The Historic Engineering Plaquing Program is managed by Engineering Heritage Australia which is the National Committee on Engineering Heritage. The Commemorative Plaque Committee of EHA oversees the program which is usually implemented by the state committees such as the Sydney Committee for Engineering Heritage. 

Significant Engineering Works are those which have been judged to be valuable to a group of people, or  have  contributed something of value to the state, nation, region, or to the practice of engineering.

 The term "works" is most frequently used to refer to large engineering objects such as locomotives, bridges or computers. It can also mean a place or sites, equipment, artefacts, writings, drawings, photographs or other engineering items. Plaqued works to date in NSW can be seen on the table on the following page.

Objectives of the Plaquing Program

1.      Identify and designate engineering items of historic or heritage significance

2.      Mark these works with a plaque with the agreement of interested parties, particularly the owner

3.      Promote their conservation by drawing attention to them

4.      Increase public understanding and appreciation of the social and environmental aspects of engineering works and their impact on the development of Australia

5.      Raise the awareness of engineers of their professional history and heritage

6.      Assist in the documentation of Australian engineering history

Levels of Awards

The  Program recognises the significance of historic engineering works at two levels - 

• National Engineering Landmark

• Historic Engineering Marker

The Institution reserves its ultimate accolade, the National Engineering Landmark award for historic engineering works or objects of outstanding engineering importance.  The item must be of at least State significant, and must have contributed significantly to the development of Australia and represent a milestone or a benchmark by which progress is measured.  These works will be seen not only as part of Australia's engineering heritage, but also as significant components of the National Estate.

 The Historic Engineering Marker  is the appropriate award for historic items which are significant only within a particular State, region or community.

Nominations

Nominations may be made by any unit of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, such as a Division, College, National Committee, Branch, Panel, Regional Group or Conference Committee, or by any interested organisation or individual. However,  all nominations should be supported and submitted through   the engineering heritage unit or committee in whose area the work is located. Please contact us if you wish to nominate a work to be plaqued in the NSW area.

 A nomination comprises a nomination report and a completed nomination form signed by the Chair of the relevant engineering heritage group. The report should be a relevent research document which details the history of the engineered work, place, or industry and identifies it's significance to engineering and heritage. It should include drawings and photos to assist in assessing the significance of the work.

To prevent disappointment before too much investigative work is undertaken, it is suggested that a two page brief of the proposed nomination be made and presented to the relevant heritage group for an initial acceptance.

After approval by the local heritage group, the nomination shall be forwarded to the Commemorative Plaquing Committee of EHA for assessment to determine whether the proposed work is worthy to be plaqued under its guidelines.