Cultural Heritage Study Issues Paper - City of Whittlesea

City of Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Strategy
ISSUES PAPER
1 November 2012
Prepared for the City of Whittlesea

ii
© Context Pty Ltd 2012
Project Team:
Louise Honman
Chris Johnston
Report Report Register
Register
This report register documents the development and issue of the report entitled Whittlesea
Cultural Heritage Strategy Draft Issues Paper undertaken by Context Pty Ltd in accordance with
our internal quality management system.
Project
No.
Issue
No.
Notes/description Issue
Date
Issued to
1600 1 Draft issues paper 20/8/2012 Katelyn Stanyer, Sarah
Finlay and Project
Management Group
1600 2 Final issues paper 5/9/2012 Sarah Finlay
1600 3 Issues paper (for circulation) 1/11/2012 Sarah Finlay
Context Context Pty Pty Ltd
Ltd
22 Merri Street, Brunswick 3056
Phone 03 9380 6933
Facsimile 03 9380 4066
Email context@contextpl.com.au
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CONTENT S
INTRODUCTION 1
Our purpose 1
City of Whittlesea 1
Shaping the Strategy 1
Method 2
Shaping a vision 2
Principles 3
Goals/objectives 4
1 Knowing our heritage 4
2 Protecting and managing our heritage 6
3 Supporting and enabling our heritage 9
4 Communicating and promoting our heritage 11
SUMMARY 13
OTHER ISSUES 13
RESOURCES 14
Sources used 14
Background references 14
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
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INTRODUCTION
ISSUES PAPER
Our purpose
The City of Whittlesea is preparing its first Cultural Heritage Strategy. This strategy will be
developed from a combination of research and consultation and articulate Council’s
commitment to cultural heritage by developing a strategic vision, identifying goals and
objectives, and developing strategies and actions. The Cultural Heritage Strategy will integrate
with other Council strategies.
The City of Whittlesea has engaged consultants (Context Pty Ltd) to assist in the preparation
of the Strategy. This issues paper has been prepared following the first round of consultation
and the literature review. Its purpose is to assemble information gathered this far and to put
forward questions that will be discussed in the second round of consultation.
The Cultural Heritage Strategy will build on the achievements already made, and look to the
future to imagine what might be required to meet the needs of Whittlesea in conserving its
unique cultural heritage for current and future generations.
You You are are invited invited to to respond respond respond to to this issues paper by attending attending attending the the Whittlesea Whittlesea Cultural
Cultural
Heritage Heritage Strategy Strategy Community Community Community Workshop Workshop on on Thursday Thursday 22 22 November November 2012, 2012, 11-3pm,
1 3pm,
calling calling 9217 9217 9217 2165 2165 or or emailing emailing emailing heritagestrategy@whittlesea.vic.gov
heritagestrategy@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
heritagestrategy@whittlesea.vic.gov .au .au
City of Whittlesea
A snapshot of the City of Whittlesea shows that the geography, Aboriginal occupation,
settlement patterns and migration have shaped the area. The Wurundjeri wilam people have a
strong connection to the land that they travelled in search of resources, fresh water, food and
shelter; the Plenty River and many creeks offering various types of fish and birdlife. They held
cultural ceremonies and conducted business and trade negotiations at sacred sites. Over 700 of
these sites still exist in the City today, as well as many sacred ‘scarred’ trees.
Approximately 50% of the population is Australian born and the other 50% come from a
diverse range of cultural backgrounds. Major countries of birth are Italy, Greece, Macedonia,
Viet Nam, Malta, Lebanon, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. These
residents have brought aspects of their own cultural heritage to the city over many years, which
contributes greatly to the character and identity of the City of Whittlesea.
The area features a wide range of landforms including the Western Basalt Plains, the Plenty
Valley and the Plenty Ranges. In the north the slopes and valleys of the Great Dividing Range
support both cleared agricultural land and forested areas like Kinglake National Park. These
areas have high habitat value and are part of the Yan Yean, Merri Creek and Plenty River
catchments.
The City of Whittlesea is also an area of high ecological diversity. To the west, the basalt plains
area features highly significant grasslands. There are also many river red gums between 200 and
500 years old in the area.
