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 focusses 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.
Find the link below to register for our first event 'Stories of Heritage: A panel conversation'. Other consultation events coming soon include OPEN Studio for students, OPEN Play for families and an additional panel conversation focused on how heritage can adapt to key city challenges.
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 such as Stories of Heritage: A Panel Conversation on Thursday 8 May. Register now.
- 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 8 May 2025 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm
Stories of Heritage: A Panel Conversation
In partnership with City of Melbourne, Open House Melbourne is presenting a series of talks, tours and workshops as part of the upcoming community consultation for the draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy.
Join Tania Davidge, Executive Director, Open House Melbourne in conversation with Jason Eades, Director Aboriginal Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Mark Wang, CEO, Museum of Chinese Australian History and others, as they share and unpack the relationship of storytelling to heritage.
Stories of Heritage: A Panel Conversation highlights key stories that have shaped Melbourne and explores how storytelling can connect us to our visible heritage and the histories that might be hidden from view. This event will take place at Trades Hall from 6.30pm to 8pm, Thursday 8 May.
Register now.
News
Follow this page to receive email updates, including notifications when registrations open for future events.
Timeline
-
Timeline item 1 - complete
Community consultation on the Discussion Paper
20 February to 19 March 2024
-
Timeline item 2 - complete
Analysis of feedback and development of Draft Heritage Strategy
April to July 2024
-
Timeline item 3 - complete
Presentation of Draft Heritage Strategy at Future Melbourne Committee
Access the minutes, agenda, attachments and resolutions.
Tuesday 20 August 2024
-
Timeline item 4 - active
Community consultation on the Draft Melbourne Heritage Strategy
Monday 5 May to Monday 16 June 2025
-
Timeline item 5 - incomplete
Analysis of feedback and preparation of the Final Melbourne Heritage Strategy
Late 2025
-
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.
