Heritage Service

Historic Cottage Portland Botanic Gardens

As the first site of permanent European settlement in Victoria, the Glenelg Shire has a wealth of history within its boundaries.

Our heritage is a significant economic and social asset which gives the Glenelg Shire so much of its distinctive appeal. Glenelg Shires heritage is everywhere. It is represented in commercial buildings, hotels, churches and schools. It is also reflected in the historic landscape.

The Council's Planning Unit operates a Heritage Advisory Service which is free to ratepayers of the Glenelg Shire. 

Heritage Design Guidelines

These guidelines will assist with undertaking new development, alterations and extensions to heritage buildings. It provides guidance on acceptable forms of development within heritage precincts.

Click here to view the Heritage Design Guidelines(PDF, 19MB).

Heritage Advisory Service

The Heritage Advisory Service is a free service offered by the Glenelg Shire Council. We aim to help owners and occupants of heritage places care for those places, and the service is for all Glenelg Shire residents or ratepayers.

Advice can be sought on any heritage matters, including:

  • Renovations or restorations
  • Modern additions to existing heritage structures

The Heritage Advisory Service is available for monthly onsite property inspections, or you can arrange an appointment at Council's Portland Office. 

Please get in touch with Tammy Hurst of Glenelg Shire Council's Planning Department to arrange an appointment. 
Call 5522 2187 to get started! 

Heritage Overlay Information

The Heritage Overlay is a map in the Planning Scheme that shows the location and extent of heritage controls over a particular heritage place.

The Heritage Overlay provisions are set out at clause 43.01 within all Victorian Planning Schemes. A local schedule to the Heritage Overlay lists the properties affected by the Heritage Overlay and any additional controls which may apply to that particular site.

What does being in the Heritage Overlay mean?

The primary purpose of the Heritage Overlay is to protect the heritage significance of a building, place or area.

The Heritage Overlay aims to:

  • conserve and enhance places of natural or cultural significance.
  • conserve and enhance those elements which contribute to the significance of heritage places.
  • ensure that development does not adversely affect the significance of heritage places.
  • conserve specifically identified places by allowing a use that would otherwise be prohibited if this will demonstrably assist with the conservation of the significance of the place.

A Planning Permit is required to:

  • subdivide or consolidate land.
  • demolish or remove a building (including part of a building).
  • construct a building (including part of a building).
  • externally alter a building.
  • construct a building or construct or carry out works.
  • carry out works, repairs and routine maintenance which change the appearance of a heritage place.
  • construct or display a sign.
  • externally paint a building (if the schedule to this overlay specifies the heritage place as one where external paint controls apply).
  • externally paint an unpainted surface.
  • externally paint a building if the painting constitutes an advertisement.

In some instances, internal alteration controls and tree controls may also apply. The Schedule to the Heritage Overlay will identify whether these additional controls apply. There may also be other overlays that apply.

For more information on how to apply for a Planning Permit visit our Planning Permit page

Old Portland Town Hall

Old Portland Town Hall

(JPEG, 8KB)
Cape Nelson Lighthouse

Cape Nelson Lighthouse

(JPEG, 26KB)
Old Heywood Library Building

Old Heywood Library Building

(JPEG, 9KB)

The Heritage Council of Victoria has produced a guide to help homeowners renovate or create a home in a heritage building.

At Home with Heritage: A Considered Approach to Renovating Your House aims to inspire and explain how good design and cultural awareness can support heritage values and contemporary liveable homes.

The guide is a practical starting point, with insights into the ideas of heritage value and significance. It will share the possibilities, trials, and design questions you need to consider. You will also get an overview of the heritage procedures in Victoria.

The guide includes 12 case studies of different kinds of heritage houses. These show the variety of design choices and how others have managed change to houses with various levels of heritage protection.

Heritage Studies

Heritage Precinct Citations

Related Information

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