Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003

This section gives more information about identifying significant Torres Strait Islander areas.

For an area to be a significant Torres Strait Islander area, it is not necessary for the area to contain markings or other physical evidence indicating Torres Strait Islander occupation or otherwise denoting the area’s significance.

For example, the area might be a ceremonial place, a burial place or the site of a massacre.

Also, if significant Torres Strait Islander objects exist in an area and the significance of the objects is intrinsically linked with their location in the area—

the existence of the objects in the area is enough on its own to make the area a significant Torres Strait Islander area; and

if it is reasonably appropriate under this Act, the immediate area and the objects in it may be taken to be, collectively, a significant Torres Strait Islander area.

For identifying a significant Torres Strait Islander area, regard may be had to authoritative anthropological, biogeographical, historical and archaeological information.