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Draft Local Heritage Survey - Public Comment Open

Project Overview

online community engagement

Have Your Say on Bunbury’s Heritage

The City of Bunbury is inviting community feedback on the Draft Local Heritage Survey (LHS).The survey identifies places, buildings and stories that are important to Bunbury’s history. This review combines and updates the City’s previous surveys (2001 and 2023) in line with current legislation and State guidelines.

View the draft Local Heritage Survey here

Earlier this year, the City invited the community to nominate places for inclusion and provide feedback on existing heritage listings. Thank you to everyone who contributed, your input has helped shape the draft survey now available for public comment.

As part of this review, the City has:

  • Considered community nominations and updated historical information
  • Reassessed all places using current heritage criteria and guidelines
  • Improved First Nations inclusion with the overall Local Heritage Survey

Submit your nomination or feedback using the form below, or download the printable version from the Project Document Library - email it to info@bunbury.wa.gov.au, or drop it off at our Administration Building, 4 Stephen Street, Bunbury.Have your say by Tuesday 25 August 2026.

About the review

All local governments in Western Australia are required to maintain a Local Heritage Survey under the Heritage Act 2018. This review aims to:

  • Align the survey with the Local Heritage Survey Guidelines (2022)
  • Combine the 2001 and 2023 surveys into one document
  • Ensure information is accurate and up to date
  • Reassess the significance of heritage places using current criteria

The Local Heritage Survey plays an important role in telling the story of Bunbury - capturing how the City has grown, the people and places that have shaped it, and what the community values today.

Community feedback is an essential part of this process. It helps ensure that local knowledge is reflected in the survey and that significant places are recognised appropriately.

 

What this means for property owners

If your property is included in the draft survey, you may notice changes such as a different management category, a new inclusion, or a recommendation for removal. These changes reflect updated assessments based on current guidelines, improved research, and a broader understanding of heritage significance across the city. Property owners whose properties are affected by these changes have been contacted directly by the City with information specific to their property.

It is important to note that the Local Heritage Survey is non-statutory. This means it does not place restrictions on your property or provide heritage protection. Instead, it is used as a reference to help guide future decision-making around heritage planning.

This may include consideration for inclusion on the Local Heritage List, within a Heritage Area, or on the State Register of Heritage Places. Any future changes of this nature would be subject to separate consultation.

 

Management categories explained

Places in the survey are assigned a management category based on their level of significance:

Category 1 – Exceptional
Essential to the heritage of the City of Bunbury.  Rare or outstanding example. Recommended for inclusion on the Local Heritage List; and recommended for nomination on the State Register of Heritage Places

Category 2 – Considerable
Very important to the heritage of the City of Bunbury. Recommended for inclusion on the Local Heritage List

Category 3 – Some/Moderate
Contributes to the heritage of the City of Bunbury. Recommended for inclusion on the Local Heritage List

Category 4 – Little
Has elements or values worth noting for community interest but, otherwise makes a relatively minor contribution to an understanding and appreciation of the cultural heritage of the City of Bunbury. Not recommended for inclusion on the Local Heritage List.

 

How heritage significance is assessed

Places are assessed using:

  • State Heritage assessment guidelines (2022)
  • The Burra Charter, a national standard for heritage practice

Assessment considers aesthetic value (appearance), historic value, scientific value, social value and spiritual value.

 

Have your say

We encourage all community members and property owners to provide feedback via the survey below by Tuesday 25 August 2026.  Your input will help ensure Bunbury’s Local Heritage Survey reflects the places, stories and history that matter most to the community.

Once submissions close, all feedback will be carefully reviewed by City officers and heritage consultants. Submissions will be considered by the Heritage Advisory Committee and recommendations will be presented to Council, where council will determine the final Local Heritage Survey.

Following adoption, the City will begin a separate review of the Local Heritage List and may also update Local Planning Policy 6.2. Any proposed changes at that stage will be subject to further community consultation.

