Camden heritage mysteries solved
In 2015 I posted an item called ‘Camden’s mysterious heritage list’. In it I complained about the travails of trying to navigate Camden Council’s website to find the Camden heritage inventory. I wrote:
Recently I needed to consult Camden’s heritage inventory list for a research project. I also consulted similar lists for Campbelltown and Wollondilly LGAs. They were easy to find. Camden’s list was mysteriously hiding somewhere. It had to exist. The council is obliged to put one together by the state government. But where was it? Do you know where Camden Council’s heritage inventory is to be found? I did not know. So off I went on a treasure hunt. The treasure was the heritage list.
I am very happy to report that many things have changed since 2015.
Camden Council Heritage Advisory Committee
Today Camden Council has a Heritage Advisory Committee which has taken a lead in promoting heritage in a number of areas.
The committee held its first meeting in August 2018 and the minutes of all meetings are located on the committee website.
Committee member LJ Aulsebrook has written about the activities and role of the committee in Camden History, the journal of the Camden Historical Society.
The Camden Historical Society has an ex-officio position on the Heritage Advisory Committee and the president is the nominee of the society.
One of the outstanding activities of the committee was the 2019 Unlock Camden held during History Week run by the History Council of New South Wales. The Camden event was co-ordinated by LJ Aulesbrook.
The aim of the Heritage Advisory Committee are outlined in the Terms of Reference. The ToR states that the HAC aims :
To promote heritage and community education by:
https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/assets/pdfs/Planning/Heritage-Advisory-Committee/18-181181-ADOPTED-Heritage-Advisory-Committee-Terms-of-Reference.pdf
a) Generating a wider appreciation of heritage through public displays,
seminars, participation in the annual National Trust Heritage festival &
history week;
b) Promoting and coordination of heritage open days;
c) Generating a greater understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal
heritage in Camden Local Government Area;
d) Actively encouraging conservation and maintenance of heritage items
and heritage conservation areas to owners and the general public;
e) Investigating grant opportunities;
f) Investigating opportunities for Council run awards/recognition in
response to good heritage work;
g) Developing a register of local heritage professionals and tradespeople;
and
h) Assisting in developing education packages for information, school
education, and best heritage practices.
What is Camden heritage?
Camden Council defines heritage as
Heritage is something that we have inherited from the past. It informs us of our history as well as giving us a sense of cultural value and identity. Heritage places are those that we wish to treasure and pass on to future generations so that they too can understand the value and significance of past generations.
Heritage makes up an important part of the character of the Camden Local Government Area (LGA). Camden’s heritage comprises of a diverse range of items, places, and precincts of heritage significance. Items, places or precincts may include public buildings, private houses, housing estates, archaeological sites, industrial complexes, bridges, roads, churches, schools, parks and gardens, trees, memorials, lookouts, and natural areas. Heritage significance includes all the values that make that item, place or precinct special to past, present and future generation.
https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/planning/heritage-conservation/
Camden Heritage Inventory
The Camden Heritage Inventory is found on an easily accessible file on the Camden Council webpage here.
There are links within the PPT to the New South Wales State Heritage Register, the NSW Department of Planning Portal and NSW primary spatial data.
The State Heritage Register has a complete listing of local items and those of state significance on the State Heritage Register.
In addition Camden Council has set out for general environmental heritage conditions on its website here.
Camden Council has recently offered advice on for owners who want to restore their residential properties along heritage lines. The advice covers materials, colours, and finishes for Victorian, Edwardian and Mid-century residential architectural styles in the Camden Town Conservation area.
The Camden Town Centre conservation area was proclaimed by the state government in 2008 and is subject to a range of development conditions.
Camden History Notes 
Thank you for doing the heavy lifting for those of us who are interested in this information. What a shame Camden Council cannot provide this information. Unfortunately this seems to be typical of the council’s attitude.
I had the same problem. Ditto trying to find the Significant Tree Register which has also been removed (had to make a formal request for a CD copy). These omissions of heritage, both built and environmental, would appear convenient, considering the wilful destruction occurring (to both) during Camden Council’s ill-conceived ‘upgrade’ of what was a functioning commercial centre in a unique streetscape. If indeed, these omissions and the difficulty negotiating the site (try finding any regulations relating to amenity), then Camden Council is seriously hindering its community’s right to information, and undermining this country’s democratic principles. I would suggest that Council paste and copy what is on the LEP 2010 to its website. What part of that is ‘not possible’? Thank you for bringing Camden Council’s ‘dark reasoning’ into the light.