Perth (TAN): Western Australia’s last remaining railway roundhouse will be converted into a tourist attraction by the Government of Western Australia.
Located in a town named Collie in the South West region, the roundhouse, also the largest in Western Australia, will be restored with an investment of AUD 998,532 from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund.
Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the roundhouse, which significantly helped in Collie’s expansion, will now aid another generation.
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“This exciting project will help to transform Collie’s future by unlocking new opportunities for the town and its residents, while importantly conserving the heritage values of the building,” she added.
“Through the funding programs offered through the Collie Futures Fund, new initiatives including businesses are choosing Collie: we encourage organisations with a project that will help to diversify Collie’s economic base and develop new job opportunities to apply for funding,” MacTiernan continued.
The historic building, originally built in the 1950s to accommodate 14 steam locomotives using a turntable pit and turntable, acts as a reminder of the role played by rail in developing the town as a source of coal.
Member of Legislative Assembly, Collie-Preston, Mick Murray said: “This project will pay tribute to Collie’s past while building a future we can all get excited about. It’s terrific that Collie’s roundhouse – which has sat unused for many years – will be given a new lease of life, something which the Collie community has wanted for many years.”
The funding will allow the National Trust of Western Australia to preserve as well as upgrade the architecture and the surrounding site, which in turn could boost tourism and small business opportunities to support new local job opportunities.
”In the future, people will be able to visit, learn about the railway heritage of Collie, and enjoy what it has to offer. Creating new local jobs is a priority of mine, and this project has the potential to deliver work opportunities in terms of job, sub-contract and supply opportunities,” Murray added.
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Collie’s tourism sector will also see an investment of AUD 10 million towards Collie Adventure Trails initiative for turning it into ‘Western Australia’s premier trail adventure town’.
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