The Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid
Project overview
World Heritage listing of Australia’s Victorian Goldfields aims to share the extraordinary story of the Victorian Goldfields with people from across the globe and create social, cultural and economic opportunities for every community and person across the region.
World Heritage listing of the Victorian Goldfields in recognition of its outstanding global heritage significance can be a major catalyst for transformative regeneration of the region.
Fifteen local governments, led by the Cities of Ballarat and Greater Bendigo, have partnered to progress the listing and unlock its full potential.
Next Steps
- In 2024, the World Heritage Bid partnership will commence community and stakeholder engagement, and identification of World Heritage sites
- The Victorian Government will submit a Tentative Listing application to the Australian Government
- The collaboration aims to achieve World Heritage Tentative Listing by February 2025
- World Heritage Listing will then take at least two and a half years from the Tentative Listing stage
Project resources
Website: The Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid
View or download: World Heritage Bid fact sheet
Contact information
Project timeline
2020
June - Expert Summit
July - Funding announced for Goldfields World Heritage Listing Tourism Opportunities
December - Partnership of Central Victorian councils formed
2021
March - Happiness Index Community Survey across 13 local government areas
April - Local Government and community engagement
2022
October - Economic Assessment
November - Funding announced to draft World Heritage Tentative Listing and deliver priority investment master plan
2023
May - $3.8 million from State Government to progress the Victorian Goldfields and Victorian Trades Hall World Heritage bids
November - Baw Baw Shire and Indigo Shire join the local government partnership
