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Snapshot of approaches and practice to the assessment of rural cultural landscapes

Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003. 2. The process:. Seven people with knowledge of cultural landscapes were interviewed in groups of two and three. Discussion questions were based on a written questionnaire sent to each bef

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Snapshot of approaches and practice to the assessment of rural cultural landscapes

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    1. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office Snapshot of approaches and practice to the assessment of rural cultural landscapes Three discussions with specialists & A questionnaire survey

    2. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 2 The process: Seven people with knowledge of cultural landscapes were interviewed in groups of two and three. Discussion questions were based on a written questionnaire sent to each beforehand. Written responses to questionnaire were received (in varying detail). further comments and responses after the discussions

    3. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 3 People interviewed: Discussion 1 Sharon Veale, historian National Parks and Wildlife Service Christina Vos, prepared a thesis on Agnes Banks, an early land grant on the Nepean at Castlereagh.

    4. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 4 Discussion 2 Geoffrey Britton, landscape architect/heritage practitioner Colleen Morris, heritage practitioner specializing in landscape history Michael Lehany, landscape architect/heritage practitioner

    5. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 5 Discussion 3 Dr Richard Lamb, Lecturer University of Sydney – Heritage course, and private practice as landscape heritage consultant Warwick Mayne-Wilson, landscape architect/heritage consultant

    6. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 6 Questionnaire – Focused on rural areas where subdivision or other development is occurring or expected Three main questions: How do you assess the significance of a farm/ villa/ homestead with its remaining estate? How do you assess a rural area (many properties)? What are the priorities for research, guidelines for professional practice and other action?

    7. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 7 Questions 1 and 2 - Method and approach to assessment of rural properties & areas In relation to rural properties, estates and areas: a Describe your method for research/investigation /assessment? b What steps are involved? Do you follow any guidelines or common approach? c What are the key aspects of your approach? d What aspects of significance are sometimes overlooked or not well-recognised ? e What are the most common issues for conservation?

    8. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 8 Method / approach to research and assessment Everyone followed the same basic approach implicit in the Burra Charter and the NSW Heritage Office assessment guidelines: Documentary research On site investigation Some further documentary research etc. Assessment

    9. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 9 Important points: Practitioners do not apply rigid approaches - but cover the same aspects in most projects Value of title searches of whole portions from first grant Differences in involvement of owners and community (people with experience with community and oral history more inclined to that approach) Suggestions that research of art and literature related to a place should always be undertaken *

    10. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 10 Extract from a response about method: Method is based on the assumption that a cultural landscape is at the same time a place and the intersection of a series of patterns, many of which are constructed socially. …. Some things are concrete, but most are stories of various kinds that explain the meaning of the place. The location of the place, its history of development and its physical characteristics are still very important.

    11. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 11 Aspects of history and significance overlooked or not well-recognised Past emphasis on buildings Views to and from the place (include visual curtilage in significance) Context, patterns and features (beyond boundaries) Roads Remnant plantings beyond the immediate garden. Individual items as part of a larger whole Moveable heritage Evidence of past activities such as cultivation patterns, old tracks, fence lines Associations & meanings Women’s heritage, domestic spaces, gardens, children Spatial interconnections - patterns of life and work across landscapes Aboriginal history and heritage, particularly post-contact period

    12. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 12 Additional questions about assessment and management How are owners/ community involved in assessment and policy? Recognised by everyone as inadequate/under resourced Involvement probably depends upon inclusion in a brief Can any aspect of significance (aesthetic/scenic, historic, scientific and social, other) be investigated and assessed separately? Theoretically yes, but not good practice Aesthetic values almost always include historic values; Assessments of aesthetic (scenic) value should not be undertaken unless other values also assessed concurrently

