What GML Heritage does

GML Heritage is a privately held Australian heritage and archaeology consultancy headquartered in Surry Hills (Sydney) with additional offices in Melbourne and Canberra. Founded circa 1990 by Don Godden, Richard Mackay and David Logan, and expanded nationally in 2017 through a merger with Melbourne-based Context, the firm delivers multidisciplinary heritage services across First Nations heritage, history, built heritage, archaeology, landscape heritage, interpretation and design, community heritage, heritage resilience and local-to-global heritage assessment. Clients span federal, state and local government agencies (e.g., Heritage NSW, Transport for NSW, Museums of History NSW, Parks Victoria, Create NSW, Hawkesbury City Council) and major property and infrastructure developers (Brookfield Properties, Mirvac, Lendlease, Multiplex), with active mandates on projects including Circular Quay Renewal, Inland Rail, Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan 2050, Portland Battery Energy Storage System and Parramatta Light Rail.

The firm's offering is a professional services product rather than a technology platform. Underlying capability rests on a 51-100 person multidisciplinary team of historians, archaeologists, planners, architects, designers and interpretation specialists applying standard heritage assessment methodologies (e.g., EPBC Act and state heritage legislation compliance, conservation management plans, heritage impact statements, archaeological investigations) supported by GIS tools such as QGIS. Senior staff hold leadership roles across ICOMOS, ASHA, PHA, PIA and AIA, and the firm has co-authored authoritative reference works including the Heritage NSW Guidelines for Archaeological Management Plans (2009). The firm has held the Client Choice Award for Best Heritage Consulting Firm for five consecutive years and acted as expert witness in the 2015 Calga Aboriginal Women's Site Land and Environment Court case.

GML operates a sales-led, professional services commercial model. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements priced per scope, with the majority of public sector work sourced via pre-approval on multiple government procurement panels that reduce tender friction. Distribution is direct engagement with government, corporate, private and not-for-profit clients; marketing relies on professional reputation, project showcase content on gml.com.au, industry association memberships (AusHeritage, Climate Heritage Network, National Trust) and thought leadership publishing. The firm is privately held by its founders and partners with no disclosed external private equity or venture backing and no disclosed revenue.

Name

GML Heritage

Legal name

GML Heritage P/L

Website

https://gml.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GML Heritage is a privately held Australian heritage and archaeology consultancy operating from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, delivering multidisciplinary heritage assessments, archaeological investigations, conservation planning and First Nations heritage advisory services to federal, state and local government agencies and major property developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Consulting Services

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Heritage consulting
• Archaeological services
• Conservation management
• Cultural heritage advisory
• Built heritage assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Surry Hills

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Heritage Consulting Services: Professional consulting services delivered on a project basis to government, corporate, private and not-for-profit clients. Services include heritage assessments, archaeological investigations, conservation management plans, heritage impact statements, and advisory services across multiple project types including infrastructure, development, and cultural projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GML Heritage is a multidisciplinary heritage and archaeology consultancy delivering specialist services across First Nations heritage, history, built environment, landscape, archaeology, interpretation and design, community heritage, and heritage resilience. The firm provides heritage assessments, archaeological investigations, conservation management plans, heritage impact statements, and advisory services on a project basis to government, corporate, private, and not-for-profit clients across Australia.

Product overview

GML Heritage offers a single, unified consulting service rather than a software platform. The company provides multidisciplinary heritage and archaeology consultancy with in-house specialists across nine service areas: First Nations Heritage, History, Archaeology, Built Heritage, Interpretation and Design, Landscape Heritage, Heritage Resilience, Community Heritage, and Local to Global Heritage. These services are delivered through a team of historians, heritage experts, archaeologists, planners, architects, designers, and interpretation specialists operating from offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Consulting Services Multidisciplinary heritage and archaeology consultancy providing specialist services across First Nations heritage, history, built environment, landscape, archaeology, interpretation and design, community heritage and heritage resilience, delivered to government, corporate, private and not-for-profit clients on a project basis.
• First Nations Heritage Services Service focused on building respectful community partnerships and managing Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments and consultations for government, corporate, and community clients.
• Public History Services Service bringing new perspectives to places through public history research and historical research for clients across heritage and cultural projects.
• Archaeology Services Service uncovering material connections to the past through archaeological excavation, assessment, and analysis for infrastructure, development, and cultural heritage projects.
• Built Heritage Services Service conserving and reimagining heritage buildings, places and precincts for public and private sector clients.
• Interpretation and Design Services Service shaping stories and experiences through heritage interpretation planning and design for cultural and heritage places.
• Landscape Heritage Services Service exploring connections between people and landscapes for heritage conservation projects across Australia.
• Heritage Resilience Services Service making heritage places sustainable and resilient to climate change and disaster risks.
• Community Heritage Services Service conducting specialist conversations about heritage, history and place with communities for government, not-for-profit and private clients.
• Local to Global Heritage Services Service identifying and understanding heritage values at local and global scales for advisory and assessment engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Consistently positive client feedback leading to repeat engagements
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lendlease / Circular Quay ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGML engaged as part of the Circular Quay Consortium (CQC) to deliver comprehensive heritage services including strategic heritage advice, heritage and archaeological impact assessments, Aboriginal and historical archaeological research designs, test excavation and monitoring for the Circular Quay Renewal project.
• Heritage NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged by Heritage NSW for various heritage projects including the Great Divide to Eden Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes Assessment, providing independent assessment of heritage listings and community consultation.
• Parks VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGML team in Victoria working alongside Traditional Owners for Nerre Nerre Warren (Dandenong Police Paddocks) historical research, cultural heritage assessment and master planning on behalf of Parks Victoria.
• AusHeritageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of AusHeritage, collaborating with other heritage organizations to promote and protect heritage.
• Climate Heritage NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Climate Heritage Network, contributing to discussions on heritage and climate sustainability.
• Australia ICOMOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Australia ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), contributing to best practice heritage standards.
• University of CanberraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on research projects such as the Everyday Heritage project with University of Canberra.
• National Trust (NSW, Vic and ACT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of National Trust in NSW, Victoria and ACT.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WSP: Global engineering professional services firm with heritage specialists embedded in property and infrastructure projects. Competes for heritage advisory work on Australian infrastructure, transport, and urban renewal projects alongside GML.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with a heritage and cultural services practice covering assessments, archaeology, and interpretation. Active on major Australian infrastructure programs similar to those GML serves.
• Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy with a heritage and conservation practice advising on adaptive reuse and resilience of historic structures. Comparable on built heritage, structural conservation, and complex urban renewal mandates.
• GHD: Large Australian-headquartered engineering, architecture, and environmental consultancy with heritage and archaeological capability. Competes for infrastructure heritage work on the same transport and urban renewal projects where GML is engaged.
• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and advisory consultancy with an Australian heritage practice offering heritage impact assessments, archaeology, and approvals support. Competes for the same government and developer panels as GML but as part of a much broader environmental portfolio.

Direct peers

• Lovell Chen: Australian heritage architecture and consulting firm providing heritage advice, conservation management plans, and adaptive reuse services across Victoria and NSW. Closely comparable specialist peer serving similar public and private clients on built heritage projects.
• Urbis: Australian planning, urban design, and heritage consultancy with offices across major cities. Overlaps directly with GML on heritage assessments, statutory planning advice, and cultural heritage engagement for government and developers.
• Biosis: Australian ecological and heritage consultancy delivering heritage impact assessments, Aboriginal cultural heritage studies, and archaeological services nationally. Directly comparable on First Nations heritage, archaeology, and statutory engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/godden-mackay-logan-pty-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GML Heritage