For a place to be entered in the register, it must be nominated and then go through a process of assessment. There are three categories for inclusion:[2]
it shows a high standard of creative or technical achievement in its time period
it is important to a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons
it is associated with the life or work of important people, groups or organisations in the history of Queensland
Criteria for inclusion as an Archaeological Place
For inclusion as an Archaeological Place on the Queensland Heritage Register, the place must have the potential to contain an archaeological artefact that might yield information about the history of Queensland. If a place is already listed as a State Heritage Place, it cannot also be separately listed as an Archaeological Place.[2]
Protected Areas
A Protected Area must be declared by regulation; there is no explicit criteria listed in the legislation, other than it be a place of great significance to cultural heritage. Entry to Protected Areas is restricted with a system of permits, affording a high level of protection.[2]
Format of the Register
An entry in the Queensland Heritage Register must include:
location information
the history of the place
a description of the place
if it is subject to a heritage agreement
for State Heritage Places, how it meets the criteria for State Heritage Places
for Archaeological Places, how it meets the criteria for Archaeological Places
for Protected Areas, a statement of the significance of the cultural heritage that warrants the protection
Removal from the heritage register
In 2011, the Heritage Act was amended to allow destroyed sites to be removed from the Queensland Heritage Register.[3] As at 2017, five sites had been removed, including the Caboonbah Homestead which was destroyed in a fire and four other sites demolished as part of an approved development:[3]
Under Section 113 of the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, all local government authorities in Queensland must maintain a local heritage register; the Brisbane Heritage Register is an example of a local government heritage register in Queensland.[4]