Home Research WWW Links

State Records - access to the State Archives

Australian Museums On Line - AMOL is a comprehensive internet site designed to help Australian museums and galleries make information about their collections available to a world-wide audience.

Museums & Galleries NSW - The MGF is the key independent organisation funded by the NSW Ministry for the Arts. Through its programs the MGF works to improve standards, foster self development and strengthen support for museums and galleries in NSW.

National Archives of Australia - The National Archives promotes good government recordkeeping and encourages community awareness and use of valuable Commonwealth records in its care.

National Library of Australia - Australia’s largest reference library enhances learning, creativity and intellectual endeavour. Through its collections and services it supports the dissemination of knowledge, ideas and information.

City of Sydney Archives - The City of Sydney Library aims to foster life long learning via its archives and comprehensive network of library branches.

State Library of New South Wales - "The State Library's major subject strengths are Australian history, culture and literature, including Aboriginal studies, Antarctic exploration, family history and genealogy, business and management, social sciences, applied science, biography, health and law." It includes the State Library catalogue.

Mitchell Library website - Part of the State Library of NSW, specialising in Australian History

Local archives, libraries, museums, repositories

Aboriginal Heritage Branch, Sydney - monitors and promotes Aboriginal sites and heritage in the areas of Sydney known as Lane Cove, Manly, North Sydney, Warringah and Willoughby.

Nobbys Coal River Heritage Park Website - created by the Coal River Working Party, set up by the University of Newcastle, to promote Newcastle's culturally important landmarks listed on the NSW Heritage Register

New Italy Museum - The New Italy Museum was developed as a tribute to the courage and strength of those pioneering families with the purpose to pass on to future generations their spiritual legacy.

Griffith Heritage Study - publications and outlines are available about this recently completed community-based heritage study (supported by the Heritage Incentives Program).

Top of page

Associations, Societies & Trusts

Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists - Choose 'Archaeological Associations in Australia' from the menu. Includes the AACA archaeological consultants' register

Australian Council of National Trusts - Includes 'Endangered Places' list and links to State National Trust offices and International Network of National Trusts

Australian Garden History Society - Researching, enjoying and preserving Australia's gardening heritage, horticulture landscape design and architecture.

Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA) - Includes AIMA's searchable Australian National Shipwreck Database.

Australian Institute of Architects - Has active programs in many areas relating to the architectural profession and also provides services to other sectors of the community.

Australian Society for Historical Archaeology - Choose 'Australian Historical Archaeology' from the menu.

The Institution of Engineers Australia - Sydney Division: Engineering Heritage Sydney A new website exploring the engineering and industrial heritage of Sydney and NSW.

Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW - The Local Government Association and the Shires Association together represent 152 general purpose councils in NSW.

National Trust - New South Wales - "The Trust’s mission is to protect and conserve our treasured heritage today and for future generations, while remaining an independent, non-government community advocate."

Organ Historical Trust of Australia - "The aims and objectives are; To preserve historic pipe organs and organbuilding records; To stimulate public interest in pipe organs which are of national or local importance; To encourage scholarly research into the history of the organ, its musical use, and organ music.

Professional Historians Association NSW Inc - Includes links to many history sites, history events and the PHA consultants' register

Royal Australian Historical Society - "Encouraging the study of Australian history."

Register of War Memorials in New South Wales - A research site supported by the New South Wales Government.

Walter Burley Griffin Society - the Society commemorates the lives and works of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin.

Top of page

Government Agencies - Australia

New South Wales

Department of Planning 

Geographical Names Register

Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales - Includes the Trust's museums, exhibitions and houses

Local Government, Dept of, - Includes links to Local Government Directory

NSW Migration Heritage Centre values and promotes our diverse cultural heritage

National Parks and Wildlife Service 

New South Wales Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre

NSW Government - State Government Home Page

NSW Government Architect

NSW Roads and Traffic Authority - RTA Heritage and Conservation Register and Oral History Program

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority 

Teaching heritage - (a professional development website for teachers)

Other Australian States

Environment and Heritage, Dept of

Queensland Heritage Council

Heritage Council of Western Australia

Heritage Victoria

Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport, Northern Territory Goverment

Australian Government

Australia's Cultural Network

Australian Heritage Council - Includes the Register of the National Estate

Australian Heritage Places Inventory AHPI - The AHPI contains summary information about places listed in Australian State, Territory and Commonwealth Heritage Registers.

Australian Heritage Directory - A useful directory of Australian heritage links and online resources, including the World Heritage List, the National Heritage List, the Commonwealth Heritage list and Register of the National Estate.

The Australian National Placename Survey (ANPS)

The Committee for Geographical Names of Australasia (CGNA)

Cultural Ministers Council - The Council is the Ministerial forum for the exchange of views on issues affecting cultural activities in Australia and New Zealand.

Environment Australia - Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage

Top of page

Legislation

Australian legislation can be viewed via the website of the Australian Legal Information Institute. Legislation relevent to heritage management is identified below.

New South Wales

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Heritage Act, 1977

State Arms, Symbols and Emblems Act 2004

Other Australian States/Territories

Australian Capital Territory: Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991.

Queensland: Queensland Heritage Act 1992.

Queensland: Cultural Record (Landscapes Queensland and Queensland Estate) Act 1987.

South Australia: Heritage Act 1993

South Australia: Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981

Tasmania: Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995

Victoria: Heritage Act 1995

Western Australia: Maritime Archaeology Act 1973

Commonwealth of Australia

Australian Heritage Commissions Act 1975 [Note: this has now be superseded by the following Acts]

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976

Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986

World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983.

Top of page

Government and Community Agencies - International

UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. "UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture."

Asia-Pacific

Australia ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Australian Memory of the World Program - Aims to establish and maintain a Register of lost and missing Australian documentary heritage.

The Asia-Pacific Institute for Toponymy (APIT) - The Asia-Pacific Institute for Toponymy (study of place names) has been set up to provide support and training for toponymic work in Australasia and South-East Asia.

New Zealand Historic Places Trust: Pouhere Taonga - The country's leading heritage agency whose mission is to keep New Zealand's heritage places alive and useful. The Trust's activities relate to the recognition, protection and promotion of New Zealand's historic and cultural heritage.

Americas

CHIN - Canadian Heritage Information Network - A comprehensive gateway to Canadian heritage.

Canadian Heritage - "Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians."

Culture.ca - "Culture.ca aims to educate and entertain Web surfers and to help explore, find, and share in the best of Canada's cultural and creative life on-line". Découvrez la culture canadienne en francais avec Culture.ca

National Trust for Historic Preservation - US - "The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities."

Europe

English Heritage homepage - "English Heritage exists to protect and promote England's spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood."

National Trust - England, Wales and Northern Ireland - "The National Trust is charity and works to preserve and protect the coastline, countryside and buildings of England, Wales and Northern Ireland."

Top of page

Heraldic Agencies

Heraldry Australia

Official Heraldic Agencies

Lord Lyon Court (Scotland)

College of Arms (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Office of the Chief Herald (Ireland)

Herald Extraordinary (New Zealand)

Canadian Heraldic Authority (Canada)

Bureau of Heraldry (South Africa)

Note: there is no comparable official heraldic authority in Australia and, in its absence, each of the above foreign heraldic authorities will grant or register arms for Australians in accordance with their own rules.

Top of page

Miscellaneous

The Seidler Collection - Born in Vienna in 1923, he arrived in Australia at the age of 25 and began his architectural practice, becoming famous for his modernist designs.

World of Old Houses - Helpful maintenance hints & links

Top of page