Subscribe Now
Subscribe to RSS Feed

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Claisebrook Village?

    Claisebrook Village is a 137.5 ha project area build on former industrial land including the East Perth Gasworks, scrap yards, contaminated industrial sites, empty warehouses and railway yards.

    Today, Claisebrook Village is home to approximately 2,500 new residents through the creation of 1,450 new homes and apartments.

    The project area consists of more than 6,000 health, education and media employees, many of whom work within the ‘Silver City’ buildings on Royal Street, and 1,500 eCentral campus TAFE students and the ABC’s state headquarters on Royal Street opened in early 2005.

  • When was this project started?

    The project commenced in 1992 when EPRA was formed as a result of the East Perth Redevelopment Act 1991, to undertake, promote and coordinate the redevelopment of Claisebrook Village.

  • How successful has this project been?

    EPRA has won three UDIA Awards for the Claisebrook Village project.
    These include:
    • 1996 – East Perth Gasworks site for site rehabilitation
    • 1997 – Urban Renewal project for the East Perth Redevelopment
    • 1999 – Urban Renewal Award for East Perth Project
    In 2002, in conjunction with Western Australian contractor Marsh Civil, EPRA won a Case Earth Award for the environmental and geotechnical rehabilitation of Precinct 17 (next to the East Perth Power Station). A second Case Earth Award was awarded for the environmental remediation of the former Imago site in 2004.

ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION

  • What has been done to transform the area from a former industrial site?

    Environmental rehabilitation of the Gasworks site was a major component of the redevelopment of Claisebrook Village.

    At the time, the remediation of the Gasworks site was the largest contaminated site remediation project of its type in Australia.

    Gasworks remediation included:
    • Demolition of buildings
    • Relocation of valuable trees
    • Extensive earthworks
    • Site drainage and subsoil groundwater interception drains
    • Construction of retaining walls, hard landscaping and planting to finalise the rehabilitation of the site to create parkland on the Gasworks foreshore and residential property on the western boundary of the site.

    The environmental clean-up improved stormwater and groundwater quality and transformed the riverside land into recreational parkland and public open space with natural bush gardens, walkways and public art.

HERITAGE

  • Is there any significant heritage value in the project area?

    The Claisebrook Village project area has a rich heritage and important sites were conserved and enhanced as part of the area’s urban design.

    Collaboration with the National Trust, the Heritage Council, the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the local community facilitated the restoration of East Perth heritage sites. This includes camp sites, meeting places and artefacts with cultural, ceremonial and mythological relevance to the local Aboriginal people.

    Major restoration and refurbishment works were undertaken on more than a dozen sites in the project area including Victoria Gardens, the East Perth Cemetery, the former East Perth Primary School and the Boans Warehouse. Some original East Perth buildings, such as the Boans Warehouse, have been restored and converted to create high quality apartment blocks with mixed-use and residential space.

    Many of the artworks within Claisebrook Cove have been created using recycled materials from demolished East Perth buildings and pay homage to the former industrial area

  • Are there any sites of cultural heritage significance in the project area?

    There are currently 10 sites within the EPRA Redevelopment Area recognised by the Department of Indigenous Affairs as places of Aboriginal Heritage significance and many of these are within the Claisebrook Village project area.

    For example, the area along the riverbank at Victoria Gardens has been renamed Ngango Batta's Mooditcher, translated as 'Sunshine's Living Strength' - a place of hope and friendship for Aboriginal people. Amongst many striking Aboriginal heritage features of the public art walk, is an old river gum, Yoondoorup Boorna. This was used as a hiding place for goods and messages by those who once camped there. The trunk was treated and returned to the site at the request of the Noongar people.

DESIGN

The redevelopment of Claisebrook is based on the creation of a sustainable ‘Urban Village’ and focused on reflecting the existing qualities of the area, including its proximity to the CBD, the river and local heritage.

It has been designed to facilitate non-motor vehicle dependent access. Planning incorporates pedestrian and cycle links between the project area, the CBD and the Swan River.Pedestrian footpaths also feature defined edging, tactile paving and pram ramps to enable public areas to be easily accessed by people with disabilities and people with prams. The public transport CAT system provides easy access to the CBD and throughout the project area.

COMMUNITY

  • What is it like to live and work in Claisebrook Village?

    Planning and design for Claisebrook Village allows for a mixture of lifestyle and business, creating a cosmopolitan feel. It integrates residential housing, shopping, commercial buildings, educational facilities and nearly 22 hectares of recreational parks, open spaces and other public areas.

    The Claisebrook Village project area also features numerous public artworks that reflect on the history of the area. Artworks include free-standing pieces, functional seating pieces and fountains.

INVESTMENT

  • How much money has been invested in the project?

    Government expenditure on the project is in excess of $127 million. A grant of $32 million was received from the Federal Government’s Building Better Cities funding program. Private expenditure on new residential and other buildings in the project area is in excess of $680 million.