EPPS Key Events Timeline

2025

• Apr – Perth Festival is told it could cost $80m to make the interior safe for use.

• Jun – Numerous smashed windows and graffiti raise concerns about neglected maintenance.

• Jun 19 – WA State Budget allocates $3.45m, with $8.09m spent in the previous year.

 

2024

• A heritage review of stored equipment is completed - East Perth Power Station - unfixed plant, equipment & furnishing (Heritage review of stored items).

• Jun 4 – Plans for a $39.5m footbridge connecting East Perth Station are paused. Remediation costs blow out to $109m.

• Sept 24 – Contractor DMCivil wins the 2024 WA Earth Award for a 7.5km high-pressure gas pipeline project at the year.

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2023

• Feb–Mar – Koomba Kalark Joint Venture is dissolved; Tattarang’s purchase rights are withdrawn.

• Apr – Western Power completes undergrounding works. Hazardous materials cleared; heritage items to be moved inside the station.

• Oct – Power pole and line removal completed;

• Dec – Phase 1 of 66kV switchyard removal of above ground infrastructure is finished.

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2022

• Jan – Hazardous materials removal begins inside the station.

• Apr – Walter Brook Pump House is removed with key heritage items retained.

• May – Additional $9.2m flagged.

• Jun 14 – Total remediation cost hits $112m, with $12.2m unaccounted for.

• Oct – ATCO relocates its gas network infrastructure.

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2021

• Jun – OHMS Asbestos survey identifies over 250 asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint.

• Sept–Dec – Western Power’s costs reach $17.3m. A further $8.5m is allocated to the project.​​

 

2020

• Apr 18 – Government increases commitment to $218m.

• May 15 – Site offered to developers for $1.

• Sept – $20m set aside for infrastructure upgrades tied to the Koomba Kalark project; RPS Australia West Pty Ltd reports confirm high asbestos levels.

• Oct – Additional $16.1m allocated for remediation; HSE Australia (HSE) reports confirm high asbestos levels, assessing same locations covered by RPS Australia.

• Dec – Further funding flagged.​

 

2019

• Two heritage reports are completed but not publicly released - East Perth Power Station machinery inventory + East Perth Power Station Conservation Management Plan.

• Feb 7 – Primewest Asset Manager Adam O’Donoghue says the power station should be sold to Google for $1 and make it a new campus.

• May 5 – Premier Mark McGowan announces $30m for site remediation, citing the power station was built in 1904 (and not 1913!).

• May 6 – Minister Ben Wyatt states power station location should be turned into a national Aboriginal art gallery.

• Sept 25 – DevelopmentWA forms from the merge of Landcorp and MRA.

• Dec 8 – Andrew Forrest and Kerry Stokes’ groups selected for redevelopment. The five developers shortlisted are the same five shortlisted in 2016: Mirvac, Frasers Property, Lendlease Development, Australian Capity Equipment and Powerhouse City.

 

2018

• Dec 21 – Contract awarded for contamination and hazardous material investigations.​

 

2017

• Nov 13 – Former State architect Steve Woodland unveils plans for a $100m interactive mining museum.

• Nov 24 – Perth councillor Reece Harley says the power station should become an Aboriginal cultural centre, not a $100m mining museum.

 

2016

• Jan – Power station is permanently entered on the State Heritage Register.

• Jun – $100m listed in MRA budget (not yet spent).

• Sept 15 – Redevelopment won’t occur until at least the end of the decade, due to the high cost of relocating Western Power’s infrastructure.

 

2015

• Feb 20 – Government opens expressions of interest to redevelop the site.

• May – MRA re-evaluate development submissions.

 

2014

• May 5 – Hames Sharley compile a report titled Focus on the Future: Western Australian Screen Industry Infrastructure Needs Assessment. East Perth Power Station is deemed unsuitable due to the ceiling at risk of collapsing and safety concerns.

• Oct 7 – WA Labor calls on the Barnett Government to ensure public access to the East Perth Power Station.

• Oct 10 – Banks Precinct Action Group wants the power station retained as a community asset.

 

2013

• Dec 26 – Former Labor government spent $14m restoring the exterior. Current master plan proposes 4–5 residential towers. Three interested investors have toured the site.

 

2012

• May 22 – State government defers redevelopment. Minister Alannah MacTiernan proposes relocating WAAPA’s contemporary music section to the site. Minister John Hyde claims maintenance costs $2 million annually, while Minister John Day previously estimated $63,000 per year.

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2009

• Apr 7 – Security measures and graffiti removal policy implemented; $26,000 spent annually.

• May 14 – Plans for museum cancelled; $5m allocated to Cultural Centre redevelopment.

• May 16 – Power station was considered for a new $100m, 25,000-seat stadium but gov opts to upgrade Member’s Equity Stadium for $75m.

