas Burridge won Best Maintained Heritage Property for a beautifully maintained and restored cottage in Queanbeyan that contributes to the heritage value of the area.
David Clyde and Suzanne Vink won Best Restoration, Development or Reuse of a Heritage Property for their preservation, enhancement and modernisation of St Joseph’s Convent and fantastic attention to detail throughout.
Jill Clarke and Brian McDonald won Best Historical Research, Publication, or Promotion of Local Heritage for ‘Schools of the Braidwood District’. The document is rigorously researched and builds on previous studies of education in the area including generous illustrations.
Caroline Brusse was highly commended in the Restoration, Development or Reuse of a Heritage Property category for a well-considered restoration of original features in her heritage property.
Sally Bond was highly commended in the Historical Research, Publication, or Promotion of Local Heritage category for her research and associated photographs on display at the Queanbeyan Museum.
2024 Heritage Award winners
- Heritage Award Category 1 - Restoration of a heritage building – Commercial or Residential - Lauren Gundry for Willeroo Homestand
- Heritage Award Category 2 - New building design / Adaptation / Sustainability and Greening of a Heritage Place / Heritage Garden - Dominica and Tim McOwan for a new building design at 1 Rutledge Street
- Heritage Awards Category 3 - Outstanding Promotion / Contribution to Heritage - Timothy Adams for "Carved in Stone: An Examination of Identity in an Early Regional Cemetery"
Slideshow of the winning entries below.
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.