Queensland Heritage Council facts for kids

The Queensland Heritage Council is a special group in Queensland, Australia. It was set up by the Queensland Parliament under a law called the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. This Council works to protect and celebrate Queensland's history and important places.

The Council gives advice to the Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef. It also gets help from the Department of Environment and Science. One of its main jobs is to look after the Queensland Heritage Register.

Who is on the Council?

The Queensland Heritage Council is made up of different people. Some members represent important groups in Queensland, such as:

• The National Trust of Queensland, which cares for heritage.
• The Local Government Association of Queensland, representing local councils.
• The Queensland Council of Unions, representing workers.
• Groups that represent property owners and managers.
• Groups that represent farming and rural businesses.

There are also seven other people chosen because they know a lot about heritage conservation. They are experts in protecting old buildings and places.

The current members of the Council include Debbie Best (who is the Chairperson), Judy Brien, Kathy Davis, Andrew Barnes, Alice Hampson, Ann-Marie Allen, Dr Katie McConnel, Andrew Ladlay, Cr Judith Peters, Stuart Lummis, Claire Wiles, and George Seymour (who is the Deputy Chairperson).

What Does the Council Do?

The Queensland Heritage Council has several important jobs to help protect Queensland's history:

• It gives expert advice to the Minister about how to look after Queensland's cultural heritage. This includes suggesting ways to save important places.
• It shares information with the public. This helps people learn about and care for Queensland's cultural heritage.
• It advises other groups, like government departments and community organisations, on how to protect heritage.
• It encourages everyone to manage places of cultural heritage importance in the right way.
• It also does other tasks that the law or the Minister ask it to do.

Queensland Heritage Register

The Queensland Heritage Register is a special list of places that are protected by law. These places are very important to Queensland's history and culture.

For a place to be added to this list, someone must suggest it. Then, experts carefully check the place to see if it meets the rules. The public also gets a chance to share their thoughts about the place.

Today, there are over 1600 places on the Queensland Heritage Register. Some famous examples include the Story Bridge in Brisbane and Paronella Park near Cairns.

See also

• Australian heritage places inventory
• List of heritage registers