World Heritage Exhibition Centre
What is World Heritage?
"What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located". (UNESCO 1992-2007)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
The Blue Mountains nomination was prepared jointly by the Australian government and the State government of New South Wales following years of public concern for recognition of the area and dedication to its conservation. Many experts, stakeholder groups and local governments contributed to the project.
The World Heritage Committee was unanimous in endorsing the nomination and the Greater Blue Mountains was announced as Australia's 14th World Heritage Area on 29 November 2000. The Greater Blue Mountains Area was recognised for its outstanding natural values including the biodiversity of its plant and animal communities, its vegetation dominated by Australia's unique eucalypts and for the unmatched beauty of its natural landscapes.
The World Heritage listing of the one-million-hectare Greater Blue Mountains Area:
- grants international recognition of Australia's eucalypt forests and other sclerophyll (hard leaved) vegetation;
- includes the largest protected, most intact, sclerophyll forest wilderness remaining within a broad range of temperate climates; and
- provides an exceptional living example of evolution of the modern Australian flora, to its present distinctive character in the classic Australian circumstances of low fertility soils, a drying climate and geographic isolation which is one of the great stories of the evolution of the earth's plant cover.
The listed property is made up of seven outstanding National Parks: the Blue Mountains, Wollemi, Yengo, Nattai, Kanangra-Boyd, Gardens of Stone and Thirlmere Lakes as well as the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve.
Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Centre
The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah has opened a new 155 square metre Exhibition Centre to help visitors enjoy a heightened experience and understanding of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Visitors will be excited and inspired by this world-class attraction.
Visitors may engage in a virtual journey through the canyons and ridges of 1,000,000 hectares of wilderness. These inaccessible treasures may be experienced in the comfort of the Exhibition Centre, leaving these remote wilderness areas protected and intact. Through the display, visitors can marvel at plant and animal diversity, experience the 14,000 years of Aboriginal culture that so lightly touched the land and understand the long geological forces which have shaped this wonderland.
The experience is hands-on with activity based learning suitable for all ages and languages. Groups will be provided with opportunities to revel in this virtual wilderness and then walk through the 28 hectare Botanic Garden showcasing many of the rare plants of the World Heritage Area.
The Centre has a gentle educational message promoting minimum impact eco-tourism and encouraging visitors to care and appreciate wilderness areas.
