We’re developing a new heritage strategy to plan how we acknowledge the distinctive heritage of our city, for the next 10 years and beyond.
As our city evolves, it's more important than ever to recognise the value of heritage and the places that tell our shared story.
Our Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy focuses on the positive role heritage can play in responding to key challenges facing our city, including climate change and the housing crisis.
It highlights the importance of understanding community connections to the city’s stories and places to better plan for the future.
In 2024 we prepared and consulted on the Heritage People and Place Discussion Paper (Discussion Paper) to start a conversation about how we shape our new Heritage Strategy. Feedback received from diverse voices of the community, business and government informed the preparation of the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy: Stories of People and Place (Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy), which is now open for consultation from Monday 5 May until Monday 16 June 2025.
The Events section below has links to upcoming events, including 'Challenging heritage or heritage challenges?: A Panel Conversation'.
Click 'Follow' above to receive project updates and to be notified about future events.
Have your say
Consultation for the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy: Stories of People and Place is now open.
Explore the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy then get involved by:
- Taking part in upcoming consultation events.
- Having your say via the online survey below.
Consultation closes 5pm Monday 16 June 2025.
Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy
Explore the five priority areas that will guide our work on heritage before completing the survey.
Events
Thursday 29 May 2025 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm
Open Studio: GML Heritage
Open Studio: GML Heritage provides an invaluable opportunity for students across disciplines to gain first-hand insight into professional practice and, in this edition, share and unpack the City's key heritage priorities.
Hear from Edwina Jans, Head of GML Victoria; Dr Helen Doyle, historian; Kristine Slawinski, heritage interiors specialist; Emma Moore, archaeologist; Chairim Byun, heritage resilience specialist, and recent graduates.
Through the presentation of real time projects, students will be able to see how a practice operates and more broadly, provide feedback on the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy: Stories of People and Place. This event will take place at GML Heritage, 17 Drummond Street Carlton from 4.00pm to 6.00pm, Thursday 29 May.
Thursday 5 June 2025 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm
Challenging Heritage or Heritage Challenges?: A Panel Conversation
Join Kerstin Thompson, Director + Principal at KTA, Patrick Kennedy, Principal at Kennedy Nolan, Dr James Lesh, Founding Director of Heritage Workshop in conversation with Jo Cannington, Director City Strategy at the City of Melbourne as they share and unpack challenges facing heritage.
Amid a housing and climate crisis and in light of evolving social values, how can heritage adapt to contemporary challenges while preserving what we love about Melbourne? This event will take place at Trades Hall from 6.30pm – 8.00pm, Thursday 5 June.
Register nowFriday 6 June 2025 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm
Heritage Meets Business - Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy Walkshop
Active members of Melbourne's business community are invited to participate in a key stakeholder Walkshop from Meyers Place to City Library, ending with a facilitated workshop.
This event will begin at the front of the Waiters Restaurant, 20 Meyers Place.
News
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Timeline
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Timeline item 1 - complete
Community consultation on the Discussion Paper
20 February to 19 March 2024
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Timeline item 2 - complete
Analysis of feedback and development of Draft Heritage Strategy
April to July 2024
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Timeline item 3 - complete
Presentation of Draft Heritage Strategy at Future Melbourne Committee
Access the minutes, agenda, attachments and resolutions.
Tuesday 20 August 2024
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Timeline item 4 - active
Community consultation on the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy
Monday 5 May to Monday 16 June 2025
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Timeline item 5 - incomplete
Analysis of feedback and preparation of the Final Melbourne Heritage Strategy
Late 2025
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Timeline item 6 - incomplete
Final Melbourne Heritage Strategy adopted
TBC
Community consultation
Feedback we heard about the Heritage Strategy Discussion Paper during the first round of consultation in 2024.
Discover more of Melbourne's heritage
Learn about places of Aboriginal cultural significance through our Mapping Aboriginal Melbourne project. You can also take a self-guided walk from Fitzroy Gardens to Docklands to learn more about Aboriginal heritage and culture. Book a tour with an experienced guide from the Koorie Heritage Trust.
Read one of our neighbourhood histories and heritage reviews to learn more about the heritage and how the neighbourhood has evolved.
Take yourself, family, friends or community group on a self guided walk of your local neighbourhood to help you get to know Melbourne’s iconic sites, cultural heritage and hidden gems.
You can also explore our Art and Heritage Collection, a treasure trove of local history and culture, in the streets and online.
To preserve the city’s unique character, we offer heritage grants to help people complete restoration projects at residential, community and commercial properties across the municipality.
If you own a heritage property or want to learn more about local architecture, check out our Heritage Owner’s Guide and Heritage Design Guide.
Explore the following pages related to heritage planning in the City of Melbourne.
