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Similar to the Central Victorian Goldfields, the landscape of Cornwall and West Devon was transformed into a hive of mining activity during the 18th Century.
It’s now a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site which has experienced increased exposure, visitor spend and job creation.
With an active bid for World Heritage Listing of the Central Victorian Goldfields, Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh knew a meeting with the team who played an instrumental role in having the mining landscapes of Cornwall and West Devon inscribed in 2006 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site would be beneficial.
Cr McIntosh today met with Deborah Boden, World Heritage Site Co-ordinator, and Ainsley Cocks, World Heritage Site Research and Information Officer, to discuss their bid processes, what they learned and what the listing has meant for the region, and what the 13 local councils advocating for the Central Victorian Goldfields can learn from their experience.
The Cornish landscape is the largest World Heritage Site in the UK, covering around 20,000 hectares across multiple regions. The model used in Cornwall and West Devon, where multiple sites across a wider landscape are listed, is the same model being pursued by the 13 Victorian councils involved in the active bid for World Heritage Listing for the Central Victorian Goldfields.
The Cornwall and West Devon model is based around regeneration, with a major emphasis on redevelopment, restoration, tourism, business, education and investment.
The nine councils involved in the project have successfully leveraged 90 million pounds in direct capital investment into the area, which has resulted in a completed transformation of disused and dilapidated industrial mining sites. It has also assisted in the renewal of the site as a tourist destination through the development of marketing and educational products.
Ms Boden, who has visited the Victorian Goldfields, told Cr McIntosh she believed the historic goldrush region across Central Victoria has the “outstanding universal value” required by UNESCO for listing as a World Heritage Site.
She advised Cr McIntosh the key to a successful bid was the need to plan well ahead of time on what you want out of the listing and to have a strong plan to implement and reap the benefits.
Cr McIntosh will now use this feedback and advice to brief the 13 councils and partnering organisations currently advocating for the World Heritage Site listing for the Central Victorian Goldfields.
The Central Victorian Goldfields bid project is designed to recognise and celebrate a unique history, heritage, character and experience, assist in driving the economic regeneration of the region, and build community pride and understanding.
The financial benefits to the region of World Heritage Listing has been identified as up to $68 million each year in added income which will flow to jobs and local economies. It is estimated that for every one per cent increase in tourism in the Central Victorian Goldfields region, $11 million is added to the regional economy.
World Heritage Listing will also help leverage the unique goldfields heritage and capitalise on existing strengths to position the Central Victorian Goldfields as Australia’s Premier National Heritage Region.