The National Trust has welcomed the development of a parliamentary and government precinct behind Parliament House in West Perth.  National Trust Chairman John Cowdell said that the development of a government precinct on the site had been canvassed for over 50 years.

“I am particularly pleased that the Barnett Government has undertaken to conserve and re-use historic buildings in the precinct rather than to bulldoze them, as proposed in previous plans.  The National Trust in particular welcomes the restoration and adaptive re-use of the old Hale House buildings to a standard that matches the conservation of the old Hale School Buildings that currently house the Constitutional Centre.”

Mr Cowdell said that the Trust would be willing to re-locate its headquarters from the Old Observatory, at the centre of the precinct, to allow for the development of a public facility to highlight the heritage values of the Old Observatory and the precinct.  This could provide a centrepiece to the new precinct, open for public use and enjoyment.

“The overall precinct plan is a welcome development and builds on the vision of the Court Government in developing the Constitutional Centre”, Mr Cowdell said.