National Heritage Management Plan for the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout

Project Update

Following the conclusion of the consultation period on the Draft National Heritage Management Plan for the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout, Council considered the submissions received and appropriate amendments to the Policy. 

On 14 November 2023 Council approved the Draft National Heritage Management Plan for the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout. Feedback from the Federal Government is being collated into the final draft for the Australian Heritage Council approval. On receiving Federal Government endorsement the Management Plan will be enacted for implementation.

Project Information

The City of Adelaide engaged Adelaide based Swanbury Penglase Architects to develop a National Heritage Management Plan (HMP) for the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout that has been developed in accordance with the Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance 2013) and the Federal Government’s guidelines for Managing National Heritage Places.

It is intended the HMP will be used as a tool by the Council, State and Commonwealth Government agencies, and managers to understand the National Heritage Values, and to inform future development, conservation decision making and management strategies for the area. The HMP seeks to:

• Identify and provide a description of the heritage values and their attributes
• Guide future decision-making for conservation, interpretation, and visitation
• Provide management policies and strategies to ensure the condition, integrity and physical components of the values are maintained and appropriately cared for

The background historical research and site analysis provides an understanding of the place and reinforces the existing established National Heritage Values. A number of issues and opportunities which currently or potentially may impact on the National Heritage Values have been identified including: the statutory context; cultural landscape; understanding the attributes of National Heritage Value; alienation and cumulative development of Park Lands; Management by the Adelaide Park Lands Act, City of Adelaide, State Government, Kaurna Miyurna (Kaurna People), Leaseholders, and Others; Kaurna Cultural Heritage; Use; Climate Change; Tourism; Interpretation; and other further opportunities. Specific policies have been developed to address the implications of these issues. These address the implications and responsibilities as a result of the National Heritage Listing. Consequently, a list of recommended priorities and actions have been developed.