This funding category supports the better management, maintenance, conservation and activation of the State Heritage Register listed items which represent heritage of particular importance to the people of NSW.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $150,000
- Application opened: 10 September 2022
- Application closed: 2 December 2022, 12:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Government is continuing its commitment to preserve the most significant heritage places across NSW. Through the Caring for State Heritage Grants program, Heritage NSW is seeking projects that directly support better management, maintenance and conservation of State Heritage Register (SHR) listed items, as well as innovative ideas that will increase public access to these important assets.
The SHR is a list of items that are protected under the Heritage Act 1977 and represent heritage of particular importance to the people of NSW.
This is a competitive funding round and eligible applicants can apply for up to $150,000 for works that activate and preserve SHR items.
Successful projects must be delivered between July 2023 and May 2025.
This program is funded and administered by Heritage NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
You are eligible under the Caring for State Heritage Grants category if you:
- are the owner, manager, long-term lessee or custodian of an item listed on the SHR in NSW:
- with written support of the owners of the site (if you are a manager or lessee),
- with written support of all owners or owners’ corporation (if the site has multiple owners).
- have legal responsibility for maintenance and repair of the SHR listed item.
- agree to provide matched funding for the project.
- are a local council, business, non-government organisation, community group or individual:
- with your operations and headquarters in NSW (if you are a business or incorporated entity).
How to check an item is on the State Heritage Register
The SHR is a statutory list of items (places and objects) which represent heritage of particular importance to the people of NSW.
All types of heritage listings are included on the State Heritage Inventory. To check if an item is on the SHR search the State Heritage Inventory.
If the item you search for shows up as blue, it means that it is State Heritage Registered and is eligible for funding.
Who can’t apply
You are not eligible under the Caring for State Heritage Grant category if:
- your property or item is not a SHR listed item.
- you are a State or Federal Government agency.
- the SHR item is owned and managed by a State or Federal government agency.
- the SHR item was acquired or leased from a State or Federal government agency in the last two years.
- the application is for a multiple site listing such as a large precinct or town with multiple owners.
- your business or entity is located or incorporated outside of NSW.
- you do not provide sufficient information to assess against the eligibility criteria.
What you can apply for
Your project is eligible if:
- it is for a heritage management document or works to an SHR listed item
- there are no active NSW Heritage Act 1977 compliance issues at the site, and
- the project will be delivered between July 2023 and May 2025
Table 2 below shows examples of projects that you can do as a part of this grants program. Costs for these activities can be included as part of your grant application.
| Projects | Examples |
|---|---|
| Develop a heritage management document for SHR listed item |
|
| Works for a SHR listed item |
|
What can’t you apply for
An outline of the types of projects that will not be funded are show below.
Projects we do not allow
- Any project works and associated costs, not including pre-planning, that occurs before 1 July 2023.
- Works that have a high-level negative impact on the heritage values of the site (i.e. are unsuitable).
- Ongoing employee positions or in-house project management by salaried officers as either voluntary or cash contributions.
- Construction of new buildings.
- Purchase of or relocation of heritage items and buildings.
- New commemorative monuments or headstones.
- Purchase of equipment for example lawn mowers etc.
- Routine maintenance such as gardening, gutter cleaning, carpet cleaning etc.
- Business set up or operating costs.
- Programs, festivals or events.
- Projects that will rely on ongoing funding.
In exceptional circumstances, Heritage NSW reserve the right to recommend funding for projects that may not fully meet the eligibility criteria or transfer your application to another funding program if deemed appropriate.
Things to note
Heritage NSW will undertake a preliminary high-level assessment of Heritage Works projects to consider if the project is suitable for the SHR item. This is to eliminate projects that are clearly not suitable. The assessment is for the grant process only, so progression to the next stage of the grants process is not an endorsement or approval of the project by Heritage NSW.
Consider developing a heritage management document to guide ongoing management of your site and to prioritise works.
If your project involves or impacts Aboriginal cultural heritage you must show that your project has the support of the local Aboriginal community, or multiple communities, and how you intend to undertake appropriate consultation with them.
We recommend you contact your local council’s heritage advisor or engage a heritage
specialist:
- to help plan your project so that it meets any heritage and legislative requirements and
- if you are successful, to oversee the heritage aspects of the project and complete compliance certificates at key stages of the project.
How much you can you apply for
There are two project types and funding levels. These both have been outlined below in Table 4.
| Project type | Funding level (excluding GST) |
|---|---|
| Heritage management document | Maximum $30,000 |
| Heritage works project | Maximum $150,000 |
You must provide matched funding. For example, if you successfully apply for a $30,000 grant then you must also contribute $30,000 (or more) to fund the project. This means the total program cost will be at least $60,000.
You can include reasonable in-kind contributions such as realistic hourly rates for relevant activities, but not in-house project management by salaried staff.
