Have your say on current heritage colour schemes for Byron Shire

Published on 27 February 2023

Council is asking for community feedback on the current suite of colours and colour schemes that apply to painting (or repainting) and maintaining heritage buildings and Heritage Conservation Areas in the Byron Shire.

You can view the Current Heritage Colour Chart along with a report from Council’s Heritage Advisor on the Your Say page on Council’s website.  The deadline for feedback is 30 March 2023.

“The Byron Shire Development Control Plan has guidance on heritage colours which is in line with the more traditional paint colours used pre-1950s – colours that are consistent with old photographs and records,” Council’s Director Sustainable Environment and Economy Shannon Burt said.

“Our current heritage colours for exterior walls, for example, include a huge range of natural earth tones, mineral and stone colours that would be found in nature.  They have names like ‘straw’, ‘oatmeal, ‘deep stone’ and ‘sugar cane’ and are aligned with heritage values and colour palettes from across NSW and Australia.

“The reason we have rules around heritage colours is to help us protect valuable heritage items and historic streetscapes in the Byron Shire, that are consistent and sympathetic to other heritage buildings across our region,” Ms Burt said.

“Last year Council resolved to review the restrictions applying to houses particularly in general heritage conservation areas.  This was in response to the issues raised by the community about the purple house in Mullumbimby.

“Council is now proposing some changes to the wording in the DCP with a view to liberalising the range of colours available and we are seeking feedback on those changes, as well as general feedback on our Current Heritage Colour Chart,” she said.

All feedback submitted will be reported back to Council for consideration.