James Lesh, The University of Melbourne and Kali Myers, The University of Melbourne
If communities don't understand and support local heritage protections, perhaps that's a reflection on how the system works and not just evidence of a need for public education.
It's people, in addition to architecture or history, that make some meeting places worthy of heritage protection. Social values are now among the listing criteria, but many such places remain at risk.
Jack Mundey fought to preserve heritage sites all his life, including the Sirius Building in 2016.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Jack Mundey fought to save Australia's urban and environmental heritage. An architect of green bans, his lifelong efforts empowered citizens to assert their right to keep the heritage of their city.
The traditional owners have won widespread support for their fight to protect Djab Wurrung Country and their sacred trees.
Djab Wurrung Embassy
Laws in other countries recognise 'rights of nature'. But even trees sacred to Indigenous Australian communities have no special protection.
The campaign to protect Ihumaatao for its cultural values shows how such landscapes continue to fall through the cracks of New Zealand’s heritage system.
Qiane Matata-Sipu
Built colonial heritage represents more than 80% of the sites on New Zealand’s national heritage list. This leaves some 700 years of Indigenous settlement significantly under-represented.