Using the Charter
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The Charter should be read as a whole.
Many articles are interdependent. Articles in the Conservation Principles
section are often further developed in the Conservation Processes and
Conservation Practice sections. Headings have been included for ease of
reading but do not form part of the Charter.
The Charter is self-contained, but
aspects of its use and application are further explained in the following
Australia ICOMOS documents:
Guidelines
to the Burra Charter: Cultural Significance
Guidelines to the
Burra Charter: Conservation Policy
Guidelines to the
Burra Charter: Procedures for Undertaking Studies and Reports
Code on the
Ethics of Coexistence in Conserving Significant Places
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What places does the Charter apply to?
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The Charter can be applied to all types
of places of cultural significance including natural, indigenous and
historic places with cultural values.
The standards of other organisations may
also be relevant. These include the Australian Natural Heritage Charter
and the Draft Guidelines for the Protection, Management and Use of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Places.
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Why conserve?
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Places of cultural significance enrich
people’s lives, often providing a deep and inspirational sense of
connection to community and landscape, to the past and to lived
experiences. They are historical records, that are important as tangible
expressions of Australian identity and experience. Places of cultural
significance reflect the diversity of our communities, telling us about
who we are and the past that has formed us and the Australian landscape.
They are irreplaceable and precious.
These places of cultural significance
must be conserved for present and future generations.
The Burra Charter advocates a cautious
approach to change: do as much as necessary to care for the place and to
make it useable, but otherwise change it as little as possible so that its
cultural significance is retained.
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Articles
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Article 1
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Definitions
For the purposes of this Charter:
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1.1
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Place means
site, area, land, landscape, building or other work, group of buildings or
other works, and may include components, contents, spaces and views.
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The concept of place should be broadly
interpreted. The elements described in Article 1.1 may include memorials,
trees, gardens, parks, places of historical events, urban areas, towns,
industrial places, archaeological sites and spiritual and religious
places.
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1.2
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Cultural
significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or
spiritual value for past, present or future generations.
Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric,
setting, use, associations, meanings,
records, related places and related objects.
Places may have a range of values for
different individuals or groups.
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The term cultural significance is
synonymous with heritage significance and cultural heritage value.
Cultural significance may change as a
result of the continuing history of the place.
Understanding of cultural significance
may change as a result of new information.
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1.3
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Fabric
means all the physical material of the place
including components, fixtures, contents, and objects.
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Fabric includes building interiors and
sub-surface remains, as well as excavated material.
Fabric may define spaces and these may
be important elements of the significance of the place.
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1.4
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Conservation
means all the processes of looking after a place
so as to retain its cultural
significance.
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1.5
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Maintenance
means the continuous protective care of the fabric
and setting of a place,
and is to be distinguished from repair. Repair involves restoration or reconstruction.
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The distinctions referred to, for
example in relation to roof gutters, are:
maintenance — regular inspection and
cleaning of gutters;
repair involving restoration —
returning of dislodged gutters;
repair involving reconstruction —
replacing decayed gutters.
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1.6
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Preservation
means maintaining the fabric of a place in its existing state and retarding
deterioration.
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It is recognised that all places and
their components change over time at varying rates.
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1.7
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Restoration
means returning the existing fabric of a place to a known earlier state by removing
accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction
of new material.
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1.8
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Reconstruction
means returning a place to a known earlier
state and is distinguished from restoration
by the introduction of new material into the fabric.
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New material may include recycled
material salvaged from other places. This should not be to the detriment
of any place of cultural significance.
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1.9
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Adaptation
means modifying a place to suit the existing
use or a proposed use.
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1.10
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Use means the
functions of a place, as well as the
activities and practices that may occur at the place.
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1.11
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Compatible
use means a use which respects the cultural significance of a place. Such a use involves no, or minimal,
impact on cultural significance.
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1.12
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Setting
means the area around a place, which may
include the visual catchment.
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1.13
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Related
place means a place that contributes to
the cultural significance of
another place.
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1.14
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Related
object means an object that contributes to the cultural significance of a place but is not at the place.
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1.15
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Associations
mean the special connections that exist between people and a place.
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Associations may include social or
spiritual values and cultural responsibilities for a place.
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1.16
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Meanings
denote what a place signifies, indicates,
evokes or expresses.
