23/10/05
The State Government is offering the Old Swanbourne Hospital for sale by public tender.
Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said the 2.48ha site, which includes some of Perth’s finest landmark heritage buildings, would be placed on the market immediately.
Mr Logan said that in addition to the existing buildings, more than 5,000 square metres of vacant land on the site was suitable for exclusive residential development.
The property, including the vacant land, is located in the prestigious suburb of Mt Claremont.
Set in parkland that offers sweeping and uninterrupted views to the city, it was built in 1904 as the Claremont Hospital for the insane and was Western Australia’s biggest hospital for the mentally ill for most of the 20th Century. It has been empty since 1987.
The Minister said all the on-site buildings were of heritage significance, meaning any redevelopment would need to comply with guidelines prepared in consultation with the Heritage Council of WA.
The significant buildings include Montgomery Hall (once the second biggest theatre venue in Perth), the male attendant’s block, female attendant’s block, kitchen, store and the administration block with its sweeping driveway.
“Developers who agree to the conservation and environmental guidelines will have to follow the specific uses nominated for each of the buildings,” Mr Logan said.
“For example, Montgomery Hall is designated for community use only and cannot be used for residential redevelopment.
“With the site now rezoned, property developers have some certainty about its redevelopment potential in relation to residential constructions and commercial ventures.
“The Old Swanbourne Hospital site could easily be considered one of the hottest properties in town.”
Mr Logan said Swanbourne Hospital site was another State-owned building that had been allowed to stand empty and decaying for too long because of the inability of consecutive Governments to make the hard decision.
“The same thing happened to the Old Treasury Buildings in the city and the old Sunset Hospital site in Dalkeith - both millstones around the necks of taxpayers for far too many years,” he said.
“But the Gallop Government is a government of action. In all these cases, we have made the tough decision in the interests of all Western Australians.”
The public tender for the Swanbourne Hospital site will close on December 15, 2005, with acceptance scheduled for December 29.
Tender packages can be obtained through the Department of Housing and Works Tender Office on 9222 4996. All tenders and submissions should be addressed to the Department of Housing and Works, 99 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6000.
Minister's office: 9222 8950
