FAQs

A Heritage Standard is an assessment tool, linked to the State Heritage Area Overlay within the Planning and Design Code. The Heritage Standard provides principles and acceptable minimum standards for development proposals. The Heritage Standard forms a key part of how the architects within Heritage South Australia assess development proposals within a State Heritage Area.  

The Heritage Standard for the Hahndorf State Heritage Area includes:

1. Background – the historical development of Hahndorf and the principles that underpin each State Heritage Area.
2. Statement of Significance – the South Australian Heritage Register listing and the context and description of the heritage values.
3. Heritage Standards for Development – Principles and Acceptable Standards for development – for property owners considering repairs, alterations and additions and new development.

A State Heritage Area is a clearly defined region with outstanding natural or cultural elements significant to South Australia's development and identity.

A State Heritage Area may include early or important settlements, towns or suburbs of heritage value, or natural landscapes. State Heritage Areas are notable for their distinct heritage character or 'sense of place', formed by:

• buildings and structures
• spaces and allotments
• patterns of streets
• natural features or the developed landscape.

See this map of the boundaries of the Hahndorf State Heritage Area.

See the Department for Environment and Water - State Heritage Areas webpage for more details.

Hahndorf was declared a State Heritage Area on 25 August 1988. Hahndorf is acknowledged as the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia and is one of the few Australian towns with a significant number of buildings which reflect a distinctive German character. Hahndorf is of significant cultural importance to South Australia.

The relevant (planning) authority must approve any development within a State Heritage Area in accordance with the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act). 

Development is defined by the PDI Act, and the Planning Development Infrastructure (general) Regulations 2017 and includes:

• Building work
• The demolition, removal, conversion, alteration or painting of, or addition to a State Heritage Place*
• Any work that could materially affect the heritage value of the place. 

*To note: Legally, any property within a State Heritage Area is also considered a State Heritage Place. 

Although State Heritage Areas are protected under legislation, places within the area can be altered or developed as long as the work is sympathetic to the character of the area.

Applications for development approval in a State Heritage Area are required to be referred, by the relevant authority (for example the local council), to the Minister responsible for the Heritage Places Act 1993. The Minister delegates assessment and decisions to Heritage South Australia in the Department for Environment and Water.

The inclusion of a State Heritage Place or Area in the South Australian Heritage Register does not prevent change to the Place or Area. In fact, an objective of the Heritage Places Act 1993 is:

to encourage sustainable use and adaptation of heritage places in a manner consistent with high standards of conversation practice, the retention of their heritage significance, and relevant development policies. 

Compatible development of State Heritage Areas and State Heritage Places can be the best way to ensure the Place or Area is used, maintained, and enjoyed in the future.

Where changes to a State Heritage Place or Area involve actions that constitute ‘development’ as defined by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, an application for development approval is lodged with the relevant planning authority, the local council or the State Planning Commission and then is referred to Heritage South Australia for direction.

The Heritage Standards will not freeze the Hahndorf State Heritage Area in time. Rather, it will ensure any referred development reflects its heritage values of the State Heritage Area.

For any small administrative changes, the Heritage Standard can be updated following normal internal policy guidelines but any major changes will require another round of public consultation. Likewise, any changes to the Statement of Significance require approval from the South Australian Heritage Council.

The standard will be used by Heritage South Australia, as delegates of the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, in assessing development applications that may impact on state heritage values.

It will also be used to provide advice to property owners planning to restore, alter or develop their property within the State Heritage Area.