What Heritage Victoria does

Heritage Victoria is a statutory state government agency operating within the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning under the Heritage Act 2017. Its core function is regulatory: it maintains the Victorian Heritage Register of approximately 2,400 state-significant places and objects, the Victorian Heritage Inventory of approximately 6,500 historical archaeological sites, and the maritime heritage records covering approximately 660 shipwrecks along the Victorian coastline. The agency processes permit applications, archaeology consents, and maritime heritage permits; administers the Living Heritage and Disaster Recovery Heritage Grants programs; and provides the Heritage DESK online application hub for transactions and the Victorian Heritage Database for public search.

The agency's customer base spans property owners of state-listed places (who face legal maintenance and notification obligations), local councils responsible for Heritage Overlays in local planning schemes, heritage consultants and archaeologists lodging permit and consent applications, and community members making nominations or reporting unauthorised works. Service delivery is a sales-led motion routed through the website and the Heritage DESK portal, with heritage certificates ordered through Landata at a fee of $64.76 (2026–2027 FY) and all other services provided at no charge. The agency holds custodianship of two UNESCO World Heritage sites (Budj Bim Cultural Landscape and Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens) and 29 National Heritage sites.

Heritage Victoria operates without a commercial revenue model; it is funded through Victorian State Government budget appropriations. There is no proprietary technology platform beyond public-facing government web infrastructure, no AI/ML capabilities disclosed, and no headcount growth or funding signals in the input data. Strategic posture is stable and programmatic, anchored by regulatory exclusivity and a multi-decade dataset, with ongoing activity concentrated on the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid, maritime heritage expansion with CSIRO, and digitisation of permit/consent workflows.

Name

Heritage Victoria

Legal name

Heritage Victoria

Website

https://heritage.vic.gov.au

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heritage Victoria is a Victorian State Government statutory agency that regulates heritage protection, processing permits and archaeology consents, maintaining the state Heritage Register and Inventory, and administering conservation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Heritage Regulation

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Historical Sites (71212)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers (THAJADAG)

Keywords

• Heritage protection regulation
• State heritage register
• Heritage permit approvals
• Archaeological site consents
• Heritage conservation grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Heritage Victoria operates as a regulatory agency within the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning. The agency is funded through government budget allocations and does not generate commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heritage Victoria is a Victorian State Government statutory authority that administers the Heritage Act 2017 by managing the Victorian Heritage Register (approximately 2,400 state-significant places and objects), the Victorian Heritage Inventory (approximately 6,500 archaeological sites), and maritime heritage (approximately 660 shipwrecks). It issues heritage permits and archaeology consents for modifications to listed places, provides Heritage Certificates for property transactions, and administers heritage conservation grant programs including the Living Heritage Program and Disaster Recovery Heritage Grants.

Product overview

Heritage Victoria operates as a state government heritage agency within the Department of Transport and Planning. Their digital presence consists of a comprehensive government website serving as the primary interface for managing Victoria's heritage protection framework. The core offerings include the Victorian Heritage Register (approximately 2,400 state-significant places and objects), the Victorian Heritage Inventory (approximately 6,500 known archaeological sites), Maritime Heritage protections (660+ shipwrecks), Heritage DESK application hub, Heritage Certificates service, and Heritage Grants programs (Living Heritage and Disaster Recovery). The Victorian Heritage Database serves as the unified search portal aggregating all heritage listings. All services are delivered through their official website at heritage.vic.gov.au with form submissions handled through the Heritage DESK application portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Certificates Official documents providing property-specific heritage encumbrance information under the Heritage Act 2017, used by property owners, buyers, and conveyancers during property transactions. Ordered through Landata for a fee of $64.76 (2026-2027 FY) and issued within 7 business days.
• Heritage Permits and Exemptions Statutory permits and exemptions authorizing modifications, alterations, or works affecting state heritage-listed places and objects, including permit amendments and extensions. Applications are submitted via Heritage DESK for review and approval under the Heritage Act 2017.
• Archaeology Consents Statutory consents required for activities disturbing or affecting historical archaeological sites in Victoria. Over 100 archaeological consents are issued annually, with provisions for amendments, extensions, and exemptions, and dedicated resources for archaeologists.
• Maritime Heritage Permits Permits required for activities affecting Victoria's maritime heritage, including approximately 660 shipwrecks along the coastline, with resources provided for maritime archaeologists engaged in such work.
• Heritage Grants Programs Financial assistance programs including the Living Heritage Program and Disaster Recovery Heritage Grants, providing funding to owners of state-significant heritage properties for conservation works and disaster recovery.
• Heritage Place and Object Nominations Formal nomination process allowing community members to nominate places or objects for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register. Heritage Victoria makes recommendations to the Heritage Council of Victoria, which makes final inclusion decisions.
• Heritage Enforcement and Compliance Statutory enforcement actions and investigations addressing unauthorised works on heritage places and compliance with the Heritage Act 2017, including publication of current enforcement matters.
• Heritage Disaster Recovery Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Issues over 100 archaeological consents annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 moderate, core and major.

