Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is a State Government department responsible for planning Western Australia's communities and managing our land and heritage assets.

The Department supports the Heritage Council and Minister for Heritage to identify, celebrate and promote the conservation and sensitive development of cultural heritage places in WA. 

The Department carries out most of the Heritage Council’s day-to-day operations, projects and service delivery. Delegation of responsibilities from the Council to the Office occurs within the framework of a formal delegation policy.

The Department also manages the conservation and operations of the World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison. Fremantle Prison was decommissioned as a maximum security goal in 1991. Since opening to the public in 1992, Fremantle Prison has developed into a successful tourist attraction and welcomes more than 192,500 visitors through its gates each year.

The Department was formed on 1 July 2017 and is an amalgamation of the former departments of the State Heritage Office, Planning, Lands and lands and heritage functions of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

The Director General of the Department is Gail McGowan.