As a growth municipality, Whittlesea is undergoing rapid change and development. Significant
sites and histories are being impacted and in some instances disappearing. The urban
development of the city is transforming the rural landscape.
Shaping the Strategy
This issues paper contains the following components:
Vision Vision : a draft of some ideas that encompass a statement of significance for Whittlesea’s
heritage and the roles of Council and the community in achieving the vision
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
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Principles Principles: Principles the underpinning values
Goals Goals or or objectives objectives: objectives objectives what needs to be achieved and the desired outcomes under ‘challenges’
for each goal.
Strategies Strategies: Strategies how the goals/objectives will be achieved- these are noted in draft form in ‘shaping
the strategies’ for each goal.
An action plan will also be prepared as part of the Strategy. The action plan would include :
• Programs and initiatives
• Who is responsible for delivery
• Resources needed
• Monitoring and review
Method
The workshops asked the following questions of participants.
• How are we going with heritage now?
• What is going well, and not so well?
• What could a Cultural Heritage Strategy deliver for our communities?
• What are some of the expectations of Council?
• What roles should Council play in cultural heritage?
Discussion was structured around four goals or ‘themes’ based on the Heritage Victoria
Information Guide Local Government Heritage Strategies.
• Knowing: identifying, assessing and documenting heritage places.
• Protecting & Managing: securing statutory protection for significant places, developing
policies and guidelines to assist decision making, appropriate management for Councilowned
heritage places and assets.
• Supporting: that is, providing the support needed by heritage place owners and managers
for example, incentives, advisory services, financial assistance.
• Communicating and promoting: actions to raise awareness and appreciation of the heritage
of the area.
This issues paper provides a summary of the following under each goal:
• Findings and analysis of the literature search incorporated into each of the four strategic
directions.
• A summary of the content of the first consultation sessions with Council officers and
representatives of a range of community groups.
• Starting to shape the vision, principles, goals and strategies from that material.
Shaping a vision
Shaping a vision for cultural heritage may include the following:
For discussion
• A statement of significance for Whittlesea should give a broad interpretation of what
heritage is, and include Aboriginal, natural and cultural heritage both tangible and
intangible for past present and future generations.

ISSUES PAPER
• Heritage is a shared responsibility between Council, referral authorities and the community,
with roles for each. These roles may include Responsible Authority, provider, enabler,
supporter or simply participant.
• That the broad view of heritage is best supported by a ‘whole of Council’ approach that
brings different perspectives to cultural heritage, including planning, arts and culture,
recreation, tourism and economic development.
Principles
The principles or values that underpin the vision may include:
• That cultural heritage is diverse, contemporary, living, inter-woven and changing.
• That cultural heritage may assist in engendering a pride of place for both established and
emerging communities.
• That understanding the many connections to place as documented, acknowledged or
expressed is fundamental to people’s identity and sense of belonging.
Learning about river red gums in Whittlesea. Source City of Whittlesea
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
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Goals/objectives
This section orders the material from the background review and the first consultation session.
It includes achievements, challenges and shaping the strategies under each goal.
1 Knowing our heritage
This This goal goal is is about about improving improving and and extending extending what what we we know know about about the the cultural cultural heritage heritage of
of
Whittlesea. Whittlesea.
Whittlesea.
Achievements
Council strongly acknowledges the importance of Aboriginal, natural and cultural heritage in
Whittlesea, and the role that heritage plays in the formation of identity and a sense of place.
This is reflected in the strategies and plans already completed across a diverse range of areas of
Council activity.
• Council has strategies on a broad range of topics that embrace some aspects of heritage
including Local and Family History, Cultural Collections, River Red Gums, Green Wedge,
Environment, an Integrated Cultural Plan and a Strategic Community Plan.
• A thematic history and heritage studies of both the Indigenous and European settlement
have been completed encompassing broad geographic areas and some precincts or small
sites. Approximately seven hundred places are recorded on the Aboriginal Affairs Victoria
database, including over five hundred artefact scatters, 135 scarred trees, 19 earth features,
12 object collections, three quarries, and one burial and shell deposit identified and
recorded.
