Scitech shifting to Cultural Centre

Scitech will relocate to the Perth Cultural Centre after almost three decades at its current City West home, a move expected to complement the $428 million new museum complex scheduled to open in 2020.

Announcing the move at last night’s Premier’s Science Awards, Colin Barnett said Scitech would remain at its West Perth headquarters until 2021 and would then transition to a digitally driven and state-of-the-art centre for science education.

“Scitech is a natural fit for the cultural centre," he said. 

“A reinvigorated cultural centre will highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics to the community.”

Mr Barnett said Scitech had a lease to remain in its current location until 2021 and the intention was when that lease expired, it would relocate to a new facility at the Cultural Centre. 

A specific site has not yet been identified, however Mr Barnett said identifying the appropriate location within the Perth Cultural Centre was part of the detailed costings that are currently being developed as part of the planning and State budget processes.   

Mr Barnett said Scitech would work closely with the WA Museum at its Northbridge premises and also at the $17 million upgrade of the museum’s Welshpool facilities, where there would be an opportunity to share storage and exhibition development facilities.

Scitech chair Tony Joyner said the organisation would partner with government to create a contemporary, purpose-built science centre for Western Australians.

“Being co-located with other world class institutions will create a vibrant hub where the worlds of science, arts and a thirst for knowledge and exploration are cultivated,” he said.

In the meantime, Scitech is expanding its floor space at City West to make way for a new gallery in addition to upgrading some of its existing facilities.