Lake Burley Griffin and Adjacent Lands Heritage Management Plan

Lake Burley Griffin and Adjacent Lands was included on the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2022 and is managed by the NCA. The area covers approximately 6,640 hectares including:

• Lake Burley Griffin bounded by the entrances of the Molonglo River, Jerrabomberra Creek and Sullivans Creek, and Scrivener Dam;
• Springbank and Spinnaker Islands. The Carillon is listed separately on the Commonwealth Heritage List; 
• Scrivener Dam;
• Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and Kings Avenue Bridge; and
• Stirling Ridge, Stirling Park, Attunga Point, Yarramundi Grasslands, Roman Cypress Hill and the Lindsay Pryor Arboretum.

The Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin is also part of the Parliament House Vista Commonwealth Heritage listing.

Heritage Values

The Lake Burley Griffin area is valued highly by communities for its landmark value, as a symbol of Canberra and as an iconic cultural landscape, which for many is a symbol of local identity. Completed in 1964, Lake Burley Griffin is an essential part of what defines Canberra, and an essential component of the Griffin plan for a lake to link and unify the axis and vistas of the plan to the underlying landform of the place.

Preparation of a Heritage Management Plan

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), all Commonwealth agencies are required to prepare management plans for Commonwealth Heritage listed and nominated places under their management. The purpose of this management plan is to identify, protect and manage the heritage values of Lake Burley Griffin. This management plan was prepared in accordance with the Commonwealth Heritage management principles and the requirements under the EPBC Act.

This management plan was reviewed by the Australian Heritage Council.

For further information, please contact the NCA on heritage@nca.gov.au or 02 6271 2888.