Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

What is Aboriginal Cultural Heritage?

Aboriginal cultural heritage consists of places and items that are of significance to Aboriginal people because of their traditions, observances, lore, customs, beliefs and history.  It provides evidence of the lives and existence of Aboriginal people before European settlement through to the present.  Aboriginal cultural heritage is dynamic and may comprise physical (tangible) or non-physical (intangible) elements.  It includes thing s made and used in traditional societies such as stone tools, art sites and ceremonial or burial grounds.  It also includes more contemporary and/or historical elements such as old mission buildings, massacre sites and cemeteries.  Tangible heritage is situated in a broader cultural landscape and needs to be considered in that context and in a holistic manner.

Aboriginal cultural heritage also relates to the connection and sense of belonging that people have with the landscape and each other. It recognises that Aboriginal people understand cultural heritage and cultural practices as being part of both the past and the present and that cultural heritage is kept alive and strong by being part of everyday life.

Cultural heritage is not confined to sites; it also includes peoples’ memories, storylines, ceremonies, language and ‘ways of doing things’ that continue to enrich local knowledge about the cultural landscape. It involves teaching and educating younger generations. It is also about learning and looking after cultural traditions and places, and passing on knowledge. It is enduring but also changing. It is ancient but also new.

Aboriginal cultural knowledge provides crucial links between the past and present and therefore represents an essential part of the identities of Aboriginal people and all Australians.

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How can I find out about Aboriginal objects and places in my area?

The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) maintains the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System, (AHIMS) which includes:

  • information about Aboriginal objects that have been reported to the Director General, Department of Premier and Cabinet
  • information about Aboriginal places which have been declared by the Minister for the Environment to have special significance with respect to the Aboriginal culture
  • archaeological reports.

AHIMS has operated since the 1970’s and as June 2011 contained detailed information on 67,000 recorded sites and 10,700 archaeological and other Aboriginal heritage reports.

How are Aboriginal objects and places protected?

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act), administered by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), is the primary legislation for the protection of some aspects of Aboriginal cultural heritage in New South Wales.

The NPW Act protects Aboriginal objects and Aboriginal places in NSW. Under the NPW Act, it is an offence to do any of the following things without an exemption or defence provided for under the NPW Act (penalties apply):

  • A person must not knowingly harm or desecrate an Aboriginal object.
    A person must not harm or desecrate an Aboriginal object or Aboriginal place (strict liability).

Harm includes destroy, deface or damage of Aboriginal object or Aboriginal Place, and in relation to an object, move the object from the land on which it has been situated.

Does Council have a local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Study?

No.  This has been an identified gap in Council’s heritage management framework.  This work will be undertaken as resources permit.

 

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