Valuing Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in Central Queensland

Abstract

The protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites is not consistent across Australian states. In part this is because of the considerable variation in the perceived quality of different sites. For example, these range from camping areas, rock-working sites and marked trees through to important art gallery and burial sites. It is also because it is not clear what values are held within the Australian community for protecting sites. This paper will describe a Choice Modelling valuation study that assessed the values held by both the Indigenous community and the general community for the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in Central Queensland, Australia.