WA Museum Boola Bardip has been one of the world’s most hotly anticipated cultural developments during its planning and construction. Our heritage team was appointed by the design team as the heritage architects for the project and were closely involved in all stages of the project from its inception to completion. The State Registered Old Courthouse and Gaol, Art Gallery and Museum Buildings and Hackett Hall are retained, conserved and adapted as part of the $400m project to form a key part of the revitalised cultural precinct.

At the start of the project we undertook a Conservation Management Strategy for each of the heritage buildings to define the best approach to their conservation during the project. We also worked closely with the Heritage Council of Western Australia (HCWA) to explore the potential impacts posed by the new development and mitigate them within the holistic project outcome.

We ensured that the heritage buildings are protected and enhanced using the Burra Charter (AICOMOS 2013) as guiding heritage principles. We oversaw conservation works at every stage to ensure that the outcomes of the construction were sympathetic to the heritage fabric.

Our role included at least weekly site visits through the construction stage; communications using the software ACONEX; stakeholders’ workshops; approval meetings with HCWA and DevelopmentWA; responsibility for approvals for the heritage interventions through the preparation of heritage impact statements; and site notes for the contractor.  

The outcome showcases heritage conservation and contemporary architecture side by side in the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre, setting a new benchmark as one of the most significant museum redevelopments in the world.

• Heritage Impact Statements
• Stakeholder engagement  
• Planning strategy and advice
• Heritage planning and advice
• Interpretation Plan, Conservation Management Strategy and Heritage Works Specification for each of the four heritage buildings