 

2008

• Jan 15 - Australian Society for the Study of Labour begin a research project which will culminate in a book titled Powering Perth: A History of the East Perth Power Station. The EPRA contributes $50,000 with funds also coming from the Town of Vincent, East Perth Football Club and UnionsWA. The City of Perth decline to contribute.

• Feb 8 – Premier announces plans to convert the power station into a $506m museum.

• Dec 9 – Vincent Mayor Nick Catania wants the power station redeveloped into arts, dining and retail hub.

• Dec 23 – Heritage Conservation Order approved.

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2007

• May 10 – Government allocates nearly $6.984m to EPRA for redevelopment works.​

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2006

• Apr 1 – Western Power is split into Verve Energy (generation), Western Power (network), Synergy (retailer) and Horizon Power (retails electricity to areas in WA’S regional and remote locations).

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2005

• Jan–Jul – Major stabilisation works: asbestos removal, “B” Station Boiler House & “A” Station Turbine Hall re-roofing, repairs, painting (Fact Sheet #2).

• Jun 17 – $13m included in the State Budget for heritage revitalisation.

• Oct 22 – Cost of restoring the power station blows out $4.5m since the State Gov originally cost estimated $10.9m.

 

2004

 

• Multiple internal assessment reports completed - East Perth Power Station: Constructed Asset Assessment Report (CAA) + East Perth Power Station: Building asset stabilisation (BAS).

• Jul–Oct – Site clean-up begins; non-heritage structures and asbestos removed.

• Oct 6 - Employees for the WA Museum state the the power station’s location is on the wrong side of the tracks to relocate the museum.

• Nov 6 – The draft Masterplan is released - East Perth Power Station: vision for the East Perth Power Station draft masterplan for community consultation.

• Nov 7 – Three month community consultation for draft Masterplan begins.

• Dec 24 – Ownership transferred from Western Power to EPRA.

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2003

 

• Jun–Nov – Government considers art gallery use. $10.9m committed to stabilisation.

• Nov 23 – EPRA takes ownership; $12.1m allocated for site remediation.

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2002

• Conservation issues report completed - East Perth Power Station: Conservation Issues - Post inspection.

• Dec 7 – Annual maintenance costs estimated at $100,000.​

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2001

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• Aug 9 – Environmental reports from 1995 and 1998 discussed. Contaminants yet to be removed consist of asbestos fibres, hydrocarbons and heavy metals.

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2000

• Heritage disposal report completed - East Perth power station: government heritage property disposal.

• Oct 16 – Parliamentary committee explores potential ABC Studios use.

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1998

• Assessment completed - Report on East Perth Power Station: prepared for Western Power Corporation.​​

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1997

• Report and feasibility studies completed - East Perth Power Station: Proposed Site Redevelopment - A Proposal to Refurbish and Modify a Heritage Power Station Complex to Create a Science and Technology Centre + East Perth Power Station: Proposed Site Redevelopment - A Proposal to Refurbish and Modify a Heritage Power Station Complex to Create a Science and Technology Centre.

• Documentary is produced - East Perth Power Station: Archival Documentary.

• Jan 16 – Moltoni Corporation are awarded the contract for demolition improvements at the power station for $73,888 (p.47)

• Jun – $34m proposal for Scitech and industry expo is abandoned due to lack of federal funding.

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1996

• Sept 20 - Minister Richard Lewis refuses a development application for a concrete batching plant on the site of the power station.

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1995

• Jan 1 – SECWA split into Western Power (electricity) and Alinta (gas).

• Apr 5 – Major asbestos clean-up and foreshore rehabilitation nearing completion. Chimney stacks and roof-level equipment removed.

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1993

• Landscape and conservation plans completed by Ronald Bodycoat and Oline Richards.​

• Report commissioned by Western Power Corporation is complete but is not to be publicly released - East Perth Power Station Burswood Island Ash Deposit Site Investigation.

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1992

• Sept – Heritage assessment completed by Godden Mackay.

• Nov – Safety assessments completed by Kinhill Engineers Pty Ltd.

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1985

• Jan 17 - SECWA advertises a tender for the sale and removal of the entire coal handling plant for sale (rotary tippler, conveyers, crusher, structure, chutes, hoppers etc).

• Sept 27 – South Fremantle Power Station is decommissioned.

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1982

• The Institution of Engineers-Western Australian Division completes a heritage study - A brief history of the development of East Perth power station.

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1981

• Dec 24 – East Perth Power Station officially ceases operations after 65 years.

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1980

• Apr 3 – Cromwell George “Crom” Harris, father of entertainer Rolf Harris, passes away. A former turbine driver at the power station, he had been exposed to asbestos-woven lagging used on pipes and turbines. After spending a month repairing the main turbine, he was later diagnosed with asbestosis. X-rays revealed his lungs were filled with fine asbestos fibres (p.206).

 

1975

• Jul 1 – SECWA is formed from a merger of the State Electricity Commission and Fuel & Power Commission.

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1974

• Power station resumes coal use.

• Dec – Oil prices surge globally, influencing energy strategies.