Historic Swanbourne Hospital site to be new home of WA Music Academy

17/5/95

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis announced today that the historic Swanbourne Hospital site in Mount Claremont was to be the new home of the Western Australian Music Academy.

The Coalition Government is committed to returning the heritage-listed property to its former glory and has already allocated $1.2 million to restore the exterior of the buildings.

Mr Lewis said the buildings on the site had significant heritage values as they were associated with WA's largest institution for the care of the mentally ill throughout most of the 20th century.

"Leasing the buildings, which were constructed in the early 1900s, will ensure each has a viable use while restoration and maintenance continues," he said.

"The Government has funded the preparation of a heritage conservation and management plan which will be used to guide any future structural work."

The Minister said the Member for Cottesloe, Colin Barnett, had played an important role in securing the new tenant.

"A 15-year lease has been negotiated with the WA Music Academy for use of the south building," Mr Lewis said.

"The Government intends to pursue lease negotiations with a number of other organisations who have expressed an interest in the site."

The Music Academy is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the education of children interested in music.

Mr Lewis said the Government planned to make provision in the 1995-96 Budget for a special grant to the academy for internal upgrading of the south building.

The Swanbourne Hospital Conservation Area was permanently listed on the State Register of Heritage Places in August last year.

The Minister said the exterior restoration work on all of the buildings was expected to be completed by August and the Music Academy hoped to start classes on site in mid-October.

"After the surrounding land was approved for subdivision in 1984 the hospital buildings were afforded little protection and they were badly vandalised," Mr Lewis said.

"In recognising the significant heritage values of the buildings the Coalition Government has remedied past neglect and promoted adaptive reuse to ensure the site is preserved for future generations."

Media contact:  Bronwyn Hillman  222 9595, 221 1377