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Unit of study_
ARCH9081: Heritage Law and Policy
2026 unit information
Heritage Law and Policy focuses on the system of legal protections and policy instruments that underpin heritage conservation. The unit introduces students to the ideas of cultural property and shared environmental resources and the ways in which these are balanced with private property rights in heritage policy. It critically assesses legal frameworks using real world case studies, drawing on the knowledge of a range of guest lecturers from industry and government. Classes address the varying levels at which heritage protections operate, from international protocols down to local planning schemes. Students will become familiar with legislation, regulations, planning instruments and policies as well as the use of registers, inventories and other records of significant items. The unit will also address the roles of various government agencies involved in heritage conservation. We consider how heritage protections relate to different scales and types of places, including Indigenous heritage, landscapes, and individual buildings. We also consider how different sanctions and incentives achieve policy aims and support statutory obligations; and we explore innovative legal and policy mechanisms for encouraging the meaningful protection of culturally significant places.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Urban and Regional Planning and Policy |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Critically analyse heritage legislation, policy frameworks, and planning instruments across international, national, state, and local contexts, and evaluate their effectiveness in protecting cultural heritage. Relates to Course Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 4, 6 Relates to Graduate Qualities: Depth of disciplinary expertise; Critical thinking and problem solving; Research and inquiry
- LO2. Assess the extent to which existing legislative and policy frameworks are fit for purpose in addressing contemporary understandings of cultural heritage, including Indigenous heritage, cultural landscapes, living practices, and place-based values. Relates to Course Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 6 Relates to Graduate Qualities: Critical thinking and problem solving; Cultural competence; Interdisciplinary effectiveness
- LO3. Interpret and apply heritage law and policy frameworks to real-world case studies, demonstrating understanding of statutory processes, decision-making pathways, and the roles of relevant government agencies and stakeholders. Relates to Course Learning Outcomes: 2, 4, 5, 7 Relates to Graduate Qualities: Depth of disciplinary expertise; Problem solving; Communication; Professional competence
- LO4. Evaluate the interaction between public heritage interests and private property rights, including the use of regulatory controls, sanctions, incentives, and non-statutory mechanisms in achieving heritage policy objectives. Relates to Course Learning Outcomes: 2, 4, 6, 7 Relates to Graduate Qualities: Critical thinking; Ethical reasoning; Professional responsibility; Influence
- LO5. Integrate Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives into heritage law and policy analysis, demonstrating culturally competent, ethical, and reflective approaches to heritage governance. Relates to Course Learning Outcomes 3, 7 Relates to Graduate Qualities: Cultural competence; Ethical reasoning; Inclusive leadership; Interdisciplinary effectiveness
- LO6. Communicate clear, persuasive, and well-reasoned arguments about heritage protection appropriate to professional practice, including the preparation of submissions, policy critiques, and advisory materials. Relates to Course Learning Outcomes: 5, 7, 8 Relates to Graduate Qualities: Communication; Influence; Professional competence; Research and inquiry
Unit availability
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