A New Home for WASO
Perth Concert Hall closed for redevelopment in late 2024, with the new look venue anticipated to re-open in early 2028.
2025 WASO SEASON OUTLINE
WASO's 2025 season is a ‘New World’ of music performed in Perth’s most iconic venues while the Concert Hall undergoes redevelopment.
If you love our Masters and MACA Classics series, you will enjoy symphonic works at UWA’s iconic Winthrop Hall. Morning Symphony series subscribers will find a new home in the comfort of the Heath Ledger Theatre at State Theatre Centre of WA. Classical special events will be enjoyed at His Majesty’s Theatre, Government House Ballroom and St Mary’s Cathedral. Asher Fisch returns for his 12th season as Principal Conductor and we will welcome some incredible Australian and International guest artists to perform with WASO on the mainstage.
PERTH CONCERT HALL REDEVELOPMENT: A NEW HOME FOR WASO
After 50 years of continuous operation, the heritage listed Perth Concert Hall will undergo a full revitalisation for the benefit of artists, audiences and the community. The Government-led redevelopment project, managed by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), will commence in early 2025. The concert hall, forecourts and car park will be closed to the public during construction works, with the venue anticipated to re-open in early 2028.
It takes a village
In 2020, The Hon David Templeman Minister for Culture and the Arts announced a Government commitment to redevelop Perth Concert Hall.
Following this exciting news, a project team was established by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) to lead the redevelopment to revitalise the venue and provide a permanent home for WASO.
Over the last couple of years, the WASO team have worked closely with the project team and with project architects, WITH Architecture Studio and Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), on a shared vision for the future of Perth Concert Hall.
As the vision for the redevelopment was beginning to take shape the full project scope was realised at $150.3 million for the heritage listed building. The project funding includes $134.3 million from the Western Australian Government, $12 million from the Australian Government and $4 million from the City of Perth, recognising the important role Perth Concert Hall plays in the West Australian Community.
The redevelopment work includes:
- preservation of the concert hall’s world-renowned acoustic features
- essential structural maintenance of the award-winning building architecture
- updated seating, new rehearsal spaces and improved backstage facilities
- refurbishment of the foyer areas, including upgraded signage and lighting
- new food and drink offerings
- improved venue accessibility, with remodelling of the auditorium entry, lifts and stairs, as well as additional toilets and box office relocation
- transformed outdoor spaces
- new spaces for small events, school educational visits and training.
While lots of work has taken place recently, this project has been two decades in the making as WASO has searched for a permanent home. When the ABC Perth Studios on Adelaide Terrace were closed in 2005, the orchestra was left without offices and rehearsal facilities and insufficient room available at the Perth Concert Hall for our whole team.
WASO is currently the only State Orchestra in Australia that is split across locations, and without dedicated spaces for instrument storage, or for WASO musicians to practice. We are grateful that this will change in the coming years owing to the leadership of the WA Government.
For further updates on the Perth Concert Hall Redevelopment project, please visit the DLGSC website.