Council to draw on centre’s success when endorsing plan

Stirling Street Arts Centre staff are hoping moves to protect the historic value of the Bunbury building will help the centre improve its facilities.

Bunbury City Council is next week expected to endorse a Conservation Management Plan for the centre and request that it be assessed for entry into the State Heritage Register.

Manager Graeme Lush said it was an exciting time for the centre.

“We’re very keen to see this progress so we can move forward,” Mr Lush said.

The plan provides historical and physical evidence the centre is of cultural heritage significance and what needs to happen to keep its heritage value in place.

The plan also means the centre would be eligible to apply for funding opportunities.

Mr Lush said the centre needed more space and the changes would allow development to go ahead.

“We’re under-resourced and certainly our office accommodation and toilets need some work,” he said.

The building, originally the State Government Infants’ School, is on the council’s local government heritage inventory but not yet heritage listed.

Mayor Gary Brennan said the plan was an important step for one of Bunbury’s iconic buildings.

“It provides clarity about what future developments can happen there without impacting negatively on the heritage value,” he said.

“It’s a credit to the art centre staff because the amount of courses and activities they run there and the fact they need more space is incredible.”

Before any heritage protection plans were put in place, a previous plan for development at the centre included an auditorium, new studios, administration offices, toilets and an amphitheatre.