The primary goal of this project, initiated by the Australian Heritage Commission, was to understand some of the qualities of outstanding natural landscapes that have inspired Australians, and with that information improve the methodology for assessing their heritage value. Context drew on the ideas of noted national artists, writers and activists, as well as curating and hosting a successful online conference on the issue. From these sources, a methodology for identifying and describing inspirational landscape values was
shaped as a set of eight indicators. The cumulative knowledge from each phase went into the final methodology and project report. A later stage undertaken by Robin Crocker & Associates tested the methodology, identifying 100 inspirational landscapes that could have potential national heritage importance and noting how their inspirational value could be substantiated from different sources.

David Yencken, in his 2019 book ‘Valuing Australia’s National Heritage’ described this project as: one of the significant thematic studies initiated by the AHC, saying that it is notable for its ten commissioned perspective essays written by artists, writers, environmentalists and scientists … [designed] to ensure that the study included a diversity of cultural perceptions and responses to different landscapes and environments across Australia’ (p.118).