Heritage Programs
Canterbury City Council is proud of the heritage of Canterbury and is implementing heritage programs to inform the public and raise awareness about significant historical events and sites in the early development of Canterbury. The program reflects change focusing on buildings, sites, events and early life in Canterbury City such as Aborigines, early European settlement, land subdivisions, suburban development major buildings and cemeteries.
Heritage Panel Program
Canterbury City Council resolved to erect three heritage panels in May 1993 during Canterbury 200 - the bicentenary celebrations of the first land grant in Canterbury City. The first three heritage panels were placed at sites commemorating the 100 acre site granted to Rev Richard Johnson on 28 May 1793, called Canterbury Farm, and the subsequent development on his land grants.
The suggestion for the initial three panels came from Brian Madden and Lesley Muir of the Canterbury & District Historical Society. The panels were so successful the Society proposed erecting a series of panels throughout Canterbury City. Council supported their proposal and adopted the Historical Society's suggested program of twenty further panels over a five year period from 1995-1999. Together with the first three panels erected in 1993, the program resulted in twenty three panels being erected. The program was completed in May 1999, re-commenced in 2000 with the unveiling of two further panels and continues today.
Many of the panels are at sites only - the buildings have long since been demolished.
Photo: Canterbury House 1850-1929 - Leopold St between Leith & Alison Sts., Croydon Park.
Nameplates to Commemorate World War 1 Street Names Program
In 1999 Council resolved to erect nameplates to acknowledge streets named after World War 1 battlefields and military personnel and to explain the origins of the names and their local significance.
A four year program was adopted, and from 11th November 2000 25 street nameplates were erected. They are mainly grouped in Belfield, Canterbury and Earlwood, with others in Campsie, Punchbowl and Riverwood. The program was completed in 2003.
