Uncertain times for the WA Club

With just a couple of months until settlement of the sale of its heritage-listed building, the 1,100-member Western Australian Club is still seeking to confirm the location of its new home.

The 115-year-old club is negotiating with the new owner, Tony and Maria Priolo’s Balcatta-based Priolo Corporation Pty Ltd, for either extended temporary or permanent residence in the existing 101 St Georges Terrace premises while looking at other options.

WA Business News understands the club was also in discussions with Hawaiian Management Group, developer of the Bishops See site, to lease the historic St Georges House on the corner of St Georges Terrace and Spring Street.

There have also been discussions with National Trust of Australia’s WA branch regarding sites, like the trust’s own Old Perth Observatory headquarters, which could benefit from having the club as a lessee.

WA Club committee member John Garland Jnr said there had been negotiations regarding the Bishops See site but the club had been informed its application was unsuccessful.

Mr Garland said the door may not have been fully closed on that site but the club was looking at all its options, especially heritage properties, ahead of the settlement of its own property’s sale on December 1.

Hawaiian declined to discuss the details of the St George House lease, saying only that the period for expressions of interest had closed and applicants were being reviewed.

A spokesperson for Hawaiian said it was looking at food and beverage as a likely occupant, and had a preferred operator for the site, which it would not disclose.

The two-storey St Georges House, built in the 1890s, sits in front of the large Bishops See development.

Perman & Associates agency director Bob Perman, representing Priolo, said he was in negotiations with the club with regard to it retaining a link to the premises, which it bought in 1995 for $3.2 million.

“If we can reach commercial terms with them on a reduced area, we will try to accommodate them,” Mr Perman said.

But Mr Perman said Priolo was also open to leasing the entire four-storey building to a single occupant if the right tenant was found.

The WA Club building has almost 1,500sq m of lettable space.

 Priolo bought the building earlier this year for $8.9 million.

A structural engineer by background, Mr Priolo said he had a passion for heritage buildings.

In the central business district, Priolo also owns Fashion House at the lower end of Kings Street, a three-storey building built in 1904, which it bought a year ago for $4.8 million.

It is occupied by architectural firm The Cox Group.