Our work with the Commonwealth and Defence

GML is one of a select group of heritage consultancies appointed to the Australian Government’s Defence Heritage Panel and a trusted provider of heritage advice for World, National and Commonwealth Heritage–listed places across Australia.

With more than 25 years’ experience supporting Defence and other Commonwealth agencies, we deliver clear, practical heritage advice that meets statutory obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act).

We are a consultant member of the Defence Infrastructure Panel – Environment, Heritage and Estate Engineering (DIP-EHEE) and can be engaged by any Commonwealth agency through the Defence Infrastructure Panel (DIP).

National capability, multidisciplinary expertise

Operating from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, GML brings together senior specialists with deep experience in the Commonwealth and National heritage sector. Our multidisciplinary expertise spans all heritage environments including historic heritage (buildings, landscapes and archaeology), First Nations cultural heritage (cultural and archaeological) and natural heritage. Our team of technical heritage specialists are architects, archaeologists, cultural landscape and interpretation experts, enabling integrated advice for complex and sensitive places.

Trusted advice for Defence and government

GML has completed hundreds of heritage assignments across the Defence estate and every Australian state and territory. Our work supports operational requirements while protecting nationally significant heritage, including:

guidelines for Indigenous heritage consultation;
major infrastructure, base redevelopment projects, requiring heritage impact assessments;
high-level policy, divestment and disposal, planning and strategic projects;
heritage interpretation and thematic histories;
base-wide heritage management plans;
conservation advice and maintenance guidelines.

Commonwealth and National heritage services

Across the broader Commonwealth and National heritage portfolio, GML delivers comprehensive heritage services for complex sites, cultural landscapes and large-scale infrastructure projects, including:

First Nations cultural heritage consultation and engagement
heritage impact assessments
conservation and heritage management plans
conservation advice for historic buildings and heritage places
cultural heritage management plans
archaeological assessments, zoning plans, salvage excavations and monitoring
environmental and heritage thematic histories and interpretation.

Our approach

We are pragmatic and collaborative, working closely with agencies, project teams and stakeholders to achieve practical outcomes. Meaningful engagement with First Nations communities is central to our approach and embedded in our project delivery. Through careful analysis, clear advice and a strong understanding of Commonwealth processes, we support Defence and other government clients in managing heritage responsibly while planning for the future.