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Australian Heritage Week

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Australian Heritage Week?

Australian Heritage Week (AHW) is a national annual event celebrating the places and stories that make Australia and Australians special. It includes our amazing natural places, our rich Indigenous heritage and the diverse historic sites that together, reflect our development as a nation.

AHW is about raising public awareness of the importance of conserving and protecting Australia's most special heritage places.

This week long celebration is also about encouraging communities and organisations to use this time to host a local heritage event or activity.

When will AHW be held?

In 2012, AHW will run from Saturday, 14 to Sunday, 22 April.

This is a time of the year when many families are on school and Easter holidays and are more likely to be travelling and have the opportunity to take part in AHW events.

The week also incorporates the International Council on Monuments and Site's (ICOMOS) International Day which is held each year on 18 April. More information can be found on the ICOMOS website.

• International Council on Monuments and Site (ICOMOS)

Doesn't Australia already have heritage celebrations?

Yes, some states and territories do have their own heritage festivals or heritage weeks at different times of the year, and these will still continue. AHW is not about replacing existing events but is designed to create a special time in the year where there is a national focus on learning about and becoming involved with Australia's unique heritage places and stories.

Is the National Trust of Australia involved?

Yes, state and territory National Trust organisations will be involved in hosting activities and events at their properties.

Who can get involved and what kind of activities could we do?

AHW is open to any individual, heritage place manager/owner, school or organisation (government or non-government) who appreciates their local heritage place and would like to share and celebrate what makes their place so special.

There are many ways of celebrating our impressive range of heritage places and their special stories. Some ideas for activities could include:

• guided/walking tours around your town's special heritage places
• photographic or essay-writing competitions on your favourite heritage place and what it means to you and your community
• plays or re-enactments, film screenings
• lectures and seminars about the unique qualities of your heritage place
• 'working bees' to repair or restore/ clean up a local heritage place
• exhibitions or displays with heritage items in your collections
• 'open days', 'open doors', 'open house' or 'open garden' for heritage places that are not usually open to the public, and
• heritage awards for adaptive re-use of a heritage place or awards that recognise the efforts of an individual, school or community to protect and conserve their local heritage.

It would also be great to see your heritage stories told and interpreted in creative ways: through works of art, films, songs, photographs and television productions.

These are just some examples but the possibilities are endless...what activity best show-cases your unique local heritage?

How can we promote our activities to the public during AHW?

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is developing a new Australian Heritage Week registration system which will go live in February 2012. This site will provide the opportunity for event managers to load a photo to illustrate an event and download the Australian Heritage Week 2012 logo to use on their own advertising material.  Members of the public will be able to search for events being held in their region as well as around Australia, so the site will provide excellent publicity for events that are registered.

How can we provide feedback to the department on our event?

The department is very interested in receiving your feedback at the conclusion of AHW. If you would like to provide feedback please tick the relevant box when you register your event.