Burra Charter

BURRA CHARTER
INTRODUCTION –
AUSTRALIAN ICOMOS
• The Australian National Committee of ICOMOS (Australia ICOMOS) was
formed in 1976.
• It elects an Executive Committee of 15 members, which is
responsible for carrying out national programs and
participating in decisions of ICOMOS as an
international organisation.
• It provides expert advice as required by ICOMOS, especially in its
relationship with the World Heritage Committee.
INTRODUCTION
• The Burra Charter was first adopted in 1979 at the historic South
Australian mining town of Burra.
• Minor revisions were made in 1981 and 1988, with more substantial
changes in 1999.
• The Burra Charter provides guidance for the conservation and
management of places of cultural significance (cultural heritage
places), and is based on the knowledge and experience of Australia
ICOMOS members.
• Conservation is an integral part of the management of places of
cultural significance and is an ongoing responsibility.
WHO IS THE CHARTER FOR?
The Charter sets a standard of practice for those who provide advice, make
decisions about, or undertake works to places of cultural significance,
including owners, managers and custodians.
USING THE CHARTER -
The Charter should be read as a whole. Many

articles are interdependent.
The Charter consists of:
• Definitions Article 1
• Conservation Principles Articles 2–13
• Conservation Processes Articles 14–25
• Conservation Practices Articles 26–34
• The Burra Charter Process flow chart.
WHAT PLACES DOES THE CHARTER APPLY TO AND
WHY CONSERVE IT?
• The Charter can be applied to all types of places of cultural significance
including natural, Indigenous and historic places with cultural values.
• They are historical records, that are important expressions of Australian
identity and experience.
• Places of cultural significance reflect the diversity of our communities, telling
us about who we are and the past that has formed us and the Australian
landscape.
• These places of cultural significance must be conserved for present and future
generations in accordance with the principle of inter-generational equity.
• The Burra Charter advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as
necessary to care for the place and to make it useable, but otherwise change
it as little as possible so that its cultural significance is retained.
Conservation Principles
Conservation and management -
• Places of cultural significance should
be conserved.
• The aim of conservation is to retain the
cultural significance of a place.
• Conservation is an integral part of good
management of places of cultural
significance.
• Places of cultural significance should be
safeguarded and not put at risk.
Approach -
• Conservation is based on a respect for the existing
fabric, use, associations and meanings.
Knowledge, skills and techniques -

• Conservation should make use of all the
knowledge, skills and disciplines which can
contribute to the study and care of the place.
• Traditional techniques and materials are preferred
for the conservation of significant fabric.
• New construction, demolition, intrusions & other
changes that would affect the setting are not
appropriate.
Values -
• Conservation of places with natural Significance is
explained in the Australian Natural Heritage
Charter.
• This Charter Defines natural significance to mean
the Importance of ecosystems, biodiversity and
geodiversity for their existence value or for
Present or future generations, in terms of their
scientific, social,aesthetic and life support value.
• Conservation of a place should identify and take
into consideration all aspects of cultural and
natural significance without unwarranted
emphasis on any one value at the expense of
others.
Modify a place to use existing use-
• The use of modern materials and techniques
must be supported by firm scientific evidence
or by a body of experience.
• Physical location is part of the cultural
significance in its historical location.
Relocation - sole practical means of ensuring
of its survival.
• Contents, fixtures, & and objects which
contribute to the cultural significance should
be retained at that place. Removal allowed if
it’s the assurance of its security &
preservation
CONSERVATION PROCESSES
Conservation may include the processes of:
• reintroduction of a use,
• retention of associations and meanings,
• maintenance, preservation, restoration, reconstruction,
adaptation and interpretation
• related places and related objects make to the cultural
significance of a place.
CHANGE:
• The amount of change to a place and its use should be guided by
the cultural significance
• Changes which reduce cultural significance should be reversible, and be
reversed when circumstances permit.
• Demolition of significant fabric of a place is generally not acceptable.
MAINTENANCE:
• Maintenance is fundamental to conservation. It should be undertaken
where fabric is of cultural significance and its maintenance is necessary to
retain that cultural significance.
PRESERVATION:
• Preservation is appropriate where the existing fabric or its condition
constitutes evidence of cultural significance, or where insufficient evidence
is available to allow other conservation processes to be carried out,
RESTORATION:
• Restoration is appropriate only if there is sufficient evidence of an
earlier state of the fabric.
RECONSTRUCTION:
• Reconstruction is appropriate only where a place is incomplete
through damage or alteration, and only where there is sufficient
evidence to reproduce an earlier state of the fabric.
ADAPTATION:
• Adaptation is acceptable only where the adaptation has minimal
impact on the cultural significance of the place
RETAINING OR REINTRODUCING USE:
• Retaining, modifying or reintroducing a significant use may be appropriate
and preferred forms of conservation.
RETAINING ASSOCIATIONS AND MEANINGS:

• Significant associations between people and a place should be respected,
retained and not obscured.
• Significant meanings, including spiritual values, of a place should be
respected.
INTERPRETATION:
• The cultural significance of many places is not readily apparent, and should
be explained by interpretation. Interpretation should enhance
understanding and engagement, and be culturally appropriate.
Conservation Practice
Applying the Burra Charter Process
• Work on a place should be preceded by studies to understand the place which should
include analysis of physical, documentary, oral and other evidence, drawing on
appropriate knowledge, skills and disciplines.
• Written statements of cultural significance and policy for the place should be
prepared, justified and accompanied by supporting evidence. The statements of
significance and policy should be incorporated into a management plan for the place.
• Groups and individuals with associations with the place should be provided with
opportunities to contribute in identifying and understanding the cultural significance
of the place as well as in its conservation and management.
Managing change
• The impact of proposed changes, including incremental changes, on the cultural
significance of a place should be assessed with reference to the statement of significance
and the policy for managing the place. It may be necessary to modify proposed changes
to better retain cultural significance.
• Existing fabric, use, associations and meanings should be adequately recorded before
and after any changes are made to the place.
Disturbance of fabric
• Disturbance of significant fabric should be minimized. Study of a place by any disturbance
of the fabric, including archaeological excavation, should only be undertaken to provide
data essential for decisions on the conservation of the place.
• investigation of a place which requires disturbance of the fabric, should be based on
important research questions which have potential to substantially add to knowledge,
which cannot be answered in other ways and which minimises disturbance of significant
fabric.
Responsibility
• The organizations and individuals responsible for management and decisions should be
named and specific responsibility taken for each decision.
• Competent direction and supervision should be maintained at all stages, and any
changes should be implemented by people with appropriate knowledge and skills.
Records
• The records associated with the conservation of a place should be placed in a

permanent archive and made publicly available.
• Records about the history of a place should be protected and made publicly
available(subject to requirements of security and privacy, and where this is
culturally appropriate).
Removed fabric
• Significant fabric which has
been removed from a place
including contents, fixtures and
objects, should be catalogued,
and protected in accordance
with its cultural significance.
• Where possible and culturally
appropriate, removed
significant fabric including
contents, fixtures and objects,
should be kept at the place.

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BURRA CHARTER

The Charter should be read as a whole. Many

Knowledge, skills and techniques -

RETAINING ASSOCIATIONS AND MEANINGS:

• The records associated with the conservation of a place should be placed in a

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