Community heritage workshops were held throughout the East Gippsland region in 1993 to identify places valued by the community, and through field visits to selected places, document their significance. The project trialed a new methodology – later called ‘community heritage workshops’. It was designed to explore community perceptions of heritage and identify valued places. Social and aesthetic values were of particular interest as both criteria required community-based evidence. All of the places identified were documented in a database, and the workshop reports and lists of places were circulated to workshop participants, the wider community and AHC/DCNR.

In 1996, a full heritage assessment was requested for around 27 places, primarily for their social value. This involved desktop research and site visits. The documentation was provided in the format required for inclusion on the Register of the National Estate.

The project was the first of a series of community-based projects undertaken in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania by Context as part of the Commonwealth-State Joint Regional Forest Agreement processes.