Heritage information and advice

The next Heritage Advisor visit is scheduled for
17 December 2009. Contact Jade Richardson to make an appointment on 6549 3745.

The Heritage conservation controls (pdf 55kb) ensure that owners of heritage items, developers etc understand what they, and Council, are required to do to ensure the qualities which gave the [property] its significance is retained.

The Muswellbrook Family and History Society may be able to assist you with research or advice on historic information about a heritage item.

The information provided on this page is used in support of the Muswellbrook Shire Council Local Environment Plan.

Muswellbrook Shire Council’s Heritage LEP identifies buildings and structures, ranging from private homes through to commercial buildings as heritage items.

The heritage provisions do not necessarily prohibit development but aim to promote conservation of heritage by encouraging sympathetic development of heritage items. Council may be consulted as to whether a property is listed and what procedures for renovation or development should be undertaken.

Council has engaged the services of a Heritage Advisor who visits Council for two days every second month to provide a free advisory service to the community in relation to heritage issues. Appointments with the Heritage Officer can be made to discuss a wide range of issues from new colour schemes to financial assistance for heritage projects.

More information concerning heritage issues is available by contacting the Environmental Services Department.

Each year, Council offers small grants to property owners for maintenance works on older buildings in the local government area.

Grants are usually offered up to a maximum dollar for dollar with an upper limit of $2,000 per property. If you wish to be placed on Council's mailing list to receive information on the next round of heritage grants please contact Council's Environmental Services Department and leave your name and postal details.

This program is funded by Council and the Heritage Office, and funding cannot be provided to works that have already been completed.

The types of projects that are normally funded include:

Repainting the exterior of older buildings, including houses,
Repairing walls, verandahs, windows or roof plumbing on older buildings,
Repairing or reconstructing picket fences or other boundary work to protect older houses or sites, and
Repairing and conserving older buildings, historic remnants or grave sites.

To be eligible for funding, your property must be heritage listed in the LEP 2009, a building within a conservation area or assessed as significant by Council’s Heritage Advisor.

Application forms and guidelines for the program are available for download below. Applications can be submitted to Council at any time, however, works approved for funding must be completed by 30 March the following year.