Western Australia's new $396 million state-of-the-art museum has reached practical completion, with the State Government announcing it will delay the new $15 entry fee for the first 18 months after it opens next year.
Construction of the new building began in 2017 and has incorporated new buildings amongst the original heritage-listed architecture in the Perth Cultural Centre.
The building includes eight major galleries, a 1,000 square metre exhibition gallery and a cafe and function space.
Workers will now spend the next year arranging exhibits into the spaces before it opens in November 2020.
Minister for the Arts David Templeman said the construction phase created jobs for nearly 3,000 local workers.
"We've had at least 80 per cent local content," he said.
"Including of course the sourcing of the infrastructure needed to build this beautiful, beautiful new museum for WA."
Free entry to cost Government several million dollars
The Government had been set to impose a $15 entry fee, but Mr Templeman said that would now be delayed by 18 months.
"From opening, for the first 18 months, it will be free admission … for all people who visit this museum," he said.
"We want particularly Western Australians to get here, to celebrate [and] to experience a very, very special moment in WA history, and I think it's something that we can all be absolutely proud of."
The Minister said the Government would also review the free entry period closely before deciding whether to extend it.
He expected it to cost the Government several million dollars, with that amount to be allocated through the budget process.
'Really complicated project': Multiplex
Approximately $131 million worth of contracts were awarded to WA companies during construction of the new building.
The museum was designed and built by Multiplex and Hassell and OMA, and was recently shortlisted for an Australian Construction Achievement Award.
Multiplex regional general manager Chris Palandri said the finished building showed off the work of the contractors involved.
"This is a really complicated project, it's a really difficult project," he said.
"We've hoisted the roof structure 38 metres up in the air, we've used over 1,000 facade panels on this project, 1,600 tonnes of steel and 12,000 cubic metres of concrete.
"There's really some spectacular features of this project.
"We've wrapped this brand new state-of-the-art building around four heritage buildings which have been underpinned, re-roofed, restored and upgraded back to their former glory."
Mr Templeman said the work was far from over, with the fit-out now getting underway ahead of the official opening.
"Now they'll be working overtime on the fit-out of this magnificent building, that's already started," he said.
"But throughout all of the galleries you will see themed galleries now start to be filled, and using the latest technologies to reflect the stories of Western Australia."
