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ADC and the Warburton Group’s vision for the Perth Girls School site have been approved by DevelopmentWA.Girls School plan approved

‘The new Perth Girls School project design will celebrate the site’s rich and important Aborigi-nal and European cultural history’

DEVELOPMENT plans for the major mixed residential, cultural, and entertainment superhub at the old Perth Girls School site in East Perth have been approved by the state government’s DevelopmentWA authority. 

The $400m plan by developers ADC and the Warburton Group has been a long time in the making and first required about 360 unmarked graves to be exhumed from part of the block. 

That area was once part of the East Perth cemetery which closed in 1916 and was later developed into the school’s sports grounds, then was paved over to become a licensing centre. The remains have been reinterred at Karrakatta Cemetery. 

The approved application includes 742 residences across four towers including 100 affordable housing apartments. The wider site is proposed to host a microbrewery, restaurants, a supermarket, artsy offices, an art gallery, parks and performance spaces.

DevelopmentWA listed a few dozen conditions for approval, including that the final detailed designs fit in with the heritage elements of the area and that 

all works ensure “minimal” damage to the parts of the historic buildings that’ll be retained and refurbished.

The nitty gritty detailed design process now follows and the developers are looking to get it construction-ready by late 2023.

ADC Director Rod Hamersley said in his announcement of the approval: “The new Perth Girls School project design will celebrate the site’s rich and important Aboriginal and European cultural history and encourage more people, activity and diversity into East Perth.”

State Perth MP and lands minister John Carey put out a statement on the plans saying: 

“This is a fantastic redevelopment project that preserves some of the great aspects of the historic former Girls School, while delivering an injection of new social and affordable rentals, and providing a new cultural hub that will attract people from across Perth.”

The project’s qualified for a 50 per cent land tax concession because it includes ‘build-to-rent’ apartments, which will be rented out as affordable housing through a community housing provider for a bare minimum of 15 years.

Mr Carey said he hopes this project stands as a blueprint for more build-to-rent housing.

“The introduction of a build-to-rent housing model is a smart way of alleviating pressure on both private and social rental sectors whilst providing a viable solution to the housing affordability and supply equation.

“Perth is now starting to embrace build-to-rent living, and this project is the largest of its kind in WA to date, which will be a huge shot in the arm for this sector. 

“Mixing build‚Äìto-rent, social housing and affordable housing together in a well-designed, planned way is exactly what’s needed to create lively, sustainable and diverse communities.

by DAVID BELL