• The heritage schedule for Whittlesea lists 88 places on the Heritage Overlay and of those
there are 14 places on the Victorian Heritage register. There are 200 post-contact
archaeological places recorded on the Victorian Heritage Inventory.
• There are recommendations for another 94 places to be added to the Heritage Overlay as a
result of the 2009 heritage study, and an additional 15 sites as a result of the 2010 historical
archaeological study. 1
• The area has a large number of studies of Aboriginal sites and these are listed in the
references. Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs)are prepared prior to changes in
the rural landscape.
• Natural heritage: of the 350 native plant species, 20 are recognised as having state
significance. River Red Gums are a particularly important part of the landscape, have
heritage value and provide habitat and food for native fauna. Sites of national flora and
fauna significance include Craigieburn Grasslands, Bald Hill Grasslands and Hernes
Swamp. 2
• There is a lot of heritage information on existing Council GIS layers, the asset database and
the databases of other agencies such as Aboriginal Affairs, Heritage Victoria etc. but this is
not always accessible by people who need to use it.
• Both Council and the community are keen to work with new and emerging technologies in
order to capture and record knowledge, for example at Farm Vigano stories (oral history) is
being recorded on digital technology.
1 Context Pty Ltd, 2010 Whittlesea Historical Archaeology Study and Context Pty Ltd, 2009
Whittlesea Heritage Study.
2 City of Whittlesea, Draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy, 2012-2022

ISSUES PAPER
• The Cultural Heritage Program, in its thirteenth year of operation has become a vehicle for
sharing knowledge about tangible and intangible heritage, including stories, music, food,
language etc.
• The City’s Cultural Collection is a significant asset, in particular the photograph collection
is an important resource in documenting places at a point in time and in recording changes
to those places.
• In summary there is good knowledge about some aspects of heritage but there are also
significant gaps in the knowledge base. Gaps include key aspects of Whittlesea’s history
such as post war migration history and places, or about history largely hidden from view
such as that of Janefield Colony and Training Centre.
Challenges
The challenges for Council and the community in extending and improving the knowledge
base are about accessibility, responding to new knowledge and emerging ways for recording
knowledge.
• Heritage information already in Council’s own and other databases may often be in a form
that is not easy to use or share. People who may have a direct interest or need for that
knowledge may be unaware of its existence.
• The community often does not know what historical research is being done, by whom and
where it might be accessed. Local libraries do have some local history resources but there is
little co-ordination of their collections and activities.
• A challenge for Council and the community is in understanding the scope and use of new
technologies for capturing and recording knowledge, including using existing Council
databases in a more integrated manner.
• Outside agencies may not necessarily share information with Council resulting in a lack of
co-ordination about activities that may impact on each other. An example is the carrying
out of prescribed burning and cultural heritage surveys, both of which are programmed and
implemented by different agencies.
• There is no recognised process within Council to record new heritage knowledge as it
comes to light, nor for the responsible officers to respond to and use that knowledge.
• Aboriginal and post-contact heritage is connected in many and various ways. Documenting
knowledge within a more seamless and integrated framework is a challenge.
• Addressing knowledge gaps where they occur and when so that Council can respond to
issues in a timely manner.
Shaping the strategies
For discussion
The emerging strategies under the theme of improving and extending heritage knowledge may
include:
• How can existing heritage knowledge be better integrated to provide easier access for
Council officers and the community?
• How might Council respond to new and emerging methods for capturing and recording
heritage knowledge?.
• How might Council build relationships with other agencies to improve and co-ordinate
activities that require the use of heritage knowledge?
• How might Council be involved in the co-ordination of heritage knowledge from other
groups. For example, what is Council’s role in Aboriginal heritage and culture?
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2 Protecting and managing our heritage
This This goal goal is is about about managing managing Whittlesea’s Whittlesea’s cultural cultural heritage heritage responsibly responsibly for for past, past, present
present
and and future future future generations. generations.
generations.
Achievements
The City of Whittlesea plays a major role in the protection and management of heritage places
using the Planning and Environment Act (1987) and the Victorian Planning Provisions to
protect historic and Aboriginal places, environmental and landscape values. The primary tools
of protection in the Planning Scheme are the Heritage Overlay, Significant Landscape Overlay
or Vegetation Protection Overlay. A review of the City of Whittlesea Planning Scheme is an
on-going process and a strengthening of the heritage policy is expected as part of that review.
