Australian Heritage Commission

Since 1976, the Australian Heritage Commission has compiled a Register of the outstanding and lesser-known heritage places in Australia. This list is called the Register of the National Estate.

The Australian Heritage Photographic Library maintains a collection of more than 90,000 images. This collection is an outstanding source of information about Australia's natural and cultural heritage places. It includes 13,500 of places in the Register, which are stored in the Photographic Database. They illustrate the story of who we are and how this land has taken shape and given Australia its very particular identity.

Images under Australian Heritage Commission/Commonwealth copyright are available for commercial and non-commercial use. Minimal fees are charged for educational uses. Many images are owned by individual photographers and may not be available.

The photos show that our heritage is far more than just outstanding icons like the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It also consists of often unsung places such as the Bonegilla migrant hostel that housed post World War II refugees, a memorial hall to the Cactoblastis moth, cattlemen's huts, Country Women's Association halls, Aboriginal missions, roadside verges and bushland remnants, which added together, make this country unique.

Each photograph is linked to detailed heritage information available in the Register of the National Estate that includes a description and a statement of heritage significance.

Places are listed in the Register for their rarity, evolutionary status, historic significance, representativeness, research potential, aesthetic qualities, technical attributes and or social values. Entry of a place in the Register of the National Estate is official recognition of its heritage importance.

Indigenous places

The Commission has an Indigenous Places Policy. Photographs and information about many Indigenous places are not available via the Internet. The Commission is consulting with traditional owners to gradually include information on these places.

For inquiries about Australian Heritage Commission images, contact:

The Photographic Database Manager
Australian Heritage Commission
GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Australia
phone +61 (0)2 6274 2076
fax +61 (0)2 6274 2095
email ahc@ea.gov.au
web http://www.ahc.gov.au/heritage/

Pennyweight Flat Childrens' Cemetery; Blair, S; Australian Heritage Commission collectionS. Blair
Pennyweight Flat Childrens' Cemetery
Photograph from the Australian Heritage Commission collection