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Meanings generally relate to intangible
aspects such as symbolic qualities and memories.
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1.17
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Interpretation
means all the ways of presenting the cultural
significance of a place.
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Interpretation may be a combination of
the treatment of the fabric (e.g. maintenance, restoration,
reconstruction); the use of and activities at the place; and the use of
introduced explanatory material.
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Conservation Principles
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Article 2
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Conservation and management
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2.1
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Places of cultural significance should be
conserved.
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2.2
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The aim
of conservation is to retain the cultural significance of a place.
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2.3
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Conservation is
an integral part of good management of places
of cultural significance.
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2.4
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Places of cultural significance should be
safeguarded and not put at risk or left in a vulnerable state.
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Article 3
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Cautious approach
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3.1
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Conservation is
based on a respect for the existing fabric,
use, associations
and meanings. It requires a cautious
approach of changing as much as necessary but as little as possible.
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The traces of additions, alterations and earlier
treatments to the fabric of a place are evidence of its history and uses
which may be part of its significance. Conservation action should assist
and not impede their understanding.
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3.2
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Changes to a place
should not distort the physical or other evidence it provides, nor be
based on conjecture.
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Article 4
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Knowledge, skills and techniques
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4.1
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Conservation
should make use of all the knowledge, skills and disciplines which can
contribute to the study and care of the place.
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4.2
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Traditional techniques and materials are preferred for
the conservation of significant fabric. In some circumstances modern
techniques and materials which offer substantial conservation benefits may
be appropriate.
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The use of modern materials and techniques must be
supported by firm scientific evidence or by a body of experience.
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Article 5
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Values
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5.1
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Conservation of a
place should identify and take into
consideration all aspects of cultural and natural significance without
unwarranted emphasis on any one value at the expense of others.
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Conservation of places with natural significance is
explained in the Australian Natural Heritage Charter. This Charter defines
natural significance to mean the importance of ecosystems, biological
diversity and geodiversity for their existence value, or for present or
future generations in terms of their scientific, social, aesthetic and
life-support value.
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5.2
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Relative degrees of cultural
significance may lead to different conservation
actions at a place.
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A cautious approach is needed, as understanding of
cultural significance may change. This article should not be used to
justify actions which do not retain cultural significance.
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Article 6
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Burra Charter Process
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6.1
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The cultural
significance of a place and other
issues affecting its future are best understood by a sequence of
collecting and analysing information before making decisions.
Understanding cultural significance comes first, then development of
policy and finally management of the place in accordance with the policy.
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The Burra Charter process, or sequence of
investigations, decisions and actions, is illustrated in the accompanying
flowchart.
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6.2
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The policy for managing a place
must be based on an understanding of its cultural
significance.
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6.3
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Policy development should also include consideration
of other factors affecting the future of a place
such as the owner's needs, resources, external constraints and its
physical condition.
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Article 7
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Use
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7.1
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Where the use of a place is of cultural
significance it should be retained.
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7.2
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A place should have a compatible use.
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The policy should identify a use or combination of
uses or constraints on uses that retain the cultural significance of the
place. New use of a place should involve minimal change, to significant
fabric and use; should respect associations and meanings; and where
appropriate should provide for continuation of practices which contribute
to the cultural significance of the place.
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Article 8
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Setting
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Conservation
requires the retention of an appropriate visual setting
and other relationships that contribute to the cultural significance of the place.
New construction, demolition, intrusions or other
changes which would adversely affect the setting or relationships are not
appropriate.
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Aspects of the visual setting may include use,
siting, bulk, form, scale, character, colour, texture and materials.
Other relationships, such as historical connections,
may contribute to interpretation, appreciation, enjoyment or experience of
the place.
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Article 9
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Location
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9.1
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The physical location of a place
is part of its cultural significance.
A building, work or other component of a place should remain in its
historical location. Relocation is generally unacceptable unless this is
the sole practical means of ensuring its survival.
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9.2
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Some buildings, works or other components of places were designed to be readily removable or
already have a history of relocation. Provided such buildings, works or
other components do not have significant links with their present
location, removal may be appropriate.
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9.3
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If any building, work or other component is moved, it
should be moved to an appropriate location and given an appropriate use. Such action should not be to the detriment
of any place of cultural significance.