The Heritage Overlay is effective for buildings, gardens and trees and for objects associated
with places. It is a less effective instrument for protecting collections not necessarily attached
to a particular place. Archaeological sites are automatically protected if over 50 years old, or on
the Victorian Heritage Inventory. Heritage places of state significance are protected under the
Victorian Heritage Act (1995) Aboriginal sites are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act
(2006).
The draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy has urban development and the built
environment as one of its priority areas. Sustainability and heritage can work together in ideas
about identity distinctiveness, community and participation. The direction proposed for the
established areas of Bundoora, Epping, Mill Park, Thomastown and Lalor is that of urban infill
to maximize access to already established facilities.
• The Melbourne Water Cultural Heritage Strategy covers the parts of the Yan Yean and
Maroondah systems within Whittlesea and provides a good overview of the management of
cultural heritage assets, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
• A Green Wedge Management Plan supports a variety of places and activities including
farming, heritage places, scenic landscapes, and parks, as well as settlements supporting rural
living.
• Opportunities arise and are acted on, negotiating for the protection of heritage assets even
when these are not on the Heritage Overlay. This can be effective and result in the
conservation of a heritage place but is time consuming and often reactive.
• Other planning tools are used such as the Development Plan Overlay to seek protection of
specific items in areas of change, for example the protection of river red gums and the Peter
Lalor Home Building Co-operative precinct.
• Some places are very well managed, conserving and interpreting their heritage values, for
example Westgarthtown and Farm Vigano. These places often rely on a partnership with
Council in the form of a ‘Friends’ group and volunteers.
• Places of primarily natural value are protected by the Department of Sustainability and
Environment, and managed through their agency Parks Victoria. These places often
contain layered values of cultural, natural and Aboriginal heritage. In Whittlesea parks
include Plenty Gorge Parklands, Merri Creek Parklands, Craigieburn Grassland Nature
Conservation Reserve, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Kinglake National Park and Toorourrong
Reservoir Park.
Collections
Collections
• The City of Whittlesea owns and manages a Cultural Collection and is guided by the
Cultural Collections Strategy (2008-2012). The Cultural Collection is made up of three
distinct collections, visual art, public art and civic history. The strategy makes
recommendations for the acquisition, conservation, interpretation and display of items in
the collection and is a comprehensive document promoting best practice in management.

ISSUES PAPER
• The Cultural Collection complements other collections the Yarra Plenty Regional Library
(YPRL) History Collection and the Whittlesea Historical Society Inc. Collection. The
Cultural Collections Strategy includes the recommendation for Council to develop a single
electronic catalogue for all three history collections in the municipality.
Challenges
There are many challenges for Whittlesea in the protection and management of heritage places,
collections and intangible heritage, and these are often as a result of the rapidly shifting ruralurban
interface, differences between emerging and settled areas and the rapid pace of change of
the environment and communities.
• Many heritage places have been documented but appropriate resourcing to implement
changes to the Planning Scheme in order to protect them has been a challenge.
• Despite the regulations for the protection of Aboriginal places, these are still being
destroyed as land is developed.
• The rapid rate of change of the rural environment puts pressure on many activities of
Council, including heritage protection and management and finding ways to respond in a
timely manner is difficult.
• Some of the processes for protection and management by other agencies are seen as remote
from Council, and do not involve the community in their implementation.
• Negotiated outcomes with developers are often not as effective as they might be as heritage
assets are rarely complete, and often require substantial work and expenditure to properly
conserve them, find new uses etc. Places may be retained but often there is no immediate
use in mind, or means of funding essential conservation works.
• There is little capacity within Council to enforce the provisions of the Planning and
Environment Act when someone ‘does the wrong thing’, and any breaches form a less than
desirable precedent.
• There is a (correct) perception within the community that Heritage Overlays do not solve
all problems, and there is still more to do to effectively manage a place. Management plans
are rarely done as the resourcing to complete these for all Council-owned heritage places is
limited.
