The community is invited to provide feedback on the Draft Residential Heritage Design Guidelines and the Draft Commercial Heritage Design Guidelines that outline how heritage buildings in Greater Bendigo can be cared for, adapted, or developed.
The Draft Residential Heritage Design Guidelines is an updated version of the 2020 Heritage Design Guidelines, revised and renamed to better reflect its focus on residential buildings.
These guidelines apply to homes within the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme that are subject to a Heritage Overlay, including miners' cottages, Victorian, Federation, interwar and a new provision to recognise post-war heritage houses.
The guidelines offer practical advice to help property owners preserve the unique character of their homes while accommodating modern needs such as renovations, extensions, and new development. The guidelines also provide design advice for new homes in a Heritage Overlay area.
The Draft Commercial Heritage Design Guidelines is a new resource that has been developed to address a current gap in commercial guidance for heritage shops, offices and other commercial buildings, covering verandas, shopfronts, signage and more.
Both documents have been developed to be clear and easy to follow with diagrams, photographs, and examples of supported changes to explain heritage responsibilities.
Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge said the guidelines encourage well-designed changes that respect heritage values while supporting contemporary needs.
"The draft guidelines have been developed to help with making decisions about caring for, adapting and developing heritage places," Mr Petherbridge said.
"They don't stop change, they guide it, so heritage places can be adapted, maintained and enjoyed whilst keeping the rich heritage character that makes Greater Bendigo unique."
The community is invited to attend a drop-in session and bookings are encouraged.
- 9am to 1pm, Tuesday November 11, 2025 at City of Greater Bendigo - Galkangu Room 04, Ground floor, 189-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo
- 1pm to 6pm, Thursday November 20, 2025 at City of Greater Bendigo - Galkangu Room 04, Ground floor, 189-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo
- 1pm to 4pm, Tuesday November 25, 2025, Heathcote Senior Citizens and Guides Hall, 121 High Street, Heathcote
Community feedback closes on Monday December 1.
