Heritage

The Shire of Ashburton (SOA) completed its Heritage Project in February 2026, resulting in the adoption of two key documents: the SOA Heritage List and the Local Heritage Survey. 

Shire of Ashburton Local Heritage Survey

Shire of Ashburton Heritage List

Background

In April 2025, the Shire commenced a review of the Local Heritage Inventory/Survey and preparation of a Heritage List in accordance with DPLH guidelines.

The Local Heritage Survey provides an overview of the Shire’s history and identifies places of heritage value, including information such as location, history, archaeology, and photographs. The Heritage List is derived from the Local Heritage Survey and identifies the most significant heritage places in the Shire.

Local Heritage Survey (LHS)

The Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 requires local governments to identify places of cultural heritage significance through a Local Heritage Survey (previously known as a Local Government Heritage Inventory).

The LHS is primarily an information source and does not impose statutory planning controls. Each place is assigned a management category reflecting its heritage value, which assists in identifying places suitable for inclusion on the Heritage List.

Heritage List

Under the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, local governments must maintain a Heritage List identifying places of cultural heritage significance within the scheme area.

Places included on the Heritage List are afforded statutory protection. Where development is proposed on a listed place, a planning assessment process is triggered to ensure heritage values are appropriately managed.

What Is InHerit?

InHerit is a State Government database that bring together information about heritage places and listings in Western Australia, inHerit contains comprehensive information about cultural heritage places listed in the State Register of Heritage Places, local government inventories and other lists, the Australia Government’s heritage list, and other non-government lists and surveys.

Heritage – Indigenous First Australians

Aboriginal sites are of immense cultural, scientific, educational and historic interest and provide Aboriginal people with an important link to their present and past culture.

Information about the people who lived here for the last 45,000 years can only be obtained through the archaeological investigation of these sites.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is responsible for protecting Aboriginal heritage, assisting with compliance with the Act and providing access to heritage information.

Do I need an Aboriginal heritage survey?

The State Cultural Heritage Due Diligence Guidelines assist prospective developers in assessing the risk that proposed development may have on impacting Aboriginal heritage values and whether or not they need to obtain consent under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

If you are considering undertaking an Aboriginal heritage survey, it is recommended that you first contact the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to discuss your circumstances.

Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry system

The Department of Planning Lands and Heritage website contains a link to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and The Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System (AHIS) which provides information concerning Aboriginal heritage places in Western Australia. 

Click here to launch the Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System