Heritage designation and scale: a World Heritage case study of the Ningaloo Coast

Heritage designation and scale are not just hierarchical abstractions but dynamic relationships shaped by spatial politics. This study redefines 'scale' in heritage research to include size (geographical), level (vertical), and relation, revealing how these elements interact in specific contexts. Using the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Site as a case study, it demonstrates that heritage processes are constituted through complex interrelationships, with researchers' choices about scale being inherently political. The analysis highlights how spatial politics come into focus when examining configurations of size, level, and relation within heritage designation processes.

Jones, T., Jones, R., & Hughes, M. (2015). Heritage designation and scale: a World Heritage case study of the Ningaloo Coast. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 22(3), 242–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2015.1120226