Frequently asked questions
- Ask us a question online and we’ll either answer you on the project page or email you directly
- Make an appointment with a strategic planner by calling the City on 9474 0777 or make a request on the City's website(External link).
What is cultural heritage significance?
The Heritage Act 2018(External link) defines cultural heritage significance as:
“Aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for individuals or groups within Western Australia. Cultural heritage significance may be embodied in a place itself and in any of its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects. A place may have diverse values for different individuals or groups.”
What is the Local Heritage Survey (LHS)?
The Local Heritage Survey (LHS), formerly known as the Municipal Heritage Inventory or Local Heritage Inventory, recognises and records places with cultural heritage significance, allowing us to better understand the places which contribute to the history of the City of South Perth. The LHS is a requirement of the Heritage Act 2018(External link).
The LHS helps local governments make decisions that reflect local heritage values. It supports the creation of a heritage list or heritage areas, which identify places to be protected under the local planning scheme.
Further detail on the LHS can be found in the DPLH’s Guidelines for Local Heritage Surveys 2022(External link).
What is a place specific review?
A place specific review provides for additional or more substantial amendment of a heritage assessment of an individual place. This involves undertaking further research into the history of a place and were permitted by the owners, viewing the inside of buildings to ascertain whether internal elements of cultural heritage significance are present.
A place specific review considers the potential significance of a place in accordance with relevant planning and heritage legislation, as well as the DPLH Guidelines for the Assessment of Local Heritage Places 2022(External link).
Why did the City undertake a place specific review of these places?
At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 28 October 2025, Council adopted the Heritage List and requested place specific reviews (including consideration of built form) be undertaken for five places in the LHS, ensuring where relevant, that the Statement of Significance of each place is consistent with the State Register of Heritage Places.
The outcome of the place specific review was accepted by Council at the Tuesday 24 March 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting. At this meeting, the Council requested the Chief Executive Officer prepare and present to Council an updated Local Heritage Survey to reflect the outcomes of the place specific reviews, including the creation of new and modified place records where required. Approval to advertise changes to the LHS that reflect the place specific review outcome was provided at Council’s Ordinary Meeting held 28 April 2026.
What was involved in the place specific review?
Alongside information initially provided by owners and the community, this place specific review has involved an independent heritage consultant undertaking assessment of the cultural heritage values of each place, being aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual, as well as each place’s rarity and representativeness.
Each place record has been reviewed, corrections made, new information included and were considered appropriate, new place records proposed.
What modifications are proposed to the LHS?
Proposed modifications to the LHS are shown on each place record in track changes and can be viewed in the document library.
What are classifications of significance given to places on the LHS?
All places on the LHS are given a classification of significance outlined in the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage Guidelines for Local Heritage Surveys 2022(External link). These are important as they recognise the level of cultural heritage significance of the place and warrant a review of the Heritage List, which is a separate statutory process to this place specific review of the Local Heritage Survey.
Table: Classification of Significance
Level of significance to the local area | Classification | Description |
Exceptional | Category 1 | Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example. |
Considerable | Category 2 | Very important to the heritage of the locality. |
Some/moderate | Category 3 | Contributes to the heritage of the locality. |
Little | Category 4 | Has elements or values worth noting for community interest but otherwise makes little contribution. |
What is a heritage list?
A heritage list is not the same as a local heritage survey. A heritage list identifies individual places within the local planning scheme area that are of cultural heritage significance and worthy of conservation.
A heritage list is a requirement of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015(External link) (external link).
Development approval is required for all works to properties on a heritage list, including proposed demolition.
What is the State Register of Heritage Places?
The State Register of Heritage Places (the Register) is a statutory list of places that represent the story of Western Australia’s history and development and is reserved for places of State cultural heritage significance and is the highest recognition afforded at the State level. Entry in the Register is informed by a recommendation of the Heritage Council of WA and is decided by the Minster for Planning.
Two of the places in this place specific review are included in the State Register of Heritage Places.
1) St Columba’s Church Group & St Joseph's Convent
2) Wesley College
The City does not make the decision about which places are included on the State Register.
Can I develop, demolish or subdivide my property if it is included on the LHS?
There is no statutory implication from inclusion on the LHS. If a place is included on the Heritage List, it does not mean that a place cannot be changed, rather a development application is required to ensure changes proposed do not destroy cultural heritage significance.
The City has developed LPP 8.1 – Heritage Conservation and Development(External link) to provide guidance on acceptable development.