You can put in more than one application but they must be for different projects.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
You can download the complete
File
Caring for State Heritage Grants 2023-25 Funding Guidelines (PDF 459.46KB)
Prepare your application with this checklist
| Step | The process |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Plan | Read these guidelines. Get your supporting documents ready such as quotes, photos, plans, evidence of support, permissions from owner/s and any approvals you already have. Determine if you can meet the matched funding requirement. Incomplete applications, or applications that do not provide enough information to assess eligibility, will be deemed ineligible. Contact us if you have any questions about project eligibility, using SmartyGrants or getting heritage approvals. |
| Step 2: Send in your application | Complete the online application form in SmartyGrants. You will be asked about your project as well as how you meet the eligibility criteria and assessment criteria. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application. Applications open 10 September and must be in by 2 December 2022. |
| Step 3: Eligibility check | Heritage NSW will do a completeness check of your application and review it against all eligibility criteria. Refer to Eligibility criteria on Page 10. Only applications deemed complete and eligible will go to Steps 4 and 5. |
| Step 4: Suitability check | A group of technical and heritage experts will conduct a review to ensure your project is suitable for the SHR site. If not deemed suitable your application will be deemed ineligible and will not go through Step 5. |
| Step 5: Prioritisation | The Grants and Sponsorship Advisory Committee will assess your application against the assessment criteria and rank applications in order of priority. Refer to Assessment criteria on Page 11. Recommendations will be made to the Director Customer Service, Heritage NSW. |
| Step 6: Decision | The Director Customer Service, Heritage NSW will:
|
| Step 7: Notification | We’ll let you know the outcome of you application by 30 June 2023. There are no appeals and the decision on applications is final. The |
| Step 8: Funding agreements | If you are successful, we’ll send you a funding agreement to sign. |
| Step 9: Project commencement | Projects can start from 1 July 2023. |
| Step 10: Reporting and acquittal | You must send in regular progress reports throughout the project. Your final report on the project’s outcomes and expenditure is |
Address the eligibility criteria
The information in your application will be reviewed by Heritage NSW to check if it meets the eligibility criteria. Table 5 below sets out the key eligibility criteria that you will be asked in the application process.
| What we will review |
|---|
| The item or place is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register (SHR). |
| You are an eligible owner or have relevant authorisation for the project. |
| The project is for a heritage management document or capital works. |
| You agree to provide matched funding. |
| The project will be delivered by mid 2025. |
| There are no Heritage Act 1977 compliance issues at the site. |
Address the assessment criteria
The assessment criteria outlined below in Table 6 is used to rank then decide which projects will be funded. Your application will only be assessed if it is considered eligible and complete.
Heritage NSW will consider cultural sensitivities and conflicts of interest throughout the process.
Funding is limited so you are not guaranteed a grant even if you meet all the eligibility and assessment criteria.
| Criterion | What we will assess | We will consider |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long-term quality heritage outcomes | The impact of the project on the site’s heritage significance and the risk(s) if the work is not done. We prioritise projects with longer term and more significant quality heritage benefits. We may consider how the project fits with any heritage management document for the site and if it uses best practice heritage management practices. |
| 2 | Level of enduring public benefit | Type and sustainability of use and public Long term benefit to the public, such as heritage tourism. |
| 3 | Value for money | We will review your project’s detailed budget and scope, as well as supporting documents, to ensure good use of public funds by prioritising cost-effective projects. |
| 4 | Quality of the project planning and proof of concept | How well you have planned the project, including planning for risk. We will consider who has/will be consulted to ensure the quality of work and accuracy of heritage information. |
| 5 | Capacity and commitment to deliver the project | How likely is the project to be successfully
|
| 6 | Availability of alternate funding | Whether other funding sources are available and the likelihood of the project proceeding without this program’s grant funding. |
Start the application
After the application is submitted
What to expect if you are successful
If your project application is successful:
- your name, details of your project and amount of funding provided will be published on the Heritage NSW website.
- you will have to sign a funding agreement with terms and conditions.
- you will need to contribute matched (or more) funding.
- any physical works must be done by qualified and experienced people and to appropriate heritage standards. Your project might to have to be overseen by a Heritage Specialist.
- approvals must be given before you start any work. Find out more by visiting the Heritage NSW website.
- you must comply with any local council planning, heritage and building requirements.
- you must use best practice heritage guidelines for quality heritage outcomes.
- your funded heritage management document will be made public.
- you must acknowledge NSW government funding.
- you must use best practice heritage guidelines for quality heritage outcomes such as the Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, known as The Burra Charter 2013 and the associated series of Practice Notes.
Heritage NSW will seek your written permission to use materials from your project such as photos, videos and documents, in media and publicity.
Things to note
Once the funding agreement is signed, you will receive payments in stages against the agreed milestones and 50% of the funding will be paid up-front.
At least 10% of the grant will be held until after the project is finished. Heritage NSW will check the quality of the project, and that all requirements have been met, before making the final payment. The payment amount will be based on actual project costs.
Full conditions for payment will be outlined in the funding agreement and payment schedule.
If you are registered for GST, it will be added to the funding amount except for local
government grant recipients.
Grants under this program may result in financial, taxation, legal or other impacts. We strongly recommended that you seek independent financial advice on receiving a grant.
You might also want to get advice from the Australian Tax Office if you have questions about your individual situation.