Australia Post has approved plans to commence redeveloping the National Trust-listed Perth GPO premises in Forrest Place which has housed the Western Australian postal headquarters since 1916.
Australia Post has approved plans to commence redeveloping the National Trust-listed Perth GPO premises in Forrest Place which has housed the Western Australian postal headquarters since 1916.
According to an announcement, released by Australia Post after being contacted about the redevelopment plans by WA Business News, the ground floor will be developed as a retail precinct while the remainder of the building will be developed as office space. Post is finalising negotiations with a principal tenant for the bulk of the office space.
The organisation will be vacating the building as soon as it can find suitable office space for more than 200 staff and is currently searching within the CBD and commercial fringe suburbs.
Australia Post state communications manager Ian Leggoe said it was trying to find alternative space in the fastest time possible in the current market but in the meantime, it was finalising negotiations with a principle tenant for the bulk of the office space.
The extensive redevelopment will take 12 months to complete, with work to commence in the second half of the year. The total site is 3,538 square metres. The building was built in stages between 1916 and 1923.
Three years ago the postal service received Heritage Council and Perth City Council approval for a $10 million redevelopment, which was subsequently increased to $12 million. That development involved the retail areas fronting the pedestrian areas of Forrest Place linking with the Murray Street Mall.
The renovations, which will include the restoration of the large atrium stretching up through the middle building, have been approved by the Perth City Council and endorsed by the Heritage Council of Western Australia.
The existing lifts near the front of the building will be replaced by a bank of three lifts which will provide rapid access to the upper floors.
Also, bridges will be built across the atrium on levels two to six to facilitate movement within each level.
The rear of the ground floor will not be redeveloped till plans for 140 William Street at the back of the building are finalised. It is planned to provide access through the ground floor of the GPO to 140 William Street and the new train station.
The redevelopment will not affect the impressive sandstone facia on Forrest Place.
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Redevelopment of Perth GPO to proceed
The Australia Post Board has approved plans to commence redeveloping the Perth GPO in Forrest Place to restore it to being one of the most prominent buildings in Perth.
The extensive redevelopment will take 12 months to complete once work commences in the second half of this year.
The renovations, which will include the restoration of the large atrium stretching up through the middle building, have been approved by the Perth City Council and endorsed by the Heritage Council of Western Australia.
The existing lifts near the front of the building will be replaced by a bank of three lifts which will provide rapid access to the upper floors. Bridges will be built across the atrium on levels two to six to facilitate movement within each level.
The ground floor will be developed as a retail precinct while the remainder of the building will be developed as office space. Post is finalising negotiations with a principal tenant for the bulk of the office space.
The rear of the ground floor will not be redeveloped till plans for 140 William Street at the back of the building are finalised. It is planned to provide access through the ground floor of the GPO to 140 William Street and the new train station.
The redevelopment will not affect the impressive sandstone facia on Forrest Place.
Tenders for construction will be called shortly.
