Cultural Heritage Consultants & Cultural Heritage Advisors

Heritage 21 is a highly professional firm of cultural heritage consultants. We provide an all-round approach to the complexities facing urban change and provide the most professional heritage advice to our clients.
We have been in operation since 1994, and through that time we have helped hundreds of Australian business and home owners understand their rights and obligations through our expert team of heritage property consultants. Australia has a rich and vibrant history, and we are a country that cares a great deal about preserving our heritage. At the same time, making good use of heritage space is important, both in preserving the building itself, and ensuring that Australians can continue to enjoy the heritage for many years into the future.
As cultural heritage advisors, it’s our job to help our clients plan their use of the heritage building that they’ve bought or are looking to buy in a way that doesn’t damage the heritage value of it. Our experienced, professional team of heritage advisors understand the regulations and the law completely, and can help you work through any paperwork or legal process that you might need to undertake.
The best option in heritage property advisors, Australia-wide
Our expertise extends across state and Federal law and regulation across all of Australia, and our consultants are available to conduct site inspections, reports and guidance anywhere in the country. For further information, or if you are interested in more information on a heritage listed property, contact us on +61 2 9519 2521

Blog

Heritage is indicative of truths as they emerge from contemporary practice

13/09/2018

How often is it said that we view the past through our own eyes. Here we are in 2018 viewing the past from our current standpoint. How different would it be if say we viewed it 50 years ago or 50 years hence? These are important questions because it throws light on what we do with our history now, what we did with it then and what we will do with it in the future. We can only know what we know now. We can only imagine what previous societies thought about history and our projections into the future will only ever be speculations because we cannot be certain about anything in the future never mind the past. Many years ago, I heard that there was a plan in Sydney to demolish the Queen Victoria Building in the city to make way for a parking garage.

Is Heritage Chauvinistic?

29/08/2018

David Lowenthal writes that heritage betokens interest in manifold legacies – family history, familiar landmarks, historic buildings, art and antiques, plants and animals. So widespread and fast-growing is such concern that heritage defies definition. Heterogeneous, changeable, sometimes laughable, heritage is above all chauvinistic. Most heritage reflects personal or collective self-interest, things prized as mine or ours. We may be modest about what we are, but rarely about what we were.

Should Heritage Design only be Presided over by Registered Architects?

21/08/2018

Should heritage design only be presided over by registered architects? Arguably, there is a case for only registered architects to be involved in decision making affecting listed heritage buildings and buildings in conservation areas because architectural training allows for an enhanced understanding of two critical skills. Firstly, understanding building fabric and construction methodology i.e. how buildings are constructed, detailing and materials and secondly, the rigours of design i.e. experience in making design decisions in the context of innumerable constraints and opportunities. Without a background in these two fundamentals, it is difficult to see how non-architecturally trained practitioners can make decisions affecting heritage buildings.

Testimonials

Sites with heritage values present great opportunities, however often can be easily derailed if clear, concise and timely advice is not provide at the earliest stages of site planning. I have worked with Heritage 21 over numerous projects across Sydney and have found them to be valuable project partners in the development process.

Vince Hardy
urban planning consultant | cityscapeplanning+projects

DFP Planning has worked with Heritage 21 (previously Rappoport Heritage Consultants) on numerous projects many of which involved complex heritage challenges. We have always found Heritage21 to be proficient heritage specialists whose reports and assessments are detailed and well presented.

Whilst Heritage21 are committed to ensuring the integrity of heritage items and conservation areas is preserved, their professional approach results in a balance between heritage conservation and contemporary development being achieved in all instances.

Ellen Robertshaw
Partner | DFP Planning

Our recent commission completed by your team in November last year highlighted the high quality value that Heritage 21 contribute to our architectural projects.

At that time of the year, not only was the time frame extremely tight and the project initiation of the shortest notice, but the implications of the issues embedded in the project were of enormous import to our client.The successful outcome of that project demonstrated the sharp focus of the Heritage 21 strategic methodologies.

We appreciate the culture of Heritage 21 as we consider it to be underpinned by your company’s broad knowledge base and intellectual integrity. The complexities and challenges presented by heritage projects only enhance the sense of satisfaction when the projects have been successfully delivered. We consider that the input from Heritage 21 contributes significantly to that sense of achievement.We look forward to working with Heritage 21 on many future projects.

Richard Mann
Director | Ecosystem Architecture