Enablers and challenges of Smart Heritage implementation – the case of Chinatown Melbourne

Purpose Arising from the concept of a Smart City, Smart Heritage has emerged as a significant aspect of heritage conservation. It is viewed as a means to enhance cultural sustainability by strengthening the identity of heritage precincts. Nevertheless, the adoption of Smart Heritage solutions in Australian heritage precincts for the purpose of identity development is still relatively limited. This study focuses on Chinatown Melbourne as a case study to unveil how Smart Heritage can influence a heritage precinct’s identity and to identify the enablers and challenges of such implementation. Design/methodology/approach The study involves interviews with eight professionals in community development, practitioners in the built-environment discipline and experts in heritage conservation in Chinatown Melbourne. Findings The outcomes of this study offer practical insights for facilitating the development of Chinatown Melbourne as an urban heritage site, along with providing recommendations for other heritage precincts considering the adoption of Smart Heritage as part of their conservation strategy. Originality/value This study offers a novel examination of Smart Heritage implementation in an urban heritage precinct, addressing both the practical enablers and challenges. It advances the discussion by focusing on how Smart Heritage can enhance cultural identity, an aspect underexplored in Australian heritage studies and provides a framework for future global comparisons.