A World-Class New Museum for Western Australia

Perth’s cultural precinct is undergoing a breathtaking transformation as the dramatic new design takes shape, linking contemporary architecture with existing historic and heritage-listed buildings, creating a visual landmark for Perth and Western Australia.

Developed in the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre, it will act as a gateway to explore all of Western Australia, reflecting the history, distinctiveness, creativity and diversity of the State.

Multiplex architects Mark Loughnan, from HASSELL and David Gianotten from OMA explain their design inspiration: “Perth and Western Australia has a dramatic natural landscape, unique history and diverse population. We have tried to capture all these elements and celebrate them within the design concept. The scale of the natural landscape is reflected in the large public space at the heart of the design and the city’s history is celebrated by the integration of the existing heritage-listed buildings.”

The new museum includes:
• Seven major galleries that will share the stories of Western Australia, its people, its places and its relationship with the wider world;
• A 1,000 sqm temporary exhibition gallery for home-grown and touring exhibitions;
• Learning studios and programmable spaces for visitors and groups of all ages, including schools;
• Retail, café and commercial spaces;
• Activated public spaces both inside and outside the museum; and
• A spectacular display of the State’s famous blue whale skeleton.

Western Australia’s Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman says that the New Museum will, “showcase the vast and ancient landscapes of Western Australia using state-of-the-art technology and innovative display methods. Most importantly, the incredible stories of our State will be shared through the voices of our people with a strong focus on Aboriginal and multicultural stories.”The building phase of the $400-million-dollar project is expected to be complete later in 2019, with exhibition installation starting in 2019 in preparation for a 2020 opening.

Visitors to Western Australia with an interest in cultural tourism have an enticing range of options to choose from in the meantime; in Perth there is the WA Maritime Museum and the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed-Fremantle Prison while historic Albany in the State’s South West is home to the National Anzac Centre and over 50 well preserved colonial buildings that now serve as museums, galleries and restaurants.