Carillon to ring changes in mall
Bells which have been silent for more than 20 years are ready to peal across central Perth again as part of a 30th anniversary restoration project for Carillon City shopping centre.
One of only four of its kind in Australia, the carillon was completed in 1983 and lends its name to the shopping centre, but it has been silent after it was switched off after a public backlash over its use.
"I think originally when they were put in they were rung quite excessively so that didn't help, but the new system has a variable velocity on the strikers, so they won't be at full belt all the time," project manager and campanologist Rhys Greenhalgh said.
Campanology is the study of bells. A carillon is more than 24 bells in a single system.
The project to restore the chimes entailed getting new strikers forged in Belgium.
Mr Greenhalgh said this would give the bells a sweeter sound.
The strikers are due to arrive in Perth on April 12, with the bells likely to start ringing in mid-May.
A computer program will ring the bells automatically at noon and 5.30pm.
They will be heard on the Hay Street mall but at times the sound may drift over to St Georges Terrace, depending on wind direction.
Evan Briers, director of investments for Hawaiian, the company that owns the shopping centre, said it was an effort to get the bells back online, but was worth it.
"With the reinvigoration of the city we wanted to introduce some colour back in with some history and the bells are part of that history," Mr Briers said.
