Plan2Place Consulting in conjunction with Landmark Heritage and Design Urban were engaged to prepare a Characteristics and Comparative Significance Analysis of the towns and settlements of the Golden Plains Shire. The analysis classified the valued characteristics of settlements and determined their relationship and hierarchy. The character of each place considers the interaction between built form, topography, and vegetation across public and private realms.

Drawing from a range of existing Council documents, including structure plans and heritage studies, the study was supplemented by visits to all 56 towns and localities across the Shire. A character profile was prepared for each location and allocated into the hierarchy of townships.

The work will provide input into the Shire’s Settlement Strategy which aims to provide clear direction across the entire municipality outlining where residential growth will occur for at least the next 15 years. The Settlement Strategy will need to align the differing settings for residential areas from areas of growth, neighbourhood character, landscape character and heritage places into a coherent residential framework.