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Article 10
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Contents
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Contents, fixtures and objects which contribute to the
cultural significance of a place should be retained at that place. Their
removal is unacceptable unless it is: the sole means of ensuring their
security and preservation; on a
temporary basis for treatment or exhibition; for cultural reasons; for
health and safety; or to protect the place. Such contents, fixtures and
objects should be returned where circumstances permit and it is culturally
appropriate.
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Article 11
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Related places and objects
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The contribution which related
places and related objects
make to the cultural significance
of the place should be retained.
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Article 12
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Participation
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Conservation, interpretation and management of a place should provide for the participation of
people for whom the place has special associations
and meanings, or who have social,
spiritual or other cultural responsibilities for the place.
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Article 13
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Co-existence of cultural values
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Co-existence of cultural values should be recognised,
respected and encouraged, especially in cases where they conflict.
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For some places, conflicting cultural values may
affect policy development and management decisions. In this article, the
term cultural values refers to those beliefs which are important to a
cultural group, including but not limited to political, religious,
spiritual and moral beliefs. This is broader than values associated with
cultural significance.
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Conservation Processes
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Article 14
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Conservation processes
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Conservation may,
according to circumstance, include the processes of: retention or
reintroduction of a use; retention of associations and meanings;
maintenance, preservation,
restoration, reconstruction,
adaptation and interpretation; and will commonly
include a combination of more than one of these.
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There may be circumstances where no action is
required to achieve conservation.
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Article 15
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Change
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15.1
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Change may be necessary to retain cultural significance, but is
undesirable where it reduces cultural significance. The amount of change
to a place should be guided by the cultural
significance of the place and its appropriate interpretation.
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When change is being considered, a range of options
should be explored to seek the option which minimises the reduction of
cultural significance.
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15.2
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Changes which reduce cultural
significance should be reversible, and be reversed when
circumstances permit.
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Reversible changes should be considered temporary.
Non-reversible change should only be used as a last resort and should not
prevent future conservation action.
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15.3
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Demolition of significant fabric
of a place is generally not acceptable.
However, in some cases minor demolition may be appropriate as part of conservation. Removed significant fabric
should be reinstated when circumstances permit.
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15.4
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The contributions of all aspects of cultural significance of a place should be respected. If a place includes fabric, uses, associations
or meanings of different periods, or
different aspects of cultural significance, emphasising or interpreting
one period or aspect at the expense of another can only be justified when
what is left out, removed or diminished is of slight cultural significance
and that which is emphasised or interpreted is of much greater cultural
significance.
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Article 16
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Maintenance
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Maintenance is
fundamental to conservation and
should be undertaken where fabric is of cultural significance and its
maintenance is necessary to retain that cultural significance.
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Article 17
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Preservation
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Preservation is
appropriate where the existing fabric or
its condition constitutes evidence of cultural
significance, or where insufficient evidence is available to
allow other conservation processes to
be carried out.
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Preservation protects fabric without obscuring the
evidence of its construction and use. The process should always be
applied:
where the evidence of the fabric is of such
significance that it should not be altered;
where insufficient investigation has been carried out
to permit policy decisions to be taken in accord with Articles 26 to 28.
New work (e.g. stabilisation) may be carried out in
association with preservation when its purpose is the physical protection
of the fabric and when it is consistent with Article 22.
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Article 18
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Restoration and reconstruction
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Restoration and reconstruction should reveal
culturally significant aspects of the place.
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Article 19
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Restoration
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Restoration is
appropriate only if there is sufficient evidence of an earlier state of
the fabric.
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Article 20
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Reconstruction
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20.1
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Reconstruction
is appropriate only where a place is
incomplete through damage or alteration, and only where there is
sufficient evidence to reproduce an earlier state of the fabric.
In rare cases, reconstruction may also be appropriate as part of a use or practice that retains the cultural significance of the
place.
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20.2
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Reconstruction
should be identifiable on close inspection or through additional interpretation.
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Article 21
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Adaptation
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21.1
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Adaptation is
acceptable only where the adaptation has minimal impact on the cultural significance of the place.
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Adaptation may involve the introduction of new
services, or a new use, or changes to safeguard the place.
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21.2
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Adaptation should
involve minimal change to significant fabric, achieved only after
considering alternatives.
