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If you’re the proud owner of a heritage-listed commercial property in Australia, then you’re probably eager to take out adequate insurance. Similarly, if your business is renting a heritage-listed commercial property, you’re likely to be interested in getting coverage for the contents of the building.

But how does insurance work for historic buildings that are rich in cultural heritage? And how do you find out if a building or place is State heritage-listed in the first place?

The Australian Federal Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment looks after these matters. You can search the DAWE’s Australian Heritage Database online to first confirm that your property is listed as a heritage building.

What risks should you be insuring your heritage-listed property against?

In addition to theft and property damage, there are numerous other risks that come with owning or renting a heritage-listed building, including business interruption, equipment breakdown, loss of licence, legal expenses, group travel incidents and professional indemnity. There’s also trustee and management liability, employer liability, hirer liability and public liability.

Therefore, the most important cultural heritage property and contents insurance packages for you to consider are:

• General Public & Product Liability Insurance: This protects you in the event of a personal injury or property damage claims from a third party.
• Volunteers Personal Accident Insurance: In the case of Ansvar, this cover complements our General Public & Product Liability Insurance, and compensates volunteers who suffer an injury while providing services on your organisation’s behalf.
• Heritage Buildings Insurance – Heritage Special Risks Insurance Policy: This policy is specially designed to protect your historic property (includes property damage, loss of revenue following an insured event, loss of money, burglary, extra cost of reinstatement and replacement of glass).

Speak to Ansvar to arrange a tailored heritage-listed property and contents insurance package today

Ansvar is an ethical insurer with more than 60 years of industry expertise as one of Australia’s leading insurance and risk solutions specialists in the care, community, education, faith and heritage sectors.

We provide specialist insurance and risk solutions that are specifically designed to protect heritage-listed properties and historic buildings. Our dedicated risk team will work closely alongside you to identify and action the risk improvements that are required to help prevent potential future losses from occurring.

We believe that preserving such treasured heritage and historic buildings is crucial for future generations to experience and appreciate the architectural artistry of our past. To speak with one of our specialists, don’t hesitate to get in touch.