Historic Buildings Preservation Council facts for kids

The Historic Buildings Preservation Council (HBPC) was an important group in Victoria, Australia. It was created by the Victorian state government in 1974. The HBPC's main job was to protect and look after old and special buildings across the state. It worked until 1989, making sure that buildings with historical or architectural value were preserved for future generations.

What Was the HBPC?

The Historic Buildings Preservation Council, or HBPC, was set up in 1974. It was a special organization created by a law called the Historic Buildings Act 1974. Think of it like a team of experts given the power by the government to make decisions about old buildings. Their goal was to keep important buildings safe from being changed too much or even knocked down.

Protecting Old Buildings

The HBPC had a big responsibility: to decide which buildings were important enough to be officially protected. They looked at buildings that people suggested, both private homes and government buildings.

• Register of Historic Buildings: This list was for buildings owned by regular people or companies.
• Government Buildings Register: This list was for buildings owned by the government itself.

When deciding if a building should be added to these lists, the HBPC looked at two main things:

• Architectural significance: Was the building a great example of a certain style of architecture? Was it designed by a famous architect?
• Historical significance: Did important events happen there? Did famous people live there? Did it show how people lived in the past?

Giving Permits for Changes

Even if a building was on one of the registers, it might need changes or repairs. The HBPC had the power to give special permits (like official permissions) for these changes. This made sure that any alterations didn't harm the building's special historical or architectural features. They wanted to make sure changes were done carefully and respectfully.

Studying Victoria's Heritage

The HBPC also helped start some of the very first heritage studies in Victoria. These studies were like big research projects to find and learn about other important historical places and buildings across the state. This helped the HBPC and the government understand more about Victoria's rich history and what needed to be protected.

The HBPC's Legacy

The Historic Buildings Preservation Council played a key role in starting the work of protecting Victoria's heritage. After 15 years of important work, the HBPC was eventually replaced by a new organization called Heritage Victoria. Heritage Victoria continues the important job of looking after the state's historic places today.