Minderoo presses reset on Cottesloe upgrade

Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Group is heading back to the drawing board on its plan to redevelop Cottesloe’s Indiana Tea House, after the local community expressed little desire to see an architectural jury’s preferred design become reality.

Minderoo announced today it would reformulate its plan to redevelop the famous building, having proposed three options for public debate last year.

Those options comprised two new buildings, designed by Kerry Hill Architects and Durbach Block Jaggers, respectively, as well as refurbishing the existing building.

Durbach Block Jaggers' proposal to enliven the Cottesloe beachfront. Image: Minderoo Group

Each of the new designs proposed an oceanside pool and a significant hospitality offering.

An independent jury led by renowned architect Geoffrey London picked the DBJ design as its standout, saying it responded to the brief the best of the three options and provided the most “memorable imagining of the site” 

But just 10 per cent of respondents to an extensive community consultation campaign backed the DBJ proposal, with 53 per cent preferring the Kerry Hill design, and 37 per cent voting to keep the teahouse as it is.

Concerns raised by the community included how either of the designs would integrate with the surrounding landscape, but the majority of attendees to eight consultation sessions agreed the site was in need of an upgrade.

Kerry Hill Architect's Cottesloe plan. Image: Minderoo Group

Minderoo Group founder Nicola Forrest said the group was exploring other redevelopment options. 

“The community’s level of engagement with this project has been wonderful,” she said.

“We want to provide an Indiana all Western Australians can be proud of, but we also want to significantly improve the amenity for everyone visiting Cottesloe Beach."

Mrs Forrest said once Minderoo determined the best way forward, it would again engage with the community and the Town of Cottesloe to ensure the design is suitable.

“The Indiana site is important to all Western Australians,” she said.

“We want to consider the community feedback and explore a design that we're confident will be an improvement to the current site."