Fremantle Prison surgeon's house to be centre to promote excellence in teaching

21/2/98

The historic 143-year-old residence of Fremantle Prison's former surgeon is set for a facelift with a $411,000 contract for its refurbishment awarded.

Located at 18, The Terrace, adjoining the historic Fremantle Prison complex, the colonial stone and iron Old Surgeon's House is to become the Centre for Excellence in Teaching for Western Australia's teachers.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said the centre would promote excellence in teaching among the State's 25,000 teachers at Government and non-Government schools.

Mr Barnett said it would be an incorporated organisation, independent of the Education Department and the non-Government education sector, and funded from the Education Minister's budget.

The Centre for Excellence in Teaching was a 1996 election commitment announced by the Minister for Education and will attract $1.5 million in funding from the Government over the next four years.

Mr Barnett said the centre's management board would include members of the teaching profession and a key role would be to provide access for teachers to high quality professional and personal skills development programs, as well as support to their professional associations.

Works Minister Mike Board said the works contract to refurbish and refit the centre had been awarded to Sizer Builders.

Built in 1855 and extended in 1893, the Old Surgeon's House remained in use as a home until the late 1970s, when it was taken over for use by prison administration.

With the contract awarded, the building is set to receive new roof sheeting and gutters, a new ground floor verandah, extensive stonework repairs, external painting, paving and lighting, internal renovations and fit-out.

Mr Board said the building was of great cultural significance and it was important that the refurbishment did not alter the original style of the building.

"The Department of Contract and Management Services (CAMS) is responsible for the ongoing management and conservation of the Fremantle Prison buildings," he said.

"All the work is in line with strict conservation guidelines."

Work began on site last week and is expected to be complete by April. CAMS would continue to manage the project to ensure all the works are completed to a high standard.

The Education Department and CAMS are jointly funding the refurbishment.

Mr Barnett said the centre would include office space for management and for professional associations, an association bookshop, a museum-style display area, an information technology laboratory and meeting, conference and discussion areas.

"It is appropriate to establish a centre of such vital importance to the professionalism of educators in Western Australia in a building that dates from the days when education was in its fledgling stages in the State," he said.

"I am sure the atmosphere of such a historic place, preserved for posterity, will be conducive to recognising the ongoing professionalism of our teachers and achieving the highest standards in education in WA."

Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister Barnett, (08) 9222 9699

Peter Harris, Minister Board, (08) 9222 9211