• Funds for resourcing heritage are often in the form of short term projects (12 months or
less) with little commitment to programs over a longer time frame. Grant applications take
time and effort to co-ordinate and prepare.
• Not all place types may be protected equally, for example dry-stone walls, some nonindigenous
vegetation such as nineteenth century hawthorn hedges.
• Heritage planning can sometimes be controversial and even divisive, leading to some
negative perceptions or misunderstandings amongst the community. There has often been
minimal resourcing of public education when implementation does occur, for example the
Peter Lalor Estate planning amendment has caused some anxiety in the community
affected.
• For the community there is a strong perception that ‘heritage places are good spaces’ but
there is some fatigue about constantly having to fight heritage battles to protect these places.
• Protective measures such as Heritage Overlays or Development Plan Overlays need
evaluation to see if they are effective in conserving heritage places, for example there is the
perception that the area of a Vegetation Protection or Development Plan Overlay may not
be large enough in area to protect river red gums.
• The transfer of heritage places to Council or community ownership as part of land
subdivisions may not be planned in advance, creating a situation where use and
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
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management is not always well considered. This is often the solution offered by developers
and Council are forced to make decisions under pressure. The heritage implications may
often be known in advance but not necessarily planned for.
Shaping the strategies
For discussion
The emerging strategies under the theme of protection and management of heritage places
could include:
• How might Council establish longer term (three year plus) programs to protect places
already assessed?
• How might the focus of heritage activities shift to include more management of heritage
places as well as protecting them?
• How can the financial and other responsibilities for heritage management of places be
shared with others, including developers?
• How might Council meet the challenges of change and sustainability as part of protecting
and managing heritage places and giving them an on-going life?
• What public information and education on heritage planning is required to minimize
conflict in the community over the protection of heritage places?
• What might be process for identifying ‘at risk’ aspects of Aboriginal, natural or cultural
heritage and having a ‘quick response’ to their protection and management?
Enjoying Wallaby Creek Weir. Source: City of Whittlesea

ISSUES PAPER
3 Supporting and enabling our heritage
This This goal goal is is about about supporting heritage programs and strengthening strengthening existing existing links between between
Council, Council, heritage heritage groups groups and and the the community.
community.
Achievements
People’s connections to local places are an important contributor to community identity, and
their views contribute to the investigation of significance. Whittlesea currently has a range of
approaches that support community involvement in heritage. A great strength is the City’s
recognition and respect of community heritage values as a key principle.
• The Strategic Community Plan has as one of its key directions – ‘place and spaces to connect
to people’. This involves the recognition of physical and cultural heritage, the
strengthening of the past through local history, and the use of urban design as means of
connecting place and the community.
• The Integrated Cultural Plan has promoted community engagement through cultural
programs including supporting the friends of Westgarthtown (early German settlement),
friends of Farm Vigano (early Italian settlement), representatives from the Aboriginal
community (sites of Aboriginal significance, NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week),
Whittlesea Chinese Association (early Chinese settlement), etc.
• The Cultural Heritage Program of events is a highly successful partnership between Council
and the community, has been running for thirteen years and has a broad and inclusive view
of heritage, including living and intangible heritage.
• The Cultural Collection Strategy encourages the engaging of culturally diverse communities,
collecting evidence of the constantly changing municipality, and artistic expressions of that
connection to place.
• The Local and Family History Strategy undertaken by Yarra Plenty Regional Library deals
with the use and accessibility of collections, creating local content, developing, promoting
and maintaining collections.
• Council provides support and advocacy to community heritage groups through its Cultural
Heritage officer.
• There is financial support for some Council–owned places, and this is provided through
community groups. An example is funding for works to Ziebell’s farmhouse.
• Whittlesea has a part-time Heritage Advisory Service, primarily involved in the statutory
planning area on a limited basis and advising on development proposals.
Challenges
The main challenges for supporting heritage appear to be:
• Effectively resourcing and supporting community organisations to care for their heritage.
• Providing funding and resources for community initiatives that celebrate diverse aspects of
heritage, including opportunities for young people to engage.
• Preparing, co-ordinating and assisting in grant applications across a range of government
agencies that support heritage and community development programs.
• Making new links between heritage places and new uses, for example the use of the
Whittlesea Showgrounds for the Mernda Markets.
