Work is progessing in Perth, Western Australia, on the
Wellington Street precinct — a $220m development by CBUS Properties — designed by Lovell Chen and Hassell Architects.
Site consolidation to allow works for the new underground rail station below is nearing completion.

Lovell Chen's contribution to the project will see the restoration of intact 19th and early 20th century buildings fronting Wellington Street and a new four-level building (working model above left) sited between the Wellington Building and the Globe Hotel (above right, centre of the picture). The façade of the historic Mitchell Building on William Street will be restored and integrated into the precinct.

We have also designed a significant public space, to be know as Globe Court, that will include the northern portal of the rail station.

The site master plan, which was developed in association with Hassell Architects' Perth office, follows the established pattern of the city's 19th century street design — elegantly shaded classical buildings supported by an active web of lanes and alleyways. Laneways are being developed as public spaces throughout the precinct, providing new connections between public areas and nearby buildings.

[ streetscape photo: Heritage Council Western Australia ]
[ Wellington Building photo on home page: Battye Library, Western Australia ]

In 2000, legislative amendments introduced a new Commonwealth heritage management regime in Australia and we are working on a number of projects affected by the legislation.

Both the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act, introduced in January 2000) and the Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (the Regulations) have been amended.

The legislation also established the National Heritage List for places of outstanding significance to Australia, and the Commonwealth Heritage List, which includes places on Commonwealth land that have Commonwealth heritage values.

One recent projects that required us to work with the new legislation was the preparation of a Heritage Strategy in 2005 for Australia Post — such strategies are now a requirement for Commonwealth agencies. Australia Post has adopted the strategy and we are currently working on its implementation nationally.

Implementation includes the preparation of an Australia Post Heritage Manual that summarises and clarifies compliance issues, responsibilities, protocols and procedures. We are also undertaking survey and assessment work for approximately 520 places round the country owned by Australia Post and making recommendations for inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List or, where appropriate, the National Heritage List. Our ongoing work includes advising on works and approvals (referrals) in relation to the EPBC Act.

Apart from our work with Australia Post, we have been involved in the preparation of management plans for a number of places that are included in, or nominated for, the National Heritage List.

Management plans have very specific requirements and proscribed contents, as outlined in the Regulations to the EPBC Act, which reflect an appropriately high level of conservation and management objectives for heritage places of great importance to Australia as a nation.

One managment plan currently in preparation is for Echuca Wharf, which has been nominated for the National Heritage List.
For more on Echuca Wharf ... see News Feb 2007

[ left photo: Leongatha Post Office, photo Kate Paterson ]
[ right photo: Port Hedland Post Office, photo Gina Levenspiel ]

The launch last week of the wide ranging monograph Kevin Borland: Architecture from the Heart is a wonderful achievement for Doug Evans and Lovell Chen's Conrad Hamann.

The monograph celebrates Kevin Borland's life and work as a person, practitioner, motivator, educationalist, designer and collaborator. Borland is probably best known for the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre (designed in collaboration with Daryl Jackson), the Clyde Cameron College in Albury-Wodonga and buildings at the Preshil School.

Conrad has contributed significantly to the publication, including an essay on Borland as a designer.