Sunset Hospital in Dalkeith is to receive a facelift following an in-principle agreement between the State Government and the University of Western Australia to restore the heritage site.
Sunset Hospital in Dalkeith is to receive a facelift following an in-principle agreement between the State Government and the University of Western Australia to restore the heritage site.
Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said the university would manage 91 per cent of the 8.2-hectare site, which would remain an A-Class Reserve.
The university would restore the heritage buildings and convert them into an arts precinct to be used to house some of UWA’s art collections. This would involve the restoration and maintenance of heritage buildings and also the provision of public open space for cultural and community use.
Acting vice-chancellor, Professor Margaret Seares, said the Government had accepted the university’s proposal for a longer-term approach to the restoration of the site as the best way to ensure longer-term benefits to the community.
“The scope of the Sunset site will allow us to consider a permanent home for UWA’s internationally recognised Berndt Museum of Anthropology and various other collections held by the university,” Professor Seares said.
“The site also provides unique opportunities to improve display, curatorial and research facilities for the university collections, for use in teaching, research and public programs.”
Some of the heritage buildings could also be used as studio workshops for visiting artists, writers and musicians. The university said it would also consider community uses suggested by the City of Nedlands.
Mr Logan said part of the university’s land would be used for a new residential aged care facility.
The university is expected to call tenders for the facility to be constructed on the eastern end of the site, which was established in 1911 and originally housed the Claremont Old Men’s Home.
The facility would be leased to an aged care provider and funds generated would be held in trust for the further development and maintenance of the heritage buildings and arts precinct.
Mr Logan said the remaining 7,000 square metres of the site facing Iris Avenue would be sold by the Government and developed for up to 57 residential apartments.
“The complex will be developed on three building footprints, between one to three storeys high,” he said.
“The inclusion of residential accommodation is important as it provides housing diversity in an area which has traditionally been low density.”
Mr Logan said the residential component would not only appeal to a broad market, but would also attract buyers who wanted to move into a more easily managed apartment lifestyle.
The Government’s decision on the Sunset Hospital site stems from a master plan undertaken by consultants Syme Marmion. Nine options were considered after calls for expressions of interest for future community uses were advertised in the print media.
Interest in the site was registered for a diverse range of uses including UWA, residential aged care, an independent living retirement village, the City of Nedlands, the National Trust, community uses and educational purposes.
Mr Logan said he would introduce legislation to settle unresolved planning, land tenure and heritage issues associated with the site early in 2006.
