The rich history of the Shire of Mundaring is embedded in the fabric of the Shire’s many heritage buildings and places. The Shire's vision is for these buildings and places to be protected, enhanced and celebrated. The Shire of Mundaring is committed to conserving and promoting its local heritage to ensure that its history is preserved for generations to come.

The Shire:

• Has a Heritage Strategy
• Provides financial support to the Mundaring and Hills Historical Society,
• Allows access and use of the Station Masters House (Mundaring) and Museum space attached to the visitors centre
• Staff support a Cultural Advisory Group, which includes Heritage representatives.

The Shire’s local heritage is:

• Recognised within a Local Heritage Survey (available under the Document Library section of this site);
• Given a cascading level of protection under its Heritage List and Heritage Local Planning Policy (available under the Document Library section of this site); and
• In some cases is of State significance and is listed under the State Heritage List.

The Shire in considering an application for planning approval is to have due regard to the conservation of any place that has been entered in the State Heritage Register, or which is included in the Shire’s Heritage List or Local Heritage Survey.

Other Shire decisions that could be informed by the Local Heritage Survey might include activities to interpret or promote heritage places, or provide material for information or education. 

The Local Heritage Survey (LHS) is important as a first point of identification of heritage places and is used, among other functions, to inform the preparation of a heritage list. However, the LHS itself has little specific planning or legal weight.

In contrast, a Heritage List is an instrument that is afforded powers under the Planning and Development Act 2005 and therefore carries more statutory weight when determining planning outcomes for heritage places.

The Shire in considering an application for planning approval is to have due regard to the conservation of any place that has been entered in the State Heritage Register, or which is included in the Shire’s Heritage List or LHS.

This can be found out via the following ways.  Either by:

• Referring to the Shire's Heritage List and Local Heritage Survey which can be found in the Document Library section of this site and on the Shire's website (www.mundaring.wa.gov.au); OR
• Searching on the Heritage Council of WA's inHerit database found here ; OR
• Contacting the Shire's Planning department on 9290 6666 or via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au

The inclusion of a place in the LHS does not mean that the place cannot be changed.  In fact, practical changes and new compatible uses are often the best way to ensure that places are used and enjoyed into the future.  The impact of future development proposals on the heritage values of the place will be a key consideration in the assessment of a development application, as well as the normal considerations such as building height limits, setback distances from lot boundaries etc. 

Internal changes are permissible and do not require development approval, unless they are structural in nature or affect interior features identified to have heritage significance.  Modification or additions to a place on the Heritage List will usually require development approval and may require referral to the State Heritage Office.

If the property is on the Shire's Local Heritage Survey it will not require development approval.  In most cases a demolition permit will need to be obtained from the Shire.  However, if the property is on the Shire's Heritage List development approval will be required to be obtained, as well as a demolition permit prior to demolishing.  The Shire's Heritage List can be found on the Document Library section of this site and on the Shire's website.

Please refer to 'Preparing Planning proposals for heritage sites' under the Frequently Asked Questions section of this site.

Alternatively, please contact the Shire's Planning and Building departments on 9290 6666 or via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au

This can be found out via the following ways.  Either by:

• Referring to the Shire's Heritage List and Local Heritage Survey which can be found in the Document Library section of this site and on the Shire's website (www.mundaring.wa.gov.au); OR
• Searching on the Heritage Council of WA's inHerit database found here ; OR
• Contacting the Shire's Planning department on 9290 6666 or via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au

A planning application is required for demolitions, renovations, extensions, and new buildings on heritage properties unless exempt under the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 and/or the Shire's Heritage Local Planning Policy.

A building permit is required for all structural work.

A demolition licence is required for all demolitions of buildings.

Note: No work can commence until all necessary approvals have been obtained.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Shire's Planning and Building Departments on 9290 6666 or via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au

A Planning application for works which will, or are likely to, have a negative and/or significant impact on a local heritage place must be accompanied by, as a minimum:

1. If works are proposed which will be visible from a street adjoining the site, street elevations drawn as one continuous elevation to a scale not smaller than 1:100 showing the proposed development and the existing development on the lots immediately adjoining the site the subject of the application.
2. A detailed schedule of all finishes, including materials and colours of the proposed development.
3. A description of, and photographs showing, the finishes of the existing development on the site.
4. For a proposed development that will be clearly visible from the street, a site analysis plan showing any impacted view-lines of significance to or from the local heritage place.

