ROCK legend Bon Scott's grave has been classed as a treasured site in Australia.

The Scots-born AC/DC frontman's resting place was given protected status on the 26th anniversary of his death.

It's an honour shared by landmarks like the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock.

Scott started his career in his father's pipe band in Kirriemuir, Angus.

He died, aged just 33, after an all-night drinking binge.

Thousands visit his grave in Western Australia every year.

(Scottish) Daily Record - 20th February 2006

The grave site of AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott, located in Western Australia, was classified with a "heritage listing" on Wednesday, February 15th, according to Blabbermouth.net. Although heritage listings are usually reserved for buildings, the country's National Trust office for Western Australia bestowed the honor upon Bon's final resting place because "AC/DC were very significant in bringing that kind of music to the world," according to heritage officer Kim Haynes.

Thousands of fans visit his grave in Fremantle Cemetery every year, and a 2004 movie called Thunderstruck followed a group of devotees making a pilgrimage to the site.

Born in Scotland, Scott arrived in Australia when he was six years old. He died on February 19th, 1980 at the age of 33 just before AC/DC became international stars. He was replaced by Brian Johnson.

The Western Australia branch of the Bon Scott fan club is trying to have a statue of the singer erected in a park opposite the Fremantle train station. The town's mayor supports the idea and hopes to see it up by the end of the year.

Source www.therockradio.com

Bon Scott's grave given heritage status

The gravesite of Bon Scott, the legendary lead singer of veteran rockers AC/DC, has become one of Australia's most treasured cultural icons.

More than 26 years after Scott's death, the National Trust of Australia has decreed his grave in Fremantle cemetery important enough to be included on the list of classified heritage places.

The listing, traditionally reserved for heritage buildings and homes, confirms the cultural importance of the site, which is one of the most visited sites in Fremantle, attracting thousands of fans every year.

Kim Haynes, the National Trust's WA heritage officer, said Scott's place in the annals of Australian and international music meant his final resting place deserved recognition.

"Normally people associate heritage with buildings, and this was a way of recognising the social values of a place. Heritage is about what we value," Mr Haynes said.

"This is very much a modern day pilgrimage for many, many people, and (the grave) is the end of pilgrimage for many people around the world."

Mr Haynes said Scott's memorial was similar in stature to another famous lead singer whose grave had become iconic and much visited.

"We were able to make a very clear association with the phenomena of Jim Morrison's grave," Mr Haynes said.

"For that particular form and style of music, AC/DC were very significant in bringing that kind of music to the world."

The heritage listing comes as WA fans continue their campaign to have a statue to honour Scott, an effort backed by Fremantle's mayor Peter Tagliaferri.

Scott was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, but emigrated to Australia at the age of 6.

Growing up in Perth, Scott first learned drums and bagpipes in a local Scots pipe band, dropping out of school at 15 and spending short spells in Fremantle prison and the Australian army.

He joined AC/DC in September 1974 and, aided by regular appearances on ABC TV's Countdown, the band became one of the most popular and successful acts in Australia, and then across the world.

Scott was found dead in a friend's car in the early hours of February 19th, 1980, after a night of heavy drinking in London's Camden Town. He was 33.

February 15, 2006

Heritage listed ...

THE gravesite of Bon Scott, the legendary lead singer of veteran rockers AC/DC, has become one of Australia's most treasured cultural icons.

More than 26 years after Scott's death, the National Trust of Australia has decreed his grave in Fremantle cemetery important enough to be included on the the list of classified heritage places.

The listing, traditionally reserved for heritage buildings and homes, confirms the cultural importance of the site, which is one of the most visited sites in Fremantle, attracting thousands of fans every year.

Kim Haynes, the National Trust's WA heritage officer, said Scott's place in the annals of Australian and international music meant his final resting place deserved recognition.

"Normally people associate heritage with buildings, and this was a way of recognising the social values of a place. Heritage is about what we value," Mr Haynes said.

"This is very much a modern day pilgrimage for many, many people, and (the grave) is the end of pilgrimage for many people around the world."

Mr Haynes said Scott's memorial was similar in stature to another famous lead singer whose grave had become iconic and much visited.

"We were able to make a very clear association with the phenomena of Jim Morrison's grave," Mr Haynes said.

"For that particular form and style of music, AC/DC were very significant in bringing that kind of music to the world."

The heritage listing comes as WA fans continue their campaign to have a statue to honour Scott, an effort backed by Fremantle's mayor Peter Tagliaferri.

Scott was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, but emigrated to Australia at the age of 6.

Growing up in Perth, Scott first learned drums and bagpipes in a local Scots pipe band, dropping out of school at 15 and spending short spells in Fremantle prison and the Australian army.

He joined AC/DC in September 1974 and, aided by regular appearances on ABC TV's Countdown, the band became one of the most popular and successful acts in Australia, and then across the world.

Scott was found dead in a friend's car in the early hours of February 19th, 1980, after a night of heavy drinking in London's Camden Town. He was 33.

Source - http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18158999-29277,00.html

By Christie Eliezer

SYDNEY (Billboard) - In an unusual ruling, the grave site of AC/DC singer Bon Scott in Fremantle Cemetery in Western Australia was classified with a heritage listing Wednesday (February 15).

Scott's legend has grown since February 19, 1980, when he died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 33.

Heritage listings usually are reserved for buildings, but the grave was recognized because it is visited by thousands of fans each year, a reflection of AC/DC's global popularity. A 2004 Australian movie, "Thunderstruck," centered on a group of AC/DC fans journeying across the country to visit Scott's resting place.

"For that particular form and style of music, AC/DC were very significant in bringing that kind of music to the world," says Kim Haynes, the National Trust's Western Australia heritage officer.

In addition, the Western Australia Bon Scott fan club's efforts to erect a Scott statue in Pioneer Park opposite the Fremantle railway station have received the blessing of Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferri.

Fremantle Council is discussing the idea, and Tagliaferri is hopeful the statue will be up by the end of the year. But Doug Thorncroft, president of the fan club, is pushing for a July unveiling, to coincide with what would have been Scott's 60th birthday. The club is starting a campaign to raise the $60,000 price tag for the statue.

Saturday, bands around Australia are holding tribute nights for Scott to mark the anniversary of his death. At Melbourne's Hi Fi Bar, AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck will be joined onstage by former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans before a crowd expected to include Scott's widow, Irene.

Reuters/Billboard