Heritage listing for Kalgoorlie's Railway Hotel

22/7/94

Kalgoorlie's Railway Hotel has been entered permanently on the State Government's register of heritage places - eliminating any chance of the building being demolished.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis announced today that he had accepted a recommendation from the Heritage Council of Western Australia to permanently list the 93-year-old hotel.

Mr Lewis said that despite opposition to the listing from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder City Council, he had come to the decision that the Railway Hotel deserved the full protection of the State's heritage laws.

He said that together with the railway station, the Wilkies Buildings and the war memorial, the Railway Hotel formed an important historic entrance precinct to the city which needed to be maintained.

"While I sympathise with the frustrations that council has experienced in getting the owner to restore the building, it would be short-sighted to say the least if we were to allow this building to be demolished," Mr Lewis said.

"This Government is not about repeating the mistakes of the past when many of our best loved buildings were lost, only to be mourned later.

"As Heritage Minister I am simply not prepared to allow this to happen."

Mr Lewis formally approved the listing on July 7, but delayed the announcement until he had the opportunity of personally advising council of his decision.

The Minister said there had been strong community support for protecting the building when the Heritage Council last year called for public comment on plans to drop the building from the heritage list.

Of the 38 submissions received only one submission was made supporting a move to deregister the building.

"There has been strong interest from individuals, community groups and businesses to do something constructive with this magnificent old building," Mr Lewis said.

"As a result we need to allow every opportunity for events to take their course.

"Allowing the building to fall off the heritage list would be a quick and easy solution to a difficult problem, but would, in the long-term, prove to be the wrong one."

Mr Lewis said plans to restore the Queen's Church in Piesse Street was an example of the kind of future opportunities which existed for the Railway Hotel.

"This building, like the Railway, has been in a state of disrepair for a long time," he said.

"But circumstances changed and now the Queen's has a new owner and the building has been given a second chance.

"I think it is only appropriate that the Railway is also afforded the same opportunity because once a building of its kind is pulled down there are no second chances."

Mr Lewis said he was disappointed that the owner of the Railway had failed to take advantage of a six month extension to the interim listing which was given to help finalise refurbishment plans and conservation incentives.

However, he said the Government would continue talks with the council to see what positive steps could be taken in having the hotel restored.

Media contact: Tony Robertson 222 9595