Commonwealth National Heritage List

In 2004, a new heritage management system was introduced by the Commonwealth Government to protect Australia’s heritage places. Key elements are amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwth), which include explicit requirements for cultural heritage protection, the creation of an Australian National Heritage List and a Commonwealth Heritage List and the establishment of the Australian Heritage Council under the Australian Heritage Council Act 2003. The Register of the National Estate has been retained but will lose its statutory power.

The National Heritage List is to include a small number of places of outstanding heritage significance to Australia.