Indigenous Australian heritage on private land: an examination of guidance provided by local government authorities of NSW

Abstract

ABSTRACT Throughout Australia, large numbers of Indigenous Australian heritage sites, which exist on privately owned agricultural properties, have neither been recorded or documented and are not being actively managed. Anecdotally, some of this occurs in NSW due to uncertainties and fears held by the landholders. This paper examines the responses provided by several NSW Local Government Authorities (LGA) to a simulated enquiry by a landholder who may wish to remain anonymous but desires to obtain guidance on how to manage Indigenous Australian heritage sites on his/her property. The information (and forward links) provided on LGA websites was found to be generally poor. Direct enquiries were found to provide accurate information, but this entailed the loss of anonymity. Suggestions for improvement of the status quo are offered.