Ainsworth Heritage is able to undertake a diverse range of project types throughout Australia that can be tailored to suit the needs of clients. Please click on the project type below to see a detailed description and examples of work we have undertaken.
- Management Plans
- Strategic Heritage Advice
- Heritage Assessments
- Impact Assessment and Due Diligence
- Conservation Works
- Archaeological Works
- Heritage Site Interpretation
- Heritage Planning Studies
- Archival Recording
- Historic Research
- Heritage Training
- Workplace Health and Safety for Heritage Organisations
- Movable Heritage
The following are the standard project type we offer. Please read below for more detail on each type.
Management Plans
Management plans are detailed and comprehensive documents, which are of great importance in the long term management of important heritage items and areas, such as those listed on a State or National heritage list. Management plans include Heritage Management Plans, Conservation Management Plans, Conservation Strategies, Archaeological Management Plans, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Masterplans and Curatorial Management Plans.
Management Plans contain a Heritage Assessment, however, they also include a detailed analysis of the site’s opportunities and constraints and detailed descriptions of a sites fabric.. Based on the significance of the site and its management framework, a guiding set of conservation principles are created, which are followed by more detailed management recommendations, works schedules, maintenance plans, interpretative options and re-use options.
Ainsworth Heritage has a record of preparing award-winning Management Plans which have set new industry best practice benchmarks. We focus our Management Plans on pragmatic advice and schedules which are clear, usable and assist site managers, workers and planners to successfully operate the site
Example Projects:
- Proposed Dunoon Dam Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Heritage Impact Study
- Bellman Hangar Conservation Management Plan (Richmond Valley Council) – Award Winning Project
- Victorian Guns and Cannon Conservation Management Plan (Moyne, Warrnambool and Glenelg Shire Councils)
- Goulburn Waterworks Conservation Management Plan (Goulburn-Mularwee Shire Council
Strategic Heritage Advice
Ainsworth Heritage can provide written advice relating to due diligence (pre-purchase) projects, scoping projects to identify potential heritage issues which may arise for a project, advice relating to statutory (legal) obligations of heritage listings or heritage legislation, expert witness statements and strategic planning for master planning documents.
Strategic advice is a relatively cost-effective approach for client’s, as they are able to gain an early picture of their project’s heritage requirements, before detailed planning and / or development commences.
Project Examples:
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (Richmond Valley Council)
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Retirement Village Concept Design (Ex-Services)
- Strategic Review of Heritage Management Plans (Department of Environment and Heritage)
- Strategic Aboriginal Heritage Advice for Greater Taree City Council
- Tweed Shire Community Based Heritage Study
Heritage Assessments
Heritage Assessments identify the heritage significance or value of a site, building, landscape, streetscape or complex, and can also assess the area’s archaeological potential, or the significance of collections/objects (movable heritage) within a site.
Heritage Assessments examine the site’s background, by researching its history and context, and then undertake a physical analysis and condition assessment. This information, together with a comparative analysis to determine the site’s rarity, provides the basis for an Assessment of Significance, which assess the site’s value against standard criteria.
Ainsworth Heritage has experience applying the heritage criteria at Commonwealth, State and Local levels, for heritage places, archaeological places and objects/movable heritage.
Example Projects:
- South Lismore Sewerage Trunk Main Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Heritage Assessment
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (Richmond Valley Council)
- 53-55 Glebe Point Road (Rappoport)
Impact Assessment and Due Diligence
This includes Statements of Heritage Impact, Due Diligence Reports, Archaeological Impact Assessments, Contributions to Environmental Impact Statements and Reviews of Environmental Factors.
These are some of the most common project types in heritage and are the type of report most often commissioned by heritage owners. They provide a clear picture of a site’s history, physical condition, significance and the legislative requirements that will influence management. Each report is also accompanied by an impact assessment and management guidelines.
Due to recent changes to local government legislation, there is a large requirement for SOHI’s and Due Diligence reports within NSW. Ainsworth Heritage has developed an efficient and fast process for undertaking SOHI’s and no DA application that Ainsworth Heritage has undertaken a SOHI for has been rejected.
Example Projects:
- Aboriginal Due Diligence Reviews for Tweed Shire Concil
- Wallaby Point Due Diligence Assessment
- Tulloona House (NRMA Insurance)
- Glen Innes Public School (NSW Department of Commerce)
- Kempsey Public School (NSW Department of Commerce)
- Harwood Ferry Landings (GeoLINK)
- The Meadows Homestead (Nick Bullock and Associates)
- Mororo Bridge (NSW Roads and Traffic Authority)
Conservation Works
Ainsworth Heritage can undertake all aspects of conservation projects, from project managing conservation works, preparing works specifications and overseeing specialist contractors, such as Heritage Tradesmen and Materials Conservationists to preparing conservation advice for sites.
Example Projects:
- Evans Head Machine Gun Pit (Richmond Valley Council)
- Bellman Hangar Stabilisation (Richmond Valley Council)
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome WWII Ablutions Buildings (Richmond Valley Council)
Archaeological Works
Archaeological Works consist of on-site, ground disturbing works which occur before or during development of a site.
