IT’S not the thing you expect to hear from one of Perth’s heritage experts but Richard Offen describes the thoroughly modern glass-clad exterior of the new city of Perth library, in the midst of historic Cathedral Square, as “the heritage of the future”.
While many might picture heritage buffs as pernickety fusspots complaining a building’s drain pipes aren’t painted the exact same colour they were during the Crimean War, Mr Offen has a more fluid definition.
“We’re not about preserving things in aspic,” the Heritage Perth chief says. “I look at [the library] as being the heritage of the future.”
He’s gearing up for another one of his popular (and free) series of walks and talks, this time through the newly revamped Cathedral Square, which has the modern library within a stone’s throw of historic buildings dating back as far as the 1857 “Pownall’s Parsonage” (the old deanery).
This more practical approach to heritage is one that’s been important for the square: without a compromise approach the historic Treasury building would have likely continued to fall into ruin.
The Treasury was empty for 20 years after the WA government moved its offices out, Mr Offen says. It’s now home to eateries, offices and a swank hotel that’s picked up several armfuls of awards, and that development has seen it restored to “superb” condition in far better nick than during the years it lay fallow.
His walk and talk series so far have been hugely popular—the last round featured a chat with theatre history expert Ivan King sold out so quickly they had to hold a second date—and it’s not just the grey army that’s been coming along. Mr Offen schedules them during the day so people can quickly nip out during their lunch hour.
“We’re just blown away by the number of people who want to come along. We’ve had lots of young people come along keen to know about their city.”
Along with the Treasury, the walk through Cathedral Square covers the 1906 St Andrew’s Presbyterian church, the gothic St George’s Cathedral, and Burt Memorial Hall, built as a legacy to two sons killed in action near the French village of Montauban in 1916.
The walks are on April 26, one running noon to 1pm and another running 1.30–2.30pm, and it’s free but they’re ridiculously popular so bookings are open April 11 at http://www.heritageperth.com
by DAVID BELL
Perth Voice Interactive 
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