The Heritage Act 2018 defines cultural heritage significance as aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for individuals or groups within Western Australia. State significance is assessed by considering various factors. Each place has its own unique combination of factors which together establish its contribution to understanding the heritage of Western Australia.
(1) In determining whether a place has State cultural heritage significance the Council considers the following:
(a) its importance in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Western Australia’s history;
(b) its importance in demonstrating rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Western Australia’s heritage;
(c) its potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Western Australia’s history;
(d) its importance in demonstrating the characteristics of a broader class of places;
(e) any strong or special meaning it may have for any group or community because of social, cultural or spiritual associations;
(f) its importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by any group or community;
(g) any special association it may have with the life or work of a person, group or organisation of importance in Western Australia’s history;
(h) its importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement;
(i) any other characteristic it may have that in the opinion of the Council is relevant to the assessment of cultural heritage significance.
(2) A place may have cultural heritage significance despite lacking physical material that substantially contributes to its cultural heritage significance.