Local heritage places
Discover the diverse range of local heritage places in Brisbane and nominate a place for protection.
What is a local heritage place?
A local heritage place is a private or public property that is protected under Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan) for its contribution to Brisbane's unique past.
A local heritage place must meet at least one of 8 local cultural heritage criteria, for example, it:
- demonstrates the evolution or pattern of the city’s or local area’s history
- demonstrates a high degree of creative or technological achievement at a particular period
- has a strong or special association with the life or work of a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
Brisbane has a diverse range of local heritage places. They can include houses, schools, gardens and landscapes, infrastructure, shops, churches, industrial sites and trees.
Protecting local heritage
Brisbane’s heritage places are important expressions of the city’s shared history and identity. They can provide communities with a deep sense of connection to a location.
Once Council recognises a local heritage place, it is:
- identified on the Heritage overlay of City Plan
- published on Local Heritage Places online.
We protect local heritage places according to our legal obligations outlined in:
- the Queensland Heritage Act 1992
- the Planning Act 2016
- other Queensland Government planning instruments, such as the State Planning Policy.
Development of local heritage places is regulated by provisions in City Plan.
Explore Local Heritage Places online
Our Local Heritage Places online platform details heritage properties identified in City Plan.
You can access information about different local heritage places, including historical facts and features, architectural period and style, and photos.
Tips for searching Local Heritage Places
You can search using a range of different criteria, including:
- type of place (e.g. church)
- address (e.g. 123 Brisbane Street)
- design period (early 20th century)
- style (e.g. art deco).
Nominate a local heritage place
Council identifies places of significance through heritage studies, as part of detailed planning for suburban and urban renewal.
A local heritage place may be proposed for inclusion in City Plan through an amendment process, which includes public consultation.
Alternatively, anyone can nominate a place for consideration as a local heritage place.
Use Local Heritage Places online to determine if the place meets one or more of Council's heritage criteria.
You'll need to gather supporting documents such as old and recent photographs, site plans, drawings or other historical sources to support your nomination.
To nominate a place for inclusion, you’ll need to provide details about the location, key features and reasons for the nomination.
Contact the Heritage Policy team
If you need help with a heritage enquiry, email the team.
You can also:
- phone Council on 07 3403 8888
- write to:
Heritage Policy
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
Property values are determined by many considerations, including planning requirements, economic factors, trends in the housing market, surrounding amenity and services, and the quality of the individual property.
To obtain a comprehensive evaluation, we advise consulting an independent professional with expertise in real estate or property valuation.
Yes, you can make renovations to a local heritage property, however they generally require approvals from Council.
This ensures that any changes made respect and conserve the heritage values of the property.
You should understand the rules and approvals you need, depending on the type of work you want to carry out.
Learn more about development requirements for local heritage properties.
No, the public generally can't access privately owned heritage properties.
However, there may be some privately owned heritage places that the public can access, for example, some hotels, restaurants or bars operate in listed buildings.
There may also be occasions such as Brisbane Open House where an owner may choose to allow public access. This is at the property owner's discretion.