Premier predicts big tourism boost with opening of new WA Maritime Museum

1/12/02
The new $36.5million Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and boost tourism significantly, Premier Geoff Gallop said today.
Officially opening the museum in Victoria Quay, Dr Gallop said it was the biggest development in inner Fremantle since the construction of Fremantle Harbour more than 100 years ago.
"This unique and historic setting at the harbour entrance, with the passing parade of ships, makes this a perfect site for people to appreciate our maritime connections," he said.
"The museum, which is on the site of the first European settlement on the Swan River, is a striking piece of architecture that has been designed to represent the upturned hull of a boat.
"It is one of the most imaginative facilities ever built by a State Government and is already a landmark on the Fremantle skyline."
Dr Gallop said the museum would feature WA's maritime sporting and adventure heritage with highlights including Australia II, the racing yacht with the winged keel that won the America's Cup in 1983.
Other highlights include the Parry Endeavour, which solo yachtsman Jon Sanders sailed around the world three times, and a replica of the conning tower from the World War I submarine AE2.

The Premier said there were six themed galleries. They were the Indian Ocean, Tin Canoe to Australia II, Fremantle and the Swan River, Hooked on Fishing, Cargoes and Naval Defence.
"The museum is expected to be a major tourist attraction for national and international visitors to WA," Dr Gallop said.
"It is expected to attract half a million visitors per year by 2005.
"We also believe that as many as two-thirds of these visitors will be tourists."
The Premier said that last week the Government announced that Fremantle had become one of WA's first tourism precincts.
"The establishment of Fremantle and Northbridge as tourism precincts represents the first stage in the implementation of a Tourism Precinct Strategy (TPS) as part of the State Government's election commitments," he said.
"Funding of $30,000 has been made available to commence this project in Fremantle, as well as $30,000 for Northbridge."
Fremantle was chosen as a tourism precinct because of its diversity of attractions within easy walking distance, as well as a variety of accommodation, restaurants, cafes and public facilities.

Dr Gallop said the site for the museum was chosen because of its historical and cultural significance and its position within the working port.
"This made it the ideal place to tell the stories of WA's early explorers, trade routes, naval defence, migration and the resulting cultural richness," he said.
"The museum site, which is recorded as the official landing point of Captain Fremantle in 1829, is called Forrest Landing after the pilot lifeboat Lady Forrest."
The construction of the wharf started in the 1890s. The passing of the first ship through the mouth of the Swan River in 1897 marked the opening of the inner harbour, paving the way for today's thriving port.
The Premier acknowledged the role of the previous State Government in the development of the new Western Australian Maritime Museum.
The museum at Victoria Quay was designed by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland and built by Multiplex Constructions. Construction started in June 2000 and was completed in May this year.
The Western Australian Maritime Museum incorporates the new Victoria Quay Museum, the nearby Submarine Ovens and the Shipwreck Galleries in Cliff Street,Fremantle.
The Maritime Museum is part of the WA Museum that also has sites in Perth, Finnerty Street Fremantle, Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Premier's office: 9222 9475