• Finding ways to foster local expressions of heritage such as the continuation and teaching of
local traditions, languages, crafts, building techniques etc.
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
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• Encouraging community participation in local planning and decision making , especially by
under-represented and socially excluded groups. For example there is no central place for
Aboriginal people to gather where living culture can be strengthened.
• Some ‘living cultures’ are supported through the provision of spaces for various cultural
groups to gather. This is often around churches, social clubs or sport but may include other
places. This is not necessarily provided for all groups, including places for Aboriginal
people.
• Resourcing for heritage planning is difficult without a planner dedicated to this task.
Shaping the strategies
For discussion
The emerging strategies under the theme of supporting heritage could include:
• What kinds of partnerships are possible and desirable between Council and the community?
• To what extent is Council an enabler or supporter of heritage?
• To what extent can heritage gain leverage and increased support in Council through its
links with other strategies and programs?
• What resources are required to further support heritage, including tools, processes, capacity
and roles?
• What facilities does Whittlesea need to conserve and interpret its collections.
• To what extent can Whittlesea provide all or most of the functions of the Heritage Advisory
Service defined by Heritage Victoria?
Exploring Bear's Castle Yan Yean. Source: City of Whittlesea

4 Communicating and promoting our heritage
This This goal goal is is about about using using existing existing information information effectively, effectively, effectively, developing developing and and sharing
sharing
information information information about about about heritage heritage across Council Council, Council
and and with with the the community.
community.
ISSUES PAPER
Achievements
Good communication both within and across Council is important. It is also important in
working with community organisations.
Heritage Victoria has been pro-active in education through local government seminars and in
publishing a wide range of materials on aspects of owning, managing and conserving heritage
places, objects and collections. A key part of their role is supporting local government through
information, tools, guidelines and funding for heritage places.
There are many opportunities provided by the City of Whittlesea to inform and engage the
wider community through events, exhibitions, talks, and a wide range of artistic expression.
• The Integrated Cultural Plan has guided the development of the Cultural Heritage Program
where events are important ways of sharing knowledge and celebrating heritage. The
Cultural Heritage Program is especially effective in the promotion of heritage as it keeps
places alive and forges links with tourism and economic development. This is a particular
strength at Whittlesea.
• Whittlesea’s Cultural Collection encompassing public art, visual art and civic history is an
important vehicle for the promotion of heritage and can be used in many ways to both
communicate and promote heritage and the expression of heritage.
• The Planning Scheme, Strategic Community Plan and Green Wedge Management Plan
encourages the linking of places and spaces to people, and this is already embedded in
Council activities. Active promotion of heritage through a variety of plans and strategies is a
strength.
• Existing programs such as Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries local history blog, local history
month and publications such as the history of the Peter Lalor Home Building Co-operative
are initiatives that assist in promoting heritage.
• The rapidly changing rural environment provides opportunities to use interpretation as an
integral part of new sub-divisions and land developments. This does have the potential to
engage new communities in their heritage as well as preserving either the actual place or the
memory of the place, if not the actual building, stone wall or artefact.
• There are opportunities to leverage heritage promotion with other Council initiatives
including the sustainability events program, and tourism promotion.
• Parks Victoria has a strong presence in Whittlesea, managing six parks and reserves, several
of which promote cultural heritage assets such as at Hawkestowe, Yan Yean and
Toorourrong Reservoirs.
• An photography and memorabilia exhibition was presented in 2012 to correspond with the
completion of the book on the Peter Lalor Home Building Co-operative 1946-2012 by Moira
Scollay; and Lalor, the Making of a Suburb.
Challenges
Community awareness and knowledge is crucial to the success of any strategy. Equally
important is the establishment of good internal communication within different Council areas.
Some of the challenges for communicating and promoting heritage might include:
• Some heritage knowledge may be lost when people leave their positions within Council or
in community heritage groups.
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
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• Internal governance issues within Council may not support the effective coordination and
delivery of heritage programs, or there may be duplication of effort.
• Finding good ways of listening and responding to community concerns about heritage
issues. This includes different people’s interests, who has access to certain knowledge (and
can share it), and how new ideas or initiatives can be promoted.
