A tenant at Dalkeith’s Sunset Heritage Precinct has been told they have until November to move out, showing signs the redevelopment is on its way more than four years since the State Government began hunting for a proponent.
The Pictures in Motion Museum of Film and Television — one of the few tenants left in the prime 7.9ha site overlooking the Swan River — has been given notice that its lease would not be extended beyond November.
It comes more than four years since the State Government launched an expression of interest process in 2019 for a proponent to transform the riverfront site — which was a public hospital in the 1960s — into a “unique Government-owned asset for arts, cultural and community use”.
The Government has been in negotiations with a proponent that had “considerable experience in the activation of heritage sites” since 2022 with a State Government spokesperson revealing this week that discussions were still ongoing.
However, they would not say who was behind the proposal and if there was a timeline for the redevelopment.
“Evaluation and discussion regarding the development proposal are still in process and are cabinet in confidence,” the spokesperson said.
“As the State Government is still working through the due diligence for the future development and operation of the precinct, details of the proponent cannot be released.”
Museum head Tim O’Dea said he was told it could be another three or four years before the development was complete.
The museum has been home to a collection of artefacts from WA’s film and TV industries since 2001 with Mr O’Dea concerned history could end up in storage if he could not find a new home for it.
“Worst case will be we have to find somewhere just to store it. It would be a pity to just have it in storage and not be able to access it,” he said.
“Time is running out very quickly. We are quite keen to at least know where we are going.”
The spokeswoman said the State Government would work with the museum to house items that are significant to WA.
“The State Government has agreed to let Pictures In Motion Museum occupy Building A at the Sunset site until November 2024 to allow them to catalogue their collection in order to establish what and how many items should and could be moved to another location,” she said.
“Once the catalogue from PIMM has been assessed, we will be in a position to consider where to house any collection items that are of significance to the State.”