Heritage Act 2018 and Heritage Regulations 2019

On 1 July 2019 Western Australia's Heritage Act 2018 and the Heritage Regulations 2019 came into effect.

This legislation replaces the outdated Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 and aligns Western Australia with other States by ensuring better protections for important heritage places, particularly those left to ‘demolition by neglect’.

Key changes include:

  • streamlining the process for entering places in the State Register of Heritage Places
  • clarity for owners wishing to develop heritage places
  • Better protection for heritage places at risk from 'demolition by neglect'
  • increased transparency by publishing the Heritage Council’s advice to the Minister for Heritage on the inclusion of a place on the State Register
  • time limits on certain decisions to provide certainty for decision-makers, industry and the community.