Who may access the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register

The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register is not a publicly accessible register because it contains culturally sensitive information. The Register can be accessed by certain people or organisations who need detailed information on cultural heritage places and objects to protect and manage them. It can be accessed by:

  • Registered Aboriginal Parties, or a person authorised on their behalf, for information about the area of their responsibility.
  • A landowner to obtain information relating to the owner’s land.
  • A cultural heritage advisor to carry out tasks required under the Act, or on behalf of a proposed development, user or purchaser of land to obtain information on any Aboriginal cultural heritage relevant to the land.
  • A member of the Aboriginal Heritage Council or public sector employee for the purpose of administering and managing Aboriginal cultural heritage, including on Crown land.
  • A local government employee for the purpose of carrying out functions or duties associated with the requirements of the Act.
  • A person who has written approval to access the Register from the relevant Registered Aboriginal Party(ies), or the Aboriginal Heritage Council.

For parties who do not fit into any of the above categories, general enquiries about the presence of known Aboriginal cultural heritage places for a specific area can be made through an application to the Secretary, DPCD (see form below titled ‘Application for Advice’). This must be accompanied by a fee of $37.00.

Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register – application and access Forms

Application for Access to Records (PDF 41 KB) or Word (91 KB) - to be used only by applicants who are approved for access to the Register. Please note: this form is to be used for people on the above list who want to come to AAV and search the register themselves.

Application for Advice as to the Existence of Records in Relation to a Nominated Area of Land (PDF 34 KB) or (Word 109 kb) - to be used by applicants seeking advice as to the existence of records on the Register, in relation to a nominated piece of land i.e. if an Aboriginal place exists on a specified property Please note: applicants must fill out each section of the form accordingly and provide clear maps for the search to be undertaken by AAV staff.

Forms can be emailed or faxed to the Heritage Registry.

Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register

The Heritage Registrar
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria
PO Box 2392
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Phone: 1 800 762 003
Fax: (03) 9208 3292
Email: vahr@dpcd.vic.gov.au

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