Proposal for community use of the former ABC Radio Studios

Описание: There is an excellent site sitting idle in Perth, that would make a wonderful home for the Pictures in Motion Museum of Film and Television’s incredible rare and historic collection.

This is the former ABC Radio production studios that takes up three floors. This includes five large studios, two floors of office space, a vast lower ground storage area, a canteen and many other rooms, that once comprised workshops and operational areas for broadcasting.

These studios served the ABC from 1960 until the move to Fielder Street, East Perth, in 2005.

In 2010 the television buildings were demolished. To enable building of three high rise residential towers and three low rise apartment buildings on the site.

The administration and radio buildings, located along Adelaide Terrace were retained, although the on-air broadcasting studio section of the Radio building was demolished along the former carpark.

Hence there are no remnants of on-air studios remaining, as sadly the heritage recommendations related more to the buildings afterlife than the daily broadcasting history that took place within those walls.

Under early plans, the historic Basil Kirke Studio was to be kept and given to the National Trust.

The National Trust of Western Australia has been seeking to acquire these premises to establish a combined commercial and arts precinct that could provide for a sustainable heritage future for the people of this state.

But then the ABC's former headquarters in Adelaide Terrace in Perth were listed for sale in 2008. This went to developers, who since then have offered the remaining heritage listed component for sale again.

The site hit the market, with the suggestion that it be converted info a hotel, but so far it seems to be unsold?

Now would be an excellent time for the present government to finance the acquisition of this heritage listed site, so that the National Trust can manage it for not-for-profit groups, who could utilise the facilities for the public’s benefit.

There would be ample room for Pictures in Motion and a number of arts groups to bring life back to this unique site.

Continued hesitation and lack of action can only put all these valuable notions in jeopardy.

Hence the thought, that if the heritage listed former ABC building can be preserved and available for use by community groups, then hopefully the Film and Television Museum can be extended a lifeline? It’s a big site, with room to accomodate a number of such groups, who can contribute much to the city’s culture, history telling and heritage preservation.

Making it a wonderful attraction for tourists, enlightening one and all on important matters, that can impact the residents, visitors, students, and all interested parties.