Heritage

About Australia's heritage

Australia's World Heritage

About world heritage

World heritage sites are places that are important to and belong to everyone, irrespective of where they are located. They have universal value that transcends the value they hold for a particular nation.

These qualities are expressed in the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the World Heritage Convention).

The World Heritage Convention aims to promote cooperation among nations to protect heritage from around the world that is of such outstanding universal value that its conservation is important for current and future generations.

Cape York world heritage nomination

Cape York has long been recognised as one of Australia’s most important places – a vast area of spectacular landscapes, varied ecosystems supporting important biodiversity, and a rich Indigenous culture.

The Australian Government is currently working to develop a world heritage nomination for areas of Cape York.

The boundaries of a future world heritage nomination will determined by areas of outstanding universal value that Traditional Owners consent to be included.

Brochure

Australia's 2007-2011 World Heritage Committee Term

Since 1974, when Australia became the seventh State Party to accede to the Convention, we have taken a leadership role in promoting the World Heritage Convention’s objectives and set high standards in meeting our commitments. Australia served its fourth term on the Committee from November 2007 to November 2011.

Report

The World Heritage List

World heritage sites that are nominated for World Heritage listing are inscribed on the list only after they have been carefully assessed as representing the best examples of the world's cultural and natural heritage. Australia currently has 19 properties on the World Heritage List.

World Heritage listing process

Only the Australian Government can nominate Australian places for entry on this list. The World Heritage Committee assesses nominated places against set criteria and makes the final decision as to the places that are included on the World Heritage List.

Implications of World Heritage Listing

There are many benefits to a property being inscribed on the World Heritage List, including increased tourist visitation, increases in employment opportunities and income for local communities, and better management and protection of the place. Listing is often accompanied by greater scrutiny of a place, given its internationally acknowledged importance.

World Heritage criteria

To qualify for inscription on the World Heritage List, nominated properties must have values that are outstanding and universal. The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention provide guidance to the World Heritage Committee in deciding which nominations should be included on the List. These guidelines state that nominations should be based on cultural, natural and/or mixed cultural and natural criteria.

Management of Australia's world heritage places

A variety of management arrangements are in place or planned for each Australian property on the World Heritage List.

Notification of development proposals

State Parties to the World Heritage Convention are invited to inform the World Heritage Committee of developments that may affect the outstanding universal value of a World Heritage property.

Further information

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