MEDIA STATEMENT - April 2007

MIDLAND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

SUNDAYS ONLY FOR WORKSHOPS INTERPRETIVE CENTRE

The Midland Railway Workshops Interpretive Centre will open only on Sundays from 1 May due to works on the historic site.

The Midland Redevelopment Authority expects to start work soon on the last major cleanup of the former industrial area, clearing the way for more commercial, residential and community development.

MRA CEO Kieran Kinsella said that the Interpretive Centre had operated three days a week since it opened two years ago in the former Time Keeper’s office at the entry to the site. More than 4000 people had visited it in that time.

“The MRA refurbished the 1924 weatherboard building and fitted it out with state-of-the-art audio-visual and other material, dedicating the centre to all who worked at the site from 1904 to 1994 and their families,” Mr Kinsella said.

“The creation of the centre and the heritage trail leading from it is part of the MRA’s commitment to conserve the Workshops, particularly its social history.

“For health and safety reasons there cannot be heritage trail tours during the remediation process and the subdivision and construction works to follow. However, on Sundays the centre will continue to offer historians, rail enthusiasts and other visitors comprehensive insights into a WA heritage icon and a site of national and international significance.”

The centre houses the Midland Railway Workshops History Project’s extensive collection of audio-visual and other material on the history of the Workshops, including an interactive website that allows people to explore significant Workshops buildings, learn about manufacturing processes and skills and hear anecdotes from the workers themselves. It is staffed by volunteers, including some former Workshops workers, and entry is by gold coin donation

Interpretive Centre co-ordinator Ric McCracken said that Sunday opening hours would remain 10am to 3pm.

“While the weekday closure is regrettable, the remediation work will prepare the heritage buildings and spaces for a range of uses in the future,” Mr McCracken said.

“I hope people will continue to bring me memorabilia from the Workshops’ fascinating 90-year history, and I am always interested in talking to former workers and their families.”

Mr McCracken can be contacted on 9250 3895. He will also help to preserve the site’s social history by writing scrips for future use based on the thousands of stories about the Workshops he has heard over the years.

For more information, please contact:

Kieran Kinsella, CEO, Midland Redevelopment Authority, on 9374 5500
Sue Roberts, MRA PR consultant, on 9370 1006 or 0414 805 456.