In addition to their social, cultural and historical value for communities, heritage buildings can also deliver economic benefits - just some of the findings to come out of WA's first heritage conference held in Perth earlier this month.
Attracting tourism, providing energy savings and increasing property prices were some financial gains of maintaining WA's heritage buildings mentioned at the two-day WA Heritage & History Conference involving a series of workshops and presentations on key issues in the sector for heritage experts and heritage property owners.
City of Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt, a speaker at the conference, said restoring heritage buildings was more energy efficient than demolishing them, citing examples such as the Quest Apartments (a former warehouse) and E Shed Markets.