- Archaeological recording
This involves the preparation of measured drawings for a surface feature or artefact scatter. This is usually undertaken to monitor the condition of a feature or scatter, or to provide a permanent record of the feature/scatter before it is removed.
- Archaeological Test Excavation
Test Excavations involve the archaeological excavation of small trenches located to determine the extent of the site’s archaeological potential within a particular area. The results of the test pits are used to inform the design process of future works. - Archaeological Monitoring
This involves a qualified and experienced archaeologist on-site during the initial phases of ground disturbance activities to identify any surviving archaeological resources, determine their nature and extent, record the resources and determine if any further archaeological works are warranted. Monitoring should be continued until the archaeologist is satisfied that the research potential of the archaeological resources has been met or that the maximum depth for ground disturbing works has been reached.
- Open Area Excavation
Involves the archaeological excavation of a large area aimed at identifying how a large area of a site functioned and focusing on maximising the information and material recovered from the site. It is used for sites of high significance and may follow on from test excavation if the tests revealed high potential. Post-excavation analysis of materials and artefacts recovered during the excavation is a fundamental aspect of this process.
Example Projects:
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Archaeological Management Plan (Richmond Valley Council) – Award Winning Project
- Port Macquarie Horton Street Archaeological Assessment (Archaeo)
- Evans Head Aerodrome Vacant Industrial Land Archaeological Monitoring (Richmond Valley Council)
- South Lismore Sewerage Trunk Main Test Excavations
- Woolgoolga Cord Road Recording and Recovery
Heritage Site Interpretation
The Ainsworth Heritage staff are experienced at designing, preparing and implementing Interpretation Plans and Strategies for historic and indigenous sites and landscapes. Together with our experienced contractors, we are able to undertake Interpretation projects from design right through to installation.
Ainsworth Heritage believes that site interpretation does not need to be difficult, multi-phased and convoluted. Heritage site interpretation can, and should, be a straightforward process which does not put an undue burden on the client and uses vital site funds wisely and strategically. Heritage interpretation should aim to involve the site visitor and enthuse them about the site’s history and its value rather than detract from the site’s intrinsic value.
Example Projects:
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Interpretation Plan
- Additionally, all of Ainsworth Heritage’s projects contain an element of interpretation strategy with their management polices
Heritage Planning Studies
Similar in many respects to Heritage Studies, planning studies focus on the te development process and how an areas heritage is impacted by development. These studies examine and catalogue a regions heritage and then seek, through detailed recommendations, to outline methods and requirements that can be integrated into the planning process to ensure that the regions heritage is protected and that the planning process now considers heritage at an early stage.
Example Projects:
- Tweed Shire Community Based Heritage Study
Archival Recording
This comprises archival recording of buildings, sites and complexes, generally to NSW standards. These highly detailed recoding of sites are often required when a site is to be moved, altered or destroyed and become the historic record of the changes. Ainsworth Heritage has extensive experience in these important recordings and has developed a streamlined and highly effective process for undertaking them.
Example Projects:
- Evans Head Aerodrome Machine Gun Pit
- Evans Head Aerodrome Ablutions Buildings
- The Old Lismore Club
Historic Research
Although all projects undertaken by Ainsworth Heritage involve historic research to one degree or another, Historic Research projects focus on this area in detail. These research projects are designed to provide a comprehensive history of an item, site, individual, theme or region that will serve as a reference for any future research into the topic and as the basis for assisting future planning.
Example Projects:
- Cecil Hill Farm (Rappoport)
- RAAF Contamination at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (Richmond Valley Council)
- Macrossan Stores Depot (GML)
Heritage Training
We provide in-house heritage training for local councils and other government departments, on site heritage inductions and heritage introduction training for associated industries and consultants. This training can be broad based or site specific and provides the trainees with a solid understanding of their heritage obligations and how to undertake works without detriment to heritage significance of a site.
Example Projects:
- Public Heritage Awareness Seminars (Conducted for free by Ainsworth Heritage)
- Corporate Heritage Awareness Seminars (Conducted for free by Ainsworth Heritage)
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Awareness Training (Half day training for staff and contractors of Richmond Valley Council)
- Greater Taree City Council Aboriginal Heritage Awareness Training
Workplace Health and Safety for Heritage Organisations
Most heritage consultancies are unaware of the full requirements of OH&S and there is an ever increasing obligation upon employers to ensure that they have an effective OH&S system in place. Currently OH&S consultants are a large and growing industry, but few have the cross disciplinary knowledge to apply OH&S effectively to heritage. Matt Alexander, as a fully qualified Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSO) is able to provide straight forward and practical OH&S advice, polices and training to heritage consultancies that is tailored to industry requirements.
Movable Heritage
Ainsworth Heritage can undertake assessments of museum collections, objects within heritage buildings, and industrial heritage machinery and systems. This specialist service can assist owners of heritage places, curators, museums and local historic societies in managing and caring for their collections and objects.
Example Projects:
- Victorian Guns and Cannon (Moyne, Warrnambool and Glenelg Shire Councils)
- Goulburn Waterworks (Goulburn-Mulwarre Council)
