Seven heritage houses on Parry Street in Perth will share $1.3 million for priority conservation works under the McGowan Government's WA Recovery Plan.
Balcatta construction firm Western Projects has been awarded the contract to undertake a range of essential repairs to the turn-of-the-century homes.
The Parry Street Precinct - on the border of the Perth CBD and Northbridge - has been recognised on the State Register of Heritage Places as a rare example of an uninterrupted streetscape featuring late nineteenth and early to mid-twentieth century dwellings.
The precinct has cultural significance as it reflects the expansion of residential development on the city fringes generated by the population influx associated with the 1890's gold rush.
Western Projects is a locally owned and operated heritage contractor with experience on conservation projects for the National Trust of WA, University of Western Australia and award- winning conservation of Wanslea House in Cottesloe.
The Parry Street conservation project is one of a number of heritage works contracts prioritised in the $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan to boost economic activity and support local jobs.
Once the refurbishments are complete, the homes will be added to the State's public housing portfolio, and support some of our State's most vulnerable families.
As stated by Heritage Minister David Templeman:
"Retaining the character of these buildings through sympathetic repairs will help ensure that the heritage values of the Parry Street Precinct, and the slice of Perth history that it captures, are preserved.
"The precinct encompasses a variety of architectural styles and is significant for its reflection of inner-city residential buildings at the height of Western Australia's gold-rush population boom.
"I am pleased to see this contract awarded to a local, experienced construction company, directly supporting local jobs and driving economic activity through heritage conservation."
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
"This injection of funding means these properties will be added to the State's stock of public housing and will eventually become home to some of our most vulnerable families.
"These are well located homes near transport, health services and support networks, and will be a valuable addition to the public housing portfolio."
