Introduction

Many heritage management regimes in Australia and elsewhere recognise the importance of aesthetic appreciation as a component of heritage significance and, by implication, its contribution to the establishment of place. Aesthetics continues to be defined and assessed differently for natural and cultural properties, with an emphasis on art and architecture in relation to cultural properties, and the more ambiguous “aesthetics” and natural beauty in relation to natural properties, including cultural landscapes. The lack of methodological consistency stems directly from assumptions about what is valued in aesthetics. Aesthetics criteria are particularly vulnerable to misinterpretation or misuse because the underlying assumptions remain unchallenged. An interpretation of aesthetics focused on the senses is therefore more inclusive of a diversity of social and cultural understandings. As an aspect of aesthetic appreciation, understanding senses is an important element of how particular places are significant. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.