FAQs

The purpose and general effect of the Redlands Local Heritage Register is to:

• Identify, protect and conserve Redlands Coast's heritage places
• Encourage an understanding of the importance of heritage and the value it provides to the Redlands Coast community
• Support the local community’s sense of identity

Redland City Council commissioned Australian Heritage Specialists Pty Ltd to undertake a review of European heritage places.  The review identified a range of heritage places on Redlands Coast. These places represent a range of historic themes and phases relevant to Redlands Coast's European settlement history that are of local or regional importance.

Redlands Coast also has many significant Aboriginal sites. These places are managed under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003.

The Queensland Heritage Act 1992 establishes criteria that are used to assess the significance of places recommended for entry onto a Local Heritage Schedule.  The criteria are consistent with those used by heritage bodies and professionals throughout Australia. To be listed, a heritage place must meet one or more of the criteria for entry onto a local heritage register:

• The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of the local government area’s history
• The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of the local government area’s cultural heritage
• The place has the potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the local government area’s history
• The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places
• The place is important because of its aesthetic significance
• The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement in a particular period
• The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural  or spiritual reasons
• The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in the area’s history

Under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, all local councils in Queensland are required to keep a local heritage register or identify local heritage places in their planning scheme. Redland City Plan (City Plan) identifies places that have local cultural heritage significance and these are listed on the register. These places are protected under the City Plan through a set of specific controls.

The aims of heritage protection on Redlands Coast include:

• Identify, protect and conserve Redlands Coast's heritage places 
• Encourage an understanding of the importance of heritage and the value it provides to the Redlands Coast community
• Support the community’s sense of identity

Yes.  Listing does not prevent changes, additions and alterations, but they must be planned to ensure that the new works do not harm the local heritage values connected with the place. Many routine maintenance works may be undertaken without approvals. Council can provide advice to assist with renovation and conservation of local heritage listed places. Property owners and developers of a local heritage place should contact Council in the initial phase of planning for a development or significant change.

No. As with all private property, local heritage listing does not allow the general public the right to visit your property, nor are you required to make your property accessible to the public.

Surveys by the Insurance Council of Australia show that few insurers charge higher premiums for heritage listed properties.

No. If your property has been altered in the past, Council will not make you return your house to its original state. However, appropriate conservation works are encouraged and Council offers heritage advise and the potential option of future heritage incentives, if agreed, to assist owners with appropriate works.

Each property included in the Redlands Local Heritage Register has a citation prepared by a heritage professional, which includes the historical context, description of the place and the statement of significance.    

Each citation ensures better certainty for property owners, developers and Council by providing accurate information about a place’s heritage significance, which may otherwise be unknown or unclear.  The future management and change of a local heritage place is easily undertaken with an up-to-date understanding of its significance so that changes do not inadvertently impact on the local heritage values of the place.  

Council advice can potentially help prevent problems, save costs and avoid delays in the development approval process. 

Advice is available at all stages of a project.  

Council will also be considering establishing a Heritage Incentive Scheme to provide financial and practical assistance to owners of heritage items to undertake improvements and repairs. 

The best way to conserve heritage properties is to carry out regular maintenance and repairs.  

Types of work that may be covered under a potential incentive scheme include:

• Replacing roofs, guttering, and down pipes to match the original profile and materials
• Repairing timber joinery or other original features
• Reversing unsympathetic alterations to restore original form
• Reconstruction of landscape features (such as plantings, paths, fences or gates)
• Re-stumping and other urgent structural work
• Preventing deterioration or damage to the heritage place, such as improving drainage around a building
• Repainting a building in its original colours or in a colour scheme that reflects its heritage significance
• Cleaning or repairing masonry

Conservation documents that might be eligible under a potential heritage incentive scheme may also include:

• Measured drawings or specifications for heritage conservation work
• Conservation management plans
• Structural engineering reports for heritage conservation work
• Other reports investigating the built fabric of a heritage place or arranging for its conservation

Anyone can make a formal submission on any of the properties proposed to be listed on the Redlands Local Heritage Register. Council is required under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 and the Planning Act 2016 to consider all submissions received. In accordance with the legislation, Council will only remove a proposed property from the register if it is satisfied that “the place is no longer a place of cultural heritage significance for its area”.

Council’s heritage review considered the heritage and historical value of hundreds of properties across Redlands Coast. 

The properties proposed to be included on the local heritage register are based on expert advice that these properties are representative of identified relevant historical themes; that they satisfied criteria set out under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992; and that they met the threshold for a place of significance. 

These properties were identified as having the highest priority for protection. There are more than 300 additional properties that Council’s experts had also identified as having heritage value.

Council could consider making further additions to the Redlands Local Heritage Register and encourages property owners to make a submission if they would like their property to be considered for future additions to the register.

Council will also consider establishing a Heritage Incentive Scheme to provide financial and practical assistance to owners of heritage items to undertake improvements and repairs.

More information about our city’s heritage and history can be found on Council’s website at https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/info/20126/history_and_heritage