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PRIME MINISTER Press Statement No. 190
February 1974
JOINT STATEMENT BY THEL PRIME MINISTER, MR. WHITLAM,
THE PREMIER OF WESTERA AUSTRALIA, MR. TONKIN, AND
THE LORD MAYOR OF PERT+-, I! R. LEE-STEERE
New planning proposals for part of the central area of
Perth were announced today by the Prime Minist-er Mr. Whitlam,
the Premier of Western Australia, Mr. Tonkin and the Lord
Mayor of Perth, Mr. Lee-Steere.
The imaginative proposals envisage extensive changes
to the appearance and character of the city.
They involve:-
re-planning and widening of Forrest Place;
a new Administrative Centre in Forrest Place for
the Australian Post Office;
re-development and landscaping of the central railway
area; integration of the Cultural Centre north of the
railway line with the central railway area.
The proposals regarding Forrest Place are the result of
agreement between the Australian and State Governments and representatives
of the Perth City Council. The other two proposals do not
involve the Australian Government.
All four proposals have been incorporated in an overall
plan which has been submitted to Cabinet by the Perth Central Area
Design Co-ordinating Committee after receiving an interim report
from its consultant, Professor Gordon Stephenson.
The proposals were considered by State Cabinet at its
meeting on Tuesday. / 2
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The new concept for Forrest Place is/ in the following
joint st-tement. A new plaza will be created in Forrest Place, Perth.
In addition, the Australian Post Office proposes to construct
a new Administrative Centre adjacent to the existing Perth G. P. O.
The two developments will be made possible by an exchange of land
between the Australian Government and the Perth City Council.
The Prime minister promised the creation of the new
Forrest Place Plaza at an election meeting in Forres. Place shortly
before the 1972 Federal elections.
The West-. Australian Government has. active ' ly supported the
proposal in negotiations over the transfer of land. The Australian
Government will transfer to the City Council the land on which
Padbury Building now stands and the building will be demolished.
Forrest Place will be widened and public space will be
increased significant ' ly. This will transform Forrest Place into a
public pedestrian plaza enclosed at the northern end by the proposed
Post Office Administrative Centre.
The new building will protect the plaza from winds while not
preventing a desirable amount of air circulation and sun penetration.
The Administrative Centre will be designed to enable vistas
from within the plaza at ground and first floor level to the Perth
Cultural Centre.
The old Central Hotel structure,' will be demolished as well as
the Padbury Building and the new Administrative Centre will be erected
on part of these sites and part of the northern section of Forrest
Place. The Administrative Centre will enable a centralisation of
many now scattered elements of Perth's postal and telephone services.
It will be sited across the northern end of Forrest Place with two
extra floors at the western end. This will enable it to achieve
harmony with the existing G. P. O. building which will remain.
Subject to the approval of the Australian Parliament, the
Administrative Centre could be operational early in 1979. State and
Civic authorities propose an elevated pedestrian way linking Hay Street
and the Cultural Centre.
This will traverse the eastern side of the plaza, pass through
the new Administrative Centre and cross Wellington Street.
The re-development of the Forrest Place area follows a
feasibility study carried out by a local firm of architects and town
planning consultants. The study commission by the Australian
Department of Housing and Construction was carried out in conjunction
with State and City planning authorities. / 3
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We believe that the re-development will materially
enhance the environment of Forrest Place and will complement
conceptual plans of the State Government and the Perth City
Council for the development of the " heart of Perth".
The Administrative Centre will also provide services of
benefit to the community in Perth.
The Premier, Mr. Tonkin said that two models and plans
showing the proposals would go on public exhibition in the
R. and I. Bank, Barrack Street, Perth, on Thursday morning.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.