Heritage reports

Heritage studies provide us with insight into the rich heritage of the area now known as the City of Whittlesea.

As the City of Whittlesea grows and changes, recognising and protecting the built heritage that defines the history and culture of our city is an essential part of our planning work.

The City of Whittlesea Planning Scheme contains planning controls that protect individual historic cultural places and precincts of heritage significance.

We undertake heritage studies to ensure buildings, dry stone walls and precincts of heritage significance are protected as our city grows. Based on these studies, we propose changes to the planning scheme to recommend places for protection and create new heritage precincts where needed.

Read the key heritage studies undertaken in the City of Whittlesea below.

Built Heritage

Gould 1990/1991

In 1990, Meredith Gould completed the initial City of Whittlesea Heritage Study, producing a 1991 report of historical information and heritage assessments for places to be considered for the Heritage Overlay (HO).

City of Whittlesea Heritage Study Gould 1990(PDF, 42MB)

Context 2013

In 2013, Context completed a review of Gould’s Heritage Study. The 2013 report included a Thematic Environmental History to understand how themes have shaped the City of Whittlesea as a whole. New citations were also written for a group of heritage places.

City of Whittlesea Heritage Study Volume 1(PDF, 2MB)

City of Whittlesea Heritage Study Volume 2(PDF, 8MB)

City of Whittlesea Heritage Study Volume 3(PDF, 11MB)

Moloney 2020

There is a large number of early dry stone walls in the City of Whittlesea, with a concentration in the northern areas of the city. The walls contribute to the history, landscape and overall character and identity of our city and communities.

Dry stone walls are one of the earliest forms of infrastructure linked to historic period land use practices. They also reflect the industry and skills of settlers and landowners. Some of the walls in the City of Whittlesea were built in unique ways, and some dry stone enclosures were made for special purposes and are potentially unique in Victoria.

Dry stone walls are heritage assets from the historic cultural period that are protected under special provisions in the Victorian Planning framework and by the Heritage Act 2017.

City of Whittlesea Final Official Dry Stone Walls Study Moloney(PDF, 10MB)

Archaeology