Greater Shepparton Heritage Interpretive Signage Funding Program

Background

Interpretative signage is an effective and visible means of celebrating Greater Shepparton’s historical and cultural built and natural environment. Signage has the ability to create a communication connection between the person reading the sign and the place they are located in. This increases both the community and visitor’s sense of awareness and knowledge of the culture and history of the place. Signage can play an important role in preserving these places and involving future generations in this endeavour.

The Greater Shepparton Heritage Signage Sub-Committee (the Sub-Committee), in association with Greater Shepparton City Council (Council), is pleased to announce the launch of the Greater Shepparton Heritage Interpretive Signage Funding Program (the Program).

Council provided a budget of $5,000 for the 2022/2023 financial year for the Program to fund the construction and installation of interpretive signage for places of local heritage significance. To be eligible for funding, the proposed signage must relate to a place or object within Greater Shepparton and be within the Heritage Overlay of the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme, or listed as a place of significance in the Victorian Heritage Register.

My community organisation received a letter regarding this. What should I do?

Participation is voluntary. Should you or your organisation wish to participate in the program, please respond, with a copy of the completed application form (attached below):

• via email to council@shepparton.vic.gov.au;
• by mail at
  • Greater Shepparton City Council
    Locked Bag 1000
    Shepparton VIC 3632
• or phone Council’s Building, Planning and Compliance Department on (03) 5832 9730.

What funding is available?

Funding for the installation of Interpretive Heritage Signage of up to $5,000 is available but is generally only for 50% of the cost of works recommended for funding on a $1 to $1 basis.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a sign, the following criteria must apply:

1. Places must be of local significance to Greater Shepparton (‘individually significant’ and/or a ‘contributory significant’ place), as guided by the Greater Shepparton Heritage Study Stage II 2020, or listed as a place of significance in the Victorian Heritage Register;
2. If an interpretive sign is to be installed on what is deemed to be traditional land, then consent from the custodians of the land must be sought;
3. Distribution must represent areas across the municipality and reflect the cultural diversity within the Greater Shepparton community; and
4. Installation of a sign must have the agreement of the property owner/community group.

Interpretive signage proposals that will not be considered for funding include the following:

1. places not included within the Heritage Overlay; and
2. the establishment of Heritage Plaques.

Note: The establishment of Heritage Plaques is covered under the Greater Shepparton Heritage Plaques Pilot Program and is not eligible to receive funding through the Interpretive Signage Funding Program. In general, plaques contain a limited amount of information and interpretation due to their small size, which limits text and restricts the use of graphics. Read further information on the Greater Shepparton Heritage Plaques Pilot Program.

Further information on the eligibility criteria and the design considerations that should be adhered to are outlined in the Greater Shepparton Heritage Interpretive Signage Funding Guidelines. A link to the Guidelines can be found below.

Next Steps

The content and installation of the interpretive signage will be subject to review by Council’s Heritage Advisory Committee and Heritage Adviser.

For more information, please call Council's Building, Planning and Compliance Department on (03) 5832 9730.