Draft Heritage Management Plan - Acton Complex

HMP - Acton Complex
Consultation type
Draft Heritage Management Plans
Closing date
27 May 2026

The Acton Complex comprises of four CHL places: Acton Peninsula buildings 1, 2, and 15 and the Limestone Outcrops. The Acton Peninsula Outcrops along with the Isolation Ward (Building 1), H Block (Building 2), the former Medical Superintendent’s Residence (Building 15) and Acton Peninsula Tree Groups (Landscape and Plantings) are a significant element remaining on Acton Peninsula, that can trace the story of European settlement and Canberra’s city development. The buildings are examples of the Interwar Functionalist style and retains significance it its external original fabrics. 

Acton Peninsula Limestone Outcrops are significant group which extends 800m -100m along the eastern shore of Acton Peninsula. The age of the limestone is Late Silurian (approximately 425 million years) and it contains sparsely distributed fragmentary macro fossils of corals and shells.  

Photo of a wing of a building, round in shape, with windows all around and a brick base, surrounded with large trees with leaves coloured for autumn and which are also littering the ground all around on the green grass, with a blue sky
Photo of an orange brick, brown roof tiled house surrounded by grass and gum trees, with blue sky in the background.

 

Under section 341S(6)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the National Capital Authority (NCA) welcomes comments on the draft Heritage Management Plan from members of the public, Indigenous People with rights and interests to the place, key stakeholders and community groups by 5.00pm, Wednesday 27 May 2026. 

The draft Heritage Management Plan can be downloaded below or can be viewed in hardcopy at the reception desk at the NCA, Treasury Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT.

Submissions are to be made via email to heritage@nca.gov.au.

The NCA may be contacted for further information on 6271 2888 or via email to heritage@nca.gov.au.

Attachments
Acton Complex Draft Heritage Management Plan 2026

What is a Heritage Management Plan and how does it work?

A Heritage Management Plan (HMP) is a tool used by owners and managers of heritage places to conserve and protect the heritage values of places. It is a written document identifying the detail of heritage values of a place and explaining how the heritage values are to be protected, used and managed into the future. 

A HMP considers the opportunities and constraints at a place, identifies potential changes to a place, guides day to day management and outlines conservation policies to ensure the ongoing conservation of the heritage values of a place.

What can you provide feedback on?

In accordance with s341X of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) (EPBC Act), public consultation is undertaken to determine:

  • whether the plan is consistent with the Commonwealth Heritage management principles; and
  • the effectiveness of the plan in protecting and conserving the Commonwealth Heritage values of the place.

How often are the plans reviewed?

s341X of the EPBC Act requires an agency to review a HMP for any heritage place it owns or controls at least every 5 years.

Are there differences between this draft HMP and the current HMP?

Yes, in the past HMPs have been prepared by a number of a different consultants and whilst information within the documents is generally the same, each consultant presents the document with a different appearance and format. The NCA has implemented a HMP template to provide consistent branded format for HMPs utilising a more efficient structure.

Further, the content of each HMP has been updated. The ‘description’ and ‘condition’ of each place and condition and integrity of heritage values, has been updated to reflect changes that may have occurred at each place since the preparation of the old plan. Constraints and opportunities relating to each place including function and use, interpretation and promotion and development have also been updated to reflect any changes to statutory requirements and to confirm existing management regimes.

Existing conservation policies have been reviewed and updated to delete redundant polices and provide consolidated policies, actions and implementation (timing and priorities) within a tabulated format for ease of use.

Could a site lose its heritage status if the plan is not current?

No. The absence of a current plan for a place does not impact the heritage status of a place. 

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region.

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

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