Heritage grants directory

A directory of funding opportunities for owners and managers of heritage places – both historic and Aboriginal heritage.
Last updated:

The heritage grants directory is a collection of heritage-related funding available to Western Australian projects. To add your program or notify us of other funding opportunities, please email the Department or call 6551 8002.

Local government

Many local governments offer assistance to owners of heritage properties, with a range of incentives provided. Check with your local government to see what is currently available. The type of assistance offered varies, but can include:

  • refund or waiving of planning and building fees
  • flexibility with statutory requirements such as application of the local planning scheme or residential design code
  • variation to development standards, for example minimum lot sizes, plot ratio, set-backs, car parking or landscaping requirements
  • transfer of development rights
  • development bonuses
  • heritage conservation grants
  • free advice from a heritage consultant
  • local heritage awards
  • rate concessions
  • heritage plaques.

State Government

The Government of Western Australia offers financial incentives to owners of State heritage-listed places. The majority of heritage funding is offered through the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s Heritage Grants Program and Lotterywest. However, other grant programs targeting infrastructure, small business, tourism or other activities may incorporate heritage aspects.

Check the State Government’s Grants Directory to see what grant programs and funding rounds are available to you. Most grants are open to community-based organisations with some – like the Heritage Grants program – specifically targeting private owners. If you are an arts and culture based organisation, visit the Regional Arts WA directory.

Funding offered by the State Government can assist with:
    •   heritage conservation works
    •   documentation of a heritage place, person, community or significant historical event
    •   heritage interpretation
    •   heritage trails
    •   conservation of natural heritage
    •   conservation of Aboriginal heritage
    •   maintenance, movement and presentation of significant collections
    •   promotion of heritage-related activities or collections
    •   creation of partnerships to deliver programs
    •   professional development of collection professionals
    •   community heritage celebrations or events
    •   heritage advisory services (local governments only).

Preserving our Aboriginal Sites grants program

This program offers financial support to Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations to undertake projects that protect and preserve registered Aboriginal sites.

Grants are offered following a competitive assessment process and applicants may submit as many applications as they wish.

Find out more about this program.  

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

If you're an arts and culture based organisation, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries offers grants and other incentives through Culture and the Arts (WA).

For more information:

Regional Arts WA

Regional Arts WA distributes funding in WA's Regional Arts Fund (see below) and maintains a directory of funding sources for arts and culture organisations.

Australian Government

The Australian Government offers funding primarily to State and local governments and community-based organisations. A wide variety of heritage-related grants are offered through a range of different agencies.

The GrantConnect website provides a searchable directory of grants on offer. Grant programs that might be of interest are:

Regional Arts Fund

Western Australian funding under the Ministry for the Arts Regional Arts fund is delivered by Country Arts WA.

There are four streams offered under the program:

  • Quick Response grants
  • Project Fund grants
  • Cultural Worker Positions grants
  • Partnership Funding grants.

Funding generally targets new arts and culture based activities. However, community-based storytelling, dance or workshops may be funded, as well as professional development or placement of regional-based artists and cultural professionals.

For more information

Australia Council for the Arts

The Australia Council for the Arts supports a diverse range of artists, organisations, artistic practice and arts activity.

There are a number of different grants on offer. Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak with an Australia Council Grants Officer before applying for funding.

For more information

Protecting National Historic Sites

This program offers funding to owners or managers of places on Australia’s National Heritage List to conserve, maintain and protect the historic heritage value of the place under their care.

For more information:

Historic Shipwrecks Program

Funding is offered to State and Territory government agencies to help protect shipwrecks and their relics and to promote better understanding of their stories.

For more information:

National Trusts Partnership Program

This program provides ongoing funds to the Australian Council of National Trusts to support activities that increase public awareness, understanding and appreciation of Australia's cultural heritage, and enhance and promote its conservation.

The funds are also to help the Trusts advocate and work for the preservation and enhancement of Australia's cultural heritage.

For more information:

National Landcare Program

This program has two funding streams – a regional stream that delivers funding to projects via Australia’s 56 NRM organisations and a national stream, where large scale projects are directly funded by the Commonwealth Government.

The programmes offer funding for environmental conservation, including conservation of World Heritage and Indigenous Protected Areas.

For more information

Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS)

This scheme offers funding to regional museums and organisations to help preserve or display objects of national and historical maritime significance.

It also supports staff or volunteers from remote or regional organisations to spend time learning specific skills and making valuable connections.

The grants round generally opens each year in February.

For more information:

Community Heritage Grants (for collections)

The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program provides grants of up to $15,000 to community organisations such as libraries, archives, museums, genealogical and historical societies, multicultural and Indigenous groups.

The grants are provided to assist with the preservation of locally-owned, but nationally-significant, collections of materials that are publicly accessible including artefacts, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and audio-visual material.

The grants round generally opens each year in March.

For more information:

Documentaries funding

Funding is offered for the production of documentaries through a number of different streams.

One of the program’s key aims is cultural value which is defined as screen stories that shape our cultural imagination, contribute to our national belonging, and create an enduring legacy for all Australians now and into the future.

The grants round generally opens each year in June.

For more information:

Other organisations offering funding

There are several private organisations that also offer grants for community activities that can be heritage related. Some organisations in this category are:

Copland Foundation Grants

The Copland Foundation supports individuals and institutions within Australia operating in fields that were important to Alex Copland, being the study, management, conservation, acquisition, and interpretation of collections.

Priority programs are those involving historic houses, their collections and gardens.

Applications generally close in November each year.

For more information:

Copland Foundation Attingham Scholarships

The Copland Foundation offers a number of valuable scholarships for Australians to attend the UK's Attingham Trust courses.

For more information:

Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

There are various funding streams available. 

For more information:

Bankwest

Grants of up to $1,000 are available for community groups.

For more information visit the Bankwest website.

Commonwealth Bank

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for youth focused organisations.

For more information visit the Commonwealth Bank website.

Related pages

Heritage Grants and Incentives 

Contact

Was this page useful?