Heritage Minister takes up museum fight

25/5/00
The battle to keep the Army Museum of Western Australia at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks has been taken up by Heritage Minister Graham Kierath.
Mr Kierath has arranged to join museum representatives with the Premier to determine any further help the State Government can offer the group.
He said it would be a lost opportunity if the museum was forced to move out of the Artillery Barracks as a result of the Federal Government proposed sale of the building.
"As a State Government we have placed the building on the State Heritage register which is the highest protection we can give it," the Minister said.
"The Federal Government wants to sell the building because it is additional to their needs and the museum group may be able to offer a reasonable price."
Mr Kierath believed it could be possible to reverse the Federal Government's decision to sell the Artillery Barracks if the site was turned into a viable asset.
He said he was prepared to lobby Federal Ministers to keep the museum in place if the group came up with a realistic business plan.
"The group tells me they have supporters who are capable of developing a proposal for the site that would create income for the museum with some asset sale by the Federal Government," he said.
"Now is the time to bring these people together and investigate whether a solution can be found before it is too late and the Federal Government has sold the building.
"There is a real opportunity for all parties to benefit but it will not last indefinitely."
Media contact: Zac Donovan (08) 9213 6400