Resources

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Overview

The Heritage Branch of the Department for Environment and Heritage protects and conserves historically significant places in South Australia.

It maintains files for State Heritage Places, holds copies of heritage surveys and Conservation Management Plans, produces heritage interpretation materials and publications, has a large collection of post-1979 images of heritage sites and offers advice to property-owners and other interested members of the public. Many of these resources provide information about South Australia's State Heritage Areas or specific sites within them.

The Heritage Branch is not equipped as a research facility, but most files and collections can be viewed during office hours (contact staff to make an appointment).

Files

The Department maintains documented folders for all places assessed for entry in the South Australian Heritage Register. The information contained in these files varies, but includes materials such as assessment reports, research notes, historical sources, site plans and photographs.

Heritage Surveys

The resources of the Heritage Branch include an extensive collection of heritage surveys. Many of these are copies of regional surveys of South Australia's built heritage and were specifically commissioned by the Department for Environment and Heritage (and its predecessors). Others are local heritage surveys initiated by local councils, or thematic heritage surveys with a variety of purposes and origins.

View a full list of heritage surveys (50Kb PDF) held within the Heritage Branch collection.

Conservation Management Plans

Conservation Management Plans detail the significant fabric of a heritage place and provide essential guidelines for its future use and development. Many of these plans are commissioned by property owners, while others are initiated by State or Local Government agencies.

View the full list of Heritage Conservation Plans (100Kb PDF) held within the Heritage Branch collection.

Photographic Collections

The Heritage Branch holds collections of contemporary (post-1979) photographs of many State Heritage Places entered in the South Australian Heritage Register - black & white prints and negatives; coloured prints; slides; and digital images. It is essential that researchers make an appointment to view these collections, as access varies and is a little more complicated than for printed materials.

Publications

The Department for Environment and Heritage (and its predecessors) has produced many heritage publications that are available in hard copy and/or electronic form. These include brochures, booklets, technical notes, information leaflets, guidelines and a bi-annual newsletter. Many of these publications are free, some can be downloaded from the web and others are available for purchase. Of particular note are the (free) State Heritage Area brochures for Burra, Beltana, Goolwa, Mintaro and Hahndorf.

View the full list of Heritage Branch publications.

Advice & Information

The Heritage Branch provides general information about South Australia's built heritage, about heritage-listing and conservation. Staff members are available to talk with community and/or education groups, addressing a variety of topics including legislation, assessment, conservation and maritime heritage.

A formal advisory service is offered by Heritage Branch architects and appointed local heritage advisers, who provide extensive conservation advice to councils, planning authorities, owners and the general community.

Other Resources

The Department for Environment and Heritage's website offers suggestions for other sources of heritage information:

View Research Aids and Educational Resources - General Community