    13. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 13 What are the most common issues for conservation of rural landscapes? Understanding of rural cultural landscapes Heritage process too late in process of change Long term economic viability/sustainability of landscape Maintaining rural atmosphere in changed environment. – with suburban/urban design approaches to infrastructure Lack of realistic resources for assessment/management; Lack of knowledge about history of land / land use practices etc. Understanding the dynamic qualities of landscapes (cultural heritage as lived continuum: e.g. conserving significance practices/ traditions across landscape)

    14. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 14 common issues for conservation of rural landscapes - heritage practice Integration of ecological and cultural values in assessment/management (practice dominated by ‘natural values’ approach) Practical approaches to management, policy and real futures for landscapes Need for cross-ownership processes for identification and management Poor skills / commitment to community involvement to both Indigenous and non-indigenous people

    15. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 15 common issues for conservation of rural landscapes - community & government Lack of recognition / understanding of landscapes as heritage Heritage is not a priority for all owners/managers of rural properties Neglect, leading to demolition or ‘high’ cost of conservation Perception that controls not needed in rural areas ( “rights” of the owner - c.f. “The Castle”). Reluctance by some councils, government departments, to accept/integrate heritage Limited scope of scenic landscape zoning Concept that cultural heritage should generate revenue

    16. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 16 What research is needed to understand rural cultural landscapes and for listing? Compilation of literature Regional cultural landscape studies (ask heritage advisors to nominate important cultural landscapes) Areas under threat Historical research - land management practices; land subdivisions; environmental history / landscape change Research of community attitudes to landscape Role of historic landscapes in viable/ongoing way Oral history – use, management, social life Recording before change - district & individual properties

    17. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 17 What guidelines (or other documents) are needed? Revised curtilage guidelines - broader concept of ‘setting’, ‘relationships’’, and ‘in the vicinity’ Basic information about values of cultural landscapes Methodology for assessment of rural landscape including case studies with policy and management ** Links with rural land evaluation /planning (update ‘dots’ concept to recognises distinctive local and regional landscape character) N.B. Many good historical documents – Loudon, Ruskin, Hardy Wilson, old planning guidelines Also Exhibitions, + links with other community interests

    18. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 18 Caution about guidelines!! guidelines not well understood by people with little experience / good will CMPs not always appropriate for rural landscape or owners in local government – need to harness support/links with other departments N.B. The cultural landscape is not so much a place as it is an idea

    19. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 19 Action by NSW Heritage Office - priorities Projects Professional development for planners, practitioners, government agencies, community organisations Methodology manual (inc revised curtilage guidelines)*** Case study of rural cultural landscape under threat integrated with other investigations List of rural cultural landscapes under threat + priorities for assessment and management N.B Seek opportunities to work with planning agency and local government

    20. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 20 NSW Heritage Office - other action Encourage across agency action – e.g to record landscape, oral histories, via funding programs Better recognition of cultural landscapes in strategic planning (updated heritage approach in strategic planning guidelines: (e.g. land release densities to take account of heritage) Look for research opportunities, projects that combine community development, the arts, and heritage Improve awareness about rural cultural landscape

    21. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 21 Some concerns Need to involve owners and community in heritage assessment and management Need to recognise the attachment of people to land in planning and heritage processes Heritage investigations need to be undertaken at a very early stage in strategic planning/closer fit for heritage and planning Road planning + role of the road in landscape appreciation Need for greater consistency in ‘heritage’ assessment / advice

    22. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 22 Other conclusions about heritage system Discussions revealed important issues e.g: What heritage conservation is about – Is it keeping evidence of history and patterns everywhere or keeping ‘dots’ and ‘big dots’? Is it keeping settings and character around towns and villages? Or only for state significant landscapes?

    23. Meredith Walker Heritage Futures for the NSW Heritage Office – Cultural landscapes charette 29 August 2003 23 Other conclusions about heritage system Limitations of heritage system- based primarily on listings followed by management of the listed places Impact of the heritage systems on respect for regional and local heritage Limitations of professional approaches to recording - use more community-friendly approaches?

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