Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HM History Heritage
HM History Heritage
Heritage
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HOW ARE HISTORICAL CONTEXT REPORTS HOW ARE HISTORICAL THEMES USED TO ASSESS
AND THEMES USED? SIGNIFICANCE?
An historical context report identifies and The historical significance of an item can be
explains the major factors and processes, expressed assessed by checking whether it physically
as historical themes, that have influenced the demonstrates any of the historical themes which
history of an area. The primary objective of a shaped the area in which the item is located. The
report is to provide a framework to investigate themes can be used to consider how the item
and identify heritage items. It is not intended to demonstrates or achieves other heritage values
be a detailed account of all aspects of the history such as technical excellence or educational
of an area, nor to replace histories designed to serve potential. The themes may give clues as to why a
other purposes. community may hold an item in high esteem.
Using historical themes in this way can be
An historical context report, if used in particularly important for large survey and
combination with information about the physical assessment projects, where there may be insufficient
evidence of a place, can suggest areas requiring resources to allow detailed research for each item.
more detailed historical research. The use of
major themes can draw attention to gaps in To consider an item in its historical context, it is
existing histories which could lead to an important to identify the links between information
incomplete assessment, study, register or list. known from historical sources such as documents,
and physical evidence identified in the field.
Themes guide judgements about what types of
heritage items might exist on a site or in an area, WHEN IS AN HISTORICAL CONTEXT REPORT
and what expert assistance might be required to PREPARED?
assess their heritage significance. For example, if An historical context report is usually prepared as
goldmining has played an important part in an the first part of a more extensive significance
area’s history and is identified as a theme, field assessment process — particulary as the first stage
surveys ought to be done to find any physical of a heritage study prepared for a local council or
evidence of that activity. It might also be other agency. Heritage studies investigate and
necessary to engage specialist engineers and assess the heritage resources of an area or agency
archaeologists experienced in identifying and and make recommendations on how they can be
assessing these types of sites. managed. As well as producing an inventory of
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significant items, a heritage study is a tool to use in As the themes have been prepared to help us
the promotion of community or corporate identity understand the context of individual items, they
through an understanding of our cultural history. are deliberately general. The use of single words
rather than descriptive phrases allows for flexible
An historical context report can be prepared for a interpretation of each theme. For example, the
large or small area, or for particular types of items, theme of exploration refers to any form of
such as maritime or railway heritage. For exploration, from the early expeditions of Hume
example, it can be used when preparing a register and Hovell to more recent treks in wilderness areas.
of heritage items owned by a government agency,
setting out the historical development of the The state themes are not intended to be
agency and the service it provides. A report can prescriptive or to influence an historical context
also provide background comparative data for the report prepared for a more specific or local purpose.
assessment of just one item. The structure of an historical context report and
the themes it produces should emerge from the
Local themes identified in local historical context research undertaken of the area in question.
reports need to relate to the regional and state
themes used for the NSW Heritage Database. As Many heritage items relate to more than one
local themes are developed from analysis and
theme. This is not surprising, as it reflects the
research confined to a local area, they are usually
interactive way our society has developed. In
more precise and specific in character than
many instance the more themes the item relates
regional and state themes, which are necessarily
to, the more reasons for its significance. A
broad in scope.
grandstand, for example, may be considered under
education because it belongs to a school, or
An historical context analysis ought to be
religion because it is a church school. It
undertaken for any type or number of heritage
obviously has sporting significance, but it may be
items, including a single item or site which is the
subject of a conservation management plan. a war memorial ( defence ) or the site may be
Without historical background it will not be described in a memorable poem or film ( cultural
possible to place an item in its larger cultural and site ). It may also be the only remaining
geographic context; this will, in turn, inhibit an benefaction of an important commercial or
assessment of its significance. industrial enterprise.
WHAT ARE THE HISTORICAL THEMES FOR NSW? State and National Historical Themes
Thirty-five themes have been adopted for use The state historical themes for NSW are not
with the NSW heritage management system and intended to be exhaustive. Your analysis might
are listed on page 6. They provide the context identify further themes. However, you need to
needed to be able to assess whether an item is of justify the use of any additional themes.
State heritage significance. They also serve as a
Remember that the state historical themes are
useful checklist when preparing local historical
deliberately broad. Heritage studies of particular
context reports.
areas or types of items will include historical
context reports that identify more detailed local
The themes summarise the historical framework
and/or regional themes.
for NSW, but they do not describe physical
evidence or items in the study area. For example,
National themes are currently being developed by
the theme of housing refers to a process of land
the Australian Heritage Commission. These are
subdivision and building, not to the fact that an
also listed on page 6.
area contains houses. Residences that are part of
a specific housing venture (such as the advent of
public housing or housing estates) would fall
within this theme; individual residences that are
not part of such processes, would not.
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9. Environment — natural or modified and 32. Education: includes formal and informal,
shaped: may include Aboriginal and schools, mechanics institutes, secondary
European features, clearing, timber-getting, and tertiary educational institutions
soil conservation, national parks, gardens,
33. Death: e.g. cemeteries, undertakers
special plantings, preservation of open space
34. Events: may include monuments, sites of
10. Townships: may include present, former or
special significance and social value
aborted settlements, streetscapes
35. Persons: may include individuals, families,
11. M i g r a t i o n
dynasties, birthplace, place of residence,
12. Ethnic influences women’s sites.
13. Transport: includes road, rail, water, air DRAFT NATIONAL HISTORICAL THEMES
14. Communication: includes printing, postal to National themes should be identified using the
modern media following list compiled by the Australian
Heritage Commission:
15. Utilities: e.g. water, sewerage, gas, electricity
18. Commerce: includes banking, retailing 3. Developing local, regional and national
economies
19. Technology
4. Building settlements, towns and cities
20. Science
5. W o r k i n g
21. Government and administration: includes
maladministration 6. Educating
23. Defence: may include Aboriginal battle 8. Developing cultural institutions and ways
sites, war memorials of life
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