Tasmanian Heritage Icons

2008's Top Heritage Icons

2008 in Tasmania saw Ten Tasmanian Heritage Icon Awards announced and a Children’s Choice Award. The winning Icons were:-

Children’s Choice Award

Tasmanian Devil

Top Ten Tasmanian Heritage Icon Awards

Salamanca Place and Market
Ross Bridge
Wineglass Bay
Burnie Athletic Club and Carnival
Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Taste of Tasmania
Golden Nectar Leatherwood Honey
Cataract Gorge
Huon Pine
Tasdance

Background - Tasmanian Heritage Icons

Heritage Icons is an Australia wide National Trust initiative in which the community is invited to identify and recognise icons that have made a significant contribution to a state or territories cultural identity.

In developing this initiative the National Trust has in each state or territory joined with the corporate sector to promote the Heritage Icon project.

The Tasmanian community in 2009 again will be able to nominate a favourite Tasmanian icon for inclusion in the initial list of Tasmanian Heritage Icons. This program is planned to be a five year program which will result in a comprehensive list of those places and items of significance to the history of Tasmania.

What is an Icon?

To be eligible for listing, an icon must represent a significant aspect of Tasmanian history or have contributed in a significant way to Tasmania’s cultural identity. It can be a place, object, event, way of doing things, or even something that you eat or drink, but is distinctly Tasmanian and has won a lasting place in our memories.

The list of icons does not include people.

How to nominate an Icon

Nomination may done during the voting period on our website via on-line voting or by downloading a form to be mailed in or faxed to our State Office later. Printed nomination forms were distributed through National Trust properties and project partner offices.

Each nomination will be required to provide:-

• The name of the proposed icon,
• A description of the icon,
• An explanation in 25 words or less of why the nominator considers the icon to be of Heritage Icon status.

What makes an icon significant?

Nominations will be assessed on their significance to the peoplee of Tasmania, rather than just the number of individual nominations received for a specific place, object or event. The criteria to be used to assess significance are attached.

Icon Selection

From the community nominations received, up to 10 Heritage Icons will be selected by a judging panel including:-

Judging Criteria

To be eligible for listing, an icon must represent a significant aspect of Tasmanian history or have contributed significantly to Tasmania’s cultural identity.

Significance means the historic, aesthetic, scientific and research, social and spiritual values that an icon holds for past, present and future generations.

Significance incorporates all of the elements that contribute to an icon’s meaning, including its context, uses and social and spiritual values to people and communities and is evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Historical Significance

An icon may be historically significant because of the association it has with people, events, places and themes.

To determine if the icon is historically significant we look and see if the icon has:

2. Social Significance

To show that an icon has social or spiritual significance we look at the associations that the icon has with a community. These strong and special associations may mean that the icon is held in high esteem. We also look at how it contributes to the community’s identity and cohesion.

We also take into account that some icons have intrinsic spiritual qualities for particular groups of people and belief systems, but are also important to the wider Tasmanian community.

For the purposes of the Heritage Icons list, the community or group must be regional or Statewide, not simply local.

3. Aesthetic/Technical/Design Significance

An icon may be significant for its craftsmanship, style, technical excellence, beauty, skill and quality of design and execution.

It might include innovative or traditional objects from indigenous or folk cultures or high art.

An icon may be unique or mass produced. It may demonstrate a high degree of creative, aesthetic or technical accomplishment, or it is a very good representative of particular construction techniques or design characteristics.

4. Scientific or Inventive Significance

This category includes biological, geological and archaeological material, as well as documentary collections.

A thing that is ingenious or inventive is something that uses new technology, adds quality of life or brings pleasure to individuals or the community. There needs to be a high level of Tasmanian involvement in the development or practical application of the item to qualify under this category.

5. Children's Choice

As in 2008 there will also be a Children's Choice Icon, which will be determined by the most number of nominations received by young (17 and under) Tasmanians for an icon.

To promote the nominations, the National Trust will host an exhibition of a selection of student nominations and supporting artwork.

Supporting artwork should be clearly identified and mailed to us or else accompany a posted (or hand delivered) nomination form.