The significance of significance in cultural heritage studies: a role for cultural analogues in applied geography teaching

William E. Boyd, Southern Cross University

Abstract

This teaching exercise for increasing awareness of, and sensitivity to, issues in cultural heritage management addresses the significance attached to cultural icons associated with the past. The exercise uses representative places from the non-indigenous Australian historical landscape as cultural analogues to introduce non-indigenous Australian students to issues of indigenous cultural heritage. Assessment of student response suggests that the exercise serves its purpose in increasing awareness of both issues of cultural significance and difficulties in cultural heritage management.