IDENTIFYING
AUSTRALIA'S MOST INSPIRING LANDSCAPES
What makes a particular landscape inspirational? What are
Australia’s most inspirational natural landscapes?
Which of these landscapes are sufficiently outstanding to
be nominated to Australia's new National Heritage List?
The Australian Government Department of the Environment
and Heritage (DEH) is seeking to identify a selection of
inspirational landscapes for nominating to the National
Heritage List. To start this process, we are asking you
to think about the landscapes that inspire you, and which
of these could be considered as some of Australia’s
most outstanding places.
Considerable background work on ‘inspirational landscapes’
was undertaken for DEH in 2002 and 2003. A framework was
developed to help define 'what is an inspirational landscape'
and to apply heritage criteria to determine when an inspirational
landscape is of national heritage significance. Once we
have assembled a list of outstanding inspirational landscapes
across Australia as identified by heritage and landscape
professionals and members of the wider community, we will
apply this framework and recommend some places for inclusion
on the National Heritage List.
What is an inspirational landscape?
Many studies have been undertaken to assess perceptions
of landscapes and their aesthetic or scenic values. The
outcomes show that many people give priority to places with
a high degree of naturalness, particularly rugged landforms,
rocky outcrops, diverse vegetation and water features. Yet
some people find greater inspiration in deserts or grasslands
and landscapes with cultural features—often because
they have spent time there and developed a strong emotional
involvement going well beyond a simple visual response.
So landscapes may be ‘scenic’ or ‘beautiful’
but inspirational landscapes also evoke an additional depth
of feeling—an emotional response which helps connect
people to the place and inspire them. This response may
be an awe inspiring reaction, creative inspiration, reflection
or action to protect the place.
How can you be involved?
Think about your response to situations where you
have spent time in a special setting— watching the
sun rise from a mountain top, relaxing on a pristine beach,
hiking through an alpine meadow, rafting down an unspoilt
river valley or swimming in a sandy pool by a waterfall.
We would like you to reflect on your experiences (or the
collective experiences of people in your organisation),
identify landscapes you see as strongly inspirational, and
provide your comments.
At this stage the focus is on predominantly natural landscapes
(although these can have strong cultural associations, particularly
Indigenous). Cultural landscapes such as rural or urban
landscapes or those modified by other historic processes
will be considered later.
How will inspirational landscapes be assessed?
We all see landscapes through different eyes - everyone
brings their own mental ‘baggage’ derived from
individual life experiences. So it’s harder to determine
the significance of inspirational landscape values than,
say, geological features or flora or fauna species. We will
collate your responses and combine them with other information
gathered in the project.
This will include a review of heritage registers, published
sources such as environmental reports, tourism and park
information, and art, poetry, music and films that have
been inspired by landscapes. We will go through an evaluation
process to determine a short list of places of potential
outstanding significance. These will then be further assessed
according to heritage criteria, and ultimately the Minister
for the Environment
and Heritage will make a final decision as to their inclusion
on the National Heritage List.
We expect that the outcomes of this project will be documented
and publicised on the DEH website early next year. We will
also identify ways of promoting the importance of Australia’s
inspirational landscapes and increasing community appreciation
of their values.
Who is undertaking the project?
The project is being undertaken by Robin Crocker and Associates,
Planisphere Urban Strategy Planners and Dr David Young,
working closely with staff in DEH. |