• Obtaining resources to undertake activities and promote local history in a co-ordinated and
engaging manner.
• Understanding what people value and why they value it is important, particularly in
heritage planning. The planning process is not seen as an inclusive one and can often be
seen as overly bureaucratic and potentially used for political ends.
• Learning through experience (both good and bad), but particularly by showing positive
examples of heritage in action. This is important in altering negative perceptions.
• There is no strategy for place naming in Whittlesea.
Shaping the strategies
For discussion
The emerging strategies under the theme of communicating and promoting heritage could
include:
• Does Council have effective ways of listening and responding to community interests or
concerns about heritage issues?
• What are the key messages that we want to communicate now and in the future? What is it
that people might want to know about heritage in the future?
• Where are good heritage outcomes, and what are the messages that can be communicated
from these?
• Are we actively supporting the sharing of knowledge through government programs such as
the Heritage Advisory Service, information systems and the display and interpretation of
our collections?
• How do new localities acknowledge their history in the naming of places?
Dry stone walls marking the landscape. Source City of Whittlesea

SUMMARY
Some of the big ideas or questions to consider also include:
OTHER ISSUES
• What is heritage and whose heritage is it?
ISSUES PAPER
• What do we as a community celebrate, protect or express now and how might this change
in the future?
• Can a Cultural Heritage Strategy be the glue that ties other strategies together?
• What might be a good governance model within Council to link heritage activities? Who is
responsible or accountable?
• What is Council’s role in collaboration with the community? Is Council a supporter or an
enabler, or both, depending on the situation?
• How can Council respond more quickly to situations that need quick action?
• How can Council facilitate good communication or knowledge sharing?
• Is heritage seen as a ‘silo’ or does it link with other activities of Council? If linking is to be
promoted, how might this be achieved?
• How can we as a community seek to understand attachments and multiple connections to
place, including Aboriginal, family, pastoral, and other attachments that may be hidden?
How can these attachments be reflected in the way heritage places are protected or
managed?
Your Your ideas ideas ideas are are welcomed welcomed
welcomed
There are many issues associated with the stewardship of Whittlesea’s heritage. This paper
highlights some issues and challenges. It is designed to start discussion, not to provide all the
answers.
In responding to this paper don’t feel constrained to the topics covered – there may be other
topics that are more important to you. We want to hear about the issues, challenges and
directions for Whittlesea’s heritage in the future.
Everyone’s experience will help build a more complete and robust Strategy and your thoughts
are welcome.
You You are are invited invited to to respond respond to to this this issues issues paper paper by by attending attending the the Whittlesea Whittlesea Cultural
Cultural
Heritage Heritage Strategy Strategy Community Community Workshop Workshop on on Thursday Thursday 22 22 November November 2012, 2012, 11-3pm,
1 3pm,
call calling call
ing 9217 9217 2165 2165 or or or emailing emailing heritagestrategy@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
heritagestrategy@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
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CULTURAL HERITAGE STRATEGY
RESOURCES
14
Sources used
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria 2012. Available from ULR:
http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/indigenous/. Accessed 13 August 2012. Department of Planning
and Community Development.
City of Whittlesea , Cultural Collection Strategy, 2008-2012
City of Whittlesea, Draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy, 2012-2022
City of Whittlesea, Life Stories, Local and Family History Strategic Framework, 2011-2016
City of Whittlesea, Green Wedge Management Plan 2011-2021
City of Whittlesea, Strategic Community Plan 2025
City of Whittlesea, Integrated Cultural Plan, 2006-2010
City of Whittlesea, Local Conservation Strategy, 2000
City of Whittlesea Planning Scheme, River Red Gum Protection Policy
City of Whittlesea, John Patrick Pty Ltd, Street Tree Master Plan, 2000
Context, Whittlesea Heritage Study, 2009
Context, Whittlesea Historical Archaeology Study, 2010
Heritage Victoria, 2010 Local Government Heritage Strategies Information Guide
Murphy, A, 1996. North West Wurundjeri Area, Stage Two, Regional Aboriginal
Archaeological Heritage Study. Report to the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Conservation and
Cultural Heritage Council.
