Working Heritage

About

Working Heritage cares for publicly-owned heritage places on behalf of the people of Victoria.

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Working Heritage cares for publicly-owned heritage places on behalf of the people of Victoria.

Working Heritage is responsible for the conservation and management of some of Victoria’s treasured places – from the former Royal Mint in central Melbourne to court houses in country towns. Our role is to revitalise these places to ensure they have a purpose and are cared for into the future. All funding for our work is generated by the places we manage.

Working Heritage is appointed to manage government-owned heritage places that are no longer needed for their original function. This redundancy is an opportunity to give buildings new purpose. Working with tenants who lease the space we can conserve cultural significance, develop compatible uses and adapt buildings to suit contemporary needs. This way, a derelict farm house becomes a restaurant, a decommissioned mint becomes a museum and a disused court house can be used as a theatre. Finding financially sustainable uses for these places enables their continued care.

We see redundant heritage buildings as a resource for rural towns, suburbs and cities. Their adaptation and reuse can facilitate development of businesses, community activities and support services while their cultural significance contributes positively to the community itself. These places have special qualities that draw people to them, and by reusing them they can continue to function as physical touchstones of community identity.

Working Heritage is a Committee of Management appointed by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 to manage heritage places on Crown Land.

Working Heritage was previously named the Mint Inc.

"Working Heritage manages heritage places on Crown land in Victoria, Australia, through conservation, adaptation and re-use.We are responsible for 16 heritage places across metropolitan and regional Victoria – from the Former Royal Mint in central Melbourne to court houses in rural towns.We specialise in managing government assets of heritage significance that are no longer needed to their original function – our role is to revitalise them to ensure they have a purpose. Finding contemporary uses for these places contributes to their continued care."