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                    Heritage studies and reviews

                    Building with arched windows and entrace
                    As Melbourne continues to grow and change, recognising and protecting the social and architectural heritage that defines our streets and neighbourhoods is an essential part of our planning work.

                    ​Our planning controls, detailed in the Melbourne Planning Scheme, protect individual buildings and precincts of heritage significance.  

                    We conduct heritage assessments and reviews to ensure that buildings, precincts and streetscapes of heritage significance are protected as the city grows and changes. Based on these studies we have proposed changes to the planning scheme that create new heritage precincts, recommend some properties for protection and revise some existing categories.

                    Our heritage reviews include assessing an area’s built heritage, considering everything from Victorian to post-war architecture. We consider the social and historical values of the area, and develop a detailed Thematic Environmental History as part of the review. We also engage with the relevant Registered Aboriginal Party and develop a report into the area’s Aboriginal cultural values.

                    Current heritage reviews and amendments

                    Parkville

                    The Parkville Heritage Review is currently underway. We expect to begin the planning scheme amendment for Parkville in the first half of 2023. We consulted with the community early in the review and you can read more about that at Parkville Heritage Review.

                    South Yarra Heritage Review - Amendment C426

                    We have reviewed the heritage of South Yarra to better understand its physical and cultural heritage and find out what makes it unique. Amendment C426 is currently undergoing a planning scheme amendment process. For more information, visit South Yarra Heritage Review.

                    North Melbourne Heritage Review - Amendment C403

                    The North Melbourne Heritage Review is implemented by Amendment C403 which is currently undergoing a planning scheme amendment. You can read more about the North Melbourne Heritage Review by visiting North Melbourne Heritage Review.

                    Carlton Heritage Review and Punt Road Oval - Amendment C405:

                    The Carlton Heritage Review is implemented by Amendment C405 which is currently undergoing a planning scheme amendment. To read more about the Carlton & Punt Road Oval Review please visit Amendment overview.

                    Past heritage reviews

                    Hoddle Grid Heritage Review – Amendment C387

                    The City of Melbourne recently completed the Hoddle Grid Heritage Review the most comprehensive review of heritage buildings within the Hoddle Grid since the 1990s. The Hoddle Grid was laid out by surveyor Robert Hoddle in 1837 and remains the heart of Melbourne.

                    The independent review of more than 1000 buildings took a holistic view of heritage by considering Aboriginal, colonial, contemporary, community, tangible and intangible values. 

                    The innovation of the Review was recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia when it awarded the best Strategic Planning Project at the Victorian awards in 2022.

                    The Review was implemented by Amendment C387 which was gazetted on 9 September 2022.

                    More information on the Review is available at Amendment C387: Hoddle Grid Heritage Review. The final gazetted amendment is available at Melbourne Planning Scheme - Amendment C387.

                    Fishermans Bend in depth heritage review – Amendment C394

                    The Fishermans Bend in-depth Heritage Review, completed in 2021, is the most comprehensive review of heritage buildings and structures within Fisherman's bend to date.

                    The independent review looked holistically at twelve sites and recommended that three sites of local significance are protected by a Heritage Overlay in the Melbourne Planning Scheme, and two sites of state significance are nominated to the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR).

                    For more information, please visit Amendment C394 Planning Scheme Amendment. The final gazetted amendment is available at Melbourne Planning Scheme – Amendment C394.

                    Southbank Heritage Review – Amendment C305

                    The Southbank Heritage Review looked to the important industrial and manufacturing history of Southbank and South Wharf which dates back to the mid-1800s. Amendment C305 amended the Melbourne Planning Scheme to introduce 15 additional heritage places, delete the heritage overlay from 12 places and amend the heritage overlay for 16 existing places

                    For more information, please visit Amendment C305 Planning Scheme Amendment. The final gazetted amendment is available at Melbourne Planning Scheme – Amendment C305.

                    Frequently asked questions

                    Heritage and planning

                    What is a heritage overlay?

                    Specific heritage planning controls apply to individual sites and areas with identified heritage significance. They are detailed in Melbourne Planning Scheme Clause 43.01 (PDF 54 KB).

                    All heritage places, whether they are individual properties or areas based precincts, are listed at the Schedule to Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay and are given a reference number, for example 'HO21'. The planning scheme maps will show this number as a cross-reference between the maps and the schedule in the scheme.

                    What is a heritage place?

                    A heritage place is any place we consider appropriate to have statutory heritage protection under the Melbourne Planning Scheme.

                    If your property is affected by a heritage overlay, it will be listed in the schedule in the heritage overlay and identified on the planning scheme maps.

                    A heritage place could include an individual site, a precinct area covering many sites, buildings, structures, archaeological sites, trees, gardens, geological formations, fossils, habitat or other places of natural or cultural significance and its associated land.

                    A heritage place can't be moveable or portable objects, such as machinery within a factory or furniture within a house.

                    What is a heritage precinct?

                    Heritage precincts are areas which have been identified as having heritage significance. They are identified in the Melbourne Planning Scheme heritage overlay maps, and cover all buildings within the boundaries of the precinct.

                    The majority of the buildings within a precinct will be graded heritage buildings, although modern or new buildings may also be located within a heritage precinct. The requirements of the heritage overlay and associated planning permit triggers apply to all buildings within the precinct, whether they are identified in the City of Melbourne's heritage database, i-Heritage.

                    Do I need a permit to make changes to a heritage place?

                    If a property is identified on the planning scheme map as a heritage place, then you need a planning permit to:

                    • subdivide the land
                    • construct a building or construct or carry out works
                    • externally alter a building
                    • externally paint the building if the schedule specifies external paint controls apply
                    • erect and display a sign including an advertising sign
                    • install domestic services normal to a dwelling if the services are visible from a street (other than a lane) or public park
                    • install s solar energy facility attached to a building that primarily services the land on which it is situated if the services are visible from a street (other than a lane) or public park
                    • install a rainwater tank if the rainwater tank is visible from a street (other than a lane) or public park.

                    For more guidance please refer to the City of Melbourne’s Heritage Guides.

                    Are there any restrictions on building works within a Heritage Precinct?

                    The requirements of the heritage overlay and associated planning permit triggers apply to all buildings within the precinct, whether or not they are identified in the City of Melbourne's i-Heritage database.

                    The City of Melbourne has specific policy objectives, strategies and guidelines relating to heritage precincts and places at Clause 15.03 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme. This should be considered in conjunction with the Statements of Significance which outlines the elements and aspects of significance for heritage places and precincts.

                    Does the City of Melbourne have its own heritage database?

                    i-Heritage is the City of Melbourne's online heritage database.

                    We have commissioned heritage studies since the early 1980s and now have a collection of heritage information for more than 8000 places within the municipality. Places identified within our heritage studies may or may not be located within a heritage overlay.

                    What is the Victorian Heritage Register?

                    The Victorian Heritage Register is the Victorian Government's heritage register. This register includes Sites of State Significance. See Victorian Heritage Database for more information.

                    Heritage Council Victoria administers the Heritage Act 1995 and maintains the Victorian Heritage Register.

                    If a building is on the Victorian Heritage Register it will be covered by an individual Heritage Overlay and the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay will show that the building or site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

                    Properties that are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register may be exempt from some planning permit requirements in the Melbourne Planning Scheme. It is recommended that you contact the Planning Team on 03 9658 9658 to determine if a planning permit is required.

                    Please contact Heritage Council Victoria to confirm whether a permit is required under the Heritage Act 1995.

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