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Article 22
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New work
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22.1
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New work such as additions to the place
may be acceptable where it does not distort or obscure the cultural significance of the
place, or detract from its interpretation
and appreciation.
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New work may be sympathetic if its siting, bulk,
form, scale, character, colour, texture and material are similar to the
existing fabric, but imitation should be avoided.
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22.2
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New work should be readily identifiable as such.
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Article 23
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Conserving use
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Continuing, modifying or reinstating a significant use may be appropriate and preferred forms of conservation.
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These may require changes to significant fabric but they should be minimised. In some
cases, continuing a significant use or practice may involve substantial
new work.
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Article 24
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Retaining associations and meanings
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24.1
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Significant associations
between people and a place should be
respected, retained and not obscured. Opportunities for the interpretation, commemoration and
celebration of these associations should be investigated and implemented.
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For many places associations will be linked to use.
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24.2
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Significant meanings,
including spiritual values, of a place
should be respected. Opportunities for the continuation or revival of
these meanings should be investigated and implemented.
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Article 25
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Interpretation
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The cultural
significance of many places is not
readily apparent, and should be explained by interpretation.
Interpretation should enhance understanding and enjoyment, and be
culturally appropriate.
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Conservation Practice
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Article 26
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Applying the Burra
Charter process
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26.1
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Work on a place should
be preceded by studies to understand the place which should include
analysis of physical, documentary, oral and other evidence, drawing on
appropriate knowledge, skills and disciplines.
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The results of studies should be up to date,
regularly reviewed and revised as necessary.
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26.2
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Written statements of cultural
significance and policy for the place
should be prepared, justified and accompanied by supporting evidence. The
statements of significance and policy should be incorporated into a
management plan for the place.
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Statements of significance and policy should be kept
up to date by regular review and revision as necessary. The management
plan may deal with other matters related to the management of the place.
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26.3
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Groups and individuals with associations
with a place as well as those involved in
its management should be provided with opportunities to contribute to and
participate in understanding the cultural
significance of the place. Where appropriate they should also
have opportunities to participate in its conservation
and management.
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Article 27
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Managing change
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27.1
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The impact of proposed changes on the cultural significance of a place should be analysed with reference to the
statement of significance and the policy for managing the place. It may be
necessary to modify proposed changes following analysis to better retain
cultural significance.
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27.2
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Existing fabric, use, associations
and meanings should be adequately
recorded before any changes are made to the place.
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Article 28
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Disturbance of fabric
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28.1
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Disturbance of significant fabric
for study, or to obtain evidence, should be minimised. Study of a place by any disturbance of the fabric,
including archaeological excavation, should only be undertaken to provide
data essential for decisions on the conservation
of the place, or to obtain important evidence about to be lost or made
inaccessible.
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28.2
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Investigation of a place
which requires disturbance of the fabric,
apart from that necessary to make decisions, may be appropriate provided
that it is consistent with the policy for the place. Such investigation
should be based on important research questions which have potential to
substantially add to knowledge, which cannot be answered in other ways and
which minimises disturbance of significant fabric.
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Article 29
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Responsibility for decisions
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The organisations and individuals responsible for
management decisions should be named and specific responsibility taken for
each such decision.
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Article 30
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Direction, supervision and implementation
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Competent direction and supervision should be
maintained at all stages, and any changes should be implemented by people
with appropriate knowledge and skills.
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Article 31
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Documenting evidence and decisions
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A log of new evidence and additional decisions should
be kept.
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Article 32
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Records
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32.1
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The records associated with the conservation of a place
should be placed in a permanent archive and made publicly available,
subject to requirements of security and privacy, and where this is
culturally appropriate.
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32.2
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Records about the history of a place
should be protected and made publicly available, subject to requirements
of security and privacy, and where this is culturally appropriate.
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Article 33
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Removed fabric
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Significant fabric
which has been removed from a place
including contents, fixtures and objects, should be catalogued, and
protected in accordance with its cultural
significance.
Where possible and culturally appropriate, removed
significant fabric including contents, fixtures and objects, should be
kept at the place.
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Article 34
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Resources
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Adequate resources should be provided for conservation.
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The best conservation often involves the least work
and can be inexpensive.
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© Australia ICOMOS 1999
Format and HTML/CSS markup by Peter Marquis-Kyle 1999-2002
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