Perth Girls School one step closer

New design guidelines for the redevelopment of the historic Perth Girls School in East Perth has been adopted by the state government. 

A private syndicate of investors, led by ADC_ with a cornerstone investment by Tim Robert’s Warburton Group, acquired three sites in 2017 collectively comprising 1.8 hectares with four street frontages.

Since then the Perth Girls School heritage-listed building has been put to good use, with arts and culture organisation Fringe hosting a range of events.

ADC_ and Warburton have since collaborated with DevelopmentWA, Heritage Council of WA and The City of Perth over two years to develop new guidelines for the site.

Those guidelines, subject final design, include renovation of the listed Perth Girl School building, more than 600 residential, hotel and commercial units across six towers and more than half a hectare of open, public space.

ADC_ director Rod Hamersley said adoption of the new guidelines by the state government demonstrated the importance of the location as a key growth area for the city.

“We now have a state-endorsed planning framework to facilitate development of the precinct with which all stakeholders are happy,” Mr Hamersley said. 

“Importantly we have been able to maintain flexibility in how the various stages of the project will be delivered, allowing us to cater to market demands.”

Subject to final design, the Perth Girls School site planning guidelines also outline plot ratio bonuses of up to 80,000 square metres across the 1.8 hectare site.

These are expected to be spread across two 25-level towers at the rear of the heritage-listed former school building, as well as four towers between 15 and 35-storeys on the northern Bronte Street site.

There’s also potential for a mix of uses including retail, food and beverage, hospitality, residential apartments, retirement, aged care, hotel, education and office space.

The heritage-listed Perth Girls School building itself will be renovated, but will continue as a cultural and entertainment space.  

Stage 1 of the project is due to commence in 2021 once a major supermarket is confirmed and following necessary development approvals.

Mr Hamersley said the need for a major supermarket in the area had been consistently highlighted during extensive community consultation undertaken prior to finalising the preliminary design for the project, and reinforced during discussions with major retailers.  

Warburton Group Head of Property Marcus Le Messurier said the site’s flexibility would enable efficient staging of development.

“Six approved towers with multiple street frontages gives us the ability to bring together development partners with core capabilities in specific sectors so we can deliver fantastic outcomes over time,” Mr Le Messurier said