Perth Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation – frequently asked questions

Communities completed extensive research and assessment of available land across the metropolitan area for the Perth Short Stay that were of suitable size and located close to key services, including public transport.

Prospective sites also required cultural and heritage assessments as well as technical due diligence to be completed before being progressed for further consideration. 

The site at 110A Hamilton Street, Cannington was considered and endorsed by local Aboriginal Elders and Custodians for the Perth Short Stay.

Perth Short Stay will accommodate Aboriginal people and families who travel to Perth from regional and remote communities/areas throughout Western Australia or even interstate. 

Some reasons for visiting Perth and staying at Perth Short Stay could be to attend medical appointments, participate in sports and community events, attend to sorry business and cultural requirements, access training, visit family or to go shopping for items not available in their home town.

Consistent with other regional Short Stays in Broome, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Derby, guests visiting Perth will be able to stay at Perth Short Stay for up to 28 days, although the average length of stay is expected to be considerably less (based on the 8-night average stay of guests at the regional Short Stays). There may be other reasons for guests to stay longer and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

Guests need to book their accommodation in advance and pay a nightly rate for the duration of their stay, just as they would in a hotel or motel.
 

Communities is undertaking engagement activities with key stakeholder groups throughout WA, to help guide the look, feel, and operational management of Perth Short Stay.

Targeted consultation with the Cannington community and council, Aboriginal people across the State and local service providers commenced in March 2023 and will continue throughout the concept design phase.

You can find out more about upcoming engagement activities by visiting the project webpage or by signing up to our mailing list at aboriginalshortstay@communities.wa.gov.au.

Perth-based architect, Iredale Pedersen Hook, has been appointed to design Perth Short Stay.

Iredale Pedersen Hook is an internationally acclaimed architect renowned for its innovative approach across its broad range of projects and is globally recognised for its work with Western Australian Aboriginal communities.

The architect will draw upon the Cultural Narrative when developing the building and landscaping design to inform and guide the inclusion of Aboriginal cultural stories into the building design of Perth Short Stay.

The design will also be guided by targeted consultation with a range of stakeholders including Aboriginal people and organisations, potential guests and local residents to ensure Perth Short Stay is respectful of Whadjuk country, culturally safe and appropriate to the needs of guests.

In late 2022, Communities engaged Dr Richard Walley’s consultancy, Aboriginal Productions and Promotions (APP), to develop a Cultural Narrative for Perth Short Stay.

The Cultural Narrative will inform the architect’s consideration of the building and landscape design of Perth Short Stay.

Cultural Narratives capture the significance of Country to Traditional Owners and convey this to other stakeholders. APP has previously delivered Cultural Narratives for Communities’ Walyalup (Fremantle) and Boorloo (Perth) offices.

APP describes a Cultural Narrative as “another means of storytelling, through qualitative cultural research combined with the research methods of the western system” and “[describing] what is unique about that place and people. It recognises the histories of people who have cultural authority over the land, our sacred places, and our interactions with the land and ways of being as a collective. It connects the past to the present and builds a platform to a sustainable future”.

Beyond this, a Cultural Narrative celebrates the uniqueness and histories of a place and people; connecting the past and present for a sustainable future; and recognises the significance of Place, Plants, Animals, People and Purpose to Nyoongar Culture.

The architect has reviewed feedback provided by stakeholders and the local community throughout the consultation process, along with the Cultural Narrative and key features of existing Short Stays, to design a concept for the Perth Short Stay that responds to the design principles of Welcoming, Belonging, Identity, Culture, Safety and Wellbeing.

Perth Short Stay is expected to include a variety of room types to suit individuals and families, as well as kitchen and laundry facilities, a dining room, recreational spaces, and an administration and reception centre, set among native trees and landscaping.

Perth Short Stay will also have a 24-hour concierge to connect guests to services and foster a sense of safety and security. It will be a welcoming place that is family friendly and drug and alcohol free.

It’s anticipated that up to 100 guests could stay at Perth Short Stay at any time with a mix of room types available including for singles, couples and families.

While the current title of Perth Short Stay meets its purpose, it is unlikely this will be the name of the accommodation when doors open to guests.

Communities will work with Traditional Owners, its engaged cultural consultants and additional subject matter experts prior to finalising a name.

Communities will engage a non-government organisation to manage and operate the Perth Short Stay which will provide welcoming, culturally appropriate and personalised services to guests. The service provider chosen to manage and operate Perth Short Stay will be appointed following a public tender process.

Once the design of Perth Short Stay is complete, Communities will undertake a procurement process to identify a suitably qualified and experienced builder for the project. It is expected a builder will be appointed in 2024.

Construction is expected to start in late 2024. The timing for construction commencement and completion will be known after a builder is appointed.

The yet-to-be appointed builder will be required to operate within the requirements of State and Local Government regulations to ensure there is minimal disruption to neighbouring residents.  Prior to construction commencing, surrounding residents will be notified of potential impacts, such as road closures or potential noise.

Once constructed, Perth Short Stay will improve the visual aspect of Hamilton Street for the local community and neighbours. This includes plans to incorporate green spaces along the street frontage in line with the City of Canning’s Queens Park Local Structure Plan.

Perth Short Stay will operate similarly to a hotel; where guests pay to stay and are able to access a range of facilities and services on site including outdoor recreation areas and children’s play equipment to encourage families to stay. It will be a welcoming place that is family friendly and drug and alcohol free. To support this, the Short Stay will offer an on-site 24-hour front desk support service to welcome guests on arrival. Perth Short Stay will also provide a separate visitors space to enable guests to host visitors there.

 Aboriginal Short Stays already operate in Broome, Kalgoorlie and Derby. Community sentiment in these locations has been positive toward the Short Stays.

The retention of healthy and native trees on site is an important outcome for the project, and an environmental assessment of the existing flora and fauna was completed as part of the site selection process. The Elders and Traditional Owners that walked the site noted the importance of the older, and well-established trees onsite.

The tree species on the site are mainly Flooded Gums (Eucalyptus Rudis) and Paperbarks (Melaleuca Preissiana). It also includes one Tuart tree (Eucalyptus Gomphocephala) which is not considered native to the site. Communities is seeking to integrate as many healthy trees as possible into the development design.

The Perth Short Stay will:

• provide Aboriginal people and families with safe, culturally appropriate and affordable short-term accommodation options
• help improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people by enabling family groups to remain together while travelling; as well as facilitating access to essential services and supports, and training and education opportunities
• help reduce rough sleeping and overcrowding of housing in Perth
• boost job creation, Aboriginal employment opportunities and economic activity. 

While there may be some crossover in guests of the Perth Short Stay and other housing provided by Communities, the clearest delineation is that the Perth Short Stay is not crisis or permanent accommodation.

Guests of Perth Short Stay must book their stay in advance and pay a nightly rate for the duration of their stay. There is scope for the Perth Short Stay to support overflow from crisis accommodation facilities when required, but first and foremost it will run like a hotel or motel would, providing accommodation to guests who have booked their stay.

Visit the Perth Short Stay page for project updates.

To sign up to receive the latest project news or information, email the Perth Short Stay project team at aboriginalshortstay@communities.wa.gov.au.