International standards and resources
The World Heritage List(Opens in a new tab/window) lists sites of natural or cultural significance around the world.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature(Opens in a new tab/window) works to conserve the world’s natural heritage.
Australian sources and conventions
Australia has several lists recognising places of natural, historic and Indigenous significance. A site may be listed on multiple lists. The Australian Heritage Database(Opens in a new tab/window) provides links to all official lists of heritage sites in Australia.
Use of capitals in heritage terms
Use initial capitals for the formal names of the heritage lists:
National Heritage List Commonwealth Heritage List Register of the National Estate List of Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia
but use lower case for the terms state heritage register, local heritage and nonstatutory list.
World Heritage List
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the World Heritage Convention) promotes cooperation among nations for the protection of sites around the world deemed to be of universal heritage value.
The Australian Government nominates Australian sites for entry on the World Heritage List. Nominations are assessed by the World Heritage Committee (part of UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for their natural or cultural significance.
Use the following conventions for World Heritage terms:
World Heritage
World Heritage List
World Heritage listing
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the World Heritage Convention) [at first use (note capitals and roman type); subsequently, the short form can be used]
World Heritage Committee
Use initial capitals for the formal names of sites included on the list:
Tasmanian Wilderness Wet Tropics of Queensland
Register of the National Estate
Established under the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975, the Register of the National Estate was closed in 2007, and the Act was repealed in 2003. In 2003, 2 new lists were established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for listing places of natural, historic and Indigenous value: the National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage List.
National Heritage List
The National Heritage List includes places of outstanding natural, historic and Indigenous significance to Australia. Nominations for inclusion on the list are open to anyone. The Australian Heritage Council assesses nominations and makes recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, who makes the final decision on listing.
List sites as they are gazetted with regard to capitalision, but change punctuation to conform to the style you are using:
Flora Fossil Site - Yea becomes Flora Fossil Site – Yea
Wave Hill Walk Off Route
The Ningaloo Coast [Ningaloo Coast on World Heritage List]
Commonwealth Heritage List
Established under the EPBC Act, the Commonwealth Heritage List lists natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places. It can include places connected to defence, communications, customs and other government activities. Places are on areas owned or leased by the Australian Government or an Australian Government authority. Nominations for inclusion on the list are open to anyone. The Australian Heritage Council assesses nominations and makes recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, who makes the final decision on listing.
List sites as they are gazetted with regard to capitalision, but change punctuation to conform to the style you are using:
Australian Forestry School (former)
CSIRO Main Entomology Building
List of Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia
Sites recognised as being of outstanding historic significance to Australia located outside the Australian jurisdiction are placed on this list.
Use initial capitals for the names of sites:
Howard Florey’s Laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, United Kingdom
Historic shipwrecks
Shipwrecks in waters to the end of the continental shelf that are older than 75 years are protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 (Cwlth). The Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database(Opens in a new tab/window) contains details of these shipwrecks and their relics.
Use initial capitals and italics for the formal names of shipwrecks:
Argyle Batavia Reliance
See also Italics.