Western Australian Heritage Icons 2004: Connecting A Community

FACT SHEET

The Premier of Western Australia, Dr Geoff Gallop, officially launched the project and the nomination process for Western Australian Heritage Icons on 4 November 2003.

The project will identify things typically Western Australian which connect us as community.

Things eligible for nomination may include but are not limited to natural and built landscapes, phenomena, events, ceremonies, inventions, folklore and objects.

The nominations will be based on their significance to the people and place of Western Australia . The number of nomination forms received for an individual nomination will be taken into account, but this alone will not be the deciding factor in awarding the successful icons.

Significance Assessment and the judging process

Significance assessment, the process of studying and understanding the meaning and values of something, will be the primary factor in judging the nominations. Significance is generally understood to include the historic, aesthetic, scientific and social/spiritual values of an item for past, present and future generations.

Significance does not only refer to the physical fabric of the object, or its appearance. Significance incorporates all the elements that contribute to an item's meaning including its context, uses, and social and spiritual values to people and communities. Significance is not a fixed quantity, but may grow or diminish over time. Some items are able to convey multiple meaning and values and can express intangible qualities and social memories.

The four categories of significance assessment:

1. Historical Significance
   • An item may be historically significant for its associations with people, events, places and themes. It demonstrates important aspects of the evolution or pattern of the State's history OR it may yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the State's history, including its natural history OR it has a strong association with the life or work of a person or organisation or an event of historical importance.
2. Aesthetic / Creative / Design Significance
   • An item may be significant for its craftsmanship, style, technical excellence, beauty, skill and quality of design, fabrication or performance. It might include innovative or traditional concepts from indigenous or folk cultures or high art. It may be unique or mass produced.
   • An item that falls within this category should demonstrate a high degree of creative, aesthetic or technical accomplishment OR be representative of particular techniques, design or presentation.
3. Scientific / Inventive Significance
   • A thing that is ingenious or inventive is something that uses new technology, adds to quality of life or brings pleasure to individuals or a community. There needs to be a high level of Western Australian involvement in the development or practical application of the item, to qualify under this category.
4. Social / Spiritual Significance
   • Items have social significance if they are held in community esteem. This may be demonstrated by social, spiritual, or cultural expressions that provide evidence that a community has a strong affection for that item, whether tangible or intangible, and that it contributes to its identity and cohesion. Some items have intrinsic spiritual qualities for particular groups of people and belief systems. For the purposes of this project the community must be the broader community, not simply a local group.