STATE HERITAGE REGISTER NOMINATION

The Protection League and the NPWS have lodged a joint nomination for State Heritage Register listing of the shack communities. The nomination can be found at the Heritage Office website and is on public exhib ition for comment until 15th November, 2011.

http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_02_2.cfm?itemid=5054896

SIGNIFICANCE - WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY:

"The historical and social development of the shack areas is highly significant, as it is a rare illustration of a community, building group and cultural landscape developing in the absence of amenities, regulated planning, building codes and vehicular access. Self-regulating communities are becoming increasingly rare within NSW.” (Brooks, Conservation Management Plan. p 96).

“Conservation and management of individual cabins and the cabins areas generally, should recognise that their primary values are based more on the collective social values of the cabins communities than on physical characteristics or fabric of individual cabins or their immediate surrounds.” (Brooks p 152)

“The Era Conservation area is a cultural landscape featuring a now rare example of a “depression-architecture” style community with its original 1920s technology relatively intact and satisfies the following heritage criteria: “Importance for demonstrating the distinctive way of life of the community and its processes which are both of exceptional interest and in danger of being lost.” (National Trust Listing 1993)

SHARING OUR HERITAGE - THE FUTURE WAY FORWARD

For the heritage values to be retained into the future, the custodianship of the people of the cabin communities must be recognised and afforded protection.

The shack people who are descendants of the original builders and owners, provide a tangible link with the history.

The value of this heritage to the broader community is not only the buildings, but also the knowledge and responsibility that the people contribute in maintaining the shack areas. Had it not been for the people organising to save the shacks from demolition, these unique communities would have been destroyed.

Now the challenge is to find a way forward that does not threaten to reduce and disperse the communities

Sharing this heritage for future generations requires a new approach, with the stewardship of the people of the communities playing a central role.