A Planning application, subdivision application or a structure plan likely to have a negative and/or significant impact on a heritage-protected place must be accompanied by a heritage impact assessment consistent with the guidelines produced by the Heritage Council of Western Australia.  At the applicant’s cost, the heritage impact statement is to be prepared by a heritage professional with relevant experience.

A Planning application, subdivision application or a structure plan proposing the partial or full demolition of a heritage-protected place must be accompanied by a structural condition assessment.  At the applicant’s cost, the structural condition assessment is to be prepared by a registered structural engineer with relevant heritage experience.

In addition to the above, the following is also required to be provided for a Planning application:

• A completed Planning application form
• A copy of the property’s current Certificate of Title
• The Planning application fee
• A site plan, elevations and floor plan drawn to a 1:100 or 1:200 scale
• If applicable, a Bushfire Attack Level Assessment and Bushfire Management Statement

Information on how to prepare a structure plan can be found here

If you have any queries please contact the Shire’s Planning department on 9290 6666 or via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au

When preparing a Planning proposal the matters listed under Schedule 2 Clause 67 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (found here) need to be considered.  This includes, amongst other matters:

• Heritage Act 2018 
• Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
• Local Planning Scheme No.4 (found here)
• The applicable Shire local planning policies (found here)
• The applicable State planning policies (found here)
• Whether the site is on the State Heritage Register, and/or the Shire's Heritage List or Local Heritage Survey
• Whether the site falls within a structure plan

If you have any queries regarding the above please contact the Shire's Planning department on 9290 6666 or via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au

Further details can be found here or by contacting the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on 6551 8002.

The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 is the legislation that manages Aboriginal heritage in Western Australia.  Approval is only required where there is potential for any harm to an Aboriginal site. Before undertaking any activities on your land, you should check for Aboriginal heritage.

Further details regarding the legislation and the approval process can be found here or by contacting the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on 6551 8002.      

Aboriginal heritage holds significant value to Aboriginal people for their social, spiritual, historical, scientific, or aesthetic importance within Aboriginal traditions.

The State Government’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Inquiry System (ACHIS) provides locations and information about Aboriginal heritage in Western Australia, this can be found here

Heritage is vital to the community’s sense of place and wellbeing. It holds historical, and cultural value, and is an element of the visual built form strongly associated with the area’s local character.

The Shire has a rich and colourful history which has shaped our current landscape and settlement form. Local heritage should be understood, protected, sustained and celebrated.

A Local Heritage Survey (LHS) identifies places of cultural heritage significance to the locality.

The Heritage Act 2018 states that the purpose of a LHS includes:

• Identifying and recording places that are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance in the district; and
• Assisting the local government in making and implementing decisions that are in harmony with cultural heritage values; and
• Providing a cultural and historical record of its district; and
• Providing an accessible public record of places of cultural heritage significance to its district; and
• Assisting the local government in preparing a heritage list or list of heritage areas under a local planning scheme.

Local government decisions that could be informed by the LHS might include activities to interpret or promote heritage places, or provide material for information and education.  Examples are providing education material for school programs; or developing a heritage trail.

It is a requirement under the Heritage Act 2018 that local governments compile and maintain a list of places which in its opinion are, or may become, of cultural heritage significance.  

The Shire’s Municipal Inventory (now referred to as the Local Heritage Survey) was adopted in 1997, with a minor review being undertaken in 2015.

It is a recommended action under the Shire’s Heritage Strategy to review the Local Heritage Survey.

Please refer to the Shire's Heritage Local Planning Policy found here.

Entry on the LHS means that the heritage values of the place are recognised in the town planning framework. The impact of future development proposals on the heritage values of the place will be a key consideration in the assessment of a development application, as well as the normal planning considerations such as building height limits, setback distances from boundaries etc.

The Shire cannot comment on whether it will affect the value of a property.  It is recommended that you seek advice from a licensed property valuer to obtain information on this matter.

If you have a question about the Local Heritage Survey review please contact the Shire’s Planning department via shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au or on 9290 6666.