TAG 166 - Geological Society of Australia

Society UpdateHeritage MattersAustralia is well known as being both the Earth’s largestisland and its smallest continent. However, whileAustralia is unique from this geographic perspective, italso is unique in that it has its own story to tell both geologically(ie, as Australia’s geoheritage) and culturally. From a culturalperspective, since 1788, Australia’s founding forefathers, prior tothe minerals boom, established colonies where there was drinkingwater, soils suitable for agriculture and building materials. Thefocus of the Heritage Matters column in this issue of TAG is theformal recognition of ‘heritage building stone’ as a new aspectof geological heritage.Heritage Stone Task GroupDuring the recent International Geological Congress in Brisbane,the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) recogniseda new aspect of geoheritage with the formal establishment ofa Heritage Stone Task Group (HSTG). The HSTG is the firstinternational grouping of geologists under the auspices of theIUGS to consider building stone and ornamental rocks, otherwiseknown as ‘dimension stone’.The initial purpose of the group is to provide a working frameworkthat facilitates international designation of those naturalstone products that have achieved widespread use over asignificant historical period with due recognition in humanculture, and hence its geoheritage aspect.Global Heritage Stone ResourceFrom an Australian perspective, designated stones could includethe ‘Sydney Sandstone’ or ‘Victorian Bluestone’. Internationally,among many examples, there is the famous ‘Carrara Marble’ inItaly. The widely known ‘Portland Limestone’ from southernEngland was used for St Paul’s Cathedral in London and the UNbuilding in New York City.Following formal approval of published research citations,designated dimension stone materials of international significancewill be accorded status as a Global Heritage StoneResource (GHSR). The term ‘World Heritage Stone Resource’ wasfirst suggested but later rejected.As part of the GHSR designation process, provision is madefor associated formal recognition of specified features characterisingnatural stone resources such as:l recognising a formal name for the designated stonel defining the natural source of the stonel tabulating the technical characteristics of the material.Potential applications of this new designation have excited significantinterest especially among European geologists. In Europeit has been suggested that the GHSR designation will assistsafeguarding in-ground heritage stone resources and willfacilitate prevention of inferior stone substitutes being used inthe restoration of heritage constructions.The newly appointed HSTG Board of Management has therole of:l establishing a standing list of potential GHSR candidatesl soliciting draft citations for GHSR status and facilitatingresearch papers discussing these citationsl approving citations for designated GHSR status ordesignating, as an alternative to GHSR status, a heritagestone that has national or regional significance.Given that all rocks that are quarried as dimension stone havepotential heritage status, a long-term objective of HSTG willlikely be the preparation of an International Guide to HeritageStone Designation. In the HSTG Terms of Reference, there hasbeen advice that a GHSR may be recognised if the natural stoneunder consideration has most of the following attributes:l historic use for at least 50 yearsl wide-ranging geographic applicationl use in significant public or industrial projectsl common recognition as a cultural icon, potentially includingassociation with national identity or a significant individualcontribution to architecturel ongoing availability of material for quarryingl potential benefits (cultural, scientific, architectural,environmental and/or commercial) arising from GHSRdesignation.A GHSR may include natural stone that is currently beingquarried, natural stone that is primarily of heritage significance,or natural stone of archaeological importance. Currently, theHSTG is still at a formative stage. However, a HSTG Board ofManagement was established at the 34th IGC and plans are beingmade to hold a second meeting in Vienna in April 2013 aspart of the annual European Geological Union conference.Portland Block Stone. Image courtesy Portland Stone Firms Limited, UK athttp://www.stonefirms.com.TAG March 2013| 11