6.0 Demolition, relocation and moveable heritage

​Significant built elements: The relocation or demolition (partial or total) of significant built elements is likely to have adverse impacts on the heritage significance of a place.

Safety issues are relevant when contemplating demolition, however, most structures can be made safe and demolition should be a last resort. The Heritage Council may request a heritage impact statement for an application for full demolition or removal.

For places that have been assessed against criterion (c) – potential to yield information - or where a place is likely to have significant archaeological values, the Heritage Council may require the preparation of a Statement of Historical Archaeological Potential to ensure impacts to significant archaeological values are considered.

Where demolition is agreed to, a documentary record of the place may be required prior to the works occurring.

Moveable heritage: Moveable heritage encompasses a wide range of items of all sizes, types and materials, from large transport items to family collections and domestic objects. Where moveable heritage is associated with a heritage place its significance may be interrelated with the values of that place, and therefore diminished by separation. Retaining moveable heritage in situ where practical to do so is the preferred option.​

6.1 Relocating buildings or structures

What is eligible for a minor works approval? 
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place)
When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes?
​Relocating a structure of no significance (eg: steel framed garden shed) to a site which will have no impact on the significance or character of a place or its setting.Relocating a significant structure.

Appropriate outcomes:

Relocating a significant structure will in most circumstances be unacceptable.

It may be justifiable to relocate a structure that was originally designed as moveable or demountable, or which has previously been moved. 

If a structure that is proposed to be moved is in a public area and has acquired significance in that location, it may be appropriate to provide an interpretation marker at the site from which it will be moved. 

See also section '4 Interpretation'.

​6.2 Partial demolition

What is eligible for a minor works approval? 
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place)
When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes?
​Demolishing or removing non-significant additions to heritage structures, where the work involved will not result in damage to historic fabric or will not markedly impact on the ability to understand the historical evolution of the place.

Removing non-significant building fabric, applied finishes, fixtures or fittings. 
​Demolishing significant elements of a place. 

Appropriate outcomes:

This should be avoided or minimised as far as practicable, so as to retain the heritage significance of the place.

Partial demolition may be justifiable where it can achieve a greater conservation benefit; for example, where the partial demolition will allow for the sustainable use and conservation of the more significant parts of the place.

Where an internal wall or other structural element is removed, it is desirable to keep vestiges (ie: traces) of the removed element as evidence of the past form of the building. Vestiges may be patches in the floor, wall nibs and ceiling bulkheads. In most cases the retention of vestigial elements is preferable to the complete removal of significant fabric

Where the fabric proposed to be removed is significant and has the potential to be reinstated or meaningfully reused at the place, or if it has archaeological value (ie: as an artefact), the Heritage Council may require that fabric to be stored in good condition at the place.

​6.3 Total demolition

What is eligible for a minor works approval? 
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place)
When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes?
Demolishing or removing non-significant structures (eg: modern outbuildings) that are separate from the heritage structures where this work will not markedly impact on the ability to understand the historical evolution of the place.Demolishing a significant structure.

Appropriate outcomes:

Total demolition of a significant structure is a last resort and is generally not an acceptable outcome. In order for the Heritage Council to consider such an application, it will require information that provides justification for demolition. 

If the Heritage Council accepts that total demolition is justifiable, it may require that a record be made of the structure to be demolished (ie: an extant record). The record will need to be prepared to the standards set by the Heritage Council. 

​6.4 Moveable heritage

​​What is eligible for a minor works approval? 
(ie: work that will have no impact or only negligible impact on the significance of the place)
When is a discretionary permit application required by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and what are appropriate outcomes?
​Temporary relocation of movable heritage items to assist with conservation of the place; this may include repair or maintenance, display or documentation.​Permanent relocation of movable heritage

Appropriate outcomes:

Where possible, moveable heritage items should remain at the place with which they are historically associated. 

Where there is no alternative to removal, the Heritage Council may require a record of the items that are proposed to be removed.  This record should include details of where the items were located originally, and where they are to be relocated to.  A copy of this record should be provided to Heritage Tasmania and another copy should be kept at the place. 

On-site interpretation of the removed item/s may, in some cases, be appropriate. 

See also section 4 'Interpretation'.

The item/s should be returned to the place in future if the opportunity arises.

Case Study (Demolition): A tennis pavilion, Hobart

Maylands was originally constructed in c.1882 as a grand private residence. By the early twentieth century, a tennis club was established at Maylands, a role that continued when the property became the home of the Girls Industrial School. A simple timber shed was constructed in c.1930 for use as a tennis pavilion.

Although it demonstrated some detail of the history of Maylands, the pavilion had little significance and it did not have a current use or prospect for future uses. The institution that owned the place could not justify continued expenditure on the upkeep of what had become a derelict structure so they sought approval to have it demolished. Approval was granted on the condition that a photographic record be made of the building before demolition commenced.

Case Study (Relocation): Drill hall, Launceston 

The major redevelopment of a Launceston school required the removal of a number of structures. One such structure initially proposed for removal was a small timber building constructed in c.1886 as a drill hall.

Through negotiations with the owner, a pragmatic solution was found which involved reducing the size of the building and relocating it to a new area within the school. Relocation provided a better outcome than the demolition of the building, or its removal to another place.

The partial demolition and relocation were the biggest changes that have ever been made to this building.  For this reason, an extant record of the hall was prepared prior to work commencing.

At its new location, conservation work was undertaken that enhanced the hall's heritage character and made it better suited to a new function in the campus.
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