Rottnest Island's Salt Store to be restored

18/4/97

One of Rottnest's best-known landmarks - the Salt Store - is to undergo a major facelift.

Tourism Minister Norman Moore said that more than $150,000 would be spent on restoration of the Salt Store, which was built around the 1860s.

The project was part of the State Government's ongoing program of restoration and upgrading of the island.

The Salt Store, located at Thomson Bay near the main settlement area, had been used as offices, a post office, museum and, more recently, as the island's environment office.

Once work was completed on the heritage restoration, the building would be used as the Rottnest Island Authority's main administration office.

"Many of the buildings at Rottnest are among the oldest continually-used convict and heritage buildings in Australia," Mr Moore said.

"Restoring the Salt Store building will ensure that this important and unique part of the State's heritage can continue to be enjoyed by the thousands of visitors to the island each year and will complete the new and improved entrance to the island.

"The restoration will also complement the restoration of two of Rottnest's oldest convict buildings, K1 and K2, which again have become popular attractions for visitors since their upgrade last year."

Mr Moore said that in addition, $2 million had been allocated in this year's State Budget to continue the implementation of the Government's 1995 review into Rottnest which recommended major upgrades to the island.

He said further works planned for this year included:

the upgrade of between 20 to 30 holiday units and cottages at north Thomson Bay;

continued landscape upgrades, including the central court area adjacent to the main settlement at Thomson Bay;

continued heritage restoration work at Kingstown Barracks; and -

upgrading of street furniture and the commissioning of a land-use master plan for the island.

Mr Moore said the works planned for this year would continue to build on the impressive improvements made to the Island by the Rottnest Island Authority since the 1995 review.

"As most visitors to Rottnest would agree, the Rottnest Island Authority has made marked improvements to services, particularly cleaning and waste management and the general appearance of the island," he said.

Media contact: Hartley Joynt (09) 321 1444