The National Trust Register & Classification by the National Trust, What does it mean ?

Following its survey and assessment of the natural and cultural environment, the Trust maintains a Register of landscapes, townscapes, buildings, industrial sites, cemeteries and other items or places which the Trust determines have cultural significance and are worthy of conservation. Currently, there are some 12,000 items listed on the Trust’s Register. They are said to be Classified.

 

The Trust’s Register is intended to perform an advisory and educational role. The listing of a place in the Register, known as ‘classification’, has no legal force however it is widely recognised as an authoritative statement of the cultural significance of a place. Most places listed in the Register are in private ownership. Listing does not imply a right of access by the public, nor that the owner should open the property for public inspection.

 

Regrettably, as a community conservation organisation, the Trust has no funds available to contribute directly towards the repair or maintenance of buildings listed in the Register. The Trust does however encourage owners of listed places to respect their significance and can offer advice.

 

The process of classification involves the identification and assessment of a place using respected criteria to indicate its cultural significance - its ‘aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value to past, present and future generations.’[The Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Places of Cultural Significance (Burra Charter) , 1999, Article 1.2]

 

This assessment is carried out by the Technical Committees who advise the Trust. These committees are made up of individuals with professional expertise in a variety of disciplines such as architects, historians, archaeologists, planners, botanists, geologists, lawyers, educationalists and landscape architects.

 

When a place is recommended for listing, a classification card is prepared, including information about the history, a description, statement of significance, site plan, location map and photographs. This is then referred to the National Trust Conservation Committee for approval and the Board for endorsement.

 

Proposals for the Classification of an item or place come from many sources:
• Committee members and survey trips
• Trust Regional Committees
• Local Government
• Heritage Studies
• Interested members of the public