Public Works

A brief history

Perth’s Old Treasury Buildings have a special place in Western Australia’s history. They include the site where a tree was felled to mark the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829, and the construction of the buildings over a 29-year period across the 19th and 20th centuries was a metaphor for the state’s growth and prosperity.

The Old Treasury Buildings’ working life has seen them occupied by Colonial Secretaries, State Treasurers, Auditors and Commissioners of Lands and Titles. They’ve been used as police courts and post offices. The walls of the Old Treasury Buildings encase a history of our state like no other set of buildings.

The challenge for the 21st century is to breathe new life into the old buildings.

The State Government is calling for proposals to develop the Old Treasury Buildings.

Preference will be given to the development of a high-class hotel and office complex.

The Department of Housing and Works is currently seeking expressions of interest from the private sector to assist with the commencement for the regeneration of this heritage precinct redevelopment, including the construction of a new building, on the Old Treasury Buildings site.

Plans could include mixed uses such as retail outlets that would encourage public access to this heritage site.

There has been interest from major local, national international hotel operators for the site, generated by the current high hotel occupancy rate and the continuing growth in the tourism and business market in Perth.

There is also currently a very high demand for office accommodation in the Perth CBD.

The Expressions of Interests close on 23 August and it is expected the selection process will be complete by the end of the year.

You can view the Expressions of Interest document here.

The State Government has also joined the City of Perth in a joint planning and feasibility study for the Perth CBD heritage precinct bounded by St Georges Terrace, Barrack Street, Hay Street and Pier Street.

The study will investigate the possibilities of acquiring and then demolishing the Law Chambers Building and the Public Trustees Building to create a new public square, and relocating the City of Perth library in the Land Titles Building.

Downloads

Addendum 1 (PDF 9 kB)
Addendum 2 (PDF 25 kB)
Expression of Interest (PDF 77 kB)
Heritage Agreement (PDF 368 kB)
Boundary identification (PDF 148 kB)