Caring for cultural heritage on NSW farms

Learn how to protect Aboriginal cultural values and heritage on NSW farms and other properties. Identify cultural values and heritage in the landscape, find out your legal requirements, and get support to protect the heritage.

Light shining through gum trees around Aboriginal cultural site

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work and the places in which we live. We pay respect to Ancestors and Elders past and present. We recognise the unique cultural and spiritual relationship and celebrate the contributions of First Nations peoples to Australia.

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About cultural heritage

Preserving cultural heritage

Finding cultural heritage

About Aboriginal cultural heritage

Two stones carefully shaped to allow grinding of foods such as grains

Your land holds many layers of information — soil, vegetation, habitats, recreation areas, and importantly, cultural heritage.

This heritage may include Indigenous artefacts and sites that carry significance for Aboriginal people, both now and for future generations. It can also encompass cultural values connected to natural elements like trees, rocks, and water.

There are strict legal responsibilities to ensure Aboriginal objects and places are not desecrated or harmed, including prohibitions on moving objects from their original location. For more details, refer to the sections on identifying and preserving culturally significant sites. 

Traditional sites and artefacts tell the story of how Aboriginal people have long connected with the land. They’re also an essential part of Australia’s broader shared heritage.

Understanding more about cultural heritage

Gaining insight into how people historically lived on and used the land can deepen your understanding of how best to manage it for the future.

Aboriginal people have long used natural resources guided by traditional 'lore' to sustain ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. Their deep respect for the land underpins the value they place on its resources. 

Want to learn more? 

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The Blockies Guide - Understanding cultural heritage on small farms and acres

Read transcript
Video transcript

The Blockies Guide - Understanding cultural heritage on small farms and acres

G'day there. As a small land manager, there is  a fair bit to think about in understanding your 
piece of the landscape. Livestock, community,  native vegetation, wildlife... these elements 
are like a layer of information over your land.  Cultural heritage is another layer you can
consider in managing your land. People have moved  through your land for tens of thousands of years 
you are connected with a line of people who have  cared for your land and called it home. Aboriginal 
cultural values and significant sites can be found  almost anywhere in the New South Wales landscape. 
Even if your land has no physical markers of  Aboriginal occupation, cultural values will remain 
in natural resources like native bush medicines,  foods and materials like ochre and stone used for 
tool making. There are many ways you can connect  with previous generations. A simple way is to find 
out more about the history of Aboriginal people  in your area. Learning your region's Aboriginal 
nation is a great place to start and will lead  to further research. You may also find out more 
about the cultural history of the landscape by  talking with your local Aboriginal community. 
You could even consider getting in touch with your  local Aboriginal organisation about implementing 
traditional land management practices on  your property, such as a cultural burn. 
Events like NAIDOC week create a space  to meet people from across the community 
and find out more about the history of your  area. Just keep in mind that both Aboriginal 
and European cultural heritage can be damaged  and destroyed through routine land management. 
There are rules around this so if you think you  may have sites of importance on your property, 
give your Local Council, Local Land Services  Cultural Heritage Officer or the Department 
of Planning, Industry and Environment a call  to find out more. Until next time, cheers.
 
 
 

Finding Aboriginal cultural heritage

Aboriginal cultural values and significant sites can be found almost anywhere in the NSW landscape. The types of sites that contain cultural values include but are not limited to: middens, ochre quarries, stone quarries, hearths, scarred trees, carved trees, stone tools and grinding grooves. 

Finding cultural heritage

Non-Aboriginal cultural and natural heritage

On your farm, you may also find items of significant cultural heritage that reflect when Europeans moved and lived in the region in recent centuries. 

For example, trees marked by explorers, homesteads, shearing sheds, bridges and other infrastructure or items of historical value. 

We encourage you to contact your local museum or council about the possible preservation of these.

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Contact Local Land Services NSW

Our team welcome your enquiries, feedback and comments. 

Contact our team

Find your nearest LLS office

Local Land Services is moving to nsw.gov.au. During the change, you might find the information you are looking for at lls.nsw.gov.au

Phone:1300 795 299
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