There are already many publicly owned places and objects throughout the North East listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

They include the Bright court house, the Stringybark Creek site where Ned Kelly shot three policemen, the former Benalla Shire offices, the Mansfield police memorial, Kirwans Bridge and the Rubicon hydro electric scheme.

Funding assistance is available for proposed restoration works and must be for a place or object owned or managed by local government, community ‘not for profit’ incorporated organisations and committees of management.

Member for Benalla Bill Sykes said heritage register grants would provide financial assistance to custodians of heritage places and objects.

The government has provided funding for 2013 to 2015 of up to $2.7 million for the program which will be delivered by Victoria’s Heritage Restoration Fund.

The fund has representation from the National Trust, City of Melbourne, Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure and councils.

It is an independent organisation that will deliver more effective and efficient heritage grant programs.

“The fund will use its heritage expertise to assess all grant applications and deliver the best results for heritage in the state,” Dr Sykes said.

The Victorian Heritage Register grants program provides support for the conservation of state significant heritage managed by community-based organisations.

The program provides funding for repair works to the state’s most significant publicly accessible heritage places and objects.

Dr Sykes said the grants will help increase awareness, knowledge and understanding of the state’s history and heritage.

Fund chair Dr Graeme Blackman said: “We know heritage and how best to deliver funds to communities to ensure its conservation and ongoing use.”

Grants from $20,000 to $200,000 are available for repairs to heritage places and grants from $5000 to $20,000 are available for conservation of heritage objects.

Applications for the first round close on February 28 and successful applicants will be announced in May.

Further information can be found at vhrf.com.au.