More Information

Heritage is about the places and stories that make Australia special. It includes our amazing natural places, our rich Indigenous heritage and the diverse historic sites that together reflect our development as a nation.

Our heritage contributes to our sense of place and to our community and personal wellbeing, it informs us about where we have come from and who we are, and is fundamental to our national identity.

About Australian Heritage Week

Australian Heritage Week (AHW) is an annual national celebration of Australia’s unique heritage. In 2013, the timing of the week – Saturday 13 April until Sunday 21 April – again covers two weekends and includes World Heritage Day (officially known as International Monuments and Sites Day), which is held each year on 18 April.

Australian Heritage Week is an opportunity for all Australians to join together to celebrate our shared and special heritage.

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the department) encourages all communities to get involved with planning and hosting a range of exciting activities during AHW that show-case your unique local heritage to the rest of the country. Let’s join together to share our heritage stories and celebrate Australia’s amazing and unique heritage!

Some Statistics from Australian Heritage Week 2012

Australian Heritage Week 2012 was held from Saturday 14 April to Sunday 22 April.

In 2012, 387 heritage events were registered on this website representing events across all states and territories including some events being held as part of the state National Trusts annual heritage festivals.

Walking tours and open days were the most popular events registered followed by workshops and exhibitions. Community groups comprised the largest segment of registrants, followed by state governments.

On average 82 people attended each event across the country during the week. Overall, visitors comprised 94.6% local, 54.1% State, 29.6% Interstate and 18.9% international.

The majority of events were organised and run by volunteers. The survey responses indicated that word of mouth was the strongest form of promoting events, followed by newsletters.

It is never too early to think about hosting an event during AHW 2013. Events may be registered at any time.

What sort of event can I register?

Activities could include Open Days, exhibitions of significant heritage objects in galleries, museums or library collections, public lectures and seminars, walking tours of local nature parks or screening of old films. Celebrations could also recognise the efforts of individuals and communities all around the country in protecting and conserving our important heritage places.

Events held in 2012 can be viewed by searching on the What’s On page for the date/s and categories you are interested in.

For information not supplied in the FAQ or if you are having trouble registering your event, please email ausheritageweek@environment.gov.au

Promoting your event

If you are looking for ways to attract more visitors to your event the following ideas could be useful.

Upload your event details to this website

Registering your event on this website will make it easier for the public to find out about your event and any other events they may wish to take part in. You can also provide people with details of the Australian Heritage Week website so they may look for events of interest to them.

• Australian Heritage Week logo
  The logo can be downloaded once you have registered your event on this website. Using the logo will help promote your event as part of a national heritage celebration.

Promote your event within your community

One of the best ways to promote events is through word of mouth, so it may be useful to advertise the event within your networks. You could do this by displaying posters in shop fronts and on bulletin boards, letting people know via email and providing a link to the event on the Australian Heritage Week website from your website.

Publish your event in event calendars and ‘what’s on’ websites

Many local councils, community organisations, radio stations and newspapers host diaries that you could use to advertise your event. Some examples of online event calendars where you can register your event for free include:

• my region event calendar
• ABC’s big diary – events in Australia
• The National Calendar – events in Australia
• Around You – events in Australia
• eventful

Let local radio stations and newspapers know that your event is happening

You may want to encourage local media to attend your event or provide them with the details via a media release to promote your event.

Example media release
An example of a media release that you could use to help promote your event is available for download.

Related information

In 1983, UNESCO endorsed 18 April each year as The International Day for Monuments and Sites. This special day offers an opportunity to raise public awareness concerning the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as to draw attention to its vulnerability.

For further information on the Day and the calendar of activities around the world consult the ICOMOS calendar of events or, for specific activities in Australia, consult australia.icomos.org/about-us/international-day-for-monuments-sites/