Aboriginal heritage information management system
Search the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) which holds over 100,000 records and information about Aboriginal Places, objects and other significant sites.
Search the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) which holds over 100,000 records and information about Aboriginal Places, objects and other significant sites.
The AHIMS contains information for over 100,000 recorded Aboriginal sites and over 14,000 archaeological and cultural heritage assessment reports.
Click on this button to access the AHIMS. The link to this database will open in a new tab.
Refer to the frequently asked questions below for how to search and request information from AHIMS about:
All of these are collectively referred to as Aboriginal ‘sites’ in the database.
AHIMS offers services including:
Before carrying out any on-ground work or activity thought must be given to how it might affect Aboriginal sites. For some activities, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 requires the exercise of due diligence to see if Aboriginal sites might be harmed by activities. Checking the AHIMS is part of this due diligence.
Refer to the Due Diligence code of practice for the protection of Aboriginal objects in NSW (PDF 1MB) if you are doing a search as a part of the due diligence process.
The code of practice sets out the reasonable and practicable steps which individuals and organisations need to take in order to:
Register as a first-time user or login.
To perform a basic search you can use:
Refer to the AHIMS Web Services Quick reference guide (PDF 810KB), for more tips on how to enter basic search criteria.
A basic search will assess if any relevant items have been recorded in the search area. These could be:
Next step:
If the results of your basic search show there are no Aboriginal sites in the area of proposed activity, consider whether Aboriginal objects are likely to be in the area by looking at the landscape features and by doing additional research and assessments.
If the results show there is an Aboriginal site in the area of proposed activity, you will need to do an extensive search to look for more information about the Aboriginal site/s.
To perform an extensive search you can use:
If you have already performed a basic search in AHIMS you will not need to re-enter the search coordinates as the system will re-use them.
You can also use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) boundaries of the area of proposed activity for an extensive search.
Next step:
Extensive search results are provided as a report in PDF format. The report will contain more information about the Aboriginal site/s, such as site features, site location and the name of the site. Extensive search reports are made available within 10 working days.
An Aboriginal Heritage Information Licence Agreement (AHILA) is used to ask for information about large areas or information that is deemed sensitive. For example:
An AHILA is a signed agreement between Heritage NSW (the Department) and the applicant. The agreement covers the terms for releasing the information and the applicant’s obligations when using it.
Most AHILAs are completed within 4 to 8 weeks. This gives Aboriginal organisations enough time to provide endorsement or comments on the release of information.
A site card is the original document that was completed when an Aboriginal site was recorded in the field. Copies of these documents are stored in PDF format and they can be requested when additional information about a site might be necessary. Site cards might include photographs, maps, detailed descriptions of site contents and management recommendations. The level of detail in each site card varies historically and according to the effort put by the original recorder.
The site cards go back to the 1970s when the original register was established by the Australian Museum. Since then, the format and presentation of site cards have changed at times including the type of information recorded.
Archaeological reports are also known as Aboriginal cultural heritage reports. They are usually submitted as part of the due diligence process or cultural heritage studies done by archaeologists or heritage professionals.
The reports can include background information, methodology, detailed analysis, conclusions and recommendations regarding the Aboriginal cultural heritage in a particular area. Copies of these documents are stored in PDF format and can be requested when additional information about a site might be necessary.
The table outlines available services and fees. Aboriginal individuals, Aboriginal community organisations and some government agencies are eligible for fee waivers. Refer to the list underneath this table for eligibility.
AHIMS service | What the user receives | Fee (GST exempt) |
Report or site card | PDF document/s via email, usually after an AHIMS database search. | $0.40 per page (minimum charge $20 if not associated with a search service) |
Archive visit |
Access to AHIMS archive |
Free |
Archive visit – photocopy or PDF |
Photocopy or PDF document/s |
$0.40 per page (minimum charge $20 if not associated with a search service) |
Search – basic |
Cover letter |
Free |
Search – extensive |
PDF or Excel report, and cover letter |
$60 |
Search – GIS |
PDF report |
$60 |
Express search surcharge |
Service provided in 2 working days |
$50 |
Data request – Aboriginal heritage information licence agreement (AHILA) |
Use of, or access to, data for up to 2 years |
$210 |
Data request – resupply of data from AHILA |
Resupply of data based on current AHILA (includes the new search) |
$60 |
Other – processing surcharge |
Specialist services that cannot be processed under normal service conditions. |
$90 per hour |
Users who are eligible for fee waivers of AHIMS services include:
If a new Aboriginal site is found in NSW it should be recorded in the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS).
There are three ways to record Aboriginal sites:
Download the free AHIMS site recording mobile app. The app was developed to make site recording easy, consistent, and more accurate.
When using the mobile app to record site information a site card will automatically be generated with the site details entered. You will be identified as a ‘recorder’ in AHIMS.
Access Quarantine Station to:
If you can’t access the mobile app or quarantine station to record a site, use the Aboriginal site recording form.
Refer to Guide to completing the AHIMS site recording form for how to record items such as site location, recorder information, context, contents and restrictions.
In cases where a recorded Aboriginal site has been impacted by the occurrence of natural events such as wildfires or floods complete the Natural and unauthorised impact assessment Aboriginal cultural heritage form (DOCX 80KB). This form can also be used to record accidental or unauthorised impacts to sites already recorded.
This form is only for sites already recorded in Aboriginal heritage information management system.
Condition reporting includes: