Published on Tuesday, 11 January 2022 at 7:44:43 AM
The long overdue transformation of the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery (GRAG) Park from an underutilised space to a beautiful place for people begins this week.
City of 91Ï㽶µ¼º½ Mayor Shane Van Styn said the project will return the area to its original use as a community meeting place.
“In the early 1900s, a new Town Hall (now GRAG) was constructed that complemented the existing building beside it that was already being used as the Municipal Council Chambers,” he said.
“In 1907, the Town Hall was officially opened and the seat of local government was located in these two buildings till 1963 when it moved to the newly constructed Civic Centre on Cathedral Avenue.
“Unfortunately, the former chambers building then fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1969. It was used as a carpark until the 1980s when it was then turned into a park.
“However, the upgrades to the park will return the space its former glory as a community meeting place, enabling the Art Gallery to overflow into the park on exhibition opening nights and during the day, people will be able to relax in the space before venturing into the City centre via the Rocks Laneway.”
Works, which begin on Thursday 13 January 2022, include the construction of a covered walkway along the Gallery building, seating and areas to temporarily display public art.
The aged toilet block, built in 1983, will also be demolished and a new accessible toilet will be built within the park. The landscaping will also be upgraded with the planting of twelve trees and the establishment of gardens to showcase the region’s world class wildflowers.
Although Parking Station 4 (Post Office carpark) will remain open during the works, a number of parking spaces in the vicinity of the Park and GRAG building will not be available. These will be fenced off and used for the safe demolition of the toilet block and works related to the project.
Construction of the estimated $1.2 million project was awarded to local contractors GBSC who will undertake the demolition and building works with Parscape upgrading the landscaping. The project is expected to take approximately five months to complete.
More information on the project is available on the City’s website here
Picture Captions:
- Former Town Hall and Council Chambers.
- Artist rendition of GRAG Park upgrade
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