Local Heritage Assistance Fund
The Local Heritage Assistance Fund provides dollar for dollar grant funding of up to $2,000 to support minor conservation works to heritage properties in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area.
Our heritage inventory is growing with over 900 items and 36 conservation areas listed. If you are developing or subdividing land identified as a heritage conservation area, a heritage item or excavating an archaeological site, speak to our customer service advisors. We will point you in the right direction.
Heritage conservation areas
The Blue Mountains is well-known for the historic character of many of its towns and villages. In some towns and neighbourhoods buildings from the Victorian, Federation, Edwardian, Inter-War and Post-War eras create visually interesting and layered streetscapes. Many streetscapes are also enhanced by mature street tree plantings and established exotic gardens. Blue Mountains City Council has established ongoing recognition and protection for the many early houses and the generally traditional streetscapes found in most towns and villages of the Blue Mountains. Important historic areas are protected as heritage conservation areas, including the town centres of Mount Victoria, Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls. The full list of heritage conservation areas is listed in Schedule 5 of the Blue Mountains LEP 2015.
On 19 July 2019, new heritage conservation areas were added to the LEP. Maps and heritage inventory sheets for 'new and amended' entries are linked below. For 'existing' use our interactive mapping tool to find out if your property is in a heritage conservation area.
| Village | Heritage Conservation Area | Map and Inventory Sheet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Irvine | Mount Irvine and environs | MI001 | Existing |
| Mount Wilson | Mount Wilson Conservation Precinct | MW026 | Existing |
| Mount Tomah | Mount Tomah and environs | MT002 | Existing |
| Mount York | Mount York and environs | MY008 | Existing |
| Mount Victoria | Central Mount Victoria Urban Conservation Area | Amended | |
| Blackheath | Blackheath Village and Setting | New | |
| Hat Hill Road | New | ||
| Blackheath West | New | ||
| Lookout Hill | New | ||
| Katoomba | Jamison Valley | K007 | Existing |
| Lurline Street Precinct | K053 | Existing | |
| Central Katoomba Urban Conservation Area | K159 | Existing | |
| South Katoomba | New | ||
| Crown Village | New | ||
| Grimley Estate | New | ||
| Norths Estate | New | ||
| Leura | Central Leura Urban Conservation Area | LA018 | Existing |
| Railway Parade Precinct | LA029 | Existing | |
| Residential Precinct | LA033 | Existing | |
| Leura North | New | ||
| Leura South | New | ||
| Wentworth Falls | Station Street Precinct | WF032 | Existing |
| Great Western Highway Residential Precinct | WF044 | Existing | |
| Wentworth Falls Cottages | WF073 | Existing | |
| Village of Brasfort | New | ||
| Westbourne Avenue | New | ||
| Lawson | Honour Gardens | LN014 | Existing |
| Henry Street Cottages | LN025 | Existing | |
| San Jose Avenue and Badgerys Crescent Cottages | LN030 | Existing | |
| Hays Nature Reserve link | New | ||
| Hazelbrook | Railway Parade West |
H008 |
Amended |
| Railway Parade East | New | ||
| Springwood | Macquarie Road East | Amended | |
| Moorecourt Avenue | New | ||
| Macquarie Road West | New | ||
| Glenbrook | Glenbrook | New |
Heritage properties
Heritage places rarely exist in isolation, whether they be a single item such as a tree, monument or building or a large precinct such as a town centre or village. Fashions change in gardens as much as in buildings. Layout, selection of plants, paving and use of garden ornaments all vary over time. In heritage terms, the garden and landscape setting is as vital as the building in creating genuine heritage significance.The setting for the heritage item includes all the elements contributing to its heritage significance and is known as the heritage curtilage. New works to heritage properties or items need to consider the impact on the surrounding area, but also needs to focus on the historic fabric of the building and its immediate setting. Further information on preparing a heritage report is available (see related downloads).
Archaeological sites
Archaeological deposits or remains have the potential to give important information about the history of a place. The heritage system in NSW provides comprehensive statutory protection for archaeological relics and mechanisms to ensure that they are protected, investigated and interpreted.
A key tool in this process is the archaeological assessment, which seeks to identify the nature and significance of any deposits or relics on the site. These assessments are based on an investigation of historical documentary sources and existing physical site conditions and are carried out by qualified archaeologists. Known or found sites with significant Aboriginal archaeology should refer to the code of practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects.
Online heritage inventory
Heritage places, items and conservation areas are identified in planning instruments and on property maps. Select (tick) the 'Heritage' layer to view. Each item has a unique ID (eg 'K091'). Search the Heritage Council of NSW inventory with this ID to find basic background information, a description of the item and an assessment of the various heritage values. These sheets should be referred to early in the development process. They should also be considered when preparing a heritage management document for submission with a development application.
Forms and Resources