National Carillon and Aspen Island Heritage Management Plan

The NCA is currently reviewing the National Carillon and Aspen Island Heritage Management Plan and anticipates it will be finalised in 2022/2023.

The Carillon and Aspen Island are entered on the Commonwealth Heritage list and is managed by the National Capital Authority. The Carillon is individually listed, and the building and Aspen Island are part of a larger listed conservation area, the Parliament House Vista. The Carillon is a large musical instrument gifted from the British government in 1963 to commemorate the 50^th Jubilee of Canberra being established as the national capital.

Heritage Values

The Carillon and Aspen Island is a place of considerable heritage value related to its aesthetic, historic and social values. It is a public expression of the link between Britain and Australia, and is one of the finest musical instruments in the world based on its octave range and acoustic setting.  These values relate, in part, to the place itself as well as to the broader setting of the National Triangle.

To read more about the Carillon’s heritages values, and to view the statutory listing please visit the Australian Heritage Database.

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 National and Commonwealth Heritage listed places under their management. The purpose of this management plan is to identify, protect and manage the heritage values of the National Carillon. 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.