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Protection and legislation

DEW and the South Australian Heritage Council are responsible for protecting built, maritime and intangible heritage, non-Aboriginal cultural heritage of significance to South Australia, under relevant heritage protection laws.

Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet manage Aboriginal heritage under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988.

The different levels of heritage-listing and heritage protection in South Australia are listed below:

Heritage class Heritage conservation law
State Heritage Places and related Objects Heritage Places Act 1993; Planning and Design Code; Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
State Heritage Areas Heritage Places Act 1993; Planning and Design Code; Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
Aboriginal heritage sites Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988
World heritage sites UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
Commonwealth heritage places Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
National heritage places Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Local heritage places Planning and Design Code; Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016

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Acknowledgement of Country

The Department for Environment and Water acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and Nations of the lands and waters we live and work upon and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and the relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to Country.

The Department works in partnership with the First Peoples of South Australia and supports their Nations to take a leading role in caring for their Country.