Cultural Landscape and Goldfield Heritage: Towards a Land Management Framework for the Historic South-West Pacific Gold Mining Landscapes

A novel framework for interpreting and classifying historic gold mining landscapes as cultural landscapes is proposed, offering new insights into their heritage significance and sustainable tourism potential. The study argues that mid-nineteenth century goldfields, when analyzed within the context of organically evolved landscapes linked to surrounding farmland, reveal hidden disruptive aspects of mining that have been overlooked in World Heritage listings. By drawing on case studies from Victoria (Australia) and Otago (New Zealand), the research demonstrates how these landscapes can be thematically interpreted for their cultural value while addressing gaps in current heritage management approaches.

Reeves, K., & McConville, C. (2011). Cultural Landscape and Goldfield Heritage: Towards a Land Management Framework for the Historic South-West Pacific Gold Mining Landscapes. Landscape Research, 36(2), 191–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2010.547573