• Parks VictoriamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerParks Victoria manages over 3,000 historic assets across Victoria's parks and reserves. They work with Heritage Victoria on heritage places management and visitor access to heritage sites.
• National Trust of Australia (Victoria)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Trust manages many historic places and gardens in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Heritage Victoria refers property owners to National Trust services and collaborates on heritage places.
• Commonwealth Government (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonwealth legislation (Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018) protects shipwrecks and aircraft wrecks. Heritage Victoria coordinates with the Commonwealth on shipwreck reporting and protection in enclosed waters.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIRO research vessel Investigator has been used for deep-water shipwreck discoveries including the SS Iron Crown and SS Federal. Heritage Victoria collaborates on maritime heritage research.
• Heritage Council of VictoriacoreOthersHeritage Council of Victoria is an independent statutory body that makes final decisions on inclusions in the Victorian Heritage Register. Heritage Victoria makes recommendations to the Council.
• First Peoples - State RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Peoples - State Relations manages Aboriginal heritage under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. Heritage Victoria works with this body on post-contact Aboriginal heritage places and coordinates on overlapping heritage matters.
• Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid Partnership (15 councils, Traditional Owners, Governments)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership of 15 councils, Traditional Owner groups, Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, and local/international experts working on Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid.
• Local Government Councils in VictoriacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal councils manage Heritage Overlays in local planning schemes and are responsible for locally significant heritage places. Heritage Victoria coordinates with councils on heritage protection matters.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Heritage NSW: The NSW state heritage agency operating under the NSW Heritage Act to administer the State Heritage Register, issue permits, and protect heritage places. Directly comparable as a state-level statutory heritage authority with similar regulatory, listing, and grants functions.
• National Trust of Australia (Victoria): A heritage conservation NGO that manages historic properties and collaborates closely with Heritage Victoria on heritage places. Operates an adjacent conservation and advocacy mandate with overlapping property management functions.
• Heritage South Australia: South Australia's state heritage regulator responsible for the South Australian Heritage Register, permit approvals, and heritage protection. Operates a near-identical statutory model to Heritage Victoria with state-level scope.
• Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (Queensland Heritage): Queensland's heritage regulatory arm managing the Queensland Heritage Register and permits under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. Directly comparable state-level heritage protection function with similar listing and enforcement powers.
• Heritage Tasmania: Tasmania's state heritage agency administering the Tasmanian Heritage Register and overseeing permits under the Historic Cultural Heritage Act. Comparable scope and regulatory mandate at smaller state scale.

Regional players

• Parks Victoria: Manages over 3,000 historic assets across Victoria's parks and reserves and works directly with Heritage Victoria on heritage places management. Adjacent operator with strong collaborative overlap on heritage asset stewardship in Victoria.

Others

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW): Federal counterpart administering the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 and National Heritage List, coordinating with Heritage Victoria on maritime heritage and shipwreck reporting in enclosed waters.

Broad incumbents

• Historic England: The UK government's statutory adviser on heritage protection, managing listing, planning advice, and grants for historic sites. Comparable as a heritage regulator with national scope, though operating under different legislative frameworks.
• Australian Heritage Council: The federal advisory body that assesses and recommends places for inclusion on the National Heritage List and World Heritage nominations. Comparable as a higher-tier heritage authority, but operates federally rather than at state level.
• Heritage New Zealand: New Zealand's national historic heritage agency administering the New Zealand Heritage List and providing heritage protection advice. Comparable statutory mandate with a national rather than state-level scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VicGovDTP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vicgovdtp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heritage-victoria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Heritage Victoria