Project Document Library

FAQ

A Local Heritage Survey (LHS), formerly known as a Municipal Heritage Inventory, is a document that contains the history of a local government area and information on places that have been identified as being of cultural heritage significance to that area.

Under the Heritage Act 2018, the purposes of a Local Heritage Survey are to:

  • Identify and record places that are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance
  • Assist the local government to make decisions that are in harmony with cultural heritage values
  • Provide a cultural and historical record of the area
  • Create an accessible public record of places with cultural heritage importance
  • Help prepare a Local Heritage List or heritage areas under the local planning scheme

Important: The Local Heritage Survey is a non-statutory document and does not in itself provide statutory heritage protection to properties.

The Heritage Act 2018 requires all local governments in Western Australia to prepare and maintain a Local Heritage Survey in accordance with the State’s Local Heritage Survey Guidelines (2022).

These guidelines recommend that regional local governments review their survey every 10 - 15 years.

The City’s current survey was:

  • Originally adopted in 2001 (before the current guidelines)
  • Partially updated in 2023 (additional places only, without a full review)

This review aims to align the survey with current State guidelines, reassess the suitability of the 2001 recommendations, and combine the 2001 and 2023 information into one document.

Each place in the Local Heritage Survey is assigned a management category, which reflects its level of heritage significance. This ranges from Category 1 (highest significance) to Category 4 (lowest significance).

A place’s significance is assessed using:

  • The State’s Assessment of Local Heritage Places Guidelines (2022) - These guidelines provide a standard method for assessing places across Western Australia, including what criteria to consider and how to apply them.
  • The Burra Charter - This is a nationally recognised guide used across Australia to assess and manage heritage places. It ensures decisions are based on a clear understanding of why a place is important before any recommendations are made.

These consider, aesthetic value (appearance), historic value, scientific value, social value, and spiritual value.

The 2001 survey used different categories, including:

  • RHP – Register of Heritage Places
  • TPS – Town Planning Scheme
  • R&C – Retain and Conserve
  • ADA – Assess at Development Application stage
  • H – Historic Site
  • S – Site

Some places are important because of historical events or former buildings, even if no structures remain.  A Category 5 – Historic Site is used to recognise these locations. This means:

  • The site has historical significance
  • Current buildings on the land are not part of that significance

While Category 5 is not included in the State guidelines, some local governments use it to clearly identify historic sites.

The Local Heritage Survey itself does not provide heritage protection. Heritage protection may apply through:

  • The Local Heritage List
  • Inclusion within a Local Heritage Area
  • Recommended for inclusion on the State Register of Heritage Places

The Local Heritage Survey helps inform which places may be considered for these protections. After the Local Heritage Survey is finalised, the City will review the Local Heritage List. This review may consider feedback received during the LHS consultation and may also include a review of Local Planning Policy 6.2.

There are no direct financial benefits for being included in the Local Heritage Survey. However, if a property is formally heritage-listed (for example, on the Local Heritage List, in a Heritage Area, or on the State Register), the following may apply:

  • A rates concession may be available to support approved conservation works.
  • Development application fees may be waived (where approval is only required due to heritage listing)
  • Free heritage advice from the City to assist with preliminary information on proposals or works schedules
  • Places listed on the State Register may be eligible for grants through the State Heritage Council’s annual Heritage Grants Program.

Everyone, including property owners and community members, is invited to provide feedback. All submissions will:

  1. Be reviewed by City officers and heritage consultants
  2. Be presented to the Heritage Advisory Committee
  3. Inform recommendations to Council

Council will make the final decision on the updated Local Heritage Survey.

Members of the public may also request to make a deputation at the Council meeting where the LHS is considered.

Who's Listening

  • Philip Diamond

    City of Bunbury

    Planning Officer Heritage & Statutory

    info@bunbury.wa.gov.au

     

The City of Bunbury acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Noongar Wardandi people and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.