The Aboriginal Heritage Office turned 14 today, Thursday 27th March 2014.

On this day in 2000 four Councils (Lane Cove, North Sydney, Warringah and Willoughby) signed a Memorandum of Understanding engaging an Aboriginal Heritage Manager to carry out a range of tasks to assist the four Councils in protecting and promoting Aboriginal heritage within their areas.

The MoU was for an initial period of five years. At that time there was no one employed at local government level in Australia dealing specifically with Aboriginal heritage issues. In 2005 Manly Council joined the partnership, followed by Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council in December 2006, Pittwater in 2007, Armidale Dumaresq in August 2008 (on a two year project-based arrangement), and the City of Ryde Council joined in March 2010. 

Initially there was only the Manager, David Watts, but slowly the experiment grew and more consultants and staff were brought in. The actual name ‘Aboriginal Heritage Office’ began to be used officially around 2003.

The AHO has been a success only through the hard work, commitment and support of all the Councillors, General Managers and Council staff and the Aboriginal community and wider community. Thank you to everyone who has enabled the AHO to provide this role and we hope it can continue while ever there is a need.