Western Australia

Location: East Perth Power Station

Threat: Degradation and Inappropriate Re-development

Significance of Place

The East Perth Power Station consists of two buildings containing three power stations each of which retain their equipment and fittings. The buildings themselves are large, economical and stylistically of their time, the second building still embellished with its ‘art deco’ stylistic features. The three power stations, ‘A’ ‘B’ and then ‘C’ stations, were established over a 40 year period from World War One to the mid 1950s so they represent an extraordinarily complete sequence of technological development and provide the opportunity to tell the story of the provision of power to Perth through most of the 20 century.

This remarkable heritage will be severely compromised unless arrangements are made for adaptive re-use of the complex that requires the retention and conservation of the machinery and associated fittings within the building.

The power station complex represents the pioneering phase of the Western Australian electricity system, and dates from the era when the industry world-wide was in a formative stage. It has historic value for its role in the development of

WA and the metropolitan area in particular, for its influence on the standard of living enjoyed by the community throughout the greater part of this century as the only public power station supplying the metropolitan area from1916-1951, its role as part of the interconnected south-west electricity system.

Description of Threat

Vacant since 1981, current proposals would ‘gut’ the main power station building, removing plant and equipment, thereby reducing the heritage significance of the plant, and destroying the opportunity to interpret the whole site.

Despite the expenditure of over $ 500,000, there has been an alarming lack of public consultation by the East Perth Redevelopment Authority and the site remains unoccupied, its fabric and contents deteriorating, and its future uncertain.

The delay by the government in developing solutions for this significant place is inexcusable and has led to its continued decay through exposure to the elements and to vandalism.

Action Required

To ensure a transparent process, the National Trust calls on the Minister for Heritage to use the provisions of the Heritage Act and seek public comment on a draft Heritage Agreement and to ensure full consultation with both the Trust and the Nyungar community.

A heritage agreement must include the recommendations of the Disposal Report, which include conservation of the turbines, reconstruction of the Boiler House, a building envelope, development of a foreshore management plan and an interpretation plan, and conservation of the Coal Conveyor and Tippler.