David Malcolm Justice Centre towers over Cathedral Square

News story
Perth’s Cathedral Square project reached another milestone on 11 March when Premier Colin Barnett officially named the office tower.
Last updated:
Kaaren and Manisha Malcolm standing with politicians at the opening of David Malcolm Justice Centre.

Perth’s Cathedral Square project reached another milestone on 11 March when Premier Colin Barnett officially named the office tower in the centre of the heritage precinct.

The David Malcolm Justice Centre honours the memory of The Honourable David Kingsley Malcolm AC QC, former State Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor who was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia honour in 1992.

"Our State not only benefited from David Malcolm's lifelong commitment to justice, but also from his inspirational and generous support of charities and community organisations," Mr Barnett said.

"It is fitting to honour his memory in this new centre, located on one of Perth's most significant sites, Cathedral Square, where the Swan River Colony was founded in 1829.”

Commonwealth Minister for Social Services Christian Porter, Minister for Finance Bill Marmion, Attorney General Michael Mischin and Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi were also present for the occasion, along with Chief Justice Wayne Martin and the Most Reverend Roger Herft, Archbishop of Perth, members of the Malcolm family, other dignitaries and representatives of the State’s precinct partners.

The $280 million, 33 level tower was constructed by Mirvac and will be fully occupied by the State Government. Construction was completed in August 2015 and the 37,500 sqm floor space is being fitted out by the Department of Finance, Building Management and Works in two stages.

The fit-out in the tower is scheduled to be occupied in July 2016. Together with the recently completed State Administrative Tribunal fit-out at 565 Hay St, the overall $130 million fit-out project is the largest ever undertaken by the State Government.

The office tower will be shared by new civil courts and judicial chambers for the Supreme Court of Western Australia; and office accommodation for the Departments of the Attorney General and Treasury. The tower will include a modern, secure courthouse for civil courts and judicial chambers for the Supreme Court of Western Australia, together with office accommodation for the departments of the Attorney General and Treasury.

The naming of the tower follows the completion in December 2015 of the City of Perth’s striking, contemporary library building on Murray Street.

The library is next to Perth Town Hall and opens onto the project’s namesake, Cathedral Square, a public plaza between St Georges Cathedral and the State Buildings. The seven-level building covers 3,500 sqm and includes a history centre, collections, reading rooms, audio-visual multi-function rooms, a master staircase and story-telling zones, plus virtual and digital resources.

The City of Perth are partners in the project with the State Government, the Anglican Diocese of Perth, the Public Trustee, Mirvac Group and FJM Property.

The approximately $700 million Cathedral Square redevelopment is a major accomplishment by Government and the catalyst for the renewal and restoration of a tired city block. The project is being managed by the Department of Finance, Building Management and Works, on behalf of the Department of Treasury’s Strategic Projects and Asset Sales.

Earlier milestones include the State Buildings’ official naming and opening in November by Prince Charles during his tour of Australia. The Prince, a known admirer of heritage architecture, toured the building and was highly impressed with the degree of conservation and the quality of the heritage architecture.

The State Buildings, formerly the Old Treasury Building, is one of the most important public buildings in Western Australia’s history. It sat vacant for 20 years, despite repeated lobbying by heritage groups and development plans from successive governments, but has now been beautifully restored in keeping with its heritage qualities.

The anchor tenant is the COMO The Treasury Hotel, a premium luxury hotel with 48 rooms, two fine dining restaurants, a bar, lounge and library. It includes a day spa, gym and pool facility and a vibrant mix of other retail and hospitality offerings.

The fully refurbished State Administrative Tribunal building at 565 Hay Street (formerly the Public Trustee building) was opened in July 2015, and the Cathedral Square plaza was opened in December 2015.

Construction of the final component, the new Church House in place of the old Playhouse Theatre, began in 2015. It is scheduled for completion by March 2017 and will reveal the Cathedral from Pier Street for the first time in 50 years.

Published

11 March 2016