Melbourne Water, Preserving and promoting our cultural heritage, Cultural Heritage Strategy
2008-2011
http://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/about-whittlesea/our-aboriginal-history-wurundjeri-story
Victorian Heritage Council, Victorian Heritage Strategy, Strengthening our communities, 2005-
2010
Background references
Clark, I.D. 1990. Aboriginal Languages and Clans: An Historical Atlas of Western and Central
Victoria, 1800-1900. Monash Publications in Geography, Number 37. Department of
Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Melbourne.
Du Cros, H and D. Rhodes. 1998. An Assessment of Aboriginal Archaeological Sensitivity of the
Waterways and Floodplains of the Greater Melbourne Area. Report to Melbourne Water
Corporation.
Ecology Partners and Vincent Clark, 2006. Whittlesea Transit Corridor Project, Railway Reserve
Keon Park to Whittlesea Station. Unpublished report.
Ellender, I. 1989. The Plenty Valley Corridor. The Archaeological Survey of Aboriginal Sites.
Unpublished report for the Victorian Archaeological Survey and the Ministry for Planning and
Environment.
Ellender, I. 1998. The Riverside Reserve, South Morang an archaeological assessment of heritage
values. Isabel Ellender.
Ellender, I. 1990. The Middle Yarra. An Archaeological Survey. A report to the Victorian
Archaeological Survey and the Department of Planning and Urban Growth.

ISSUES PAPER
Ellender, I. 1991. Regional Archaeological Investigation of the Plenty Valley Corridor. Occasional
Report 40.
Ellender, I. 1996. The South Morang Local Structure Plan Area : An Archaeological Survey of
Aboriginal Sites. Report prepared for the City of Whittlesea Council.
Hall, R. 1989. Merri Creek Parklands Aboriginal and Historical Heritage Study. Report
prepared for the Merri Creek Bicentennial Committee and the Board of Works.
Hicks, P. 1991. Whittlesea Heritage Study. Report prepared by Meredith Gould Architects.
Holdaway, S. and N. Stern, 2007. A Record in Stone. The Study of Australia’s Flaked Stone
Artefacts. Museum Victoria Publishing, Melbourne.
Light, A. and Associates, 2002. Land Holding 3, Kelvin Grove Estate, Whittlesea. Report
prepared for Lawlor and Loy Pty. Ltd.
Marshall, B. 1998. An archaeological survey of Mill Park Lakes Residential Development,
South Morang. Report prepared for Silverton Limited.
Murphy, A and L. Amoris. 2007. Lots 65 and 10 Ridge Road Whittlesea, Cultural Heritage
Assessment. Unpublished report.
Nicolson, O. 2006. An archaeological and heritage survey of land west of Plenty Road, South
Morang, Victoria. Report prepared for Coomes Consultant Group.
Presland, G. 2008. The Place for a Village. How Nature has Shaped the City of Melbourne.
Museum Victoria Publishing, Melbourne.
Schell, P. 1999a. Northwood Residential Subdivision; Cultural Heritage Study. A report to
Coomes Consulting Pty Ltd.
Schell, P. 1999b. Oakbank Residential Subdivision; Cultural Heritage Study. A report to
Kinwest Pty. Ltd.
Schell, P. 2002. Proposed Whittlesea Effluent Re-use Site. Unpublished report.
Scollay, M. 2012 Lalor, The Peter Lalor Home Building Co-operative 1946-2012
Tardis Enterprises 2003. Yea Road/Whittlesea Rd Flowerdale. Unpublished report.
Thompson, M. 2003. An Archaeological Survey of a Property North of Grants Road, Whittlesea.
Report prepared for Coomes Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Weaver, F. 1991. The Lower Plenty River Archaeological Survey: A Survey for Aboriginal and
Historical Archaeological Sites, forming the Heritage Component of the Lower Plenty River Concept
Plan. A report to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works.
Weaver, F. 1992. The Lower Darebin Creek archaeological survey a survey for aboriginal and
historic archaeological sites, forming the heritage component of the Darebin Creek Concept Plan.
Report prepared for Melbourne Water.
Webb, C. 1997. An archaeological survey of a proposed sewer line in the Gresswell Forest. Report
prepared for K.A. Reed and Co. Pty.
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