Places on the Heritage List are generally not supported for demolition as this may permanently affect the cultural heritage significance of the place.
How can I ask questions about the place specific review of the Local Heritage Survey?
FAQs from LHS Review 2025
Why is the City reviewing the LHS?
The Heritage Council recommends that local governments review their LHS every five to eight years. The City's LHS was last reviewed in 2017/18.
What changes are proposed to the LHS?
In February 2024, 49 nominations were received including new place nominations, amendments to existing place records and requests to amend the category of significance for existing places.
Following assessment, the City recommended 15 new places for inclusion in the LHS, 3 reclassifications to the categories of significance, and 5 changes to existing records. The City is seeking feedback on these recommendations from Tuesday 21 January to 4pm on Tuesday 18 February 2025.
What is the City’s Thematic History?
The Thematic History is a document which provides a broad overview of the evolution of the City to identify turning points in its history, the main periods of its development, and key stories, themes and influential factors that have all shaped the City’s distinctive character.
How has the City’s Thematic History been updated?
The Thematic History has been updated to reflect events since the last review of the LHS and updates to the planning framework such as the new Local Planning Scheme No. 7 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
My property was nominated by someone else and is proposed to be included on the LHS. How can I provide feedback?
You can complete an online feedback form to provide your feedback. Hard copy forms are available at the Civic Centre and South Perth and Manning Libraries.
How have nominations for new places and proposed amendments to the LHS been assessed?
Step 1: The City reviewed information provided in the nomination form and assessed the place against the following cultural heritage values: aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual. For each place that demonstrates one or more of these values, a level of significance has been determined, giving due regard to the additional qualities of rarity and representativeness. This process is explained in greater detail in the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) Guidelines for the Assessment of Local Heritage Places (2022) (external link).
Step 2: Where a nominated place is considered to meet the threshold for inclusion in the LHS, a place record has been created with a classification identifying the contribution of the place to the City’s local cultural heritage. See “Table: Classification of significance” provided at "What are classifications of significance given to places on the LHS?".
Step 3: Prior to the Council meeting, the City has contacted all nominees and owners of new places proposed for inclusion in the LHS, and provided the officer recommendation.
Step 4: Council considered the draft LHS to go out for public comment at its December 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting (external link).
Step 5: The City will contact all landowners and nominees of new and existing placers requesting feedback on proposed changes.
Step 6: Once the public comment period has closed, feedback will be analysed and further amendments to the LHS may be proposed.
Step 7: The revised LHS will then be presented to Council to consider for final adoption.
What are classifications of significance given to places on the LHS?
All places recommended by the City to be included in the LHS will be given a classification of significance outlined in the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage Guidelines for Local Heritage Surveys (2022) (external link). These are important as they recognise the level of cultural heritage significance of the place and will be considered as part of the heritage list review, which is a separate statutory process to this LHS review.
Table: Classification of Significance
Level of significance to the local area | Classification | Description |
Exceptional | Category 1 | Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example. |
Considerable | Category 2 | Very important to the heritage of the locality. |
Some/moderate | Category 3 | Contributes to the heritage of the locality. |
Little | Category 4 | Has elements or values worth noting for community interest but otherwise makes little contribution. |
What if the City hasn’t supported my new place nomination or change to an existing place record?
Where the information supplied on the nomination form was limited and additional information could not be located within the City’s local history collection, the City has not been able to determine whether a place has cultural heritage significance. Should additional supporting information be located, the City encourages renomination as part of a future review.
Are the previous categories of A-D changing to categories 1-4?
Yes, the previous categories of A-D used in the Local Heritage Inventory (external link) will change to categories 1-4, as outlined in the ‘Classification of Significance’ table in the question above.
This change is required to update the LHS in line with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Guidelines for Local Heritage Surveys (2022) (external link).
What is a heritage area?
A heritage area is a group of places where special planning controls are needed to conserve and enhance the cultural heritage significance of the area. The LHS may assist the local government in preparing heritage areas under a local planning scheme. Identification of heritage areas is undertaken through a separate process to the LHS Review. The City does not currently have any heritage areas.
Can places of Aboriginal cultural heritage be included in the LHS?
Yes, places of significance to Aboriginal peoples which are not solely connected to Aboriginal cultural heritage can be included in the LHS.
Place records have been updated to reflect Aboriginal Heritage sites and places recognised under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (external link).
The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (external link) applies to all Aboriginal sites in Western Australia, whether they are registered or not.