Heritage Listings

Heritage listings reflect formal recognition by the state government or by Council that a place is worth conserving for future generations.  

The City of Canada Bay has over 500 heritage items and 20 conservation areas listed on its Local Environmental Plan.  These places reflect the rich history of the area and include houses, industrial sites, parks, street trees, commercial buildings, schools and churches.

Heritage inventory sheets for heritage items and conservation areas in the City of Canada Bay can be downloaded from the Heritage Branch's website.

What are the different types of heritage listing?

Places can be affected by heritage listings under one or more planning instruments including a Local Environmental Plan, a Regional Environmental Plan or the State Heritage Register.  

Types of heritage listing that might affect a place include listing as a heritage item and being located in a conservation area.  Because Council considers the impact of development in the vicinity of a heritage item or conservation area on the significance of the heritage item or conservation area, properties in the vicinity of a heritage item or a conservation area will also be affected to a lesser extent by heritage listing.

What is the difference between a Heritage Item and a place within a Conservation Area?

If the place you own is listed as a heritage item, you will know that Council has determined that the building is of individual importance for its historic, aesthetic, social and/or technical value.  A heritage inventory sheet will set out the main reason why the place has been listed as a heritage item.  Heritage inventory sheets for heritage items and conservation areas in the City of Canada Bay can be downloaded from the Heritage Branch's website.

Conservation areas are places where Council has identified a significant streetscape or broader built environment.  In these areas a group of buildings, often combined with an important subdivision pattern, will form a significant townscape or streetscape.  A conservation area will usually have a consistent form, scale and architectural language which are considered worthy of protection.  

Inclusion in a conservation area does not always mean that the streetscape is perfectly formed.  Often there will be elements that are inconsistent.  These are sometimes known as discordant or non-contributory elements.

How do I know if my property is affected by a heritage listing?

The best way to identify whether a property in the City of Canada Bay is affected by a heritage listing on a Local Environmental Plan or a Regional Environmental Plan is by obtaining Section 149 (zoning) certificate from the Council.  

A Section 167 application to The Heritage Office, Department of Planning can be used to obtain can provide an evidentiary certificate stating whether a place is listed on the State Heritage Register.  Please note that this form will not provide advice about whether a place is affected by a local or regional planning instrument.